What grade fuel for PowerBoost?

[Gator625]

Are you using Regular or Premium? I seem to remember Ford recommends Premium but says you can run on Regular.

I use +plus 89 octane and call it a day . I've seen it make a difference in other trucks and it's less likely to be complete crap fuel that can hurt your engine ( +$8 per fill up won't kill me)

Sponsored

 

[z-man]

87 here. When I am in Utah or Colorado where they sell 85 I never buy that crap.

 

[Gros Ventre]

After tracking fuel for a few miles... I've noted that with 85 octane I see about 0.3 mpg reduction (eg 21.2 vs 20.9) but about $21 lower cost per tank full. In other words the 85 octane is about 3¢/mile cheaper... The computer control of the engine will adjust for the octane. When I tow or otherwise have a load, I use 87 octane and if in the hot summertime, I'll put in 91 octane. But for medium to light stuff... 85 octane works just fine, particularly at altitudes common to my home state.

 

[Calson]

I use +plus 89 octane and call it a day . I've seen it make a difference in other trucks and it's less likely to be complete crap fuel that can hurt your engine ( +$8 per fill up won't kill me)

Where have you bought "crap" fuel? If the engine is provided with a lower octane rated fuel the computer retards the spark to prevent or minimize pre-ignition. This has been true for the past 30 years.

Put in a higher octane rated fuel than is recommended is only making a donation to the profits of the oil companies who really do not need your money.

 

[Gros Ventre]

Where have you bought "crap" fuel? If the engine is provided with a lower octane rated fuel the computer retards the spark to prevent or minimize pre-ignition. This has been true for the past 30 years.

Put in a higher octane rated fuel than is recommended is only making a donation to the profits of the oil companies who really do not need your money.

Agreed. There are only a few makers of gasoline out there. They make a base fuel to which additives are added to increase octane along with some other trademarked additives. I've been driving since the 70s. I've bought gasoline at the lowest prices available across all of those years. Even in the days of non-computer standard Kettering ignition systems I never had a problem. Bottom line is that an engine is designed for a specific Octane. In the Kettering ignition days you could have a problem if you were lower than the specified... With the advent of computers controlling things, they adjust things and the engine will run well but may see a reduction in power/MPG. As I noted above I see about a 0.3 MPG reduction, but that translates into a saving of some significance across a full tank. ...And by extension across a year a much larger savings. If you're going to operate at near full power, for a long time, and in summer heat... put in the higher octane. For motoring around with an empty bed and one or two people in the truck, 85 will work just fine

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

I don’t run 87 in my lawnmower.
I locked my truck too much to run garbage fuel on it. It only gets premium.

To each their own, use what you like.

 

[Samson16]

Put in a higher octane rated fuel than is recommended is only making a donation to the profits of the oil companies who really do not need your money.

Easy there Mr. Marx?, my 401k is running close to 30% ytd.

I believe the manual states 87 minimum and recommends 91 or above for towing etc.

 

[Gros Ventre]

I don’t run 87 in my lawnmower.
I locked my truck too much to run garbage fuel on it. It only gets premium.

To each their own, use what you like.

What do you class as garbage fuel?

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

What do you class as garbage fuel?

87…..

Premium may lot make sense concerning a fiscal point, but there is a difference. It improves all parameters

from a Car And Driver test…….

 

[Snakebitten]

Easy there Mr. Marx?, my 401k is running close to 30% ytd.

I believe the manual states 87 minimum and recommends 91 or above for towing etc.

I would raz you for taking the bait, but I have some kind of kryptonite weakness lately myself. ??

 

[roadPilot]

Easy there Mr. Marx?, my 401k is running close to 30% ytd.

Most of that since 05 NOV 2024.

 

[Gros Ventre]

87…..

Premium may lot make sense concerning a fiscal point, but there is a difference. It improves all parameters

from a Car And Driver test…….

So, OK, if you're roaring around the Indianapolis Track... wonderful. But then when you're puttzing around town, who cares? Like I said, If I'm towing or a heavy load in the back and/or on a hot summer day... I got it. But going to town for a visit? At the end of the day what I saw over enough miles to see a clear difference was 0.3 MPG decrease. This includes travel on I-80 with two adults and moderate luggage. At the end of the day across 700 miles (a full tanks worth) and a 3¢/mile savings, this adds up quickly. So, if you're not on the gas peddle heavily, that is some sizable savings. If you look at the numbers you cite above the real world differences are trivial: 0-60 same-same; 0-100 0.2 sec; 1/4 miles 0.1 sec; mpg 0.3... Like I said, if you're running in the Indianapolis 500, I got it. For the rest of the world, so what! 3¢/mile adds up to $300 in 10,000 miles. You have a choice: send that $300 out the tailpipe, or take the wife to dinner and buy some Christmas presents for the kids.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

You have a choice: send that $300 out the tailpipe, or take the wife to dinner and buy some Christmas presents for the kids.

I worked my ass off for 40 years to be able to be in the situation where I can do both.

Like I’ve said before, your truck, your choice.

 

[Samson16]

I would raz you for taking the bait, but I have some kind of kryptonite weakness lately myself. ??

Oh it’s raz worthy. @Calson never responds to me and I still took the bait!

 

[Samson16]

I worked my ass off for 40 years to be able to be in the situation where I can do both.

Like I’ve said before, your truck, your choice.

I’ve only run premium, but I do appreciate the flexibility in case I really need fuel and the premium pump is out or times are tight and regular unleaded will have to do.

Sponsored