2021 XLT towing 3500 lb. trailer fuel question

[RangerTL]

Will I get better performance or gas mileage (or both) while towing a 3500 lb. trailer if I use a higher octane fuel?

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[My12SecRanger]

for me the small price of super is cheap insurance when towing a heavy trailer

 

[Grumpaw]

Yes....yse premimum when towing. Better performance and actually better mpg (although anytime you tow your mileage will suck)
Owners manual recommends premium especially when towing. It may cost you a few hundred $$$ over your 9000 mile trip, but its cheap insurance to keep Ranger running right.

 

[RangerTL]

Yes....yse premimum when towing. Better performance and actually better mpg (although anytime you tow your mileage will suck)
Owners manual recommends premium especially when towing. It may cost you a few hundred $$$ over your 9000 mile trip, but its cheap insurance to keep Ranger running right.

I am used to paying $4.99 for reqular, so once I get out of California I will probably pay less for premium than I do for regular here so no pain there. Thanks for the advice. I should look into getting an owners manual, I bought it used(7k) and didn't get the manual.

 

[Grumpaw]

You can find the manuals online....Just google up 2021 Ford Ranger Owners Manual....

 

[RangerTL]

You can find the manuals online....Just google up 2021 Ford Ranger Owners Manual....

Thanks

 

[RangerTL]

You can find the manuals online....Just google up 2021 Ford Ranger Owners Manual....

I found it! Thanks

 

[ctechbob]

Premium is a small price to pay for peace of mind. Yea, the ECU should be able to deal with low octane fuel while towing, but I ask a helluva lot from those 2.3 liters. Dragging around 6000+ pounds down here in the southeast in the summertimes with high ambient temps, even higher under hood and intake temps, and 70mph on the highway, that all adds up to a lot of stress on that poor little motor. Premium fuel will at least eliminate a little bit of the concern of drilling a hole in a piston unexpectedly.

Plus, the truck is straight up a dog towing on regular fuel, I've tried it, it did it, but it sure wasn't happy about it.

 

[Cabose-1]

Use premium. It is highly recommended you use premium when towing. I believe it says at least 91 octane for towing

 

[ctechbob]

Use premium. It is highly recommended you use premium when towing. I believe it says at least 91 octane for towing

I think it was 'recommended' not 'required'.

Still, it is a good idea.

 

[ctechbob]

 

[Cabose-1]

Found it.

 

[Cabose-1]

Jinx

 

[ctechbob]

Jinx

Lol, I'm just faster than you!!!

I just filled up with 93 last night!

I kid of course.

 

[Frenchy]

As a general rule of thumb with Force Induction Engines and High Compression Engines is to run Premium Fuel(91-93 Octane). Yes modern vehicles have come a long way thanks to all the different Sensors and Computer Programming for Fuel Injection, but Forced Induction and High Compression Engines will still do better with High Octane Fuel. This is thanks to the Higher Octane Fuels having a higher resistance to igniting vs the Lower Octanes.

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