Regular or premium

[JExpedition07]

Well at the end of the day you can use regular or premium as the manual states, its up to the user, simplest way to put it, if the timing adjusts and you aren’t towing you are pretty much wasting money.

 

[Plati]

Foregoing the chemistry lesson and lack of staying on topic, do you run 93 or 87 in your Ecoboost?


And for the record fuel stabilizers are a real thing and they do work. There is an unbelievable amount of science and testing to back this up.

Sorry, I thought I was on topic ... until DF5.4 educated me that the EcoBoost/EB has engine controls to sense and adjust for knocking. Glad I learned that, that was cool! That's the problem with people that learned things a long time ago (me) and think its still the only way. I have a 2014 not an EcoBoost. I thought EB was Eddie Bauer not EcoBoost LOL! I would still think you get the same HP and FE with either fuel (potentially less engine stress with premium) but what I know. Do you think in an engine that has no detonation will you get more HP by running premium gas?

http://www.automobilemag.com/news/octane-fuel-economy-horsepower-epa/
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/octane.shtml


Would really appreciate it if you could direct me to some of the science behind Ethanol additives. That might be off topic though so better not. I'm always ready to learn new things. But then again if you do as I do and keep it away from water vapor and cycle it out in 6 weeks you don't need any additives, right?

 

[JExpedition07]

Sorry, I thought I was on topic ... until DF5.4 educated me that the EB has engine controls to sense and adjust for knocking. Glad I learned that, that was cool! That's the problem with people that learned things a long time ago (me) and think its still the only way. I have a 2014 not an EB. I thought EB was Eddie Bauer not EcoBoost LOL! I would still think you get the same HP and FE with either fuel (potentially less engine stress with premium) but what I know. Do you think in an engine that has no detonation will you get more HP by running premium gas?

Would really appreciate it if you could direct me to some of the science behind Ethanol additives. That might be off topic though so better not. I'm always ready to learn new things. But then again if you do as I do and keep it away from water vapor and cycle it out in 6 weeks you don't need any additives, right?

EB does mean Eddie Bauer, lots of people misuse it for ecoboost.

 

[rjdelp7]

Ethanol free fuel 3% gain in MPG. Premium maybe 3% gain. The price is 10-20% higher. The "ECO" boost de-tunes for 87 octane. My 2011 Mustang GT 5.0l recommends 91 or higher. It would of been a tough sell for Ford, if Premium was recommended for trucks using the EB. Owners have posted the page from the owners manual. It states for towing etc. This motor should, probably always use premium. If premium is used all the time, the money savings, of the engine is gone.

 

[lbv150]

I run Shell premium or other top tier fuel and add Marvel Mystery Oil to keep things lubed and clean. Not worth it to me to save a few pennies on fuel for a $50,000+ truck. Top tier fuel is the key to engine longevity....I don't see anyone discussing that.

http://www.toptiergas.com/

 

[rjdelp7]

I personally feel Ford misled customers and they should file a class action against them. VW just got dragged through the mud, for exaggerating there mileage and emission claims. Was EB was "rated" on premium or 87 pump gas?

 

[gixer2000]

Guys that don't read or comprehend the owners manual make me want to bang my head. The EB is a twin turbo, direct injected engine. It's in the manual - recommended fuel for best performance is premium top tier. You can run less octane and the PCM will adjust it's settings and retard ignition timing accordingly for less power and performance but if pulling a trailer etc premium fuel.

But the thing you're not seeing is that a year was never listed in the op so how is anyone going to know what year it is to know it's an EcoBoost? Keep in mind the gen3 had different engine options from 07-14 and 15-17. Unfortunately like myself it seems people just assumed it was a 5.4 or a 4.6.
That being said I retract my previous statement to run regular and go with whatever your owner's manual recommends

 

[JExpedition07]

He did say for EB or “Eddie Bauer Engines”. Lol but in all seriousness he did specify he had an ecoboost in post 1.

