Does premium gas make a big difference over regular?

[NoVaGT]

Arrg, my head is about to explode...

My 2016 Ecoboost, feels extremely quick off the line and all the way up to the low 120's mph on regular gas....But it bugs me that I can't get the car over 126mph, I have tried to pass a few cars and got shown up......

My head is about to explode reading how you think passing at 120MPH+ on public roads and getting "shown up" is something you should be doing. It reads of a very juvenile mind-set, with poor ego control.

I'm not against hitting some higher speeds on completely empty roads, but when there's other traffic you're attempting to pass? Not good.

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[Bikeman315]

Car and Driver this month has a good article on this very subject. They test 4 vehicles. The difference is minor for most producing 0-60 and 1/4 mile testing with approximately a .1 second improvement at 93. The one vehicle that has a major impact is the v6 twin turbo ecoboost pick up truck. Interesting.

And the engine with the least amount of differences was the N/A V8. So bottom line is that Ford says 87 is fine with our Coyotes. They will honor all ligitimate engine warranty claims regardless of the fuel you use and that's what important. If you want every last HP than use 91/93. Personal preference. Just keep in mind quality of gas. Top tier in any octane will be better for your engine than cheap gas. My GT/CS is a pleasure vehicle so I do not mind spending a few cents more for 93 but that's me.

So once again this post got sidetracked from the OP's original question regarding his EB to the GT (always does when it comes to octane). I had an EB and never used anything but 91/93. You will lose HP/performance if you use 87. That said, do whatever you want.

 

[lacanteen]

I can feel a slight difference between 91 and 93, but there is a noticeable difference between 87 and 93, especially climbing steep hills at highway speeds.

 

[TorqueMan]

The car is still capable of hitting and sustaining higher speeds without a larger radiator. The tires are not rated for higher speeds, they are the lowest safety factor and the limiter matches that.

Not true. My car came equipped with V-rated tires, which are good to 149 mph, yet the car is electronically speed limited to 121. Even if that weren't the case, S550 Chief Engineer Dave Pericak has publically stated the speed limiter on non-PP cars is there due to cooling. Remove the limiter and the car will certainly accelerate beyond the limited speed, but you risk overheating without the larger radiator.

Performance pack is definitely not a "track" ready option, it is more handling oriented but definitely not for sustained tracking.

I understand some don't believe the performance pack makes the car "track" ready, but Pericak refers to the option as "track pack" in the article linked to above.

 

[NoVaGT]

Just to add;

I'd been doing the cheapest 93 gas I could find. It's at a station right by my apartment.

I witched to Shell V-Power 93.......and there is a real difference. I swear I could hear pinging on the cheap 93 octane.

 

[Cobra Jet]

I’ll add my .02....

I have ran 93 in my EB a few times - and each time I have used it, I have noticed that I will actually lose anywhere between .3 and .5 mpg and that’s no BS. If I continue to run it for weeks, I can actually lose 1-3 mpg.

I usually run mid grade (here in NJ it’s 89) - and I can tell you all factually as soon as I start using 89 again, the lost mpg is gained back.

I’ve tested this many times - and my driving route is exactly the same as far as physical route, length of time driven, traffic conditions as well as average MPH.

So explain to me how when using higher octane fuel the vehicle loses mpg points instead of gaining (if the fuel is supposed to be burning more efficiently).

?

Has anyone else tried fuel logging as such?

 

[NoVaGT]

So explain to me how when using higher octane fuel the vehicle loses mpg points instead of gaining (if the fuel is supposed to be burning more efficiently).

You're feeling and enjoying the additional power more. You're putting 93 in the tank, gripping the steering wheel with your mouth foaming, and nailing the throttle to enjoy the boosted power you get from 93 octane.

Also consider the myriad of other factors, such as temps, humidity, driving environment, etc. You engine is definitely more efficient with the higher octane.

I'd love to hear from an EB owner that puts 93 octane in the tank, and then adds some octane booster. Or find someplace that sells 100 octane race fuel. Then report to us what happens.

 

[TorqueMan]

I’ve tested this many times - and my driving route is exactly the same as far as physical route, length of time driven, traffic conditions as well as average MPH.

