if i buy a throttle body spacer will i need to make any modifications to my computer or mass air sensor?

Question

i have a 99 f150 ext cab 4x4, stock 5.4 triton V8 with a k and n air filter. I get about 14 to 15 mpg looking for a few more, and i am considering a throttle body spacer cause i hear that they give a few mpg and better throttle response with a cool sound. What i need to know is with the installation of a throttle body spacer do i need to make any modifications to the computer i am also considering a flowmaster cat back exhaust.

Answer 1

no, no mods are needed.
the best way (and the most expensive way) would be to line up some mods and some serious time on a cahssis dyno to test them out individually and in combination. then the evidence would be there on paper.
i am worried you are searching for more mileage this way. the best bet would be to update to a more modern, smaller vehicle. if that cant happen , loose mass in the truck (empty the sh1t out of it), then reduce rolling resistance by fitting a thinner taller tyre and inflate them to the maximum range of the inflation guide

Answer 2

That will not do anything. A spacer will just lift the throttle body about 1 to 1/2 inches from the intake. There is no performance gain since the holes are the same size.

You need to buy a bigger throttle body the rounder the holes the more air goes in.

An ASE mechanic told me this with a Truck the Bottom end is better and on a Car the Top end is better and if you want performace gain. Get an throttle body from a car with a 5.4 triton. Or take your Current throttle body in to have it machined to where the holes are cut out larger. And might as well get a bigger intake while your at it.

The Exhaust would help too. But if there is too big of a pipe the Engine would have to work harder to push the Exhaust out of the cylinder. Due to no back pressure.

Answer 3

Easy---back up--add all the money you spent and then see if it really saved you anything---I did it all and ruined my 1999 350 Suburban--the computer could not compensate for all the extra crap--and the exhaust was a 3 inch cat back that ruined the motor with less back pressure--add up the repairs and I saved NOTHING---it is all clever advertising. The spacer?? It is supposed to swirl the air gas mixture--guess what--it already swirls as designed at the factory. Now I put new air and oil filters and change the oil every 3000 miles--I get also disconnect the battery posts every month--let it sit for 15 minutes and it resets the computer--a little known secret I found after a new motor was put in. It is stock and I get 20 around town and 22 on the hiway...driving like a sane person. By the way--hardly anyone can clean a K and N the right way--there is no air getting through if you put in too much oil---it is nothing new--the consumer gets screwed again.

Answer 4

Its the puter, it does the thinking and it opens and closes the injectors, going by what all the sensors are telling it. For instance, when an engine is cold, the coolant sensor tells the computer to turn off some of the other sensors, and the computer then turns off the sensors and adds lots of gas, to keep the engine running when it is cold. You see, cold gas does not burn good, so it takes more. With the sensors turned off, the computer runs the injectors rich, and the engine gets plenty of gas. Once warmed up, the coolant sensor tells the computer to put into service the other sensors. The other sensors then regulate the air/fuel mixture, working together to get the best possible mixture for whatever the engine needs at that time. So, you see,it isn't just one that does the job, but a combination of them all. And the brain, the puter, is controlling it all. When you turn on the key, the computer gets the fuel pump to run for 2 seconds, opens up the injectors to get the gas, and sends current to the distributor to fire the sparkplugs. If after the 2 second spurt of gas, the engine doesn't start, the computer shuts down the pump, the injectors and you are not starting. You then have to turn the key again, for another try. The 2 seconds is so that the fuel pump will not keep pumping gas into an engine if it is not running. And of course, the injectors will be shut off also, after the 2 seconds. So, it is the puter that is sending the signal to open the injectors, and start the pump. the sensors only relay information to the puter to make it work. It is like you putting your hand on a hot stove. Your hand doesn't pull away by itself, the signal goes to the brain, and your brain tells the hand, "it is hot" and your hand then moves.

Answer 5

Throttle body spacer is a huge waste of money. If you want better MPG or HP you'll have to choose. I've never gotten both with the addition of any aftermarket parts. Your best bet is to get a Bamachips or other reputable tuner to make you a tune based on what you want from your truck (more power, or more efficiency, or both in different modes). You'll have to drop the dough on a tuner, but it will be worth it.

Answer 6

FORGET the spacer. Junk,,no benefit....nothing!
Freer flowing exhaust is always good, but only at higher rpm levels.
Consider looking at your rear axle ratio. The numerically higher it is, the better pulling power,,but lower MPG. See what is the LOWEST numerical factory offered rear axle ratio..so as not to mess with the computer. Example 3:07, 3:43, 3:56..but not much higher.
Good Luck

Answer 7

Don't waste your money on the spacer because the rear end is the most important change you could make at this point for this kind of truck.

Answer 8

No mods just make sure you reset your computer by disconnecting it for a minute.