Premium Fuel?

[BriSco]

First let me say that I don't want this thread to devolve into a regular vs premium fuel quality thread, or I will delete it.
My question is around the recommendation in the 2024 Ranger Owners Manual's recommendations.

The manual doesn't differentiate between 2.3L vs 2.7L engines. (Note that I'm not referring to the 3.0L used in the Raptor.) The manual states that the truck runs on 87 octane but then goes on to say that "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."

My questions are, do you use 91 octane? Why do you use it? Do you find it necessary for the type of driving you do?

Thanks.

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[John E Davies]

For normal driving I always use 87 octane. IF I were to tow a trailer weighing over 3000 pounds for a long distance, I would use 91 for extra ping protection and power. If I could find alcohol free regular I would use that.

What does your fuel door sticker say? Mine says 87+ which seems a little odd to me.

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[hand-filer]

What I find interesting is that the Bronco 2.7 is rated at 315 HP on regular and at 330 HP on premium fuel. The Ranger is rated at 315 HP on Regular fuel, however no rating is given for premium fuel.
I wonder why that is.

 

[Critical Habitat]

I mostly use 91 or 93 octane.
I have used 87 and 89 and have not noticed a big difference, except that I believe I get a bit better mileage with higher octane.
A dyno would probably show improved performance with premium.

 

[Peter949]

My old 2.3 got better milage and performance with 91. I think with the extra milage cost difference was negligible so I always used 91. I've only used 91 on my RR. I think Ford's turbo engines do take a noticeable advantage with higher octane.

 

[Wayfaring Ranger]

91 or 93 only for me.

I use it for better MPG and for better engine performance. I'm not racing anyone in this truck but when I put the pedal to the floor for whatever reason, I expect to get the full advertised power out of the engine.

My focus ST had the 2.0L Ecoboost and premium vs regular made a pretty noticeable difference subjectively and according to dyno results. Consensus was you lose about 20HP & 20 torque on a stock tune.

It is also known that low octane gas in turbocharged DI engines can increase chances for LSPI. LSPI has been an issue in ford's 2.0 and 2.3 ecoboost engines.


https://nasaspeed.news/tech/engine/...ion-in-turbocharged-direct-injection-engines/

 

[CACTUSGREYFX4]

I just use normal 87 as premium fuel here in Canada is anywhere between 30-60 cents per litre more than regular. I am still getting a combined(40 % city/60 % hwy) 28 mpg(around 24 US mpg) with regular.

 

[Chassis N2531]

93 100% of the time. Why? Because I love my RR Raptor.

 

[AlpineBike]

Modern PCM's have something called "transient tables".
Some people refer to this as "long term trim".

Think about the o2 sensor as "short term fuel trim" it makes immediate changes to the fuel map based on the live AFR of the exhaust.
The transient tables make long term blanket adjustments to fueling and spark based on knock history and a variety of other inputs & calculations.

Basically, my point is that although this engine will run just fine on 87, it WILL make more power and run more efficiently after it has run through multiple tanks of 93.

Even better than E10 93 (10% ethanol) would be non-ethanal 91 or 93!
I won't go into how much more power you can make with an E30 or E50 blend now...

 

[telenerd]

In the grand scheme of things it doesn’t cost much more money for 91 vs 87. So just get 91.

 

[SubaruRaptor]

My old 2.3 got better milage and performance with 91. I think with the extra milage cost difference was negligible so I always used 91. I've only used 91 on my RR. I think Ford's turbo engines do take a noticeable advantage with higher octane.

Any performance turbo car requires 91+ octane. You will get detonation issues with lower octane. Not just a Ford thing, basically any performance turbo engine.

 

[SubaruRaptor]

Modern PCM's have something called "transient tables".
Some people refer to this as "long term trim".

Think about the o2 sensor as "short term fuel trim" it makes immediate changes to the fuel map based on the live AFR of the exhaust.
The transient tables make long term blanket adjustments to fueling and spark based on knock history and a variety of other inputs & calculations.

Basically, my point is that although this engine will run just fine on 87, it WILL make more power and run more efficiently after it has run through multiple tanks of 93.

Even better than E10 93 (10% ethanol) would be non-ethanal 91 or 93!
I won't go into how much more power you can make with an E30 or E50 blend now...

To bad its extremely tough to find non e10 or e15 fuel these days. I can get 93 pretty easily but its hard to find a none mixed fuel.

 

[AlpineBike]

To bad its extremely tough to find non e10 or e15 fuel these days. I can get 93 pretty easily but its hard to find a none mixed fuel.

Just depends on where you live.
In the Adirondacks where I live, most gas stations carry non-ethanol 91.

 

[Dingus83]

Just depends on where you live.
In the Adirondacks where I live, most gas stations carry non-ethanol 91.

I live by a recreational lake and the gas station by the marina advertises non ethanol fuels. Funny that my supercharged jet ski runs on 87 and my truck I use to pull said jet ski runs on premium! Used to be the other way around.

 

[expertcom]

My RR runs so nice on 91, so why do anything else?

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