View Poll Results: What gas octane do you use while towing?
Regular Only
51
49.04%
Premium Only
28
26.92%
Premium only during towing i.e. out camping or several day so of heavy towing
25
24.04%
Voters: 104. You may not vote on this poll
Gas poll for folks that tow/haul
The following users liked this post:
BlackBoost (07-27-2018)
07-26-2018, 06:24 PM
#22
Scoundrel
I live in the heart of the Colorado Rockies and can't go anywhere without climbing over a mountain pass. I use premium when towing our 4,000lb TT and I'm averaging 12.4mpg while towing traveling between 55 - 60mph. Otherwise I use 87 octane.
07-26-2018, 07:10 PM
#23
Senior Member
I don't tow regularly but I have seen a significant improvement burning 89. Gas went up here just about the time it got hot here, 90° plus. Ran a tank of 87 to save a few bucks and my mileage when from 20 to 16 on my daily drive.
07-26-2018, 10:16 PM
#24
It's fine to do it, but that's why when you've changed octane, you should run your tank as low as you can, provided it's not very hot out since the fuel cools the fuel pump. It also takes a couple tanks for the truck to adjust fuel maps. Whenever I've tried testing premium, I've run 3-4 tanks of it to see if there's a difference. I've done this a few times over the year, no difference for me. That's why I just stick to regular.
07-26-2018, 10:31 PM
#25
Hi i2i2i2, my experience is based on a couple of recent camping trips where we drove the identical route, under pretty much identical conditions as our previous trips to the same campground when I used 87 octane. The difference was noticeable, particularly on the hills where the truck pulled with less effort and/or maintained the same speed in a higher gear. Pulling away from a standing start seemed to be easier as well. Overall, the truck seemed to have more torque.
same with the new expedition. The regular trims are rated on 87 at 375/470. The platinum is rated at 400/480 on 93.
That said, an 87 octane tune will make more power than a stock tune with 93.
07-26-2018, 10:35 PM
#26
I would argue that an upgraded intercooler is far more important than the octane you use. Whether you use 87 or 93, if your stock Intercooler is letting the intake temps get up to 190F+ then guaranteed the ECM is cutting power and timing. A good aftermarket cooler will keep the intake air near ambient when towing and will make sure your power stays consistent and strong.
07-27-2018, 04:37 AM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Camano Island, Washington
Posts: 397
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i tow a 26'6" TT that weighs around 6000lbs loaded for camping. i use regular in my 2014 3.5 Ecoboost.
i drive the Cascades, Siskiyous and Sierras.
i average around 10mpg.
i drive the Cascades, Siskiyous and Sierras.
i average around 10mpg.
08-06-2018, 01:10 PM
#28
So I did a little experiment. All of my towing until this weekend has been here in Texas. Windy as hell, but flatter than flat. When I ran premium before I never noticed anything significant. So I just always ran the cheap stuff since I couldn't see spending the money as there was no difference.
This past week we went from Houston, TX to Branson, MO. On the way up I ran the 87 octane and did the same as always. I got about 11 MPG average and going up and over the Arkansas mountains (its a stretch calling them that, but whatever) I was constantly getting into 3rd gear and 4500 RPM to stay at 60-65 MPH. We took the major highways on the way up as much as possible to save time. The truck performed well.
Now on the way home I filled the truck with 91-93 Octane. While driving around the week we were there I got the tank as empty as possible before I filled up, then topped it off again right before we left. On the way back we decided to check out Eureka Springs, so it was all back roads, steep hills, and tight turns all the way home until we got to Texas again. I saw a significant increase in performance on the way home. I rarely dropped out of 4th gear going up an over hills. The only time I did was when I was going slow due to the turns. I saw an average of 15 MPG on day 1 through the hills. The second day was all Texas and 20+MPH head winds home, so my MPG dropped drastically to 12, nothing you can do about that. Performance was crazy awesome in the hills though.
I am convinced now. I'll tow with premium from now on. It saved me 1 tank on the way home and my engine didn't have to work as hard.
This past week we went from Houston, TX to Branson, MO. On the way up I ran the 87 octane and did the same as always. I got about 11 MPG average and going up and over the Arkansas mountains (its a stretch calling them that, but whatever) I was constantly getting into 3rd gear and 4500 RPM to stay at 60-65 MPH. We took the major highways on the way up as much as possible to save time. The truck performed well.
Now on the way home I filled the truck with 91-93 Octane. While driving around the week we were there I got the tank as empty as possible before I filled up, then topped it off again right before we left. On the way back we decided to check out Eureka Springs, so it was all back roads, steep hills, and tight turns all the way home until we got to Texas again. I saw a significant increase in performance on the way home. I rarely dropped out of 4th gear going up an over hills. The only time I did was when I was going slow due to the turns. I saw an average of 15 MPG on day 1 through the hills. The second day was all Texas and 20+MPH head winds home, so my MPG dropped drastically to 12, nothing you can do about that. Performance was crazy awesome in the hills though.
I am convinced now. I'll tow with premium from now on. It saved me 1 tank on the way home and my engine didn't have to work as hard.
08-06-2018, 03:11 PM
#29
Senior Member
I don't know how much was due to other factors (different terrain or wind), but switching from 91 to 93 when it became available in Iowa on a Montana-to-Maine trip (with a combined gross of 14k) coincided with an increase in MPG from 8ish to 10.5ish.
08-08-2018, 11:30 AM
#30
The trouble with anecdotal accounts of mpg is that changes in mpg changes drastically by wind direction and velocity. Since the average joe can’t account precisely with the wind variable the annecdotes are virtually worthless.
For example towing directly into and with a 10 mph wind causes roughly a 5 mpg swing. A 10 mph wind directly 90 degree directional wind is not neutral, but reduces mpg vs no wind at all. All of this is beyond the capability of average drivers because they don’t have adequate instrumentation to adjust actual wind direction and velocity to mpg.
For example towing directly into and with a 10 mph wind causes roughly a 5 mpg swing. A 10 mph wind directly 90 degree directional wind is not neutral, but reduces mpg vs no wind at all. All of this is beyond the capability of average drivers because they don’t have adequate instrumentation to adjust actual wind direction and velocity to mpg.
