F150 Octane/MPG Test (NO BICKERING!)
06-04-2011, 02:49 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
This is an F150 octane test thread. Don't clutter it up with your bickering!
I just did a forum search for "octane" and the first 40 results came up negative for this, so that's good enough for me.
This is an F150 octane test thread. Don't clutter it up with your bickering!
There are a lot of people bickering about the pros and cons of higher and lower octane. I'm done with that. I don't care what your daddy or mechanic or therapist or dominatrix said about octane. Today, we're gonna back it up.
This is an F150 octane test thread. Don't clutter it up with your bickering!
If you care to join this test, state that you are going to join the test. Don't post stuff that isn't your test results. Don't argue about octane here, there are plenty of other threads where you can do that to your heart's content. If you see someone with important information missing from their post, send them a private message to ask them to edit the post with the missing information.
This is an F150 octane test thread. Don't clutter it up with your bickering!
Begin by finding your average fuel mileage over four or five fill ups with 87 octane (that's what most people use around here). If you already do this or you've got the in dash info center, you're a step ahead.
Next, run down your tank real low and fill it with premium. (Note the octane and use that particular octane for the duration of your test)
Run down the next tank again and fill with premium again. These two tanks should still be tracked and will be considered mixed.
The next tank of premium should be pure enough and we'll begin tracking our mileage for premium there. Do several tanks like this to get a nice average of all of your typical driving.
This is an F150 octane test thread. Don't clutter it up with your bickering!
Every time you fill up, post this information:
Keep it uncluttered. This may earn us a sticky if we can provide solid and clear information.
This is an F150 octane test thread. Don't clutter it up with your bickering!
I just did a forum search for "octane" and the first 40 results came up negative for this, so that's good enough for me.
This is an F150 octane test thread. Don't clutter it up with your bickering!
There are a lot of people bickering about the pros and cons of higher and lower octane. I'm done with that. I don't care what your daddy or mechanic or therapist or dominatrix said about octane. Today, we're gonna back it up.
This is an F150 octane test thread. Don't clutter it up with your bickering!
If you care to join this test, state that you are going to join the test. Don't post stuff that isn't your test results. Don't argue about octane here, there are plenty of other threads where you can do that to your heart's content. If you see someone with important information missing from their post, send them a private message to ask them to edit the post with the missing information.
This is an F150 octane test thread. Don't clutter it up with your bickering!
Begin by finding your average fuel mileage over four or five fill ups with 87 octane (that's what most people use around here). If you already do this or you've got the in dash info center, you're a step ahead.
Next, run down your tank real low and fill it with premium. (Note the octane and use that particular octane for the duration of your test)
Run down the next tank again and fill with premium again. These two tanks should still be tracked and will be considered mixed.
The next tank of premium should be pure enough and we'll begin tracking our mileage for premium there. Do several tanks like this to get a nice average of all of your typical driving.
This is an F150 octane test thread. Don't clutter it up with your bickering!
Every time you fill up, post this information:
- Year of truck
- Mileage of truck
- Body (scab, screw, etc)
- Engine Displacement
- Engine mods (CAI, programmer, etc... not leveling kits, lifts, tires, etc)
- Gallons added to tank and what octane
- Abnormal factors that may have affected your mileage. (if you helped a buddy move all weekend, it's been a particular windy week, using AC a lot when you normally don't or vice versa, etc)
*weather, city, highway, towing, off road
Keep it uncluttered. This may earn us a sticky if we can provide solid and clear information.
This is an F150 octane test thread. Don't clutter it up with your bickering!
Last edited by Jmfalcon1; 06-14-2011 at 12:37 PM.
06-04-2011, 03:15 PM
#2
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My average fuel mileage with 87 octane in the last two months is 14.5 mpg.
I decided yesterday to do this test and topped off my tank with premium. I'm going to run three mixed tanks instead of two.
2005
43k miles
SCrew
5.4 Liter
No mods
4.884 Gallons 91 octane
I've been able to use my A/C on and off for the last few weeks as the temperature rises and dips, but it looks like it's going to stay up for the summer now. I'll be using may A/C more which will affect my mileage. If I get 14.5 mpg with premium and using my A/C all the time now, I'll consider it a possible increase and will test again by doing the process in reverse and going back to 87 octane to look for a decrease in mileage. If it's higher than 15, I'll consider it a success.
I decided yesterday to do this test and topped off my tank with premium. I'm going to run three mixed tanks instead of two.
2005
43k miles
SCrew
5.4 Liter
No mods
4.884 Gallons 91 octane
I've been able to use my A/C on and off for the last few weeks as the temperature rises and dips, but it looks like it's going to stay up for the summer now. I'll be using may A/C more which will affect my mileage. If I get 14.5 mpg with premium and using my A/C all the time now, I'll consider it a possible increase and will test again by doing the process in reverse and going back to 87 octane to look for a decrease in mileage. If it's higher than 15, I'll consider it a success.