 

[Plati]

I personally feel Ford misled customers and they should file a class action against them. VW just got dragged through the mud, for exaggerating there mileage and emission claims. Was EB was "rated" on premium or 87 pump gas?

I had the same question and this answers that ... HIGH OCTANE
.. I think we should sue the EPA. Better be quick before Trump shuts it down!

http://www.automobilemag.com/news/octane-fuel-economy-horsepower-epa/


The EPA and automakers use Indolene test fuel for all (gasoline) vehicle testing, for consistency purposes,” a spokesperson for the agency says. “Indolene is a high-octane fuel that meets a wide range of technical specifications.”

 

[gixer2000]

He did say for EB or “Eddie Bauer Engines”. Lol but in all seriousness he did specify he had an ecoboost in post 1.

And no he didnt but I do see it now under his Avatar.

Also Eddie Bauers have been being made since first gen so saying Eddie Bauer tells me nothing

Either way it was my bad so lets move on

 

[Plati]

I run Shell premium or other top tier fuel and add Marvel Mystery Oil to keep things lubed and clean. Not worth it to me to save a few pennies on fuel for a $50,000+ truck. Top tier fuel is the key to engine longevity....I don't see anyone discussing that.

http://www.toptiergas.com/

Now I've learned something else.
Learn a lot on this Forum

Off topic, but this is familiar to me from my snowmobile with variable exhaust. I take it apart and clean it every 2000 miles. Used to use "regular" 2 cycle oil but then switched to expensive synthetic. The difference of buildup on the internal parts is HUGE. I'm a convert to paying more for top quality consumables that keep things cleaner now. Worth the $$$$

 

[rjdelp7]

Now I've learned something else.
Learn a lot on this Forum

Off topic, but this is familiar to me from my snowmobile with variable exhaust. I take it apart and clean it every 2000 miles. Used to use "regular" 2 cycle oil but then switched to expensive synthetic. The difference of buildup on the internal parts is HUGE. I'm a convert to paying more for top quality consumables that keep things cleaner now. Worth the $$$$

Good point but...The eco boost was supposed to save people money. V8 power with 6cyl mileage. It makes the power. Does it save any money, if you a filling it with premium?

 

[07xln]

Sorry, I thought I was on topic ... until DF5.4 educated me that the EcoBoost/EB has engine controls to sense and adjust for knocking. Glad I learned that, that was cool! Do you think in an engine that has no detonation will you get more HP by running premium gas?

Would really appreciate it if you could direct me to some of the science behind Ethanol additives. That might be off topic though so better not. I'm always ready to learn new things. But then again if you do as I do and keep it away from water vapor and cycle it out in 6 weeks you don't need any additives, right?

Just about every modern day vehicle with an ECU and fuel injection has the ability to adjust for knocking. This isn't something new or special on the ecoboost. This technology has been around for decades. What do you think a knock sensor is for??? If the computer detects knock it will retard the timing to make the knock go away. With that said the ecu's run off a map. In the case of the ecoboost that map is optimized for 93. When you run 87 the map will adjust for the lower octane there by lowering timing and making less power. What the map or ecu wont do is add timing or fuel beyond what its base map has programed. So say you ran 100-110 race fuel in it. That would truly be a waste and you would see no improvements at all.

If you have the ability to advance your timing then absolutely you'll gain horsepower by running better fuel. Perfect example is my CTSV which Ive modified to run on flex fuel (ethanol). Ethanol is as premium as it gets especially in a forced induction engine such as mine. When my car has 93 in it the advanced timing gets about as high as 18* before it starts detecting knock. On my car I mix my fuel, 93 with E85 to get to a mix of about E60. Anything over that content doesn't really provide any more performance gains and its super hard on the fuel pumps especially when its cold outside. Anyways on E60 my tune and timing adjust to 25* of advance. On a dyno I was able to gain over 60 whp just by running ethanol and more timing.


