Gas Brand and Performance
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Aurora
Like it's been said before, mpg's are all over the place for these trucks. I'm beginning to form the opinion from reading tese posts that the gas has more than a casual effect. The only real requirement from the regulators is octane and sulfur. I guess they can formulate it any way they want and if people are buying it, what the heck!! It may be just what they say. If it's too good to be true it probably is. I'll just use whoevers gas has the best results for run quality and mpg. But like anything else, it's up to me to find it. Gas wars pop up from time to time and I'll be damned if I get up at 1:00 am to fill up the tank. I've had good results from just about everybody exept Shell. Remember that 10% better mpgs is worth 10 cents a litre or 38 cents a gallon.
Fred
Fred
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95 plus percent of gasoline comes from the same pipelines, including diesel, kerosene, etc. Only a few of the major mfgrs are dedicated lines. When the gasoline reaches its destination, the additives are added as the trucks are loading to deliver to the stations.
Cheaper gasolines means they are cheaper for a reason. Draw your own conclusions.
Higher octanes are for higher compression engines. It needs the slower burning gasoline to keep from detonating or pre-igniting. Using the higher octane in a low compression engine results in the problems as stated by pawpaw. If using the higher octane cures/helps a low compression engine, it is just covering up the problem.
In this area, Shell is considered the best, but is also the costliest. I use whatever is cheapest, and have had no problems, and my vehicles are turbocharged. jd
Cheaper gasolines means they are cheaper for a reason. Draw your own conclusions.
Higher octanes are for higher compression engines. It needs the slower burning gasoline to keep from detonating or pre-igniting. Using the higher octane in a low compression engine results in the problems as stated by pawpaw. If using the higher octane cures/helps a low compression engine, it is just covering up the problem.
In this area, Shell is considered the best, but is also the costliest. I use whatever is cheapest, and have had no problems, and my vehicles are turbocharged. jd
Last edited by jimdandy; May 16, 2007 at 11:14 PM.
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^ I would have to agree, Shell, Chevron, and Sunoco(sp) are considered some of the best.
As far as higher octanes being needed in high comp engines not neccessarily true. My car stock is 10:1 compression. Factory tune is 87. But of course any engine can use premium if proper PCM/ECU tuning is performed to increase spark, etc. I usually run midgrade in the ranger, no real reason. I need to get my friend to tune it
As far as higher octanes being needed in high comp engines not neccessarily true. My car stock is 10:1 compression. Factory tune is 87. But of course any engine can use premium if proper PCM/ECU tuning is performed to increase spark, etc. I usually run midgrade in the ranger, no real reason. I need to get my friend to tune it
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I had have two Rangers one was 2.3L and the other is 3.0 and both trucks
run smoother and ping free when use 89 octane, the owners manual calls for 87 "MINIMUM OCTANE" that doesn't means we can't use 89 or higher octane,
the manufacturer also claims that some pinging is normal on these trucks, and I think the reason is because these engines need a higher octane fuel to run best, why ford ol these years couldn't fix the pinging garbage on these trucks?
There's just too many Ranger owners complaining of pinging detonation, which is bad for any motor big or small , just for those not aware of how serious this is, detonation for a long time can burn the pistons.
run smoother and ping free when use 89 octane, the owners manual calls for 87 "MINIMUM OCTANE" that doesn't means we can't use 89 or higher octane,
the manufacturer also claims that some pinging is normal on these trucks, and I think the reason is because these engines need a higher octane fuel to run best, why ford ol these years couldn't fix the pinging garbage on these trucks?
There's just too many Ranger owners complaining of pinging detonation, which is bad for any motor big or small , just for those not aware of how serious this is, detonation for a long time can burn the pistons.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Kiev, Ukraine
Well, if you want to have more power on stock engine, if you have necessary equipment and skills you can refill ignition timing correction charts factory tuned to avoid detonation with oct 85 fuel to oct 91-93 gas and get 10-15 HP gaine.
But you will pay more for every mile. MPG is usually the same, but gas is more expencive and if you have faster engine you drive faster and it decreases fuel milage.
There is the other way. Here in Ukraine the cheappest gas is oct. 76. My aero is overbore, pushed to 3.5, but compression rartio is lower - about 8:1. MPG is the same, but I can use oct 76 gas, the cheappest, becouse not popular and I dont know why but spark plugs have longer lify with low cotane gas, then with hight oct gas.
