93 Octane

[HiImBrian]

So at the gas station new years eve, I watched a guy with a Maserati pump 93 octane and thought to myself; "I'd go broke if I had to fill up with that." Then I did the math and it was only $6.50 more to fill my tank with 93 instead of 87... I stopped pumping at 5 gallons and left. New years day I ran to advance and picked up some fuel system cleaner and dumped it in, then ran my tank almost empty. I filled up with 93 and haven't used anything else since.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like my Ex is running better than the day I bought it. It starts easier, accelerates faster, exhaust sounds deeper and my gas mileage has been better.

Does anyone else just run 93? With 155,000 miles on the clock I figure why not pamper it. For an extra $6.50 the benefits seem to be worth it.

 

[sport97]

I've ran 91 once and my ex idled smoother, didn't calculate the mileage out though. Not sure of the benefits, if any, of higher octane. Some say its useless, others say it helps. Consider this: if you are going to run 93 why not get an SCT tuner to tune the ex to get the most of using the higher octane and your intake/exhaust, should net you some power and mpg.

 

[racer_x_one]

Ya I've been running 93 in my 94 for a while now. I have 250+k and was getting ping/knock under load and crapy mpg. I started by using regular and adding octane booster which seemed to help a little. Then one day i was at the gas station as you and thought the same thing...havn't looked back since. It was costing me more to fill up on regular and dump octane booster in than to fill up on 93. Plus it runs much better on 93 than regular with octane booster and I got a little better mpg too.

 

[HiImBrian]

I've ran 91 once and my ex idled smoother, didn't calculate the mileage out though. Not sure of the benefits, if any, of higher octane. Some say its useless, others say it helps. Consider this: if you are going to run 93 why not get an SCT tuner to tune the ex to get the most of using the higher octane and your intake/exhaust, should net you some power and mpg.

A Henson tune is 3rd on the list, right below BTF spacers and new tires... Hurry up tax refund!

 

[sport97]

A Henson tune is 3rd on the list, right below BTF spacers and new tires... Hurry up tax refund!

Gotcha, I want a tune too, but I have other items on my list as well.

Do they have 93 at all stations down there? Pretty sure most stations here have 87/89/91, and some have 93 instead of 91. I could be wrong as I don't really pay attention, i always go for the 87.

 

[HiImBrian]

Pretty sure most stations here have 87/89/91, and some have 93 instead of 91.

That's how it is here too.. The station right around the corner from me has 87/89/93, so that's what I've been using. However if I can't find 93, I'll use 91...

 

[43]

After seerig this thread i figured i'd give it a try... and i got some awesome results, went from 13.4 mpg to 15.8, feels alot more powerful, and it runs\idles soooo much better. I used shell v-power, and i have the 4.0 flex fuel. Just my experience.

 

[Kazer]

there always has and always will be a debate on this topic

For those that think a higher octane fuel means that the fuel has more energy in it, you're wrong. The higher the octane #, the SLOWER the fuel burns to prevent detonation. The reason high performance cars use higher octane is because it allows the timing curve to be advanced more without detonation, and it allows a motor to be built with a higher compression ratio.

As has been stated above, using a higher octane fuel in a motor that is not calibrated to use it does nothing but put a bigger hole in your wallet.

 

[fr0st m0nkey]

After seerig this thread i figured i'd give it a try... and i got some awesome results, went from 13.4 mpg to 15.8, feels alot more powerful, and it runs\idles soooo much better. I used shell v-power, and i have the 4.0 flex fuel. Just my experience.

You sure that has anything to do with it? 13.4 mpg is extremely low for the v6 to begin with. I get around 17-18 mpg on 87, although I don't have the flex fuel.

 

[Teejay4490]

I tried this out too and after a couple of tanks my mpg has gone from 14.2 to 15.3, I also noticed a difference in how it ran and take off was alot smoother..

 

[Ronin8002]

I might start using my SCT 93 octane torque tune on the next fillup...haven't tried it yet in the year and a half I've had the tuner.

 

[43]

You sure that has anything to do with it? 13.4 mpg is extremely low for the v6 to begin with. I get around 17-18 mpg on 87, although I don't have the flex fuel.

I dont know, i've always got about that mpg since i've owned it. on my last explorer, which was a xlt without the flex fuel, and i got about 17 mpg too. this one has had its diff replaced, so maybe that has something to do with it... maybe 3.73 upgrade?

 

[JawzSS]

Always use 93, and always have in my other cars as well. I'm a believer in the idea of burning cleaner, more pure fuel is all around better for an engine. Especially 8 cylinders... But that's my 2 ¢

 

[94xlt4.0]

im going to stay neutral here but think about this: your ex is programmed to run on regular unleaded gas (87 or 89) depending where you live. higher octane burns slower than the lower octane which will help with pinging but if your pinging on whatever your engine is designed to run with then you have other problems that need addressed. so if your gas is burning slower then the explosion in the cylinder will not be as powerful. the different octanes have the same amount of potential energy but the octane difference controls the rate of burn. with this in mind theoretically you will lose power as the engine is further into the stroke when the burn is finished.

 

[Inspector13]

I've tried this in many cars (including my Ex) and non have run better/smoother or gotten better fuel economy on higher octane fuels. The only thing I run 91/93 in is my Mustang but that is because it runs higher compression then factory and is tuned for it (it pings with 89 and some 91). I average 18-20 mpg on 87 octane in my 4.0 Ex.

 

[GoldenBoy]

Here in the Philippines we have 97 and 100 octane rating, is it ok to use this octane rating for my 02 ex?

 

[IAmTodd]

Gotcha, I want a tune too, but I have other items on my list as well.

Do they have 93 at all stations down there? Pretty sure most stations here have 87/89/91, and some have 93 instead of 91. I could be wrong as I don't really pay attention, i always go for the 87.

Around this area 92 and 93 are the top ratings. Sheetz seems to carry only 92 so I have to avoid them with the Saab as I have it tuned for 93 only.

Here in the Philippines we have 97 and 100 octane rating, is it ok to use this octane rating for my 02 ex?

Yours is calculated differently. They equal out to be the same as ours.

I see no point in running higher octane in a vehicle unless it is tuned. If you have pinging and higher octane cures it, you have an issue.