87 Octane

[Alan Applegate]

Read the fine print. The manual says is so many words, the performance figures (horsepower and torque) are based on using regular gasoline (87 octane?). Some Ford (and car mags) literature state higher figures when using premium. Since 90% of the Mustang drivers are gear heads, smirking about needing premium along with its price hike, is a bit disingenuous.

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[Farmer Fran]

Read the fine print. The manual says is so many words, the performance figures (horsepower and torque) are based on using regular gasoline (87 octane?). Some Ford (and car mags) literature state higher figures when using premium. Since 90% of the Mustang drivers are gear heads, smirking about needing premium along with its price hike, is a bit disingenuous.

Straight from my owners manual page 166 and 167

Page 166
Your vehicle operates on regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87. Some fuel stations, particularly those in high altitude areas, offer fuels posted as regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating below 87. The use of these fuels could result in engine damage that will not be covered by the vehicle Warranty.

Page 167
For best overall vehicle and engine performance, premium fuel with an octane rating of 91 or higher is recommended. The performance gained by using premium fuel is most noticeable in hot weather as well as other conditions, for example when towing a trailer. See Towing a Trailer (page 271). Do not be concerned if the engine sometimes knocks lightly. However, if the engine knocks heavily while using fuel with the recommended octane rating, contact an authorized dealer to prevent any engine damage. We recommend Top Tier detergent gasolines, where available to help minimize engine deposits and maintain optimal vehicle and engine performance.

 

[robvas]

Read the fine print. The manual says is so many words, the performance figures (horsepower and torque) are based on using regular gasoline (87 octane?).

spellcheck is also job 1, apparently

 

[89Trooper]

I think we are getting very close to all agreeing 100%.

When we are done here, can we have an oil viscosity, blend/full synthetic debate?

 

[Alan Applegate]

We're in the fuzz at this point.

These things hurt gear heads, but it is reality: One, if you want to go fast, higher octane is needed due to the energy contained there in. And number two are automatics! They can shift in less time than humans can even grasp the need to do so.

 

[robvas]

One, if you want to go fast, higher octane is needed due to the energy contained there in.

Higher octane doesn't contain more energy

it just allows you to run more advanced ignition timing which ends up making more power

 

[Allanrock59]

In the winter and snow I run 87 octane. It's not like I need all 486 HP and the full torque that running 93 will give me. I'm going to be easy on the throttle, and not pushing the car so might as well use the 87 octane. It isn't going to hurt the engine at all, it was designed to run on 87.

The only reason to run 93 is because the knock sensors will adjust the timing and allow you to get the full 486 HP - and I do in the summer when I can use it. In reality though the "butt dyno" hasn't detected a difference.

I am curious on why would you run your mustang in winter, unless there is no salt on the road and that your winter are very mild

I live in Quebec city and I store my car for winter. Salt, sand and everything else they put on the road will damage too much the car. That's not counting the cost of winter tires. I paid over 70k cad money and I would like to keep my car rust free and in pristine condition as long as I can as this will probably be the last brand new car I buy. I am 65

I have a fusion titanium 2013 that I bought new that I use for my winter driving.

Also forgot to say I use premium gas

 

[JimC]

I am curious on why would you run your mustang in winter, unless there is no salt on the road and that your winter are very mild

I live in Quebec city and I store my car for winter. Salt, sand and everything else they put on the road will damage too much the car. That's not counting the cost of winter tires. I paid over 70k cad money and I would like to keep my car rust free and in pristine condition as long as I can as this will probably be the last brand new car I buy. I am 65

I have a fusion titanium 2013 that I bought new that I use for my winter driving.

Also forgot to say I use premium gas

Because it is a car and made to be driven. I have always used my Mustangs year round. Drove my 2006 for over 200,000 miles in SE Michigan and commuted daily from Port Huron, MI to downtown Detroit. Never had an issue. No rusting of the car. Ran it through an underbody spray wash each week in the winter.

 

[Allanrock59]

Because it is a car and made to be driven. I have always used my Mustangs year round. Drove my 2006 for over 200,000 miles in SE Michigan and commuted daily from Port Huron, MI to downtown Detroit. Never had an issue. No rusting of the car. Ran it through an underbody spray wash each week in the winter.

I get what you are saying but your winter are probably a lot milder than ours. Getting an underbody wash each week is not practical here as it gets way too cold and some parts will freeze and break. Like today it's -12c around -10f and in the middle of winter we easily get -20c to -40c.

Also another factor is the salt. When they just drop a ton of salt on our road, driving is like spraying that salt everywhere under and over the car and a underwash cannot get rid of all of it.

Trust me I wish I could be driving this car all year long as right now I am paying for it to be in storage unit :( You are a lucky man sir.

 

[robvas]

Plenty of rusty cars in Michigan. Would want to see the underside of that car in person...

 

[Alan Applegate]

These days, gasoline has oxygenators added (ethanol and/or MTBE) which extract more energy from the gasoline. The result, more BTUs from the burning thereof.

 

[highvoltage]

I think we are getting very close to all agreeing 100%.

When we are done here, can we have an oil viscosity, blend/full synthetic debate?

we all know Crisco from the can is the best oil

 

[Q6543]

if you had that much knock and detonation on 87 you would hear it/feel it and they wouldn’t say you could run it.

Here’s a great vid, at 12:16 he goes over 87 Oct datalog and knock.

This is on a gen 1 coyote (even less compression) but it applies 100%

 

[highvoltage]

Here’s a great vid, at 12:16 he goes over 87 Oct datalog and knock.

This is on a gen 1 coyote (even less compression) but it applies 100%

I know about knock and data logging. Shit I’ve had stock audible knock on an F150. Ive had tuning and been logging fords since 2014 with F150s and a Mustang also on an Audi too.

 

[drive_55_not]

Here’s a great vid, at 12:16 he goes over 87 Oct datalog and knock.

This is on a gen 1 coyote (even less compression) but it applies 100%

I been running Ethanol Free 87 this week since too cold for tracks to open this weekend.

Here's screen shots from from a 30min log this morning, Figured I'd log it and see what the knock looks like after the LT install.

It was in the low 20's for this run and IAT's were running about 30 ....

1st thing too notice is there's a lot of steady speed knock with the cruise set at 75. Never felt anything though.

I did romp it couple times ...

I have to say I was surprised to see light knock at the beginning of those hits and then it cleared. PCM actually dialed in 27.5degrees of timing from that stop light hit.
I never felt or heard any knock.

My wife runs 87 e10 only in her 21' M6 [ I think she'd have a seizure if she had to run 93 ] and when I drive it and romp on it I can feel it knock and get a flashing CEL from misfires.

I rarely drive that car.

It is impressive the amount of timing the S650 is dialing up on 87 IMVHO ....

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