Review: Gryphon FICM tuner.
 

Technically I guess you can say that the 6.0 can stack tuners. Your able to use a tuner of your choice to program the PCM/TCM, and then use the Gryphon FICM tuner to program the FICM.

This is NOT the remote FICM programmer that is "loaned" to you and have to return to PHP when your done loading in a FICM tune. This is the Gryphon non-CS/CTS that has 4 FICM tunes that you buy and can swap out FICM tunes as much as you like. Cost $399.

The Gryphon FICM tuner from PHP comes pre-loaded with 4 FICM tunes. You get to choose any of the four. Economy, Atlas 40, Atlas 80 and Hercules. Install was pretty straight forward.


Remove FICM relay, cycle key to on, plug in Gryphon to OBDII, follow the on screen instructions (push some buttons and some on/off key cycles), re-install FICM relay. For the first install, it took about 5 minutes from removal of relay to re-installing relay.


Currently I'm running the SCT with SRL++ written for the older/less desirable strategy (VXAP2). So the first FICM tune I loaded up was the Atlas 80. Throttle response was much better while pulling out from idle to easy accelerating, with no smoke.

Cruising down the road, and applying heavy throttle, you can feel a smoother motor, and seat of pants power bump. No smoke.

Cruising down the road and slamming the throttle to WOT, she pulls harder with the Atlas 80 combined with the SRL++. Power increase can be felt by the seat of the pants. Smoke is a different story, running the SRL++ without the Gryphon there is very little smoke, just a light puff then clears up. When running the SRL++ and Atlas 80 while slamming to WOT, the puff of smoke bellows out then cleans up to a light haze.

So next I decided to turn on the water/meth, currently I'm using washer fluid (70/30). I have the settings to come on at 13psi boost, then by 23psi boost its injecting 100%. Cruising down the road and laying on the throttle steady, power was smooth and noticeable, no smoke. Cruising down the road and slamming to WOT, the initial puff of smoke was alot, then cleared up to no smoke, not even a haze.

For those of you who run the SRL tunes, you know what I mean when I say that the SRL tunes are very clean (almost no smoke at all).


I'm very impressed with FICM tuning so far. The nice thing is, the SCT tunes combined with the FICM tunes will give me multiple power combinations. I wish I had the time to try all my SCT tunes combined with the Gryphon FICM programmer, but with a total of 36 SCT tunes (new/old tunes and canned) and the option of 4 FICM tunes it will take me a long time. As time goes on, I'll try different combination.

With camping season right around the corner, I'll be able to use one of my tow tunes combines with the Atlas 40.

Attachment 38585

That's awesome. I'm having a tough time deciding what FICM tune I want, this may be the way for me to go now. I really want to be able to slap the hercules on for summer driving, but go back to my towing tune when I hook to the camper. That's awesome.

Awsome?..... YES IT IS!!! I like the versatility of running HP tunes for daily driving, then switching to lower HP tunes for towing.

I just loaded up the Hercules tune combines with the SRL++, I'll give her a beating when I head to work at 4pm.

For now, I'm gonna play around with the SCT tunes I currently have (VXAP2 and VXAP1), then in about 2 months I'll have my PCM rolled back to what ever Bill recommends. I've got Vivian's unlimited tuning, so then I'll just have to buy new tunes from Matt and Eric to match the new PCM rollback.

Well I couldn't play on the way to work, too much traffic. I'll go beat on her tomorrow.

Any updated on the tuner? I am looking heavily at getting this but don't want to waste my money.

Yep, I've been running the SRL++/Herules since. By the seat of pants feel, the Hercules feels a little bit more than the Atlas 80, but it could be my imagination.

I have not got a chance to try different SCT tunes mixed with the FICM tunes, I've been busy data logging my motor for DashBoss, so I wanted to keep the same tunes in to get a better data log comparison.


IMO, FICM tuning is not a waste of money. Combining a PCM tune and a FICM tune is noticeable thru the butt meter, and PHP has dyno charts to back it up. And again, this is just my opinion, search out others threads/forums for those who have noticed a increase with FICM tuning.

Thanks for the update! I just replaced the FICM on my truck and I think that the programming dropped it on its face.

What do you mean? Our FICM's have issues from the factory with bad solder connections and Ford OEM heat induction tuning, also inferior parts not designed to handle the heat induction.

I just had the FICM replaced due to a 611 code. Even with a bad FICM, I was getting around 16 mpg, now I am struggling to get 14mpg and the power just doesn't seem the same. And yes my batteries are good.

Probably just a newer flash on the FICM. The "new" FICM will eventually fail in the same way your old one just did too. They really need to be repaired, not replaced. Just FYI for next time! :c: