What octane is everybody using, and why?

 

87. It's cheap.

 

87 so far...because its cheap and these trucks suck it like a wino on a thunderbird bottle. BTW you shouldnt realize any benefits from a higher octane than 87 unless you have timing/compression changes (i.e a Superchip or "built motor".

DS

 

Peter and DirtSlinger,

I have actually seen better gas mileage using 92 octane on long trips! I average 2-3 MPG better using 92 instead of 87. This gives me an additional 40-60 miles per tank, so I feel it's worth it (that one less stop on my trip home!) In Georgia, the price of 92 is actually a little cheaper than in the DC area, so when I'm home, that's all I use, and the truck runs great!

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Paul... :-)
99 F-150 XLT SC Sport, 4.6L, Auto, Captain Chairs, Class III Towing Package, 3.55 LS, Sliding Rear Window, White, 4X2, CD, Soft Factory Tonneau Cover, K&N Filter, WMS Velocity Tube, Line-X Spray on Bed Liner, Gibson Side Swept Cat Back System, F150online Decal...
More to come



[This message has been edited by PaulT (edited 01-13-2000).]

 

This is an article that was posted a while back, you can find it on the USA Today website.

Ford Tweaks Engines for Premium Power Payoff
USA Today

Consumer groups insist there is no benefit in using premium fuel if the owner's manual specifies regular. But many Ford, Mercury and Lincoln trucks, and the 1998 Lincoln Town Car that goes on sale in December, have a feature that makes their engines more powerful and improves mileage slightly if you use premium. That's so even though the engines are designed for regular, and advertised poweris obtained using regular. Ford engineers David Amos, Gary Barringer and Gary Brewer came up with the clever gimmick brainstorming. The magic gadget is a knock sensor similar to those on many engines, but set to work differently. Other knock sensors work in the negative. That is, they tone down some engine computer settings when the engine starts knocking, quelling the commotion at the expense of engine power. But Ford's has headroom built in. It will work like the others, but if you use premium, it'll also step up settings to exploit premium's properties. Amos says it adds five to seven horsepower to the nominal 205 hp in the overhead-camshaft Explorer/Mountaineer V-6. And he says premium improves fuel economy in that engine 0.8 to 1 mile per gallon. Ford can't advertise the higher horsepower and fuel economy numbers unless it's willing to specify premium fuel, which marketers fear could scare off buyers. The sensor also is on all trucks using Ford's 4.6-liter and 5.4-liter V-8s and 6.8-liter V-10. That's most F-series V-8 pickups, all Expedition and Lincoln Navigator sports utilities, and some Econoline vans. And it will be on the 4.6-liter '98 Town Car.



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The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau, Profile Windstream Side Deflectors and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html

 

I use mid-grade exclusively.

I like to try to keep it the same, because the computer in the truck then knows what to expect.

In the older trucks I would run regular then every 3-4 put 92. But since these things have a mind of their own I think it is better to just go with the middle of the road.

Though I do put some Performance Inhancer every six months to make sure the injector and componets stay clean:
http://www.amsoil.com/products/api.html




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Lube-Direct

 

I'm not buying ANY OF THIS!!!
87 Octane BURNS FASTER than 89 or 92 or 93 or 94 - PERIOD!!!

The problem with using higher octane gasonlines in your engine is that the engines timing and compression is setup for the lower octane (faster burning)....Using a higher octane will dramatically increase carbon build-up in your engine PERIOD!!!!

Besides the cleaner engnine its CHEAPER!



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Rand

 

Dramatically? With only a 6 octane points higher, hardly. Ive been using 93 octane for two years with no ill effects. My mpg improved and the engine feels stronger (no mods).

My friend has a 99 Explorer SOHC. He used 87 and was getting bad mpg and having problems passing on a mountain highway to his house. He switched to 93 and has noticed increased power and on a recent long trip has gotten better mpg.

These engines can and will take advantage of higher octane.



------------------
The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau, Profile Windstream Side Deflectors and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html



[This message has been edited by Triton46 (edited 01-13-2000).]

 

I burn 87 Octane. I had just the opposite effect that Triton46 had in my 2000. My 98 5.4L DID seem to run better with Premium though.


2000 5.4L test:

My first 0-60 was with 87 octane and it was 7.8 seconds. (with K&N filter)

Next tank..I filled it up with 93 Octane..and the 0-60 time went to 9.8 seconds! I ran another test at half a tank with the same results (with K&N filter).

I went back to 87 Octane and have been using it ever since. I have tested the truck a couple more times, various fuel loads..and I am right at 7.9 seconds every time. No problems at all with knocking or pinging. No rough idle either.

Very powerful and noticeable difference.

---------------------------------------------
2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99




[This message has been edited by Dustoff (edited 01-13-2000).]

 

I use 87 since I ain't got a chip yet and don't know if the chip is worth it and also having to pay more at the pump with the 93 octane.

 

Like PaulT I also see a noticeable mileage improvement with the higher octane gas (20 to 30 more miles per tank). I also feel a noticeable power inprovement. I must use 87 most of the time though because 93 is $1.50 per gallon in my area and I fill up about 2 times per week. That can add up quickly.

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99.5 4x4 S/C Lariat, ORP, Flairside,5.4l 3.73 rear, oxford white, 4 wheel disc, 4 wheel ABS,factory nerf bars, 6 disc changer, keyless entry

To mod or not to mod....that is the question!

 

From TRITON46:
"Dramatically? With only a 6 octane points higher, hardly. Ive been using 93 octane for two years with no ill effects."

Question: Have you looked inside your engine? If you can't see the effects of carbon build up how do you know?

Years of using the higher octane will eventually clog your engine with carbon build up! The first place to get hit hard is your oxygen sensor(s). Once a substantial amount of carbon builds up on the sensors, it gives false readings to the computer about your air - fuel mixture and may cause it to run lean or rich!!! Thats a bad thing!!!



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Rand

 

90 octane 10% ethanol blend, Owners manual says its ok so I use it. It's usually the same price as 87 or $0.01 less.

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1999 F150 S.Cab 4x4
Northland Edition,5.4
Off road pkg. Fleetside
Black w/grey int.

 

Dustoff,

You lost almost 2 seconds on 0-60? Wow! I ran a 8.2sec with some tire spin.

 

These lil 4.2's do good on 87, but I can increase from 17.7 to 18.6 on a long run. Is it worth the extra $ to go to 92 or 93 unless your on the chip?. Maybe. I do notice slight pinging with minimal load once the converter locks up. Probably the **** poor fuel quality up here when its 10' outside. I'll probably stay with the 87 until I decide to get a chip for it. I'm still a bit scared to chip it due to warranty uncertainties.

my .02

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"99" F-150 4x2,ext, med red / silver, 4.2L, auto, 3.55's, 265x16's premium snd w/cd, leer "too heavy" matching cap, Mobil 1, soon to be "ON THE CHIP!!".