Best Programmer for 4.6 F150 (Review and Buyer’s Guide)

Best Programmer for 4.6 F150

Like a lot of things nowadays, your F150 has an onboard computer, programmed to work for any driver. The set up is a good system in terms of safety for your truck, but it does tie your hands when you want to push its potential power. Programmers unlock your computer, so to speak, and give you the ability to boost your truck’s performance and improve efficiency. This article lists four of the best programmers for 4.6 F150 on the market.

[Do you or a buddy have a F150 3.5L Ecoboost too? We’ve also create a round-up of the 5 best tuners for the F150 Ecoboost.]

Why can you trust us? Mechanic Guides is written by experts and 100% reader-supported. We never receive anything from the product manufacturers.

The 4 Best Programmers for 4.6 F150:

1. SCT X4 Performance Tuner – the best programmer for 4.6 F150
2. Hypertech 2100 Max Energy 2.0 Power Programmer (California Legal)
3. Superchips 1845 Flashpaq F5 Programmer
4. Edge 16040 EvoHT2 Programmer

Our Recommendations

REVIEWS YOU CAN TRUST 

We strive to always give you genuine, accurate information. To do this, all of mechanicguides.com reviews are based on market research, expert input, and practical experience. This knowledge comes from a team of automotive journalists and an independent mechanic, Steve “Whip” Whipple who has 11 years of experience in the auto industry. For more information, see here.

Our Pick: SCT X4 Performance Tuner – the best programmer for 4.6 F150

SCT is a well-known brand for tuners and programmers because of its precision-engineered, high-quality products. Among its popular products is a programmer for the 4.6 F150 – the X4 Performance Programmer. It’s got everything you can expect from a programmer and more. You can monitor your engine with its full-color backlit LCD display. You also can increase your truck’s power and torque almost instantly with its pre-loaded tunes. These tunes were carefully engineered to overcome your truck’s engine control limits without crossing the line and possibly damaging the engine.

The SCT X4 has built-in Wi-Fi, a feature not commonly found in programmers, so you can easily update your device anywhere you can find a hotspot. It also comes with a one-year warranty so if there’s a problem, you can have your device replaced or fixed for free.

[Is a programmer and a tuner the same thing? Learn all about it in our Ultimate Guide to Tuners, Programmers, and Chips.]

No products found.

Real-Time Data Monitoring and Clear Trouble Codes

What can you get with the X4? You can view and log your truck’s engine parameters straight to the device or through your computer. This means you’ve got real-time updates and engine data to play around with. It’s also got dual analog inputs that scan your exhaust gas temperature (EGT), air-fuel ratio, and other sensor data to always keep your vehicle in good working condition. The device can read the powertrain control module (PCM) diagnostic trouble codes and clear them for you. This can save you time and money in bringing your truck to a service center for a checkup.

Lots of Memory for Up to 10 Custom Tunes

Along with the pre-loaded tunes, the SCT X4 can hold up to ten custom tunes. You can purchase a custom tune to improve towing capacity, speed performance, and more, depending on how you want to use your truck and what your truck’s specs are. Even after loading a tune, you still have lots of opportunities to tweak performance even further. For instance, you can alter the axle ratio to improve the engine and wheel speed and you can also change your transmission shift firmness. It also has a multiple displacement system to save fuel by switching to four-cylinder engine mode and disabling the other engine cylinders when turned on.

Why should you get it?

You can put your confidence in SCT, a popular brand that’s been used by programmer enthusiasts for years. Once you mount the X4, it’s great for real-time parameter monitoring, even if you don’t want to install a tune just yet. But if you do, there are pre-loaded options that you can count on or you can buy and install up to ten custom tunes that work specifically for your truck. The Wi-Fi connectivity is perfect if you don’t want to mess with a computer every time you want to update.

---

Great Value: Hypertech 2100 Max Energy 2.0 Power Programmer (California Legal)

Show off your truck’s maximum performance with Hypertech’s 2100 Max Energy 2.0 Power Programmer, one of the most trusted programmers for 4.6 F150. You can get performance gains on your truck at a much affordable price. With its easy 15-minute installation and backlit LCD screen, it’s quick and easy to get started and start making improvements to your truck.  You’ll able to increase your F150’s horsepower and torque with less gas consumption.

But don’t assume you can let this programmer do all the work. The Hypertech 2100 does not have a pre-loaded tune, so it’s on you to know what your truck needs. And if you’re in California, this one is for you, too – this model has been emission certified.

No products found.

Get the Highest Level of Towing Power and Save Your Gas the Rest of the Time 

You can get the most powerful towing tune on the market since it’s the only programmer that gives you the highest level of towing while keeping the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) at a safe level. This ensures that you can load your truck with its maximum weight, as specified by the manufacturer, without causing engine or transmission damage in the process.

It also has an Active Fuel Management System that increases your truck’s fuel efficiency. It allows the engine to turn into a fuel sipping 4-cylinder during light load conditions.

Parameter Adjustments Galore

Similar to the other programmers, you’re able to calibrate the speedometer by accounting for changes in tire size and gear ratio. The truck’s tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) can be adjusted for those larger tires too. If you want to get into it, there are a ton more adjustments available. It can raise or lower the truck’s top speed to match your tires. You can adjust the transmission shift firmness and response to enhance its drivability and power delivery, especially if you have to handle steep roads. It can alter the cold air intakes so your vehicle can take advantage of the airflow increase. It’s capable of active fuel management as well, for better fuel efficiency. You can also clear diagnostic codes and confirm what the problem is in case you’ve got that annoying engine light.

Why should you get it?

