Regular vs Premium Gasoline

[kdavis631]

I'm picking up my 2024 3.5 EB this weekend and curious about the preferred fuel type. For those running premium, is it worth the extra cost? Thanks in advance, and apologies if this has been discussed before.

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[UGADawg96]

Enjoy

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/87-octane-vs-93-octane-ecoboost.18789/

 

[Ricksc]

I would say that’s all up to you. I ran reg for the 6 months then added premium to tow. The truck seemed to do better on premium so I just stayed with it. Is it in my head or real? A few bucks extra per fill up not going to kill me. It’s CA gas so who knows.

 

[crazywayne311]

i started off running regular and now i use premium. truck seems to function better haha
gas mileage is better though at the end of the day b/c of the cost of premium it doesnt really matter in the end. haha

 

[Calson]

I'm picking up my 2024 3.5 EB this weekend and curious about the preferred fuel type. For those running premium, is it worth the extra cost? Thanks in advance, and apologies if this has been discussed before.

It has been discussed for more than 100 years as nothing has really changed. Octane rating is a measure of how the fuel will ignite when it first enters the hot cylinders and result in pre-ignition or knock. Engines made in the past 20 years have a computer and knock sensor and will automatically retard the point of ignition to prevent engine knock.

Ford recommends 93 octane rated gas only when towing as the engine is running hotter and pre-ignition is more likely to occur. The higher octane rated fuel is a way to protect the engine in this particular circumstance.

By the way this is covered in the Ford F-150 owner manual that can be downloaded in minutes.

 

[oneinch]

Yeah, what he said.

I don't tow and have only used regular. I drive like a Grandma. I've never even thought that premium might make my experience in the truck better, or even different.

 

[fordtruckman2003]

It won't hurt either way, use what you want to use!

Run 3-4 tanks of premium, then switch to the cheap stuff for a few tanks.
Will you notice a difference? Many do in both mileage and the old butt dyno. Only you can decide if it is worth it or not.

I ran premium for the life of my 2011 3.5 because it felt neutered on 87. Current motors are even more advanced with handling higher octane.

 

[kdavis631]

Enjoy

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/87-octane-vs-93-octane-ecoboost.18789/

Thank you !

 

[HammaMan]

If you have access to cheap e85, run 87 octane with a few gallons of e85 for the power benefits. Mileage isn't much impacted but it's often much cheaper to blend while retaining the benefits.

 

[Tone]

Top Tier: 93 only when towing; 91 otherwise. One to two mpg increase in mileage. Truck idles far smoother than with 87 which made the vehicle feel like a washing machine. Won't go back. Worth the extra coin.

Top tier higher grades are recommended by Ford.

 

[franksfords]

I've used premium in my 2018 Explorer with the 2.3 Ecoboost since I bought it with 18k miles. Manual suggests premium but that 87 is acceptable. I switched to regular and could tell a difference in performance and mileage so I switched back. At 1800 miles I can't really say with the F150 2.7. I do notice the right around 25 MPG it says I'm getting with premium.

 

[BMCGC]

If your ECU detects Pre-Ignition, it will retard the timing.

Under normal conditions 87 is all you need. A few states allow 85 due to higher elevations.

I have found that under a heavy load or in extremely high temperatures, 87 has not been adequate in some instances. In those cases I have run 91 or 93.

When I was riding Honda motorcycles in Tucson on a hot summer day, 87 would ping like crazy and I would bump up to 91. This was a carb bike, not FI.

 

[Xman]

If you have access to cheap e85, run 87 octane with a few gallons of e85 for the power benefits. ....

I thought Ford no longer supported e85 with the MY24. Would that have an impact on blending?

 

[HammaMan]

I thought Ford no longer supported e85 with the MY24. Would that have an impact on blending?

E85 isn't supported but blending to up to 20-25% w/ 87 keeps performance up, inexpensively. The truck's computer is quite versatile in always trying to get max performance. It's completely dynamic

 

[UGADawg96]

It looks like a big painful number jump at normal gas station pumps with 87 at 3.39 and 93 at 4.02 in my area. It is better at Costco 87 at 3.05 and 93 at 3.53, but it is almost 30min away and the lines are crazy long. PB FTW.

But being that I only fill up about once a month (for day to day, commuting, non road trip or trailering), I estimate I spend about $220 extra per year going from 87 to 93.

When including all mileage, I did 13,771 in 2022 and 10,509 in 2023. At 20 mpg average, that is about $413 extra in 2022 and $315 in 2023 with an average of .60 spread.

But so far in 2024, I'm only at 3378 miles. Wut hah.

($ ref: real time check on gas buddy)

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