I'm not going to do the work for you. A simple Google search on ethanol additives will show you everything you need to know. You think Stabil became a multi billion dollar company by selling stuff that doesn't do what it says it does lol!!!

 

[Plati]

Just about every modern day vehicle with an ECU and fuel injection has the ability to adjust for knocking. This isn't something new or special on the ecoboost. This technology has been around for decades. What do you think a knock sensor is for??? If the computer detects knock it will retard the timing to make the knock go away. With that said the ecu's run off a map. In the case of the ecoboost that map is optimized for 93. When you run 87 the map will adjust for the lower octane there by lowering timing and making less power. What the map or ecu wont do is add timing or fuel beyond what its base map has programed. So say you ran 100-110 race fuel in it. That would truly be a waste and you would see no improvements at all.

If you have the ability to advance your timing then absolutely you'll gain horsepower by running better fuel. Perfect example is my CTSV which Ive modified to run on flex fuel (ethanol). Ethanol is as premium as it gets especially in a forced induction engine such as mine. When my car has 93 in it the advanced timing gets about as high as 18* before it starts detecting knock. On my car I mix my fuel, 93 with E85 to get to a mix of about E60. Anything over that content doesn't really provide any more performance gains and its super hard on the fuel pumps especially when its cold outside. Anyways on E60 my tune and timing adjust to 25* of advance. On a dyno I was able to gain over 60 whp just by running ethanol and more timing.


I'm not going to do the work for you. A simple Google search on ethanol additives will show you everything you need to know. You think Stabil became a multi billion dollar company by selling stuff that doesn't do what it says it does lol!!!

Thanks for your info, I've learned a few things with this discussion. I've been sufficiently spanked. Nobody can be an expert on everything, so an open mind and the interest/ability to learn is important. I never heard of a knock sensor until today so now I know more than I did! Cool!

So you say that the Ecoboost engine is optimized for 93 and yet Ford advises people to use 87? You're also saying that 87 octane will result is less power (and implied fuel economy) than 93? I already learned that the fuel economy EPA tests are done with high octane fuel so you say that the claims Ford makes for the Ecoboost engine are misleading. This seems troubling. Are you sure the map is for 93 and not 87? It would make more sense to put a map in the vehicle that matches the fuel that is recommended. Do you have some inside knowledge about the Ecoboost engine not available to the general public?

This document from Chevron supports a lot of what you say about octane & knocking.
https://www.chevron.com/-/media/chevron/operations/documents/motor-gas-tech-review.pdf

Here's what Ford Truck says about their engines and the Ecoboost
https://www.ford-trucks.com/how-tos/a/ford-f150-f250-why-is-my-truck-knocking-361852

All in all, I'd go with 87 octane like advised in the Owners Manual unless you think the engine is knocking and don't use 93 just to give you more power or better fuel economy. Besides, even if it did ... you wouldn't notice the power (butt dyno) and it wouldn't be economically beneficial.

I spent 20 years investigating patent infringement for Xerox, so I'm more than capable of google searching. I've researched Gas/Ethanol additives numerous times over the past few years and never seen anything convincing so that's why I asked you for help. Yes I do believe that StaBil makes a lot of money selling snake oil that is of no benefit as does StarTron, SeaFoam, and all the other Ethanol additive marketers. I do use StaBil in my small engine gas if its going to sit around for an extended period because that science is believable. Better yet I buy no ethanol gas & use StaBil.​

 

[edizzle]

Ethanol is terrible for your engine. It gets anywhere from 2-6% less mpg than gas. Try to stay away from it!

 

[J Ski]

But the thing you're not seeing is that a year was never listed in the op so how is anyone going to know what year it is to know it's an EcoBoost? Keep in mind the gen3 had different engine options from 07-14 and 15-17. Unfortunately like myself it seems people just assumed it was a 5.4 or a 4.6.
That being said I retract my previous statement to run regular and go with whatever your owner's manual recommends

And it’s in my signature...

