Pedal Commander/AFE Cold Air Intake

[Jellystoned]

I was wondering if anyone has done a similar combo. I have a 21 BS BB 1.5L and I put the AFE cold air intake and the pedal commander on about two weeks ago. I have noticed my MPG is trash now. Anyone else notice this? I know I know, more pedal control means I'm prolly in it more ?? but dang on I didn't expect such a difference in fuel economy. I'm not complaining- it's Smiles per gallon for me just curious.

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[jkeaton]

Is your cold air actually a hot air? Meaning it's an open element drawing air from the engine bay? The BS already has a cold air intake on it from the factory, so I don't know why people think adding an aftermarket intake gains anything except more noise and a lighter wallet.

What mileage were you getting before and what mileage are you getting now? You can test it yourself though: Put the stock intake back on and drive for a while and see if that impacts mileage. If it doesn't, then remove the pedal commander and see if it changes. Figure out if it's one or the other or a combination of both.

 

[CrazyKZ]

There are a lot of other variables too. I took a trip recently to Austin and the wind was in our face and got terrible MPG, then coming back with the wind I gained 5 MPG.
Can you turn the pedal commander dial down to eco mode and see if that helps?

 

[Bucko]

I'd have to say that every car that has been made in the past 5 to 10 years already has a cold air box/filter. If you buy most of the so called aftermarket CAI on the market today, you stand a strong chance of going backwards. They are open at the top, even with a rubber gasket that is supposed to seal to the hood when it's closed, allowing warm air to be drawn in. The OEM filters/boxes have a sound tube attached to keep the air flow quiet. The only thing you would gain is the "rumble" sound of air entering into the throttle body with these aftermarket CAI's.

The Ford Mustang had a pipe that ran from the air intake tube to the interior on the 5.0 GT's back in the mid 2000's because Ford thought the owners would like this sound. Many owners removed and capped the tube opening.

A gimmick at best. So unless you want eye candy (at an expense) when the hood is open (and most car folks know its a gimmick), save your money.

 

[Jellystoned]

Thanks for the feedback! The intake I added is an included system so it's not open to the engine bay. I'm really thinking it has more to do with the pedal commander than anything. Eco mode is the WORST. I live in Northeast PA and it's all mountains here. The constant up and down made Eco mode very frustrating. Previously I was getting about 22mpg and now I'm getting about 15-17mpg.

 

[Meanderthal]

Thanks for the feedback! The intake I added is an included system so it's not open to the engine bay. I'm really thinking it has more to do with the pedal commander than anything. Eco mode is the WORST. I live in Northeast PA and it's all mountains here. The constant up and down made Eco mode very frustrating. Previously I was getting about 22mpg and now I'm getting about 15-17mpg.

It is probably a lot easier to just remove the pedal commander for a few tanks of running and see if the MPG improves. It seems that you were already getting worse mileage than a Badlands though. That makes me think there might be something else reducing your mileage.

 

[jkeaton]

Thanks for the feedback! The intake I added is an included system so it's not open to the engine bay. I'm really thinking it has more to do with the pedal commander than anything. Eco mode is the WORST. I live in Northeast PA and it's all mountains here. The constant up and down made Eco mode very frustrating. Previously I was getting about 22mpg and now I'm getting about 15-17mpg.

Definitely agree about eco mode on the pedal commander. I have one on my F150 and can't stand driving it in that mode. I'm usually 3-4 sport unless I'm towing, then i back it down a bit to keep the trans from hunting so much.

 

[Jellystoned]

It is probably a lot easier to just remove the pedal commander for a few tanks of running and see if the MPG improves. It seems that you were already getting worse mileage than a Badlands though. That makes me think there might be something else reducing your mileage.

I definitely lost MPG when I put the bigger tires on. Before that I was getting 25-27mpg.

 

[Mark S.]

I know I know, more pedal control means I'm prolly in it more ?? but dang on I didn't expect such a difference in fuel economy. I'm not complaining- it's Smiles per gallon for me just curious.

The pedal commander changes the throttle response. When you step on the accelerator you position a potentiometer which outputs a voltage. Your PCM converts the voltage to a torque demand and configures the engine to provide the demanded torque. The pedal commander intercepts the signal from your accelerator and "boosts" it, so to speak. It increases torque demand for a given pedal position beyond what OEM programming would have provided.

You can accomplish pretty much the same effect as the pedal commander by simply pressing harder on the accelerator pedal (thereby increasing torque demand), because that's pretty much all the pedal commander does.

The rest is just physics. It requires a given amount of fuel to accelerate a given amount of mass. The faster the acceleration (the more push in your back) the more fuel you use. This is the basis for ECO mode. It does the exact opposite of a pedal commander; it reduces torque demand for a given pedal position. Slower acceleration = less fuel required.

 

[Bucko]

Thanks for the feedback! The intake I added is an included system so it's not open to the engine bay. I'm really thinking it has more to do with the pedal commander than anything. Eco mode is the WORST. I live in Northeast PA and it's all mountains here. The constant up and down made Eco mode very frustrating. Previously I was getting about 22mpg and now I'm getting about 15-17mpg.

I really don't think you will see any difference with a CAI, inclosed box or not. The retailers will tell you different, so ask them if they will refund your money if you do not see an increase in power or MPG. I'm betting they don't.

I had one of these years ago (CAI) on a 2004 F150 with the 4.6 V8. Not one bit of MPG gain, nor anything I felt by "the seat of the pants" type performance. The only thing I noticed was a "rumble" sound when I hit the drive by wire right pedal (no longer a "gas" pedal). I found out that the sound can be had by removing the "muffler" side tube that most OEM CAI's have, and then plugging the hole from the cut.

 

[Bucko]

I get 21 MPG between my Pedal Commander and Ko2s. I drive in Sport mode with Pedal Commander set to city +3. But I did not buy this for MPG.

I don't know much with the pedal commander as to MPG or performance gains, but IMO, the aftermarket CAI's are a waste of money unless you like eye candy under the hood.

 

[thomasm23]

I was wondering if anyone has done a similar combo. I have a 21 BS BB 1.5L and I put the AFE cold air intake and the pedal commander on about two weeks ago. I have noticed my MPG is trash now. Anyone else notice this? I know I know, more pedal control means I'm prolly in it more ?? but dang on I didn't expect such a difference in fuel economy. I'm not complaining- it's Smiles per gallon for me just curious.

Just why???

 

[Jellystoned]

Just why???

Why not? Lol

 

[Sleddog]

It you want better response use sport mode. IMO the pedal commander is just overkill.

 

[67L48]

[...] You can accomplish pretty much the same effect as the pedal commander by simply pressing harder on the accelerator pedal (thereby increasing torque demand), because that's pretty much all the pedal commander does. [...]

This isn't quite correct. There are some really good YouTube videos where people show how these work. It's not merely a force multiplier of your foot. It changes the rate at which the throttle plate opens. Even with wot, the vehicle's computer works against your foot and the pedal commanders overcome this.

So, it's not just 1/4 throttle = 1/2 throttle. It also is much quicker at opening the throttle plate than the vehicle otherwise allows. Both of these things work together to give a better response. It also greatly helps offset the dreaded dead pedal that often results from these awful fly-by-wire systems.

I don't own one, but I'd really like to get a Banks Pedal Monster for my F-350.

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