With gas prices increasing, I'd be interested to know what type of gas everyone is putting in their trucks. Premium, Mid-grade, or regular. Also, is anyone changing after a certain mileage range...premium for first 1000 then mid-grade, etc.

 

I have the 5.4 and have 5000 miles since Nov.03 and have used regular 87 oct. I have had no problems at all and there is plenty of get-up-and-go! The manual says 87 and that is what the engine is tunned for. I have talked with many machanics and they have all said the same thing...Use what the engine is set up for. They have all told me of engines they have taken apart and with the fuel injection systems of today the extra octaine of premium does not burn completly so it leaves carbon everywhere. The engine is tunned to burn 87 oct. so when you use higher it is wasted. All I know is if it runs fine use regular, if you start getting a knock when accelerating or pulling a load then jump up a grade.

 

manual says 87 and actually i was told by a Ford tech that 93 can actually be bad for the truck when not properly programmed for it.

 

I use 87...no problems and CHEAPER.

 

Higher octane fuel burns slower. Meaning the actual ignition of fuel in the cylinder creates a downward force on the piston for a longer period of time. But if your engines timing is set to run 87 octane then running 93 will do nothing other than smooth out the combustion process between cylinders. This is usually not noticable.

 

I use 87 too!

 

I use ethanol grade 89. Here in Iowa, it's cheaper than regular 87.

 

Yep, burning higher octane fuel (higher then rated, like 93) will not harm your engine, but could potentially lower your power and fuel economy. Who wants that????

-ii

 

definately not me!

 

Higher octane allows the piston to compress the gas more before being ignited. Lower octane will prematurely combust if compressed too much. Engines only require the octane needed for their specific compression. Putting a higher octane in your engine only wastes your money.

 

I use 87 as well. I'm so glad I dumped the Cobra before the gas prices sky-rocketed. That beast only drank 93 octane.

 

As well as the Corvette that I traded in on my SCrew, 93 octane only

 

87 octane and I only buy from Shell, Chevron or Texaco.