Who's using regular fuel vs premium fuel?

[007Cruiser]

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

True, Claude. I would think that they would recommend regular if at all possible. Many purchasers avoid buying cars that use premium.

[elkobird]

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

Premium

[My Raven]

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?

Thank You.

Ford did not place the sticker on the gas pump door for appearances. JM2C.

[Will]

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

Around here, Shell offers 87 -- 89 -- 93 octane, so I have always used their 93. No knock, no ping, I put 5000 miles on the Retro per year. ----Will

[chromer]

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

I usually fill up with premium and when the tank gets to about 1/4 down from full and I need to fill again for some reason, I put medium grade in.
Depends on price of gas and my mindset.

[rbw66]

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

Premium all the way! At least 91 octane! That said I wish I could figure out how Hyundai gets 276HP out of a 2.0 litre turbocharged 4 cylinder engine that uses regular and puts a 100,000 mile warranty on it.

That is not quite true, at the wheel it is 15 to 20% less. Also the power is rated at max rpm with the boost in full effect.

[65TBSTEVE]

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

We have had 2 retros prior to the 2 we own now......an '04 PCR and an '05 Medium Steel Blue. Have NEVER used anything but regular in any of the 4 'Birds (well, maybe a tank of premium once in a while) and never have had any pinging or apparent lack of acceleration. I guess with gas prices so low now, it probably would be good to put in some more premium, but do not think it necessary. Have also owned a Crossfire and BMW in the past "requiring " premium and never used anything but regular in them and both ran fine.

[Redwingedblackbird]

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

For the money you throw away on this and that daily, is it really worth being cheap and not buying high test? I run high test in every car I own, that said, several of them require HT.

[Jimr]

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

I run regular in all my thunderbirds. The only reason for higher test gas is if the compression ratio is high enough to cause the engine to ping. Running premium gas in an engine that doesn't ping with regular gas does NOTHING for the health of an engine. It's not even a treat for the engine.

[sbernard]

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

High test only!

[FEsTbird]

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

Gas is so expensive here in CA that the extra 0.20 for premium is a small percentage. Fortunately, the close by Shell station is also a "low priced" one.

[2K2BIRD]

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

In many places we travel the difference in price between regular and premium is 45 - 60 cents a gallon. Most places in our town jump 18 - 20 cents between grades, but we are fortunate to have one Conoco station that is only 10 cents between grades.

Today 91 octane gas went down to $2.09 per gallon at the Conoco station. Wish we could find it like that all over the country.

[StevenM]

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

Imagine us celebrating $2 a gallon gas! How many remember when it was 32 cents a gallon? Days forever gone!

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

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

In many places we travel the difference in price between regular and premium is 45 - 60 cents a gallon. Most places in our town jump 18 - 20 cents between grades, but we are fortunate to have one Conoco station that is only 10 cents between grades.

Today 91 octane gas went down to $2.09 per gallon at the Conoco station. Wish we could find it like that all over the country.

We are getting 93 octane for $2.24 per gallon here, one more tank before we head west.

[2K2BIRD]

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

Imagine us celebrating $2 a gallon gas! How many remember when it was 32 cents a gallon? Days forever gone!

If you plug in the national average of $0.32 per gallon in 1966 into an inflation calculator the average in 2016 would be $2.37 per gallon. US average regular gas price on 7/11/16 was $2.25 per gallon. Looks like we are a little to the good right now.