Effect of 93 octane

[snymat68]

Stick or auto? We have auto. I dislike the way it interacts with the slow timing of the throttle-by-wire. I step on the gas pedal, nothing happens, so my brain says "step harder', but in that instant of brain-to-foot time, the throttle catches up with my initial step, and it ends up pushing it too far, the car accelerates faster than you want, and it jerks your neck. I know there's some tunes out there that can clean that up. Just deciding if I want to go that route.

Stick (6 speed). No throttle lag unless I'm having brain lag. :laughing:

 

[kcflhrc]

Look near the filler neck, there will be a big sticker that says minimum octane rating. Climate has a lot to do with it. I think based on theory colder climates like Michigan and warmer climates like say Arizona are night and day difference in what octane you can get by with. With that said. My wife has a 2019 VW Tiguan R-Line which has a 4 banger with a turbo. She says she can notice a difference between 87 and 91 octane so her car get's premium to keep her happy. Recommended is 87. Personally, I don't care, I never drive the thing. My 2015 Nissan Titan with 315 HP runs just fine on the recommended 87 octane.

 

[dalola]

All the studies I have ever read including car owner manuals say that it is a waste of money and could actually be detrimental to the engine to use any higher octane than what the OEM recommends. This does not include engines that have been made into dragsters by highly modifying them like dalola did to his truck.

lol... my truck is far from a dragster! it's my DD, tow vehicle, family road-tripper, and winter survival tool. It's also 100% factory stock sans the tune. I get to the track a couple times a summer just for fun.

I have also read you get a benefit in the F150 both the eco-boost and the 5.0 of using higher octane and even E85. The problem is does it offset the cost? Does slightly more power and slightly better fuel mileage offset the cost? I doubt it.

When I drive rationally (which is honestly 99% of the time...), I see about a .5-1mpg bump on 93, so it isn't a cost effective move at all. I just find the whole tuning thing fun & interesting. I'm currently running an 87 tow tune through the winter, which is an excellent all-around drivability tune. Nice low end torque with smooth delivery, and saving money running 87 fuel again. I typically only run the 93 perf tune in the summer, when I'm out playing with the Mustangs. :cool2: