What Octane Fuel?

[Mako_254]

The 351W in my 95 bronco, which I believe does not have a mass air flow sensor, gets ~10% better milage with ethanol free 93 octane (E-93) compared to 87 with ("up to") 10% ethanol.

It has been a while, e.g. back when 87 was just under $4/gal, since I tested 93 with 10% ethanol in it. Hence, I don't recall the mpg difference compared to 87. But I do remember determining that the extra cost of 93 with ethanol was absolutely not worth it, while the extra cost of the ethanol free E-93 was almost a wash due to the significant increase in mpg.

Also, I should note that this decision was made when E-93 first became available near me and was only ~11% more expensive that 87. As an earlier post noted, E-93 now costs a higher %, e.g. >20% more, than 87. So now it is no longer a wash. But the 351 sure does run better, smoother, happier, further, etc. with E-93.

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[Mako_254]

p.s. 32 gallon tank

 

[jimijammer]

I'm very surprised no one has mentioned the middle ground.
I run 89 octane, which I did with my 2006 GT.

I see that the 2015 GT is fine with 87 octane but I decided to stick with 89.
I figure its a little cheaper than premium and might get me a tiny bit of performance better than 87.

I was wondering if anyone used midgrade. I usually go all in or go cheap depending on where I am going that week, spirited driving vs long haul road trip. 87 vs 93 seems to be about $.40 difference here no matter what prices are per gallon. I've been going back and forth for a couple months to test this and I noticed a 1-2 mpg bump with premium which is a 15% price upgrade for a 10% return in fuel economy. I noticed a small raw power decrease with 87 but nothing that really affects normal driving, but I went from the 300hp v6 to 400+GT so I'm good. It's just an individual choice. Does 89 octane give the best or worst of the MPG/RPM equation?

 

[Todd15Fastback]

I filled up with ethanol free 90 for 3.02 a gallon this evening. Curious to see if I can notice any MPG difference or performance.

 

[Waylap1]

Is there any additive for our fuel that actually helps with truly keeping things clean and helps with carbon or is most stuff snake oil?

 

[nate]

Is there any additive for our fuel that actually helps with truly keeping things clean and helps with carbon or is most stuff snake oil?

I can only speak from experience with small-displacement high-power motorcycles, some carbureted and some fuel injected, most of which were highly sensitive to this sort of thing:

1. Shell V-Power (or what have you - anything at the pump) makes absolutely no difference beyond its octane rating. Snake oil, as far as I could tell.

2. "Stabil"/fuel stabilizer helps keep the gas from separating during storage and gunk from collecting at the bottom where it can clog up your pump, carb or fuel injectors. This is particularly useful if you store your vehicle for more than a week or two at a time with ethanol fuel in it.

3. Sea Foam is the first thing I try when I suspect a carb is gunked up. If it works, I just saved a lot of hassle taking apart the carb. If it doesn't, it's pretty cheap. It works surprisingly often!

In a modern car, I'm not convinced any of this matters. But if I were leaving it alone for a while, I think I would still throw some Stabil in there, brim the tank with non-ethanol fuel if possible (keeps moisture in the air out as much as possible), then maybe run some Sea Foam through the system in the spring. Just my opinion.

 

[BC]

............ Does 89 octane give the best or worst of the MPG/RPM equation?

I had a 2006 GT and ran 89 with a CAI and a tune set for 89. For that car at that time it was the best performance, best MPG since I did not want to pay for premium.
I traded the 2006 GT in on a 2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and ran 89 in it. There was a tiny bit better performance and gas mileage with 89 as opposed to 87.
So now that I (happily) got rid of the Jeep for a 2015 GT I am using 89. I only used 87 one tank when new so not sure if there is any real benefit over 87.
But I can say my average MPG over 2 months now is about 19.0.

 

[opensesame]

1. Shell V-Power (or what have you - anything at the pump) makes absolutely no difference beyond its octane rating. Snake oil, as far as I could tell.

.

Shell v-power at least in Canada is ethanol free. It's pure gasoline and better and cleaner for your engine and gets better mileage than other 91 with 10% ethanol.


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[Spartan]

Sea Foam is awesome. I just used it on a road trip for my Explorer V6...cleans everything and returns great mileage.

 

[nate]

Shell v-power at least in Canada is ethanol free. It's pure gasoline and better and cleaner for your engine and gets better mileage than other 91 with 10% ethanol.


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I don't think it's ethanol free in the US...would love to know if otherwise. Someone correct me if I'm wrong?

 

[Juben]

I don't think it's ethanol free in the US...would love to know if otherwise. Someone correct me if I'm wrong?

Every local Shell here has E10.

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[Mako_254]

http://pure-gas.org

 

[Hack]

Does 89 octane give the best or worst of the MPG/RPM equation?

It's going to have more to do with ethanol content than octane rating. Less ethanol = better fuel economy.

 

[Barrel]

I'd kill for a pure dino fuel station near me.

 

[Juben]

I'd kill for a pure dino fuel station near me.

The closest one to me is almost a 35 minute drive.

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