Hypertech 2100 Max Energy 2.0 Power Programmer is relatively better priced than its counterparts, and it is California-legal, which is not often the case for tuners. If you like to go on road trips and bring heavy loads along the way, this device’s maximum towing tune is ideal. And when you don’t need maximum power, you can save on gas with its Active Fuel Management System. Plus, you have lots of parameters, like tire size and top speed, that you can adjust so it’s just right for your truck and how you want it to perform.

---

Longer Warranty Protection: Superchips 1845 Flashpaq F5 Programmer

With its 2-year, 24,000-mile powertrain warranty, the Superchips Flashpaq F5 is one of the most popular programmers for 4.6 F150. It can significantly improve horsepower, torque, and fuel economy beyond what you’d get stock from the manufacturer. It’s lightweight and smaller than your smartphone and has a 2.8-inch, high definition color screen. On top of these features, Superchips has increased the memory to store more tunes and data as well as improved the processor and update speed for easier and quicker programming.

But for those in California, you’ll have to skip this device (try the Hypertech 2100). The Superchips 1845 isn’t legal for your state, sorry.

No products found.

Incredible Power Gains and 4 Pre-Loaded Tunes

Unleash your truck’s full potential. It can increase your 4.6L F150 truck’s up to 30 horsepower and 40 lb-ft of torque, depending on your F150’s model year. This programmer also has pre-loaded tunes so you can adjust your truck’s performance for economy, towing, daily driving, and extreme tuning for better drivability. It can also eliminate excessive downshifting when driving uphill, so you can go faster at a steeper grades.

Adjust Parameters With Peace of Mind

If you change your mind about an adjustment you made, or if your tune isn’t working as well as you hoped, you can always go back to the stock tune because the Superchips 1845 makes an automatic backup. It’s capable of speedometer correction and can read and clear diagnostic trouble codes. It also has adjustability for speed, rev limiters, transmission shift points, shift firmness and TQ management. It can monitor parameters to give you data and status updates in real-time. It’ll help you save fuel too, by deactivating half of the cylinders.

Why should you get it?

It’s a good choice considering its sleek and lightweight design, and its updated processing system and memory.  You have a whole bunch of calibrations available through the device that will help you achieve the performance gains that you want for your F150. This includes shift firmness and points, speedometer, rev limiter, and more. And if you ever change your mind, your stock tune is an easy restore away. It also has a 2-year, 24,000-mile powertrain warranty, a longer warranty than most manufacturers offer.

---

Edge 16040 EvoHT2 Programmer

You can go over the edge with the Edge 16040 EvoHT2 Programmer. (Ha.) This handheld, mountable programmer can enhance your truck’s performance in terms of speed, acceleration, and fuel consumption. You’ll overcome the truck’s limits with just a few button-clicks through its new high-resolution, 2.8-inch color screen. Unfortunately it doesn’t have built-in Wi-Fi, but it can be updated through the internet by plugging it into the computer via the USB port. It does come with a 1-year warranty though.

It matches Superchips Flashpaq F5 update capabilities with its redesigned graphics interface for improved navigation with enhanced processing system and memory. So you can expect quick installation and tuning. And also like the Superchips F5, the EvoHT2 isn’t legal for California.

No products found.

Buy and Download More Advanced Tunes If You Need Them

It has four pre-loaded multi-level performance tunes for everyday driving, economy, towing, and extreme driving, so you’ll get enhanced vehicle drivability no matter how you want to drive. But you can add more tunes by buying and downloading advanced ones through Edge Product’s website. (If you’re worried about trying new things, it automatically backups the stock tune.) This way, you can have tunes that are compatible with the truck’s hard parts, like its cold air intake, exhaust, air filter, and throttle body spacer to better manage the torque and increase your truck’s horsepower.

Great Performance Gains and Advanced Transmission Tuning

The performance gains can add as much as 27 horsepower and 30 lb-ft in torque. It’s also capable of advanced transmission tuning for adjusting transmission shift points and firmness, so you can switch gears smoothly. Like the above-mentioned programmers, it’s also able to read diagnostic trouble codes and fix them.

[Want an even smoother ride? Check out our guide for the best shocks for F150 2WD.]

Why should you get it?

You have access to almost all the programmer features for a better price when you buy the Edge 16040 Evo HT2 Programmer. It has a 1-year manufacturer warranty as well, so you’re guaranteed that if there’s something wrong with the device, you can always have it replaced. It may not have a Wi-Fi connection but updating the device and receiving customized programs can be done easily by connecting it to your computer. If you want to know whatever is happening under the hood, you can easily mount it on your dashboard and set the specific parameters that you want to monitor. It is also known to have a fast processor so you are guaranteed that you can navigate from one option or menu to another quickly.

What is the best programmer for 4.6 F150?

Programmers are really amazing inventions that can help truck owners push their trucks to their full potential. In choosing the best programmer for your truck, take into consideration its price, pre-loaded tunes, horsepower and torque boost, tuning features, and warranty.

All the products in the list have been carefully reviewed to ensure that these will work best on your F150. We’ve chosen the SCT X4 Performance Tuner because of it’s numerous features that will help you alter the program, monitor anything under the hood, and test the performance. It’s certainly great to bag an all-in-one product to help you save hundreds of dollars. On the other hand, if you’re under a budget and you want to save some cash, the Hypertech 2100 is packed with the necessary improvements yet won’t let you break the bank. For longer assurance that your device will perfectly work, the 2-year warranty of the Superchips 1845 is one of the reasons why it’s one of the best programmers for 4.6 F150. If you want a device that’s user friendly, the simple yet straightforward display of the Edge EvoHT2 will give you that experience.

F150 trucks are designed for speed and power while maintaining drivability. Programmers can make them do that and more. Get one of the best programmers for 4.6 F150 trucks above, and you’ll drive with more satisfaction.