But you will pay more for every mile. MPG is usually the same, but gas is more expencive and if you have faster engine you drive faster and it decreases fuel milage.
There is the other way. Here in Ukraine the cheappest gas is oct. 76. My aero is overbore, pushed to 3.5, but compression rartio is lower - about 8:1. MPG is the same, but I can use oct 76 gas, the cheappest, becouse not popular and I dont know why but spark plugs have longer lify with low cotane gas, then with hight oct gas.
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My friend does PCM tuning for all walks of life for a living, so he knows what he's doing. just gotta get ahold of him to see if he does Fords. I'd just like it retuned, as you can often find better fuel economy leaving the factory tune behind..
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When you said PCM tunning, you mean changing electronic chips inside?
Are other PCM out there that would fix the pinging, and how much $$ it cost to upgrade?
My understanding is a knocking sensor should work together with the PCM to prevent pinging?
Are other PCM out there that would fix the pinging, and how much $$ it cost to upgrade?
My understanding is a knocking sensor should work together with the PCM to prevent pinging?
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Im not sure how advanced the Ford's ECUs are in at least my truck, But IIRC it's an OBD1 computer they've used up till 95, so it should have programmable memory. If not it would be like swapping a chip in the 93 Pre GM cars. I myself wouldn't use a handheld programmer in any incident, when a custom tune is way better. I just need to see if anything is available from my friend.
Last edited by BuffmanLT1; May 17, 2007 at 01:43 AM.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Yes some '95s are OBD-1 (EEC-IV), some are OBD-2. All pre-'95s are EEC-IV.
Programmers/tuners are difficult to find for the EEC-IV computers. Chips are pretty easy to find, but do not take into account the actual vehicle, mileage on it, modifications done to it, etc. They're quite similar to the stock tune in that they just set parameters and the PCM does it's thing from there.
Custom tuning, which will probably require many re-burns of a chip as I don't know of any EEC-IV tuners, is by far the best but can quickly get expensive. It does, however, take into account everything done to the vehicle, and if done by a good tuner, can net a good 20 horsepower.
Programmers/tuners are difficult to find for the EEC-IV computers. Chips are pretty easy to find, but do not take into account the actual vehicle, mileage on it, modifications done to it, etc. They're quite similar to the stock tune in that they just set parameters and the PCM does it's thing from there.
Custom tuning, which will probably require many re-burns of a chip as I don't know of any EEC-IV tuners, is by far the best but can quickly get expensive. It does, however, take into account everything done to the vehicle, and if done by a good tuner, can net a good 20 horsepower.
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Senior User
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Nonsense!
Why Ford couldn't install the right PCM with the right chip to prevent the pinging problem form the time ol these trucks came out from factory?
Why the consumer have to do ol the mods to get rid of ping nonsense?
Why Ford couldn't install the right PCM with the right chip to prevent the pinging problem form the time ol these trucks came out from factory?
Why the consumer have to do ol the mods to get rid of ping nonsense?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
That's one of the big things about these engines that puzzles many people.
The 4.0L, when it pings, is typically just a driver not revving it out often enough to blow the carbon out. Once to 3000-3500 RPM at least a day will do fine.
The 3.0L just seems to be pinging prone.
The 4.0L, when it pings, is typically just a driver not revving it out often enough to blow the carbon out. Once to 3000-3500 RPM at least a day will do fine.
The 3.0L just seems to be pinging prone.
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Senior User
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Originally Posted by RangerPilot
That's one of the big things about these engines that puzzles many people.
The 4.0L, when it pings, is typically just a driver not revving it out often enough to blow the carbon out. Once to 3000-3500 RPM at least a day will do fine.
The 3.0L just seems to be pinging prone.
The 4.0L, when it pings, is typically just a driver not revving it out often enough to blow the carbon out. Once to 3000-3500 RPM at least a day will do fine.
The 3.0L just seems to be pinging prone.
and the truck has only 75k not a huge deal of carbon build up, my mechanic said everything is fine with the truck, but the pinging problem doesn't go away
it's just the way these trucks are.
My other 94 Ranger 2.3 had the same problem till the last day that sold . The facts are if you accelerate hard or drive up a hill these truck have detonation problems when under load!
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From: Higginsville, MO
I run 89 octane with my bama 89 performance tune. And around the corn belt here, they sell the 89 octane for the same price or cheaper than the 87 because to the ethanol content. I always ran Amoco 92 octane in my 5.0 but mostly I run MFA fuels now-a-days.
