Superchips Flashpaq for JK, Initial Impressions
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 494
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From: Rogers, AR
Finally had the opportunity to do some fuel mileage testing with the Flashpaq. Lots of all highway miles full tankful tests. With each tank I managed to get more than 300 miles out of them. The first 3 were using the Mileage XS tune which on my Dodge Ram doesn't do quite so well. All mileage numbers are calculated by hand, or should I say by the calculator on my iphone and not the on board computer mileage.
With the 3 tankfuls with the Mileage XS setting I managed 20.3mpg for the first, 21.4 for the second and 21.6 for the third. This started with a fresh switch away from the tow setting. Pretty good mileage for rolling on 35s and through the hills of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia. Speeds were mostly 65-75mph and no major congestion. The one caveat was having to downshift a fair amount into 5th on the hills and yes I know I'm under-geared running 3.73s.
On the return trip I fueled up with 93 Octane and used the 93 setting. Pretty much the same set of roads going the opposite direction but this time facing a fair amount of additional traffic and congestion. The first tank through was 21.4mpg and the second was 21.7. Best of all my downshifting into 5th was only 20% of what it was using the Mileage XS.
In all not the best mileage I ever had, but given top off the whole way, more hills than I normally deal with, and 500+ lbs of additional gear I'm pretty happy.
With the 3 tankfuls with the Mileage XS setting I managed 20.3mpg for the first, 21.4 for the second and 21.6 for the third. This started with a fresh switch away from the tow setting. Pretty good mileage for rolling on 35s and through the hills of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia. Speeds were mostly 65-75mph and no major congestion. The one caveat was having to downshift a fair amount into 5th on the hills and yes I know I'm under-geared running 3.73s.
On the return trip I fueled up with 93 Octane and used the 93 setting. Pretty much the same set of roads going the opposite direction but this time facing a fair amount of additional traffic and congestion. The first tank through was 21.4mpg and the second was 21.7. Best of all my downshifting into 5th was only 20% of what it was using the Mileage XS.
In all not the best mileage I ever had, but given top off the whole way, more hills than I normally deal with, and 500+ lbs of additional gear I'm pretty happy.
i'm running 3.21 with 35's, so i'm way under-geared.
JK Newbie
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Nelson, BC, Canada
OK, so far I'm only on pg. 15 of reading this thread, but I have a question. I have an '08 Sahara Unlimited 6spd, 3.73 and so far the only real mod is a K&N panel in the stock box. I find that a lot of my highway cruising is in the 2000rpm range, and that I have to downshift frequently for hills because of this. I also am running 89 octane with a stock tune, because I was getting pinging on 87 in hot weather because of the hills in town here.
I your experience, will the SC help me with the downshift issue, ie.: will I now have to downshift less frequently? Does it seem strange that I have had to switch up to 89 on a stock vehicle? (I have tried different brands, and it did happen before the K&N)
I your experience, will the SC help me with the downshift issue, ie.: will I now have to downshift less frequently? Does it seem strange that I have had to switch up to 89 on a stock vehicle? (I have tried different brands, and it did happen before the K&N)
JK Jedi
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,813
Likes: 0
From: Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
OK, so far I'm only on pg. 15 of reading this thread, but I have a question. I have an '08 Sahara Unlimited 6spd, 3.73 and so far the only real mod is a K&N panel in the stock box. I find that a lot of my highway cruising is in the 2000rpm range, and that I have to downshift frequently for hills because of this. I also am running 89 octane with a stock tune, because I was getting pinging on 87 in hot weather because of the hills in town here.
I your experience, will the SC help me with the downshift issue, ie.: will I now have to downshift less frequently? Does it seem strange that I have had to switch up to 89 on a stock vehicle? (I have tried different brands, and it did happen before the K&N)
I your experience, will the SC help me with the downshift issue, ie.: will I now have to downshift less frequently? Does it seem strange that I have had to switch up to 89 on a stock vehicle? (I have tried different brands, and it did happen before the K&N)
Thread Starter
JK Junkie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 0
From: Lakewood, OH
OK, so far I'm only on pg. 15 of reading this thread, but I have a question. I have an '08 Sahara Unlimited 6spd, 3.73 and so far the only real mod is a K&N panel in the stock box. I find that a lot of my highway cruising is in the 2000rpm range, and that I have to downshift frequently for hills because of this. I also am running 89 octane with a stock tune, because I was getting pinging on 87 in hot weather because of the hills in town here.
I your experience, will the SC help me with the downshift issue, ie.: will I now have to downshift less frequently? Does it seem strange that I have had to switch up to 89 on a stock vehicle? (I have tried different brands, and it did happen before the K&N)
I your experience, will the SC help me with the downshift issue, ie.: will I now have to downshift less frequently? Does it seem strange that I have had to switch up to 89 on a stock vehicle? (I have tried different brands, and it did happen before the K&N)
In my experience I definitely need to downshift less with the Flashpaq. I'm pretty far removed from using just the stock PCM, but on a recent trip I used both the Mileage XS and 93 Octane settings on the Flashpaq. While my experience suggests that even the Mileage XS setting provides more performance than stock, the 93 Octane setting eliminated nearly 80% of my downshifts. I'm still under geared, but that was a big help.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: So Cal
Question, I installed the program from the Flashpaq and now it seems that it shifts out of 4th (auto 4dr Rubi) even more than it did before on small hills. Plus I didn't really get the gains in power I was expecting. Did I do something wrong? I just installed the 87 program. I do have a CAI and a magnaflow exhaust, do I need to program these into the Flashpaq as well?? 
Thread Starter
JK Junkie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 0
From: Lakewood, OH
Question, I installed the program from the Flashpaq and now it seems that it shifts out of 4th (auto 4dr Rubi) even more than it did before on small hills. Plus I didn't really get the gains in power I was expecting. Did I do something wrong? I just installed the 87 program. I do have a CAI and a magnaflow exhaust, do I need to program these into the Flashpaq as well??
Next thing I would do is try the tow tune with the 87 Octane. You probably need to run a full tank of fuel before your PCM catches up to what is going on.
There is nothing in the Flashpaq that you need to set for a CAI or exhaust. One thing though is under the stock PCM you might have been running pretty lean, so getting some fuel down the gullet of your JK may be helpful using the tow tune. Again, the PCM might take a while to catch up.
When you do your download make sure you grab the data acquisition stuff as well, find a quiet freeway on ramp and do a quick test between stock and a Superchips tune. That way you can quantify if something isn't right and you can dig a little further into what's going on. My guess is you have a slightly confused PCM and it's just going to take some miles under it to clear it's head.
I hope that helps.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: So Cal
I updated so I will try the tow tune and see how that works. Should I set it back to stock and than do the tune again or can I just do it with the 87 tune in place? Also I thought it said that the tow needed 91 not 87, could be wrong but thought that was what it said. I will check tonight. Thanks 
Oh and I am in So Cal so there is no such thing as a quite freeway ramp!! But I will find a spot....
Oh and I am in So Cal so there is no such thing as a quite freeway ramp!! But I will find a spot....
Last edited by akasam9; Jul 27, 2009 at 03:17 PM.
JK Newbie
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Nelson, BC, Canada
Ordered mine today, should be here tomorrow.
My local auto parts supplier gave me a price I couldn't refuse - basically about the same as the supporting vendors. I try to keep my money local whenever possible to help our local small town economy in the current financial times. Plus, this way I don't have to deal with cross-border issues.
My local auto parts supplier gave me a price I couldn't refuse - basically about the same as the supporting vendors. I try to keep my money local whenever possible to help our local small town economy in the current financial times. Plus, this way I don't have to deal with cross-border issues.