Mid grade towing
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Michigan
Mid grade towing
Has anyone compared mid grade fuel to regular for towing mpg? I filled up with 30 gallons mid grade on the last trip and calculated an increase of 1-1.5 mpg over the last trip. I used it again for the return leg and the results were the same. The days were calm and the routes were the same. The price difference has dropped to about 10 cents for some reason, so I thought I'd give it a try. Our truck just turned over 5000 miles and I have read where folks begin to notice a difference after reaching that mileage. Just wondering if the fuel was the factor or maybe something else like break in wear.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 360
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From: Michigan
Amounts to about a 3% savings using the mid grade at the current price difference. Mid grade is cheaper now for some reason. Prices fluctuate a lot this time year as the stations switch over to winter blend. Some stations occasionally sell it for the same price as regular. I did not notice any significant change in performance with the mid grade. Just wondering if anyone else found an improvement in using mid grade. I really haven't noticed any change in any non-towing vehicle I've owned.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 410
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From: New Mexico
Here I use mid-grade (88) as 87 isn't available (86), then 91 when I fill up the toys.
I have used the 86 here in my then F150 and the mpg did go down by 4, the worst results for mpg was using E85. E85 is around 55 cents cheaper per gallon than the 88 but it turned out it cost me a tad more using the E85 because of the big loss in mpg Vs the 88 octane Gasoline.
I have used the 86 here in my then F150 and the mpg did go down by 4, the worst results for mpg was using E85. E85 is around 55 cents cheaper per gallon than the 88 but it turned out it cost me a tad more using the E85 because of the big loss in mpg Vs the 88 octane Gasoline.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 72
From: West Virginia
Has anyone compared mid grade fuel to regular for towing mpg? I filled up with 30 gallons mid grade on the last trip and calculated an increase of 1-1.5 mpg over the last trip. I used it again for the return leg and the results were the same. The days were calm and the routes were the same. The price difference has dropped to about 10 cents for some reason, so I thought I'd give it a try. Our truck just turned over 5000 miles and I have read where folks begin to notice a difference after reaching that mileage. Just wondering if the fuel was the factor or maybe something else like break in wear.
Maybe it burned more efficiently. Maybe it cleaned your injectors, making them more efficient.
Point is, there are too many variables to be able to make a blanket assessment (though the paradigm is that higher grade fuel is all around better for your vehicle) concerning performance in all cases.
Anecdotally - I used to commute between D.C. and West Virginia every week-end. In D.C. I filled my Jeep up with Exxon regular; I would arrive in West Virginia with 1/8th tank to spare. On the return trip I filled up with Go Mart regular, and would have to stop outside of D.C. to fill up again in order to make it home. It was clear I got better mileage with the Exxon branded fuel.
The best thing to do is, when you find a brand and grade that your truck runs well on, stick with that.
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12secondstang
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Sep 25, 2006 03:30 PM
