Are we really using 87 fuel?

[Junkyard Dog]

ethanol free gas in the 92 or 93 octane rating

Nothing like that available here in Georgia, to your north.

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[Aki]

My previous mustang, the 2019 GT, would protest low quality gasoline by way of misfire and hesitation. It taught me to only go for the expensive stuff, so I continue using V-Power only in the DH as well. With the amount I drive, no reason not to.

 

[Neggytive]

Nothing like that available here in Georgia, to your north.

There are places in NH, all up in the lakes region

www.pure-gas.org is where you can try to find it

 

[Racer57]

For those that “mached” my comment where I said that octane did not create horsepower. Do you know something that Car and Driver doesn’t ?

“Raising the octane rating (also known as the anti-knock index) doesn't change the energy content of a gallon of gasoline. A higher octane rating indicates greater resistance to knock, the early combustion of the fuel-air mixture that causes cylinder pressure to spike. When higher-octane fuel is flowing through its injectors, the engine controller can take advantage of the elevated knock threshold and dial in more aggressive timing and higher boost pressures to improve performance” .

 

[Junkyard Dog]

The advanced timing and higher boost pressures mean more horsepower.

You are being pedantic. I think you are on the same page with us if you stop to think about it. If you look back, you will also see that nobody, not one post, made the claim that higher octane gasoline makes more horsepower outside of the context of situations that need more octane, such as getting the maximum horsepower out of my 500 horsepower Dark Horse.

So there is not really an argument going on here with two sides.

 

[Racer57]

Sorry. I must’ve misinterpreted the laughing emoji’s when I first made the comment.

 

[robvas]

For those that “mached” my comment where I said that octane did not create horsepower. Do you know something that Car and Driver doesn’t ?

“Raising the octane rating (also known as the anti-knock index) doesn't change the energy content of a gallon of gasoline. A higher octane rating indicates greater resistance to knock, the early combustion of the fuel-air mixture that causes cylinder pressure to spike. When higher-octane fuel is flowing through its injectors, the engine controller can take advantage of the elevated knock threshold and dial in more aggressive timing and higher boost pressures to improve performance” .

Re-read the last sentence of that quote. And look at this graph to see what timing can do to engine hp

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Re-read the last sentence of that quote. And look at this graph to see what timing can do to engine hp

Exactly.

And I bet Racer57 agrees.

On the other hand, if I put 93 octane in my 8:1 compression 350 small block from 1974, I am not going to get any more horsepower, so Racer57 is also correct that octane, all by itself, does not add horsepower.

I am just saying no need to fight about it, because we all actually agree.

In the context of the most recent Coyote engine, and the Ecoboost, and all of the other Mustang engines of the current generation, higher octane does add horsepower, because the engines can take advantage of it.

I still have a hard time believing that my 12:1 500 horsepower engine could live a good long life being driven hard in the hot summer in Georgia utilizing 87 octane for a 100,000 mile life. That strikes me as incredible. I also know that Ford engineers have put a lot of study into this that I have not, and a few years ago I would have laughed at the suggestion that one could boost a 12:1 engine and run 93 octane without destroying it in short order, so, well, what do I know?

Maybe I am stuck in the past, but I am going to keep running 93, and I will never let 87 octane pass through the filler neck.

 

[Manual Ronnie]

Using 87 is absurd in something with 12:1 compression ratio. Technically the system can retard timing to allow 87 but should be an absolute special exception

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Using 87 is absurd in something with 12:1 compression ratio. Technically the system can retard timing to allow 87 but should be an absolute special exception

I'm with you, but Ford does not present it that way in the manual.

 

[LouG]

I'm still a bit surprised at street engines running 12:1 or more. But I do come from the days of 9:1 being high comp.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

I'm still a bit surprised at street engines running 12:1 or more. But I do come from the days of 9:1 being high comp.

I pounded the rod bearings out of a 10.5 to 1 engine. But it had cast iron heads and tuning was a carb and a distributor . . . and I sure thought that car was fast until I damaged the bearings, and it was, compared to cars back then.

Cars are much better and more powerful today.

I mean, really, 500 horsepower from a little 307 cubic inch engine? Unimaginable back in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s . . . 2000s . . . lol

 

[Racer57]

I own a 1970 Plymouth Cuda with 383cu with a 750 dual feed double pumper that I built. Never been on a dyno, but it’s strong. I often refer to the Cuda as having “real” horsepower and my previous Vette and Mach 1 and now Shelby as having “computer” horsepower. . BTW, you can easily actually see the engine !

 

[Junkyard Dog]

I own a 1970 Plymouth Cuda with 383cu with a 750 dual feed double pumper that I built. Never been on a dyno, but it’s strong. I often refer to the Cuda as having “real” horsepower and my previous Vette and Mach 1 and now Shelby as having “computer” horsepower. . BTW, you can easily actually see the engine !

Nice.

1971 is my favorite year, due to the front grill, but I certainly wouldn't kick a 70 out of my garage!

Can we see a pic of the car (not just the engine)?

 

[Sofa King]

Using 87 is absurd in something with 12:1 compression ratio. Technically the system can retard timing to allow 87 but should be an absolute special exception

I'm still a bit surprised at street engines running 12:1 or more. But I do come from the days of 9:1 being high comp.

In the old days 10.5:1 compression ratio was about the max I would run on the street.

I'm with you, but Ford does not present it that way in the manual.

No one would buy them if they required premium only...

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