2015 Chevrolet Colorado is the 2015 Motor Trend Truck of the Year
12-08-2014, 03:12 PM
#61
Better OUT then IN
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: South Florida (Ft. Lauderdale area)
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Find data that shows performance gains on engines for which regular unleaded is recommended like the 3.5NA, 2.5L Duratech, 1.6l and 2.0l NA 4-cylinder and the like without modification, and I'll believe there's something there. Generally mass-market naturally-aspirated engine aren't set up to take advantage of higher octane than what the manufacturer recommends. Using premium fuel in such engines does no harm to anything but your bank account, but I can't think of an instance in which it's worth it. The 5.0L in the Mustang doesn't count, by the way, because Ford's recommendation for that is premium. I'd expect it to be able to detune itself and run on regular without a problem, but not to make rated horsepower. The lower-compression 5.0 in the F150 recommends regular.
With a blower or turbo to effectively increase the compression ratio and computers and DI to manage detonation at those high cylinder pressures/temperatures it can make a huge difference (and usually does.)
12-08-2014, 04:30 PM
#62
Find data that shows performance gains on engines for which regular unleaded is recommended like the 3.5NA, 2.5L Duratech, 1.6l and 2.0l NA 4-cylinder and the like without modification, and I'll believe there's something there. Generally mass-market naturally-aspirated engine aren't set up to take advantage of higher octane than what the manufacturer recommends. Using premium fuel in such engines does no harm to anything but your bank account, but I can't think of an instance in which it's worth it. The 5.0L in the Mustang doesn't count, by the way, because Ford's recommendation for that is premium. I'd expect it to be able to detune itself and run on regular without a problem, but not to make rated horsepower. The lower-compression 5.0 in the F150 recommends regular.
With a blower or turbo to effectively increase the compression ratio and computers and DI to manage detonation at those high cylinder pressures/temperatures it can make a huge difference (and usually does.)
Though I can't say this is 100% true either.
Last edited by packplantpath; 12-08-2014 at 04:48 PM.
12-08-2014, 05:35 PM
#63
Given that the 5.0 in the truck is published to have additional power on e85(105ishv octane), it is a pretty safe bet it takes advantage of 93 as well. The same sensors are used. The gains aren't huge, but they are there. They're is a reason the manual says for best performance use 93 octane on both the Eco and 5.0.
Though I can't say this is 100% true either.
Though I can't say this is 100% true either.
To provide improved performance, we recommend premium fuel for severe duty usage, such as trailer tow.
In the section on the 3.5L and 5.0L it just says not to use less than 87 but doesn't include the extra line with the recommendation for premium in severe duty. And Levine's statements about the 2011 5.0 on E85 don't pertain to any other Ford NA engine necessarily (and he didn't mention others, that I know of) so "Ford doesn't sell an engine that doesn't perform better with higher octane" is not yet supported by any data I've seen.
12-08-2014, 05:47 PM
#64
Senior Member
There is a dyno on here somewhere that shows the 5.0 gets a 9 hp gain with 93 gas. The dyno was done by a some performance shop. Also the 2011 manual did say the 5.0 will do better with premium gas. They removed that statement in 2012, but the engine has not changed.
12-08-2014, 05:50 PM
#65
The manual does not say that about the 5.0, at least not the 2015 version 1 manual. It does include that on the 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost:
To provide improved performance, we recommend premium fuel for severe duty usage, such as trailer tow.
In the section on the 3.5L and 5.0L it just says not to use less than 87 but doesn't include the extra line with the recommendation for premium in severe duty.
And Levine's statements about the 2011 5.0 on E85 don't pertain to any other Ford NA engine necessarily (and he didn't mention others, that I know of) so "Ford doesn't sell an engine that doesn't perform better with higher octane" is not yet supported by any data I've seen.
...eek. So maybe all engines doesn't apply. But the 5.0 and Eco certainly do benefit, though I think I remember the 5.0 being minimal gains without a tune.
12-09-2014, 09:30 AM
#66
Senior Member
12-09-2014, 09:37 AM
#67
Senior Member
Sure they do. The entire Ecoboost family makes more or should I say "advertised" power on 93 octane. The Ford actually prints it on their website with the Fusion (87 octane vs. 93). You're correct with the run on 87 just fine statement
12-09-2014, 10:49 AM
#68
I don't know about the fusion but the f150 ecoboost makes advertised power on 87 and gains a few HP on 93 over advertised ratings according to one of the ford engineers in a pickuptrucks.com interview a year or so back.
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hydro (12-09-2014)
12-09-2014, 11:39 AM
#70
I think it would tow the Airstream just fine.