Running premium fuel?
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 966
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Not sure about the 98 but the newer engines generally have a knock sensor. If it detects knocking the computer retards the timing to eliminate it. Probably one of the reasons they recommend the 87 octane since the computer/sensor will make the necessary compensations.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
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From: Rhode Island
In one of my earlier posts on this thread I mentioned that it almost pays for itself. It costs me between 2 and 3 cents per mile more to burn hi-test. For that 2 or 3 cents, I get a quieter running engine that has more power on the hills. I've owned the truck for 10 years and I have put 155,000 of the miles on it myself. (it turned over to 238,000 last night) I'm 55 years old and don't need a power house. My lame 3.0 is just about bullet proof and gets me from A to B. Maybe something is wrong with it but if there is, it has been wrong for 10 years and 155,000 miles and the hi-test gas hasn't had an negative effects, only positive ones. In case anyone is wondering, my truck spark knocks on mid grade gas too (89 octane up here in Northern Maine)
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New User
Joined: Sep 2011
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Thanks for all the thoughts on this subject. I periodically ran 93 octane in my 97 with the pushrod 4.0L without problems. I had 296,787 miles on it but road salt finally took its toll on the poor beast, eating the frame to the point I was afraid to put any weight on it. I have run 2 tanks of 93 in the 2011 in the 6 months I've had it. The only difference I've noticed is that the cold engine skip I've had goes away on 93. The skip is bad enough when backing out of the driveway that I can feel it through the seat and I have to give it more gas to get out of the driveway than what I would on a warm engine. No codes in the ECM so it is something the computer is not picking up. The dealer couldn't find a cause either so until it sets a code, I'm not going to worry about it.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
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From: SW Va
The reason that I started running hi test was because my truck was spark knocking in over drive whenever I was traveling 50 MPH or less (especially on the hills) and on certain longer hills I had to shift down to 4th gear. My grandfather used to run high test gas in an old Farmall tractor during the fall when he used it to dig potatoes. It wouldnt haul the digger in 2nd gear with regular but would with high test. He passed away in 1978 and I still have his old tractor. I dont farm potatoes but I do plow snow. The tractor will not plow snow in 3rd gear with regular gas but it will with high test. (2nd doesn't give enough ground speed to cast the snow away but 3rd does) I know that my truck is a different situation than the tractor as it is controlled by a computer. My truck will pull the same long hills in 5th gear when using high test and there is no spark knocking what so ever. I have been running high test for roughly 154,500 miles with no engine problems at all. I service it religiously and it still doesn't burn any oil at all. I have switched back numerous times and every time that I do, my mileage decreases by about 4 mph and it starts spark knocking almost immediately. I even disconnected the battery over night once prior to running a fresh full tank of regular gas. I was hoping that it would have to learn how to run again with regular gas but it never did. I also have a 2005 Ford Escape with a 3.0 and an automatic transmission. The high test makes seems to make no difference in that vehicle at all and it doesn't spark knock so I use regular gas in that one. The extra cost of the high test and the added mileage almost equal themselves out but not quite. It does cost me a few pennies per mile more with the high test.
Engine Cleaners# Click on the little projector symbols below each heading, to view a video.
The videos give some insight into where, how & why intake, injector & combustion chamber deposits form & how Techron works & how it goes about its clean up job. Maybe a dose or two with Fords high rpm blow it out decarb proceedure I posted will help wean your Ranger from its premium fuel addicition!!!!
A twice yearly dose of the 20oz Techron Concentrate Plus, along with the high rpm 'blow it out" routine I posted, during the treated tank, sure has helped keep my 4.0L CCDI cold start up "marble noise" clatter in check over the years.
More thoughts for consideration, if you decide to try it out, let us know how it goes.
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