Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

[Markies]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

I think the computer on our Birds adjusts the air/fuel mixture and timing as it encounters various octane rates. Very little, if any difference in performance would be noticed. Although mpg will vary.
As far as the more important mixing is concerned. Johnnie Walker is a friend of mine. Red & Black are fine with water & ice. Green & Gold are fine with ice or neat. And of course Blue is only to be indulged in neatly!

[lizstbird]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

mark up here in the Adirondacks it's Grouse country.... Famous Grouse neat or on the rocks. Sometimes we run home brew in the Red Brid but don't know what octane 100 proof is? no mixing

Dave the Red Birds Mechanic

[Lindy]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

I think the computer on our Birds adjusts the air/fuel mixture and timing as it encounters various octane rates. Very little, if any difference in performance would be noticed. Although mpg will vary.

Hmmf? If this were the case, why would Ford need to indicate 91+ on the fuel filler access cover? Perhaps it be true within a range though. I'm running my tank to empty...and gonna fuel-up with a higher octane ethanol free fuel after I check to see what the owner's manual recommends, and hopefully prove whether the mild pinging (which occurs when I put the pedal to the metal) goes away or not. Have a pretty good hunch that someone put a lower octane fuel in my tank (than recommended) when the car was in transit at it's previous sale. The car only has 2,450 miles and so I want to break the engine in with the correct fuel.

[Markies]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

The reason Ford recommends the high octane is to accomodate the government mandates on mpg ratings. Our engines are high compression engines, over 10 to 1.
These engines will run on lower octane but not produce the mpg that is advertised by Ford to meet the mandates. In the very long run, a consistant use of lower octane will cause extra wear, for reasons not worth describing, but for the average Bird user that is not as important as MPG's.
Ford recommends 91+ for good reason, so it is best to use their recommendation when ever possible.

[crmpuf]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

prolonged use of cheap gas will eventually lead to poor ignition gunked up or sticky valves and eventually a parafin wax build up inside of the intake manifold brcause of poorly burning fuel regardless of what the computer does to adjust for poor quality fuel so I try to use a high quality gas

[Billie]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

I have tried a number of combiations on my 2002. I have found that 91 octane without ethenol gives me the best mileage and the best performance.

[HKS]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

I have tried a number of combiations on my 2002. I have found that 91 octane without ethenol gives me the best mileage and the best performance.

I agree. And it is geting harder to find 91 octane without the alcohol. Since the 2002 engines only produce 252 HP, I do not want to reduce HP even more, by using 10% ethanol gas. I needed all the HP I could muster (without pinging) while merging on a curve near an overpass with little visability.

HKS
P.S. Borla exhaust did not help much except to make noise making you think you had more power.

[2K2BIRD]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

I bet really is hard to find gasoline without ethanol in Nebraska.

[HKS]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

You are right.

Here is another example of gasahol downside. When I was driving my Chrysler 300C (my hot rod). I always got 22mpg in Nebraska and I always got 27 mpg in Colorado and Utah. The Hemi was rated 25mpg highway. CO and UT did not sell gasahol at the time.

Of course having 345 HP helped a lot when passing cars on a two lane HW even with the gasahol. I would never attempt to pass 4 cars at a time with my tbird unless it was downhill in Montana where you can see forever.

HKS

I bet really is hard to find gasoline without ethanol in Nebraska.

[t-bolt]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

You put water in your Scotch!

Scotch should be served by pouring over
crushed ice packed a snifter glass.

When the glass frosts up on the outside
it is the perfect temperature.

YOU PUT CRUSHED ICE IN YOUR SCOTCH? !!!!

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

YOU PUT CRUSHED ICE IN YOUR SCOTCH? !!!!

Technically no, I pour the Scotch over the crushed ice!
So I'm putting Scotch in my ice!

[BADOS]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

To get my Bird to run at it's optimum, I add a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 when I fill up. Forget Corvettes!! I just "GIVE EM THE BIRD."

[tbird6t4]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

To get my Bird to run at it's optimum, I add a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 when I fill up. Forget Corvettes!! I just "GIVE EM THE BIRD."

Crown Royal is my fuel additive of choice!

Straight up (no sissy ice for me).

As to the octane question, I had a situation once that I could not get high octane gas and had to use regular gas, there was no ping, but the mpg was reduced by about 20%. So if Ford says 91+ octane is right, that is good enough for me.

As far as for passing a lot of cars at once who cares, we are retired and cruising in style.

It's like the hot rod guys who burn rubber, what's the sense if you have to replace your expensive tires earlier.

God did I just say that out loud?

Darn, I think I grew up to be my father.........when did that happen?

Gord

[SixPac]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

Gord, that straight up shot of Crown in a Gaylord Resort bar will cost you $9.00US each shot. I'm bringing my own Crown.

[tbird6t4]

Re: Optimum Fuel for '03-'05 T-Bird?

Gord, that straight up shot of Crown in a Gaylord Resort bar will cost you $9.00US each shot. I'm bringing my own Crown.

Hey Charlie! That is what the Duty Free Store at the U.S. - Canada border is for! /

I had quit drinking a while back, but I may fall off the wagon for the Ten Thunder Event, but not at $9 bucks a shot.

Gord