So explain to me how when using higher octane fuel the vehicle loses mpg points instead of gaining (if the fuel is supposed to be burning more efficiently).

I took a long road trip earlier this year and kept meticulous records of mileage. You read my report here. My first question to you would be how did you measure your mileage? For my car, the computer-indicated mileage is usually 1.5 mpg more optimistic than measured. If you are basing your observations on the computer-indicated mileage then I would guess the difference you notice is related to changes in the factors used by the computer rather than actual changes in mileage.

I don't know all the factors the computer considers, but I believe a computation of actual HP is included. Your car should produce approximately 10-15% more peak HP using premium, and physics dictates more HP requires more fuel. 3 mpg is exactly 10% of 30 mpg. This, of course, is dependent on how much you use the power for actual fuel usage, but the computer may change the way it computes regardless.

 

[TorqueMan]

Also consider the myriad of other factors, such as temps, humidity, driving environment, etc. You engine is definitely more efficient with the higher octane.

It depends on how you define "efficient." To me, efficiency is how much power may be produced with a given quantity of fuel, a figure usually measured and expressed as brake specific fuel consumption. Using that definition, I've never seen any evidence that any engine is more efficient with higher octane. The amount of power available in a gallon of fuel is expressed as BTUs, and the difference in BTUs between regular and premium fuel is insignificant.

The EcoBoost will definitely produce more power using premium, so if that's your definition of efficiency then I would agree. But I think the amount of fuel consumed to produce a given amount of power is the same whether you use regular or premium.

 

[Cobra Jet]

I took a long road trip earlier this year and kept meticulous records of mileage. You read my report here. My first question to you would be how did you measure your mileage? For my car, the computer-indicated mileage is usually 1.5 mpg more optimistic than measured. If you are basing your observations on the computer-indicated mileage then I would guess the difference you notice is related to changes in the factors used by the computer rather than actual changes in mileage.

I don't know all the factors the computer considers, but I believe a computation of actual HP is included. Your car should produce approximately 10-15% more peak HP using premium, and physics dictates more HP requires more fuel. 3 mpg is exactly 10% of 30 mpg. This, of course, is dependent on how much you use the power for actual fuel usage, but the computer may change the way it computes regardless.

Observations are based on the center dash cluster readings.

How are you logging - manual log as in hand weitten based on data directly from fueling receipts? Maybe I should try that method?

 

[Deleted member 35786]

My head is about to explode reading how you think passing at 120MPH+ on public roads and getting "shown up" is something you should be doing. It reads of a very juvenile mind-set, with poor ego control.

I'm not against hitting some higher speeds on completely empty roads, but when there's other traffic you're attempting to pass? Not good.

Agree, especially since the OP lives near Daytona and only a few hours from Sebring. Plenty of opportunites for track days.

 

[TorqueMan]

How are you logging - manual log as in hand weitten based on data directly from fueling receipts? Maybe I should try that method?

Your Owner's Manual suggests manually tracking fuel usage over at least three tankfuls to determine actual mileage. Set your trip meter to zero after filling up, then don't reset it over the next three tankfuls. Write down how much fuel you put in the tank for each fill up, then divide the number of miles by the number of gallons used.

 

[Scott18Mustang]

I believe my 2016 stock ecoboost should achieve around 145mph but I only get to about 128mph on regular gas.

I read somewhere that the cars top end 310hp can only be achieved with premium gas, will with regular it only gets to about 270hp, is this true?

Or do I have something else weird going on with my engine, which up to this point, 32,000 miles, hasn't had any problems.

Terry

You are going to get the best performance on 93 octane. I've heard anywhere from 30 to 40 more HP. To unlock your top end limiter you will need a tune. I use Unleashed 93 race tune currently. I would recommend upgrading at least your intake before that tune.

 

[BlackEB2019]

I've been running Chevron 94 octane in my EB since before I got my FRPP tune. While on a business trip, I couldn't find a Chevron and filled up with Shell V Power 91 octane. I swear it feels like I have better response and power with the Shell V Power 91. Which raises the question, can too much octane make less power because the fuel isn't been completely burnt?

 

[NoVaGT]

....can too much octane make less power because the fuel isn't been completely burnt?

I don't think so. Higher octane should mean better, more efficient burn of the fuel. More advanced ignition timing and all.

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