I've been pumping 87 octane in the beast (stock) just curious if any gains of performance with the 91 or 92 octanes?

 

For standard driving habits, no gain experienced for me.

 

Yes, using my nGauge as a monitor, on stock tune using 91 octane, the PCU will advance timing, whereas on 87 timing remains at "0" or 1-2 deg pull back.
This is why higher octane is advisable while towing.... under normal driving conditions, 95% of the time 87 is entirely sufficient

 

Very sensitive topic and from all the gas threads on here there is no right answer. I would suggest you run a couple tanks of 91 and if you think it feels stronger than that's all that matters

 

Yes, and according to the owners manual yes as well

 

That made a BIG difference on my truck, and using the same brand and gas station (a Shell). I reluctantly tried 91 because my truck was making a nasty pinging noise that I later attributed to the stupid turbo wastegates (I fixed that with 2 external springs), but after seeing that the engine made a lot more power, especially under boost, since with regular, the turbo gauge only got up to about half, and with premium it goes to about 3/4s. But what made me keep using premium was that on the highway, where I travel between 80 and 90 (TX), it gave me better mileage, almost washing out the price difference. So kept using premium. If gas goes crazy expensive, might go back to regular when not traveling (like now), but I hardly use the truck when not traveling anyway, so might as well just keep premium in there.

Bottom line is only YOU can determine if it's worth using premium over regular. So give it a try with 2 tanks (the first won't have all premium), and go from there. Where I live the difference in price from regular to premium is crazy ($0.60), but if it's less where you live, it'd be easier to justify. Good luck, and let us know, out of curiosity .

 

Many threads on this. The facts are that the PCM will advance timing when running better fuel. Here's a NHTSA study... check page 54:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.do...nts/812520.pdf

Among other measurements, they cite a 0.8sec improvement in the 0-80 time, which is a significant improvement.

Personally, I've found that my 2016 F150, 2017 Explorer Sport, and 2018 F150, all with 3.5EBs, perform noticeably better and just "sound" happier (yeah, I know, not scientific) running 93.

 

absolutely, a big difference. Even seat of the pants. Sport mode difference is big.
A tune on 93...is ridiculous!

if you never do anything but gingerly accelerate....don't bother, lol.

 

I'm surprised that these turbo charged engines don't require a higher octane. My Benz has a V-6 3.0L Bi-Turbo and minimum octane is 91.

 

I have read many threads about this topic on the forum. There are a number of opinions stating higher Octane helps, as well as many that say it does not matter. I do not have enough experience with this 3.5 but I did use my Sons Chevy Cruze when he was gone for temporary assignments. It was the 1.4l turbo. I always used 91 Octane and it ran very well. When he would come home and run 87 in it the car ran like a dog until I ran a tank of 91 through it when he would leave again. My truck has less than 300 miles and the 35 gallon tank is full of 87. I will run through most of it and try a tank of 91 from Shell and see if the butt dyno feels a change.

In my 2.7l 10 speed I used 91 regularly. This 3.5l (with 87) in my truck now does not “seem” to have the responsiveness that the 2.7 did. Both have the 3:55 gears.

For those who have driven with both engines regularly is that normal? I have seen the numbers of where the torque is at a given rpm but thats not the difference I am feeling.