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Old May 20, 2019 | 01:41 PM
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Is Higher Octane Better

My trucks say to use 85 octane however the lowest I have found is 87 and has been fine. Is it alright to go higher or should I stay with the regular 87?
 
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Old May 20, 2019 | 05:53 PM
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what year, what engine ? your information is empty..

85 octane.. you UP in the mountains ?

I could guess 6.2L Gas... but in today's world .. I could be wrong.
 
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Old May 20, 2019 | 06:04 PM
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I live in Vail. My truck is a F-250 XL with 6.2L V8 engine.
 
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Old May 20, 2019 | 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Colorado_Kid
My trucks say to use 85 octane however the lowest I have found is 87 and has been fine. Is it alright to go higher or should I stay with the regular 87?
I'm think it's 87 minimum octane and E85 alcohol blend.

Denny
 
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Old May 21, 2019 | 09:08 AM
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I would never use less than 87. On the other hand, going above 87 provides minimal to no benefit.
 
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Old May 21, 2019 | 10:38 AM
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Your manual also recommends 91 or better octane for 'best performance' when towing or in hot weather. Just follow what your manual recommends and don't overthink it. Agree with others...nothing less than 87.......
 
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Old May 21, 2019 | 08:21 PM
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Don't use that 85 octane fuel you find at high elevations.

87 or higher.
 
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Old May 21, 2019 | 08:33 PM
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READ and or search..
< google > why 85 octane in the mountains.

here is 2
https://tap.fremontmotors.com/truste...se-at-altitude

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-regular...ion-U-S-states
 
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Old May 21, 2019 | 09:46 PM
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Thanks for all the advice.
 
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Old May 22, 2019 | 08:59 AM
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Originally Posted by NWnative
Your manual also recommends 91 or better octane for 'best performance' when towing or in hot weather / high elevation. Just follow what your manual recommends and don't overthink it. Agree with others...nothing less than 87.......
If you live at a higher altitude a lot of gas stations sell 85 octane gas. At higher altitude this is ok to use instead of 87.
What the manual states for using at higher altitude to use HIGHER octane gas doesn't make any sense. Perhaps they assume you are towing/going up hill a lot.
Whatever it is, I've used 85 in many cars at high altitude and it's been fine.
 
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Old May 22, 2019 | 11:45 AM
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Exclamation

Originally Posted by Colorado_Kid
My trucks say to use 85 octane however the lowest I have found is 87 and has been fine. Is it alright to go higher or should I stay with the regular 87?
The OM for your 2015 F250 6.2 “recommends” 87 AKI fuel, and specifically recommends against 85 AKI. See OM pages 140 and 141.

Ford began including the higher AKI recommendation for “best performance” for MY2017 when they introduced the improved 6.2.

I’ve not seen any recommendation to use “higher AKI fuel at higher elevations”.

HTH,
Jim / crewzer
 
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Old May 22, 2019 | 10:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Chuck's First Ford
READ and or search..
< google > why 85 octane in the mountains.

here is 2
https://tap.fremontmotors.com/truste...se-at-altitude

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-regular...ion-U-S-states
And using information out of the link you provided . . .

Is 85 Octane Ok To Use At Altitude?

It seems there is not a definitive answer to this as far as modern vehicles go (anything without a carburetor).

The EPA says on their website, “The sale of 85 octane fuel was originally allowed in high-elevation regions—where the barometric pressure is lower—because it was cheaper and because most carbureted engines tolerated it fairly well. This is not true for modern gasoline engines. So, unless you have an older vehicle with a carbureted engine, you should use the manufacturer-recommended fuel for your vehicle, even where 85 octane fuel is available”.

85 Octane is old school . . . . Ford says never use less than 87 octane.
 
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Old May 23, 2019 | 08:41 AM
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Originally Posted by acadianbob
And using information out of the link you provided . . .

Is 85 Octane Ok To Use At Altitude?

It seems there is not a definitive answer to this as far as modern vehicles go (anything without a carburetor).

The EPA says on their website, “The sale of 85 octane fuel was originally allowed in high-elevation regions—where the barometric pressure is lower—because it was cheaper and because most carbureted engines tolerated it fairly well. This is not true for modern gasoline engines. So, unless you have an older vehicle with a carbureted engine, you should use the manufacturer-recommended fuel for your vehicle, even where 85 octane fuel is available”.

85 Octane is old school . . . . Ford says never use less than 87 octane.
And yet, every possible gas station around me sells either 85 or 86 octane fuels and everyone is using them. No issues at all. This is at 6500 ft and up. I've been using the 85 and 86 on the various vehicles, never an issue.
 
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Old May 23, 2019 | 12:20 PM
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Modern engines will likely retard ignition timing to compensate for low AKI fuel, and the engine will probably appear to operate without issue. However, power and fuel economy will likely suffer.

HTH,
Jim / crewzer
 
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Old May 23, 2019 | 12:22 PM
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Originally Posted by SDcrewzer
Modern engines will likely retard ignition timing to compensate for low AKI fuel, and the engine will probably appear to operate without issue. However, power and fuel economy will likely suffer.

HTH,
Jim / crewzer
I'm sure they do, on top of the hit for the altitude. Used to drive s stick shift na car. Absolute dog at this altitude. Now have a turbocharged car which is night and day.
 
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