Tremors and high octane fuel

[DaveT]

Many folks here have reported better mileage and better acceleration on their Ford Rangers when switching to higher octane fuel. I drive a Tremor and constantly monitor my mpg and reset it after going through a tank of gas. I just finished up a tank of 93 octane fuel, and was shocked that my mileage was exactly the same that I'd been getting with regular and I noticed zero increase in performance. Anyone else with a Tremor notice a difference between octane levels?

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[LawnMM]

I don't think the suspension makes much difference in MPG on the Tremor but I suppose anything is possible.

I'm still getting to know mine. I haven't tried different octanes, I prefer to run the ethanol free 'clear gas' stuff that I can get at 87 locally here.

What I am noticing is that tapping the "+" on the shifter and getting to know the trans better is what's helping my MPG. Know when your truck wants to shift in the RPM range, especially in the lower gears, and how to manipulate that with the throttle without womping it and dumping fuel in through the injectors makes a difference IMO.

First couple weeks I'd have issues getting above 16mpg around town. Now I'm getting 18-20mpg if I stay off of it. If we're doing some 'spirited' driving the mpg takes a hit ??‍ but it always does

Before I couldn't get above 16 unless I hit the highway, not the case now.

 

[BettaRanga]

It can take more than 1 tank to notice performance differences.

 

[Frenchy]

You will definitely need more than one tank to see a difference. For me the biggest difference I saw at first was simply the smoother acceleration due to ignition timing being able to be advanced more due to more ping and knock resistance of the fuel. Because of this it also helps with fuel mileage. The biggest thing is driving conditions with driving habits. If you don't take that into account then you won't be able to see much of a difference

 

[DaveT]

It can take more than 1 tank to notice performance differences.

Please answer the question. How does YOUR mileage vary?

 

[DaveT]

You will definitely need more than one tank to see a difference. For me the biggest difference I saw at first was simply the smoother acceleration due to ignition timing being able to be advanced more due to more ping and knock resistance of the fuel. Because of this it also helps with fuel mileage. The biggest thing is driving conditions with driving habits. If you don't take that into account then you won't be able to see much of a difference

How does your mileage vary based on octane? I'm not asking about driving habits or conditions -- those do not vary for me.

 

[Frenchy]

How does your mileage vary based on octane? I'm not asking about driving habits or conditions -- those do not vary.

As long as a vehicle has the available tuning like the Ranger(BTW this is factory) then simply being able to advance the ignition timing will increase power(by only so much of course) which in turn will make the engine work less in similar operating conditions.

Now how does the Ranger(and other vehicles that are capable) know how to set the ignition timing? Simple. The Engineers set the parameters in the ECM(or PCM in this case) to sense any ping and knock via the knock sensor. With that In mind a higher octane fuel has more resistance to burn which makes it easier to advance the ignition timing.

Now keep in mind that not all vehicles are able to do this. A great example is my 93 Nissan Pathfinder and the 2016 Nissan Frontier I had. Both are designed to run on 87 and will not benefit with a higher octane fuel as the factory tuning will not allow for the ignition timing to advance as much. The Ranger has the parameters in the Factory tuning to allow this and another part has to do with the turbocharger since it raises the effective compression ratio under boost. The higher the compression ratio generally speaking the higher you want the fuel octane rating to be as well.

 

[RD_Kona]

I have no idea what affects MPG in this truck.

Ran premium only for 2 months - no change in MPG.

Drove in Sport mode for just under a month- no change in MPG.

I just drive it. I’ve only broke 20+ MPG once.

 

[LB'sTremor]

I have no idea what affects MPG in this truck.

Ran premium only for 2 months - no change in MPG.

Drove in Sport mode for just under a month- no change in MPG.

I just drive it. I’ve only broke 20+ MPG once.

I just hit a personal best of 18MPG with 6K miles on it. I think it's because I had the AC off for a while. 70% city so it is what it is. This is basically hand calcualted using Fuely app not the trucks indicators. I also have ran a couple tanks higher octane and did not see any difference in milage or performance to justify it.

Just my 2c
LB

 

[doznkoz]

A couple of weeks ago I fuel up with 87 w/ethanol and was immediately on the highway headed to work. Not going above 65 mph I arrived 60 miles later and the mpg was 23.2. Around town with red lights and stop signs I will see 18-19 mpg. Makes no difference what octane I use. I have tried the higher octane. Truck is still stock. 11,482 miles.

 

[Canadian Ranger]

I've used high octane fuel and only noticed sharper starting, no mpg improvement. It would have to be a drastic mpg improvement to warrant the increased cost of the fuel. If anyone who's getting better mpg has done the math on the increased cost of the fuel, I'd like to hear your $ savings.
I have, however, gotten slightly better performance and mpg with a good fuel injector cleaner and upper cylinder lube. I've never done the math on it as I'd buy and use both items regardless.

 

[Dgc333]

In my 50+ years of driving I have never experienced a difference in fuel mileage between 87 and 93 octane fuel and there is no reason that you should.

Higher octane can allow for more timing and/or boost at WOT which will give you more power but your fuel mileage is based on your steady state cruising where the timing even with 87 octane will far exceed the timing required for peak power at WOT.

The reason for this is when you are cruising the throttle is barely cracked open and as such the cylinders do not fill efficiently. Because of the inefficient fill it takes a lot of timing to ensure that all of the fuel mixture is burnt.

 

[Frenchy]

In my 50+ years of driving I have never experienced a difference in fuel mileage between 87 and 93 octane fuel and there is no reason that you should.

Higher octane can allow for more timing and/or boost at WOT which will give you more power but your fuel mileage is based on your steady state cruising where the timing even with 87 octane will far exceed the timing required for peak power at WOT.

The reason for this is when you are cruising the throttle is barely cracked open and as such the cylinders do not fill efficiently. Because of the inefficient fill it takes a lot of timing to ensure that all of the fuel mixture is burnt.

You don't understand engines very well do you? Under light load/ cruising you will have less advanced ignition timing compared to high load/WOT. When you have more available power(to an extent)you have the potential have better MPG especially at cruising speed since the Engine won't have to work as hard.

As for your 50+ years in driving I'm going to guess a majority of the vehicles you owned simply required 87 and nothing more. Take a vehicle that requires 91 and up and do a comparison between 87 and 91. I guarantee you will see a difference. The Ranger has more tolerance compared to some other vehicles on the market since Ford did state you can run 87.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

Wait, there are people who don't run premium in their trucks?

I bet that's why the transmissions are blowing up.

? ? ?

 

[Tremorky]

Unfortunately my scenario doesn’t help the OP either but I’ll share. I ran 87 until I installed the Ford tune. I seen 1mpg avg increase in mixed driving… 25 light city traffic and 75 highway on work commute. I went from 17-18 to near 20 on occasion but always a little over 19. Best tank was 25.3 on a 240 mile round trip. 23.5 one direction 290 miles. 24.3 on the return. I often drive with fuel economy as my focus tho and go easy on the throttle. (I even try to fill up at the same pump each time because the nose being uphill or downhill factors in) If I “get in it” a bit at stop lights more than a couple of times and the fuel economy will tank of course and I’m rewarded with -2mpg.
Anyway, you will never get a scientific answer comparing different drivers and routes even with the same truck but I understand the general idea you’re looking for. That’s why we’re all here.

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