Post procal tune tips

[raptor5244]

For Procal owners, can you describe the transmission shift changes with the tune vs. stock? Does Sport mode still execute those rev match downshifts during braking like it does with the stock tune? How would you describe the difference in normal mode? Thanks.

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[Switzguy]

With the procal my downshifts were much better in sport mode. It downshifts typically into 5th, 4th, 3rd, and sometimes skips a gear and goes 7th, 5th 3rd. It also holds on to upshifts longer even after letting off the gas to keep you in the power band as well. Normal mode doesn't seem to have a big difference. I never drove in the other modes before the tune so I can't speak on them.

 

[Lion77]

Id agree with the above, the overall tuning is just better, like what most performance enthusiasts would expect.

Normal is indeed pretty much the same, but Sport is definitely better. I have not used Baja much, and I only used it after I had the Pro Cal, but Baja is a legit race mode, its very aggressive to maximize performance which is why the race teams use Baja mofe on the Raptor Race trucks.

 

[raptor5244]

With the procal my downshifts were much better in sport mode. It downshifts typically into 5th, 4th, 3rd, and sometimes skips a gear and goes 7th, 5th 3rd. It also holds on to upshifts longer even after letting off the gas to keep you in the power band as well. Normal mode doesn't seem to have a big difference. I never drove in the other modes before the tune so I can't speak on them.

Thanks. I am on stock tune and I notice similar behavior already in Sport mode. I see those skipped gears, aggressive throttle response, snappy shifts with higher pressure and rev-matched downshifts. I control how much rev-matched downshifting I want based on how strong I brake. I am considering the tune but didn't want to lose the sporty shifting behavior we get by default in Sport mode with the stock tune.

I have owned a lot of sporty cars with drive modes and I have never thought the Sport mode was much different, however Sport mode in the Raptor really wakes up this truck and gives it a different personality. Usually I find these drive modes a gimmick, but not so in this truck.

 

[Lion77]

The stock tuning is by no means bad. Its actually very good and I never had an issue with the stock tuning. BUT the additional usable power from the Pro Cal is worth it and the additional refinement to the shift mapping makes it just that much better.

Ford Performance knows how to tune their vehicles!

 

[Baja_RR]

There's some misinformation here I'll try to correct after discussing with Ford Performance since we run hard in Baja and sometimes get to towns without 91 octane on tuned RR with 37" and portals.

1. Mexico standard is 87 and there usually isn't a mid-grade. Small towns often only have 87.

2. Running 87 once in awhile is okay. You'll lose HP and range, but the engine will adapt and then just add 91 and you are back. Full stop with the caveat that my discussions with Ford Performance were all about a warm environment and not in the Canadian Tundra.

2. If possible, bring some Octane Booster along (and we do). That seems to be the best approach. Grab a few bottles and keep them in hand for when needed or wanting to take it up to 93.

Hope this helps . . .

 

[Pic-N-Stick]

There's some misinformation here I'll try to correct after discussing with Ford Performance since we run hard in Baja and sometimes get to towns without 91 octane on tuned RR with 37" and portals.

1. Mexico standard is 87 and there usually isn't a mid-grade. Small towns often only have 87.

2. Running 87 once in awhile is okay. You'll lose HP and range, but the engine will adapt and then just add 91 and you are back. Full stop with the caveat that my discussions with Ford Performance were all about a warm environment and not in the Canadian Tundra.

2. If possible, bring some Octane Booster along (and we do). That seems to be the best approach. Grab a few bottles and keep them in hand for when needed or wanting to take it up to 93.

Hope this helps . . .

Thank you! Is there a particular brand of octane booster preferred?

 

[Lion77]

You do know that the warranty info explicitly states if you run fuel below 91 RON with the Pro Cal you void your warranty, right? There's a reason for that!

Factory cal, sure, 87 is fine, it will just lose a lot of power / torque but it's not going to damage anything. Pro Cal, you're giving up low octane period. Sure, you could try to drive it conservatively on 87 to get to a station to re-fill, but all it takes if for you to forget one time and do a pull on a Pro Cal tuned RR running on 87....

Octane boosters with 87 are less sketchy than straight 87, but I still wouldn't risk it and if you can only find 87 in a lot of areas you drive I'd just keep it stock. For me, I've yet to run across a station that doesn't at least have 91 in the states I've driven and just in case my Pro Cal is in the upper glove box so I could flash back to stock if needed.

 

[Lion77]

For your viewing pleasure. If you damage the engine due to knock or detonation, they will look at the PCM data, see the charge temps, timing tables etc. and know YOU were not running 91 or higher. The pistons will also show signs of hammering from detonation. And there's the obvious cracked piston land or bend rod....kinda hard to not notice during teardown.

Now that's only with enough throttle, just saying it's risky. I'd rather do one of the following:

1. Flash-back to stock

2. Start carrying extra 5~6 gallons of Premium fuel (or maybe up to 10 gallons more if very remote)

3. Use octane booster and drive it like grandpa, then refill ASAP with 93

Or combine #1, #2 & #3 (gives you most flexibility). Use up fuel first. Then fall back to 87 + octane booster if you still can't find 91+. Then finally once your out of fuel and octane booster, you can always flash back to stock and run 87.

I'd imagine route planning can also go a LONG way! Garmin GPS, google maps etc. Heck, you could carry 3-4 five-gallon fuel cans if you're going very remote. It all depends. The Ranger Raptor Race truck used a 35-gallon tank, so three five-gallon jugs plus the 20 gallons in the tank and you'll get about 600 miles.

In most real off-roading, you're not in constant boost or high boost, that's a rarity. Terrain is far more limiting so fuel mileage is not as bad as some might think unless you're in sand dunes.

 

[Baja_RR]

I run Lucas Oil Octane Boost which is both the best-selling and top-rate on Amazon. They claim +3 octane on 25 gallons so if I'm adding 15 - 16 gallons of 87 in a fill-up then it will add ~4 octane taking 87 to 91.

To the ranters - all I can say is that I went straight to Ford Performance. The document above is from 2021 and we spoke to them in 2025 due to fuel concerns in a pinch. We carry 10 gallons of extra fuel and still run out of gas many days. We also carry Octane Boost but will sometimes share it and so yes, we occassionally run out of it as well and had legitimate concerns.

FP Engineers are well aware of both my build and driving habits that are far beyond what most people will ever do (including a current upgrade to long-travel rear and mid-travel front). Their feedback was that there is "paper" advice and then "practical" advice and don't sweat it if it happens once in awhile (unlike when an "aquaintance" stupidly put 85 in his rig in Utah and the engine flat-out quit). So yes, this was a detailed discussion.

Hope this helps. If truly concerned, always be sure to carry Octane Boost in your recovery kit.

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