06-04-2011, 06:07 PM
#3
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im in.
2005 reg cab 4x4 4.6 v8.
ive kept track for 4 months, its how i convinced my wife to let me get a harley, gas savings = bike note, nearly.
feb- 4 fillups- avg 12.5 mpg 87 octane
march- 2 fillups- avg 12.4 mpg 87 octane
april- 2 fillups- avg 12.8 mpg. 87 octane
may- 2 fillups- used cruise control alot when on hwy., 14.1 mpg 87 octane.
june- have 1/4 tank, will do next 2 tanks with premium. my results may take a while as i ride nearly everyday if it isnt raining. my truck is just beyond oil change time, and it has 55,580 miles as of today. i almost always use the AC.
2005 reg cab 4x4 4.6 v8.
ive kept track for 4 months, its how i convinced my wife to let me get a harley, gas savings = bike note, nearly.
feb- 4 fillups- avg 12.5 mpg 87 octane
march- 2 fillups- avg 12.4 mpg 87 octane
april- 2 fillups- avg 12.8 mpg. 87 octane
may- 2 fillups- used cruise control alot when on hwy., 14.1 mpg 87 octane.
june- have 1/4 tank, will do next 2 tanks with premium. my results may take a while as i ride nearly everyday if it isnt raining. my truck is just beyond oil change time, and it has 55,580 miles as of today. i almost always use the AC.
Last edited by 05 stx 4X4; 06-04-2011 at 06:08 PM. Reason: added info
06-09-2011, 06:53 AM
#4
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finished my last tank of reguler unleaded.
2005 f150 stx reg cab 4.6 33in AT's
this time i got 13.0008 mpg
still on first tank of 93 oct premium.
also, on a side note, im not sure how to adjust for my 33's compared to my original factory size tires, but all my last info was with the 33's.
2005 f150 stx reg cab 4.6 33in AT's
this time i got 13.0008 mpg
still on first tank of 93 oct premium.
also, on a side note, im not sure how to adjust for my 33's compared to my original factory size tires, but all my last info was with the 33's.
06-12-2011, 07:07 AM
#5
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i waited til the "low fuel" signal went off. put in exactly 20 gallons of premium, 93 octane. i got 14.8 mpg's with that. mostly hwy, but i did go slow rollin through some trails for 55 minutes. the 14.8 is really good for my truck as of late. filled it up with premium , but this tank may take a while as not much rain here, so i will be taking the bike more.
2005 stx 4x4
23.8 gallons 93 oct
6-11-11
2005 stx 4x4
23.8 gallons 93 oct
6-11-11
06-12-2011, 09:55 AM
#6
I Voted For Bill and Opus
I consistently get about 14 mpg around town with 85 octane fuel. The 302 runs great. What I have always wondered if engines with total computer control, no distributor, etc. Can they take advantage of higher octane fuel? I know BMW's can do this its ECU will remap the engine for whatever octane you are using. For those of us with the old distributors and their fixed advance curves they really cannot. With naturally aspirated engines altitude make a difference as well.
Last edited by transmaster; 06-12-2011 at 10:01 AM.
06-12-2011, 10:05 AM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I consistently get about 14 mpg around town with 85 octane fuel. The 302 runs great. What I have always wondered if engines with total computer control, no distributor, etc. Can they take advantage of higher octane fuel? I know BMW's can do this its ECU will remap the engine for whatever octane you are using. For those of us with the old distributors and their fixed advance curves they really cannot. With naturally aspirated engines altitude make a difference as well.
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06-13-2011, 02:09 PM
#8
Senior Member
mpg test
'97, 200,000, scab, 4.6, K&N, 3" Flowmaster, all stock.
tracking from Jan 08 through May 11, 34,101 miles, average mileage for all driving is 17.736mpg; with a high of 21.1 to a low of 11.8.
The last seven fills were with non-ethanol premium and mileage ran 17.304 to 18.01.
You figure.
tracking from Jan 08 through May 11, 34,101 miles, average mileage for all driving is 17.736mpg; with a high of 21.1 to a low of 11.8.
The last seven fills were with non-ethanol premium and mileage ran 17.304 to 18.01.
You figure.
06-13-2011, 02:12 PM
#9
Senior almost
I will participate with this thread next fill up will be 92 octane or 93 Unocal used to carry 93 no ethanol.. I am going to see if I can find it...
I did a test on Ethanol about a month ago... so I will see how this fares...
I did a test on Ethanol about a month ago... so I will see how this fares...
06-13-2011, 02:49 PM
#10
The only people that disagree on what happens is the people that don't understand what's going on inside an internal combustion chamber or how adjustable timing works.