Disappointing Power

[POPSTAGE2]

Hi All-
I have about 500 miles on my wife's Sport now. Wanted to break it in like Stacy suggested to set the rings in. But diddn't want to get to happy with high rpm's untill the catch can install do to the the poor pcv, evacuation system. So up till about 300 miles I would load the engine down using the paddle shifters at between 1/2 and 3/4 throttle. (worked great) Power felt good.

Now with the catch can Installed I drove it pretty hard with full throttle blasts. Pretty disappointed with the full trottle power. It seems it has the same power output at 1/2 and 3/4 throttle as it does at full. There is no torque steer.

Before we bought the 2014, I was able to test drive a 2013 with 25K on the clock for a week...granted it was when it was cold and we had better air but that thing had scary torque steer and had a lot more full throttle power. when you nailed it at 55-60 mph the torque steer was incredible, and frankly was worried that it was to much for the wife...not with our 2014...it has just a hint and just doesn't feel like it has the power.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Guy

 

[Brucelinc]

It will likely get better with more miles - with only 500 miles, everything is still pretty tight.  As for torque steer, I am surprised that you found the 2013 to have "scary" torque steer.  That makes me wonder if there was something wrong with it.  You shouldn't experience much torque steer. 

 

[BiGMaC]

Is she up for tuning your XSport?

Any tune should improve your problem.

The new LMS v8 with 3BAR MAP is smooth power and the new turbo map puts increased power throughout the throttle... with no perceptible turbo lag.

 

[SRT82ECOBOOST]

The 2013 you test drove must not have been an SHO as I have never experienced torque steer as you mentioned.

 

[POPSTAGE2]

Is she up for tuning your XSport?

Any tune should improve your problem.

The new LMS v8 with 3BAR MAP is smooth power and the new turbo map puts increased power throughout the throttle... with no perceptible turbo lag.

Thanks for the inputs!

Yea, she just trusts my decisions...when it comes to our cars :hmmm:
I think there might be a problem and agree a tune would be one way too fix it, if the problem is with mapping. But would it have to run higher octane all the time with that tune?
I remember having a '01 7.3 diesel that only got 14 mpg's empty. Since I worked at a Ford dealer at the time they had it in weekly if not daily trying to fix it...they couldn't. I put a tune in it and emmediately got 21-22 hwy.

So you say it shouldn't have any torque steer? interesting.

Btw- this Sport is getting 19 average mpg even with beating on it...thought that is pretty good...

Guy

 

[POPSTAGE2]

The 2013 you test drove must not have been an SHO as I have never experienced torque steer as you mentioned.

It was an X/Sport. Why no torque steer on the SHO? Do these have something to counertact this?
I must be missing something.

 

[BiGMaC]

Is she up for tuning your XSport?

Any tune should improve your problem.

The new LMS v8 with 3BAR MAP is smooth power and the new turbo map puts increased power throughout the throttle... with no perceptible turbo lag.

Thanks for the inputs!

Yea, she just trusts my decisions...when it comes to our cars :hmmm:
I think there might be a problem and agree a tune would be one way too fix it, if the problem is with mapping. But would it have to run higher octane all the time with that tune?
I remember having a '01 7.3 diesel that only got 14 mpg's empty. Since I worked at a Ford dealer at the time they had it in weekly if not daily trying to fix it...they couldn't. I put a tune in it and emmediately got 21-22 hwy.

So you say it shouldn't have any torque steer? interesting.

Btw- this Sport is getting 19 average mpg even with beating on it...thought that is pretty good...

Guy

The tunes are written for the available octane... 91 or 93 standard (others can be had).  I carry both when traveling because you never know what will be available in a given state and the change takes 5 minutes.... if you're not burning premium that could be part of the sluggishness you notice.

As far as torque steer... if you have the grannies on it should limit itself... check you settings... if it still does TQ steering after they are set to "on"  then I'd have the dealer take a look since I've never heard this complaint before.... makes me think something may not be working properly.

 

[POPSTAGE2]

Is she up for tuning your XSport?

Any tune should improve your problem.

The new LMS v8 with 3BAR MAP is smooth power and the new turbo map puts increased power throughout the throttle... with no perceptible turbo lag.

Thanks for the inputs!

Yea, she just trusts my decisions...when it comes to our cars :hmmm:
I think there might be a problem and agree a tune would be one way too fix it, if the problem is with mapping. But would it have to run higher octane all the time with that tune?
I remember having a '01 7.3 diesel that only got 14 mpg's empty. Since I worked at a Ford dealer at the time they had it in weekly if not daily trying to fix it...they couldn't. I put a tune in it and emmediately got 21-22 hwy.

So you say it shouldn't have any torque steer? interesting.

Btw- this Sport is getting 19 average mpg even with beating on it...thought that is pretty good...

Guy

The tunes are written for the available octane... 91 or 93 standard (others can be had).  I carry both when traveling because you never know what will be available in a given state and the change takes 5 minutes.... if you're not burning premium that could be part of the sluggishness you notice.

As far as torque steer... if you have the grannies on it should limit itself... check you settings... if it still does TQ steering after they are set to "on"  then I'd have the dealer take a look since I've never heard this complaint before.... makes me think something may not be working properly.

Really? There's a limit setting? Feeling kinda stupid now.
I will play with that.

Thanks!
Guy

Btw- 91 octane since new...

 

[POPSTAGE2]

BiGMaC-
I don't understand the "setting" you're talking about? I looked in the manual, nothing. Thought maybe the Valet setting... that's not it , that just locks out MFT.
When we picked it up new, the dealer did say there is a way to limit speed or the power...don't remember which, but either one I don't believe that is possible...I think they were wrong.

