SCT X4 tuner information

Thanks for taking a look. Let me start from the beggining by saying I am aware of the discussions on the site concerning the short comings of the SCT tuner. I am aware of the other tuner manufacturers, however, I am not in the least bit interested in being told I bought the wrong tuner or have hooked my wagon to a loser. I'm 72 and recently purchased an ST from the original 56 year old female owner. She used the ST to drive to her place in the White Mountains and when not doing that she kept the ST garaged because she owned a home in downtown Boston and never drove it around town, just to the white mountains. The ST is a 2021 and has 25K miles on it, no accidents, and flawless in every respect. She left her roof racks on, and that's that.

I have added a few small things including an AWR differential bracket, knob rings, nerf bar/steps, and nerf bar rear step. I would like to add a bull bar, but don't know of any that won't block the front sensors. Other than that the truck has every option available for an ST including 21" wheels and the infamour red brakes.

Now that we're all up to speed my reason for the tune is for faster 0-60 times and stiffer shifting. I won't be racing this truck, but I will take a lot of pleasure out of teaching Dodge products and little rice burners a lesson at the stop light.

So, are there any things in particular I should know about the SCT tuner and being an old guy who has only ever tuned a car or truck with a screw driver are there any steps to the tune I should pay special attention to. The last fast cars I owned was a 69' BOSS 302, 73' Malibu, and my dirt track car, a 68' Road Runner. And none of those would do much better mid 13's.

I'll also add that I started my search with ZFG. They never responded, even after sending a text. I don't know why they don't have a phone number to call, but regardless, maybe they never saw my texts, and I have nothing bad to say about them.

Thanks guys, I'll appreciate any and all tips given.

Bob

I used to use an SCT X4, never had any issues. I will say this, it is easier to load a tune on your vehicle with an X4 than it is with an HP device. With the HP you have to take your laptop out to the car to load the tune and it's not as easy to navigate as the X4 is. There are tuners out there who will write you a custom tune that will work on the X4 and they are almost as good as ZFG tunes. Also zfg tunes are expensive, it's 450 for the first tune plus you need 4 credits to load the tune at 50 bucks each and you still need an hp device as ZFG only writes his tunes for HP devices. Currently ZFG charges 400 for an hp device, so your at 1050 to go that route. Just find a tuner who will work with an X4, there are plenty of threads on here, do a search.

Also, make sure your X4 has the latest firmware installed. Every year when ford comes out with vehicles the X4 will need to be updated to be compatible. I've had mine for 10 years now and I've had to update it 3 times for new vehicles.

Thanks for the quick reply and the heads up on the tuner updates.

Just get the Ford Performance tune, and it'll keep warranty. The FP tune provides a 0-60 time of 4.5 Sec.. Perfectly quick for a rice burner beater.

I've already purchased the SCT tuner. I'll have it this Thursday.

Check out Team JDM in NJ.
They tuned my '21 on 93 octane. I'm seeing 4.0 to 4.1(0-60 times) I also have the Whipple IC and 3" SPD DP's and Borla catback exhaust. Not sure how much better ZFG can do on 93. I did reach out to Adam and asked if he could compare to 4.0 seconds and it would be difficult to say the least plus the cost to do so after already paying for the X4. I've heard HP tuners are better in terms of options but not entirely sure tbh. Lots of threads on here though if you're looking for more advice.
God bless.

GearHead, BoostKing, Unleashed, JDM, PBD, MPT are some that will tune on the X4. Honestly there is even a decent canned tune on there.

I have both HPT and SCT, the tuner is more important than the tune IMO. The area SCT is lacking in though, is system management for things like displaying gears on the cluster at all times.

Enjoy!


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Thanks for the input guys, it's appreciated. To be honest as I had said above my initial thought was ZFG until I couldn't contact them with the questions I had. Plus, they seem to be resting on thier laurels. I was also a bit confused by the points thing and with no reply the X4 became my answer.

This right here.

Went with the Steeda package with the intercooler/X4 and it was an amazing transformation (they have a good video on YouTube). That being said, I picked up an AutoOctane tune from Gearhead since I don’t always need 93 in the winter. Very happy with SCT.

As already indicated, there are preloaded tunes already on the X4 that you can use as-is that will support running 93 octane and basic bolt on modifications. If you go beyond basic bolt-ons or really want to get more out of it, there are plenty of custom tuning dealers that can sell you a custom tune file that you can easily load yourself to the device.

Depending on how old the unit you get is, it may or may not have wifi built in. The newest units will not have it while one that is a little older may still have it. I recommend downloading the updater software from the sct website and using that regardless to update the unit. Update the unit when you get it, and you will need to update it again after you connect to the vehicle and try to tune it with a preloaded tune file. The reason for this is that the device needs to download files for the vehicle it is tuning and it doesn't know what files it needs until it connects to a vehicle.

Gearhead tunes with the X4, can't beat their price of 175 for an auto octane tune. Shifts are amazingly smooth and it will knock close to a full second off your 0-60 time. If that ever isn't quick enough for you, an E50 tune from ZFG is the way to go.

you already bought the SCT I would 100% call JDM Engineering in New Jersey
you will take the SCT down load your stock file (they tell you how)
Then email to JDM (Jim)
he will email you back a tune you put on SCT then take SCT to explorer and done. I just looked at price it is $485 for their tune.
I dont know the other tuners mentioned but I am sure they are good also.

As much as I know JDM’s tuning experience, it is absolutely amazing what you get from Gearhead for the cost of his tune.


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If you are going to go the custom tune route, the only information you need to give the tuner is the device serial number as well as the vehicle strategy which you read using the vehicle info menu on the device. You don't have to download the stock file. At any rate, I think the preloaded tunes should be fine for you.

Yes my bad you don’t give the tune to JDM it stays on SCT. I’ve only done mail tune 1 time years and years ago. Any rate it’s super easy.
I’m sure one day I’ll have JDM do this ST also but I already want a new one. I 100% love this thing.

Yeah JDM are real nice guys and really put together a great tune. Nothing but nice things to say about their customer service.
I'd love to see/feel the difference between a 93 octane tune vs e50. Any ideas what the difference would be roughly in 0-60 times?

No sorry I don’t know 93 or E50 but if it’s any help in my TrackHawk going from 91 to E85 was 90HP
your already at 93 and not going full E85 I’d bet 30ish Hp but that’s just a guess I really don’t know. I do know I hated e85 it burned to fast loved the power but hated going to the station all the time. I ran 91 mostly just cuz I hated the gas station that much.

You're looking at about 50hp between 93 and e50. No idea of the 0-60 difference since that depends more on launch.