I was wondering if it is hard to use a handheld tuner yourself
from what I have been reading about them, they seem to be
just plug & play. Also my 2010 mustang gt is all stock with an
auto trans. What I would like to know is what kind of added
performance I would get. I don't plan on doing any mods in
the near future. Also would a custom tune hurt mileage, I'm currently averaging about 20 mpg mixed city & highway. Thanks for all your responses.

 

A tuner will wake an auto up big time. Even an unmodified auto has some HP/TQ that is being missed from FoMoCo's conservative tune. Aside from a bit more power and in some cases improved MPG, you will get firmer shifting and depending on the octane of the tune and the characteristics of the tune can scratch 1st and 2nd gears in an auto just by planting your right foot on the ground.

The only reason a tune would hurt your MPG is if you do what most do and keep your right foot planted after the tune

 

What defr00 said.

The handheld is simply a tool for uploading and downloading tunes into and out of your PCM. The people that write the tune (a.k.a. tuner) will, if you buy the handheld from them, load the handheld with the tunes or, if you buy the tunes e-mail, you load them into the handheld yourself. There are a few minor things that you can change with the handheld such as timing, rev limit, gears, tire RPM's, but the bulk of the changes that affect performance are part of the code that the tuner writes and goes beyond anything you can adjust yourself.

 

Using the handheld tuner is extremely easy. It basically walks you through the loading process step by step. Plus if you ever have any questions, you can always call our tech department.

From the custom tune, you will receicve instant throttle response, eliminated adaptive learing, increased low end torque and top end horsepower. It will feel like a new car. You would also get a better shift schedule with more agressive shifts. Our tunes will typically keep factory MPG if not better as long as you can stay out of the throttle. Customers typically state that keeping out of the throttle is almost impossible. Which is never a bad thing.

Watch the following video, it takes you through a tune loading process.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81b5a...layer_embedded

 

Thanks for the video. It seems very easy to do.

 

Two questions:
1. Are the benefits you mention achieved without a CAI?
2. Is the 87 Octane option on the hand held tuner the original tune? Thanks

 

1. For a combo, the tune is about 80% of the adder on the '05-'09's. On a '10, the CAI & tune does not net as much as it does on an '05-'09 (roughly 15-25+ RWHP) since the stock tune on the '10 is already tweaked to provide an extra 15 crank HP. The combo on the '10 should net about 10-20 RWHP with about 50-60% from the tune (that's a guess since I haven't yet seen dyno's for the '10). A stand-alone tune on a '10 should net you roughly 7-12 RWHP if my math is close. And that's definitely butt dyno noticeable.
2. The custom 87 tune on my '07 knocked the socks off of the stock 87 tune. Octane is 1 of the many things that can enhance power. An 87 custom tune will generate more power than the overly mild stock tune although on a '10, the difference might not be as great. FWIW, on the '05-'09s, there is a larger change in power going from the stock 87 tune to the custom 87 tune then there is going from the custom 87 tune to the custom 93 tune.