Good info!I'll get a little technical to help answer this before the 87 advocates come in saying it's imperceptible or the peak HP numbers aren't far off.
The 12:1 compression the gen 3 uses isn't a static number. Advance the cam = more compression, retard the cam = less compression. More compression means more oomph but higher compression needs higher octane to prevent a misfire. This smaller displacement engine relies on the compression to get more low end torque. However, you actually want to retard the cam timing at high rpms. This is why people building an engine had to choose between low end street warrior or a top end 1/4 mile time chaser. Variable cam timing enables us to have both, or use 87 octane.
The ecm basically runs a lot of cam retard to allow 87 to be used. So what you're losing by running 87 octane is your low end grunt. Your top end doesn't suffer as much, hence the relatively similar peak HP numbers. Now, unless you're allergic to acceleration, this is something that you're going to notice.
One thing to note is that you can't easily flip flop octane to compare. If you're running 93 and dump in 87 you'll probably notice right away because the engine will knock and the ecm will immediately adjust. If you're running 87 and step up to 93 then it may take a little bit before the ecm realizes it can ramp things up a bit.
Another side note is that 93 e10 will have slightly better performance than 93 e0 (more notably on hotter days). You will get better gas mileage with the non ethanol blend, because ethanol has less energy per gallon than gasoline, but that's not an indicator of power to the wheels.
Agreed! Could go for some other topics also.. A simple search would answer there question but there situation is "different"Nature designed your body to run off water. Dose it get better performance form monster/ redbull/ coffee? sure it does but will drinking water mess you up and cause you to break down and feel like crap through the whole day ... NO!
Here let me fast track this thread
93 is better no 87 is just fine
There are studys that show 93 is a waste... they are lies
Ford designed the car too...they are idiots.
Are you a gas expert ? no but I can google and cut and paste to prove im right.
blah blah compression... blah blah timing blah blah top tier..oh hell here we go with top tier
its just marketing...I can feel the difference.
no really its a consortium of gas companies that just want you to buy their over priced gas... no really i can feel the difference.
General motors sucks fords best after saying ford engineers are idiots
well general motors owns the trademark for top tier... they do? yes? its marketing.. well i can feel the difference.
They can have my 93 when they pry it from my cold dead hands.
DID I miss anything? can we fast track this and not have the 400th thread on 87 vs 93