 

[deweysmith]

Ethanol is terrible for your engine. It gets anywhere from 2-6% less mpg than gas. Try to stay away from it!

Only because it contains less free energy than gasoline. It won’t hurt an engine that’s designed for it. Flex Fuel engines like mine can run just fine on 85% ethanol.

 

[07xln]

So you say that the Ecoboost engine is optimized for 93 and yet Ford advises people to use 87? See below from owners manual. They don't advise people to use 87, they say its fine to run it. They advise and recommend you use 93 for increased performance or when towing You're also saying that 87 octane will result is less power (and implied fuel economy) than 93? Yes that's what I'm saying I already learned that the fuel economy EPA tests are done with high octane fuel contradiction #1 so you say that the claims Ford makes for the Ecoboost engine are misleading. This seems troubling. If the fuel economy #s are achieved using premium fuel then how are Fords claims misleading? When they advertise their fuel economy numbers they don't say what octane fuel they used to achieve those numbers. And just to make sure they have extra transparency they even advertise on their site that the "actual mileage will vary". Please feel free to go to Ford.com and read that for yourself Are you sure the map is for 93 and not 87? It would make more sense to put a map in the vehicle that matches the fuel that is recommended. Contradiction #2 Do you have some inside knowledge about the Ecoboost engine not available to the general public? No I just like to research before I buy and after I buy read the owners manual


All in all, I'd go with 87 octane like advised in the Owners Manual contradiction #3. That's not what it says in the owners manual at least not in 15-17 model year manual. Here is what it says... "

Your vehicle is designed to operate on


regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum


pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87.

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.

Besides, even if it did ... you wouldn't notice the power (butt dyno) and it wouldn't be economically beneficial. Why do you have to feel it for it to be more economically beneficial? And when did you all of the sudden become mine or anyone elses financial advisor??? As I said earlier it cost me an extra $7.80 to fill up with premium compared to 87. It takes me about two weeks to go through a tank. For me that's an average of $202.80 a year extra I'm paying for my truck to run at its peak performance and run the fuel that's RECOMMENDED. To the people that think that's just a waste of money I say to you, youre cheap, plain and simple.

I spent 20 years investigating patent infringement for Xerox, so I'm more than capable of google searching. I've researched Gas/Ethanol additives numerous times over the past few years and never seen anything convincing so that's why I asked you for help. Yes I do believe that StaBil makes a lot of money selling snake oil that is of no benefit as does StarTron, SeaFoam, and all the other Ethanol additive marketers. I do use StaBil in my small engine gas if its going to sit around for an extended period because that science is believable. These two sentences alone have me dumbfounded. Nothing has convinced you it works, its snake oil and has no benefit. Then you turn right around and say you use it if its going to be sitting for a while. WTF!!!!!!!!!!​

UGH!!! Why is it the guys that dont own Ecoboosts always the ones that insist on arguing about them??? The contradictions in your post are baffling

I wont argue anymore about this. You don't even own an Ecoboost. If you ever own one run some 87 in it then run some 93 and get back to me. 3 people in this thread have said their trucks run better on 93 over 87 and youre basically calling us liars

Ethanol is terrible for your engine. It gets anywhere from 2-6% less mpg than gas. Try to stay away from it!

Ethanol is not terrible for your engine, sugar in the gas tank is. I agree Ethanol decreases fuel mileage but its not bad for the engine at least in automobiles that are designed to run flex fuel. Ford has had vehicles designed to run it for years now Don't hear a lot of horror stories about those vehicles replacing engines or fuel systems etc. That's weird don't you think

 

[edizzle]

It absorbs water! If you are not continually running fuel through the system, it can lead to rust inside the tank and fuel system. It can also has the potential to gum up.

 

[JExpedition07]

It absorbs water! If you are not continually running fuel through the system, it can lead to rust inside the tank and fuel system. It can also has the potential to gum up.

We’ve all got plastic tanks. But agree otherwise.