Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

[saj]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

I own three cars and all three take premium fuel. That's all I ever put in them because the price difference in the long run is pretty small. That and the price of regular is rising right along with premium so the way I look at it is that I'm actually paying a smaller percentage bump for the premium.

How's that for rationalization?

[islandtime]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

I own three cars and all three take premium fuel. That's all I ever put in them because the price difference in the long run is pretty small. That and the price of regular is rising right along with premium so the way I look at it is that I'm actually paying a smaller percentage bump for the premium.
How's that for rationalization?

Works for me. Three of our five take high test.

[APV60]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

I use 91 octane no ethynol. Exception with the no ethynol on trips.

[2K2BIRD]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

I'd really like to hear the experiences of the 10 people who use regular in their cars.

All the time? Some of the time? Season dependent? With ethanol? Without ethanol? Brand specific? Terrain/altitude where you live? MPG city & highway? Ever hear pinging at all? Miles driven per year? Daily driver? Garage queen? How long have you been using it?

We might can learn something if we can get some information without being judgemental of those that have experience with using regular instead of premium.

[Rondor]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

I agree there is a lot of variables in this equation. Also all octane is not derived in the same manner in all brands. A compression ratio above 10:1 colld easily show some lomg term effects from an octaine as low as 87 even tho there may be no imediate symptoms. It's a shame what the government regulations ahve done to the entire industry With todays new cars getting into more horse power with less cubes regular grade gas should become obsolete. I can't see why we have 3 grades anyway.

[mickey1201]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

Our owners manual only recommends 91 octane.

Octane recommendations
Your vehicle is designed to use
“Premium” unleaded gasoline with
an (R+M)/2 octane rating of 91 or
higher for optimum performance.
The use of gasolines with lower
octane ratings may degrade performance. We do not recommend the use
of gasolines labeled as “Premium” in high altitude areas that are sold
with octane ratings of less than 91.
Do not be concerned if your engine sometimes knocks lightly. However, if
it knocks heavily under most driving conditions while you are using fuel
with the recommended octane rating, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician to prevent any engine damage


Here is a link, I hope I hope it works.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...emiumgas_x.htm

You have no need for 91 octane these are not Turbo Charged cars.

For driving I have no loss of power or acceleration. I will say I drive at least the speed limit in all states.

[gyrogreene]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

Was using regular in ours, we have put about 8,000 miles on it during the use of regular(60,000 when we bought it last year). Hadn't heard any knocking or pinging. Late last winter, started hearing some pinging and an occasional slight knock, no pattern to the times it was happening.

Now we alternate between mid-range and premium, and I haven't heard anything since.

Didn't vote in the poll, since we are mixing mid-range and premium.

[EllisonCal]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

If you drive 5000 miles a year in your Thunderbird and get 15 mpg, you'll use so little gasolene in a year that the savings, by using regular (87 octane), is less than $75 annually. Why would you even be tempted?

[bostewart]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

I keep it always over half full and split between premium and regular. Never had a problem as far as that goes. Now that I'm retired I don't have to drive 100 miles a day I use more premium then regular just because I don't have to do it so much.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

With a compression ratio of 10.75 to 1, I'm staying with high octane.

.........easy choice.

In the old days, before there was a computer on board that recognized either your mistake or intentional foolish decision, you paid the price with piston damage.

Today the computer will probably save you from "busted domes" but in doing so I have to believe you're going to experience both poor acceleration and MPG.

Might even be a "wash" when he works it all out for the cash savings he's hoping to achieve.

Bottom Line?

I wouldn't do it either.

[Roadster239]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

I've always used premium fuel (since 1973) in all my cars. It's a psychological thing I guess. In Canada the price of premium is approx. $5.30 per gallon depending on where you live. I will usually put Shell 92 octane but I will occasionally fill the tank with 94 at Sunoco/Petro Canada. That one hurts the pocket book topping out at $5.50.

[hayjulz]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

I use nothing but 92 octane, don't even think higher octanes available in CA. The other day I saw an LS coming up on my right in the rear view, I could hear it pinging. I'm assuming since they are similar platform perhaps it should have 92 octane also.

[Johnny TBird]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

I have always used 93 plus premium fuel in my bird.

[birdfan]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

I always use premium.

I know the following tale is not a scientific experiment, but here it is:

When we first got the retro I always used premium. On the first long day-trip we took I filled it up with regular by mistake. Half way through the trip the dreaded wrench light came on and it went to limp mode. I rolled to the side of the road, turned the car off and restarted and it was OK - but only for a few miles. This went on for many miles (almost getting re-ended once in traffic) until I came to a gas station and topped it off with premium (a little more than half tank). The car immediately ran good for the rest of the trip. The next day I took it to the dealer and their tests indicated TPS, which they replaced. Car has run great ever since.

Now, I know the regular fuel and TPS was probably just a coincidence, but looking at the circumstantial evidence I have kept with premium fuel ever since.

[V8 Cat]

Re: Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

I think we have been through this before. Ford says run it on premium and they engineered and built the engine. They don't have any incentive to get you to use premium other than the performance/longivity of this engine.