 

[BiGMaC]

BiGMaC-
I don't understand the "setting" you're talking about? I looked in the manual, nothing. Thought maybe the Valet setting... that's not it , that just locks out MFT.
When we picked it up new, the dealer did say there is a way to limit speed or the power...don't remember which, but either one I don't believe that is possible...I think they were wrong.

Creating a "My Key" can limit speed if it is used to start the car... a lot in the manual.  Valet can control some things... but I never use it so I just don't know about that function
I was also referring to "sand" mode, "traction control", and that stuff.

 

[Needmoreboost]

Zero torque steer on my SHO.  Now it will spin the tires on launch and shift.

 

[goblues38]

I have both.  '13 SHO and '14 X SPORT.

My show (with a tune), has ZERO torque steer.  Point it and it goes.

The X Sport (stock) will torque steer like a muther most times.  But usually when you go from low RPM's (below 2,000) up through the RPM's.  When the turbos spool up, is when you get it.  Any input to the steering wheel exaggerated it.

 

[BiGMaC]

goblues... good info... My SHO is like needmb's... a little spinning... but not TQ steering.

 

[POPSTAGE2]

I have both.  '13 SHO and '14 X SPORT.

My show (with a tune), has ZERO torque steer.  Point it and it goes.

The X Sport (stock) will torque steer like a muther most times.  But usually when you go from low RPM's (below 2,000) up through the RPM's.  When the turbos spool up, is when you get it.  Any input to the steering wheel exaggerated it.

That's how the 2013 was when we test drove it. My new 2014 hardly any (T/S). It feels about like an 18 to 19 second ride.
What times are these stock?

Bigmac- I see now what I can change or limit with my-key...thanks!

 

[BlueSHO]

I have both.  '13 SHO and '14 X SPORT.

My show (with a tune), has ZERO torque steer.  Point it and it goes.

The X Sport (stock) will torque steer like a muther most times.  But usually when you go from low RPM's (below 2,000) up through the RPM's.  When the turbos spool up, is when you get it.  Any input to the steering wheel exaggerated it.

Same experience here. I have a 12 PP SHO and 13 XSport and the Explorer has crazy torque steer with nothing for the SHO.  Weird that it's like that.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

[BiGMaC]

I have both.  '13 SHO and '14 X SPORT.

My show (with a tune), has ZERO torque steer.  Point it and it goes.

The X Sport (stock) will torque steer like a muther most times.  But usually when you go from low RPM's (below 2,000) up through the RPM's.  When the turbos spool up, is when you get it.  Any input to the steering wheel exaggerated it.

That's how the 2013 was when we test drove it. My new 2014 hardly any (T/S). It feels about like an 18 to 19 second ride.
What times are these stock?

Expect low 13's stock and mid to upper 12's tuned... add a few mods and tune tweaks you get low 12's... current only 2 SHO's have run below 12... they were both meth injected.

 

[Josephm]

14.2 quarter mile in a Explore Sport and around 13.6 tuned.

Maybe make a video of your acceleration so people can see if its normal?

 

[JimiJak]

That's how the 2013 was when we test drove it. My new 2014 hardly any (T/S). It feels about like an 18 to 19 second ride.
What times are these stock?
Bigmac- I see now what I can change or limit with my-key...thanks!

TQ steer: on my 14 XSport? Yes. I second blues that it's mostly from low RPM through the middle of the power band while the turbos are really kicking it.

Times: Stock, we should be pulling around a 14 second quarter mile for most people. If you know what you're doing with good track conditions you could probably manage down to the mid 13's...but that's about it without a tune.

MyKey: DO NOT activate a MyKey unless you plan on giving that key to your 16 year old that needs a babysitter. lol
Even if one did get activated though...that has nothing to do with acceleration...just sets MAX limits for volume, speed, etc.

different driving modes: on start up, it defaults to normal driving / traction modes, so that shouldn't be the problem either.
A little info on the different modes:
Sand - disables traction control. Gearing keeps RPM high and doesn't down shift into 6th...ever. This setting has the most aggressive throttle response and shifts.
both the Mud/Ruts and Snow/Grass settings are very similar. I have yet to find a difference between the two...either way these settings greatly decrease throttle response, and limit overall power. It's like what it would feel like to fill your engine with tar. Great if you're trying not to spin your wheels on a crazy slick surface...but not good for much outside of an ice rink.
But unless you crank it to snow mode every time you start it...this shouldn't be the problem either.

Unfortunately, that's about all I've got...I can kybosh all your theories...but I don't have any suggestions for what it could be.

Did you get your catch can installed? I would love to see your install details. That would be the first place I would look. Can we get a pic of your install?

 

[POPSTAGE2]

Thanks for the replies, it helps. If it's a 14 to 15 second 1/4 stock I know this one isn't.

BigMac- I can get pictures of the catch can install but I'm 99.9% sure it's installed correctly...anythings possible though.
Followed JimiJak's install except used 400 psi transmission hose that is compatible with oil and fuel. It's stiffer walled which will work better for the suction lines. That and I mounted it in the same location (underhood) but a tad lower and closer towards the radiator so the engine cover still fits.

I'll maybe move it to the wheelwell pending how much more crud JimiJak collects.

Again thanks for the replies...it's kinda telling me somethings up. It seems like after 2/3rds throttle it either loses boost or just accelerates the same amount.

 

[JimiJak]

Good to know. So if the can is installed correctly, and it's not a vacuum issue that's causing your problem; my next guess would be a turbo leak somewhere in the plastic charge pipes once the boost reaches a certain pressure. So let's say it's a leak that only happens at 10psi, you'll only get 10psi, and any additional boost will be lost even though you're WOT.

I'm assuming you're not throwing any CELs and you're not missing on any cylinders or anything, right?

You're stock, other than the catch can, right?