Octane Ratings

[THEShank-04GT]

Hello All:
I finally bought a Mustang last week. I've wanted one as long as I can remember. Here are 2 pics.

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/4519/mustang35hl.jpg
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/4004/stang18ab.jpg

I traded in a 96 Probe GT that took premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91. The dealer told me the Stang' took premium unleaded as well, but the handbook states to use gasoline that has an octane rating of 87 which is regular. I'm paying around a dollar a litre for gas in Ontario right now, so regular would benefit my pocketbook. What does everyone put into their tanks. Thanks for any insight.

Shanker

 

[Gearbanger 101]

From one Ontario resident to another....just stick with the regular. Higher octane is only necessary where additional compression, heat or a power adder is present.

Run the car on the least amount of octane you need. Your wallet and sensors will thank you for it.

Nice car BTW

 

[THEShank-04GT]

Thanks for the quick response, and the compliment. l'll go with the regular unleaded.

 

[tomustang]

up the octane when you start hearing pinging.

 

[trinity_gt]

If you get a tune (e.g. SCT or Diablo) you'll need to run good gas

Congrats on the buy, from the current owner of an 02 MGT and a 94 PGT

 

[THEShank-04GT]

It struck me as funny that the manual stated if you hear an occasional pinging noise, consider it normal. I also just re read the manual and it stated the higher octane additives can harm the engine. I guess I will stick with the 87 octane. If I hear any 'pinging' noises though, I'm taking it in.

 

[trinity_gt]

It struck me as funny that the manual stated if you hear an occasional pinging noise, consider it normal.

87 octane is pretty volatile stuff...ultra high air temps in Phoenix may lead to the occasional tip-in ping even with the conservative factory tune. They're probably including that to keep people from returning the dealer with their cars making "funny sounds."

I also just re read the manual and it stated the higher octane additives can harm the engine.

This is a CYA-tactic on their part: some additives contain materials that can adversely affect the catalytic converters and O2 sensors and Ford is on the hook for this stuff, from a warranty perspective, for quite some time.

I guess I will stick with the 87 octane. If I hear any 'pinging' noises though, I'm taking it in.

87 should be fine if you're stock or close to it. Remember, some ping once in a while (e.g. when under load or tipping into the throttle) is nothing to worry about.

 

[THEShank-04GT]

Thanks so much for the input everyone. I appreciate it.

 

[04YELLOWGT]

If you get a tune (e.g. SCT or Diablo) you'll need to run good gas

Ya I'm getting a SCT with a coustom tune and they said Ill have to run premium. That with the 4.30s oh boy Ill be refilling all the time.

Just use regular where we bought the GT from they told us to use 91 or better. I never did and havent had any problems.

 

[FalconGuy016]

Some mustangs ping on 87, at which point you might wanna up the octane. You're dealer *may* have a reason for saying 91, but generally 87 is best for stock.

You can get a mail order tune and get a lot more power out of higher octane!

 

[fudleyd]

My car actually ran WORSE with 91 octane before I bumped the timing...go with 91+ if you do bump it though...otherwise you are probably wasting your $$$