anyone using premium gas ?

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by I Bleed Ford Blue

If you look at the fine print in the latest Taurus SHO commercials it states that to get the full 365 hp you need to run premium fuel. So if ford is programming the PCM on the SHO to sense different octanes and adjust power output accordingly, then they are probably doing it on our focii also.

I don't get your logic - are you saying that since the SHO (an explicit performance model) requires premium fuel then the Focus does as well? Because that makes no sense.

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

The sho DOES NOT require premium fuel, ford just states in the fine print that to get maximum performance that premium is needed. So by using the same type of programming they can take advantage of the higher static compression in the focii.

Follow me now?

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by I Bleed Ford Blue

The sho DOES NOT require premium fuel, ford just states in the fine print that to get maximum performance that premium is needed. So by using the same type of programming they can take advantage of the higher static compression in the focii.

Follow me now?

Okay - so the SHO has a lower octane requirement, but Ford discloses that higher octane will lead to improved performance? So you're saying that the same may be true for the Focus. Makes sense, except why no fine print stating such?

I don't necessarily disagree with you, but frankly I think any difference in power or mpg is probably pretty negligible, and am inclined to run the recommended 87 octane as long as no knocking or pinging results.

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

I think the reason is that the sho is advertised at 365 hp and you need to run premium to get it, and most sho customers know that they are supposed to get that much. Also you may lose 30-35 hp by running regular fuel in a boosted application and customers would cry foul if they lost that much, so ford has to disclose that info to cover their a$$. Remember the 99 mustang cobra that was advertised at 340 hp but the actual cars never reached that much, ford had to recall all of them and rework the engines to get the claimed power output, they wont do that again.

I also agree that the difference on a 2.0L 4 banger is not much, 5 hp at most. When I had my truck custom tuned on a dyno I got 238 rwhp on 87 and 250 rwhp on 93 only a 12 hp difference on a huge 5.4L V8. Factory tuning is very conservative, the gain on the focii engine is probably closer to 2 hp.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by TboneZX3

Yes, I understand what FFV means. You do realize that e85 has a higher octane rating than 93 though, right? That is why I stated what I did.

And the MPG ratings for using E85 are WAY lower than regular gas, so again, no benefit of higher octane.

[raptor1956]

Originally Posted by Power Surge

And the MPG ratings for using E85 are WAY lower than regular gas, so again, no benefit of higher octane.

Ethanol has higher octane BUT lower energy content so when you run ethanol in regular gasoline engine, even ones with 12:1 compression ratio, the lower energy content is what drives the lower mileage -- not the octane.


Brian

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by raptor1956

Ethanol has higher octane BUT lower energy content so when you run ethanol in regular gasoline engine, even ones with 12:1 compression ratio, the lower energy content is what drives the lower mileage -- not the octane.


Brian

I know, I was just pointing out that even with a higher octane, the ethanol doesn't match mileage on gas.

[turbo2300]

Originally Posted by TboneZX3

Yes, I understand what FFV means. You do realize that e85 has a higher octane rating than 93 though, right? That is why I stated what I did.

Yea I am well aware of that. Im saying just because it can take 93 doesn't make it a FFV

[gtp2focus]

For the sceptics: A high compression VVT engine in most cases can and WILL benifit from using higher octane fuel to the point that timing is not retarded due to the variables that many have already discussed. Same concept that all the force-induced guys use all the time. Argue until your blue in the face but facts are facts. Once your timing is optimal, your using the right octane. Another good reason to use higher octane is because most all "Premium" gas has additives that do a world of good for your motor. It definatly wont hurt to use it unless you don't want to shell out the cash for it in which case 87 will do just fine.

[DAC17]

This is really a great thread. Everyone has an opinion, no one has real facts. How about we all just do what makes us happy with our gas purchases, and move on to the next topic?? 8< ))