Anybody run the maverick on strictly premium fuel?

[Carlitos_92]

IMO, for cruising on the highway unladen, 87 octane serves the purpose just fine.

This is my strategy. if I know I'm going to burn a tank (or multiple tanks) on a highway with cruise control set, there is little reason to spend extra for the rated power. For scooting around town and commuting, I use 93 because that's the other flavor available at Costco, and sometimes you just need all the beans.

Another thing I've not seen mentioned yet is altitude. If you are at lower altitudes (no, I do not know where the higher/lower "cutoff" is lol) you are more at risk of timing intervention with lower octane fuels. If you are at higher altitudes, even with turbos it can be harder to create enough pressure that risks preignition, even with a non-premium fuel.

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[Tbone289]

This is my strategy. if I know I'm going to burn a tank (or multiple tanks) on a highway with cruise control set, there is little reason to spend extra for the rated power. For scooting around town and commuting, I use 93 because that's the other flavor available at Costco, and sometimes you just need all the beans.

Another thing I've not seen mentioned yet is altitude. If you are at lower altitudes (no, I do not know where the higher/lower "cutoff" is lol) you are more at risk of timing intervention with lower octane fuels. If you are at higher altitudes, even with turbos it can be harder to create enough pressure that risks preignition, even with a non-premium fuel.

Agreed. I run as high octane as I can above 5000 ft, regardless of load.

 

[Meeka]

I run 91+ in my 2006 Mustang GT and 1983 Mustang GLX....also the lawn equipment that is not battery operated also get the 91...mainly, due to it being ethanol free. The Mav gets 87 octane and I don't worry about ethanol in it, but when I find 87 octane non-ethanol blend, I get that.

Good 4 U, but I just read an article on putting anything higher than 87 octane in lawn mowers, weed eaters, etc is a waste of $ . Not going to argue with you on the octane levels for the Mavs tho, to each his/her own. I prefer 91. Or

 

[ScottyC]

Good 4 U, but I just read an article on putting anything higher than 87 octane in lawn mowers, weed eaters, etc is a waste of $ . Not going to argue with you on the octane levels for the Mavs tho, to each his/her own. I prefer 91. Or

The key for my lawn equipment is the fact that the 91 is ethanol free....on the occasion I find 87 octane ethanol free, I will get that, but it is a rarer item to find in my area.

 

[Dslaughterbeck]

Never not put premium fuel in any vehicle I've owned, but tbh a few were premium only vehicles. Svt lightning and focus both only took premium, but it's just a habit I guess

 

[Carlitos_92]

Agreed. I run as high octane as I can above 5000 ft, regardless of load.

Nothing wrong with that, but my point was you can actually use lower octane at that kind of elevation. Turbos will still perform better than NA vehicles at higher altitude, but even a turbo is starting with a lower baseline atmospheric pressure.

When I lived at 3500-5000 ft, it was damn near impossible to ever find 93, and it would’ve been overkill except for highly modified cars anyway.

 

[Dslaughterbeck]

You must never have driven a non-fuel injected engine. My 66 Mustang with a 289 would not run on 91 or 92 because it was a low compression engine. Had I put 91 in it I would have damaged the pistons. Modern engines have been designed to run on an octane rating and using a higher octane does nothing other than require the computer to readjust timing. Premium fuel is called that because you pay a premium. It has NO better detergents or additives. Octane is " the measure of how much compression a fuel can withstand before igniting ."

I was born in 78, my first vehicle was a 2002 svt lightning so no never even drove a non fuel injection car also I'm not 100% but I think it helps with knock.

 

[Meeka]

If it uses the same hose as the ethanol mix you will still get some ethanol, not much. Just pointing out that they have to specify, which you say your station does. Some people assume 91 and 93 is ethanol free. Personally I use 87 with ethanol and don't worry about i, oranges

The key for my lawn equipment is the fact that the 91 is ethanol free....on the occasion I find 87 octane ethanol free, I will get that, but it is a rarer item to find in my area.

Understood! I just wish we had ethanol free here in Canada, but no such luck! Unless?

 

[Meeka]

I was born in 78, my first vehicle was a 2002 svt lightning so no never even drove a non fuel injection car also I'm not 100% but I think it helps with knock.

‘1978’, you’re still a puppy? Just kidding my friend , I agree with the logic.

 

[dalola]

Another thing I've not seen mentioned yet is altitude. If you are at lower altitudes (no, I do not know where the higher/lower "cutoff" is lol) you are more at risk of timing intervention with lower octane fuels. If you are at higher altitudes, even with turbos it can be harder to create enough pressure that risks preignition, even with a non-premium fuel.

For an EB (or any FI engine), that would only apply under no-boost conditions. Under boost, cylinder pressure is very consistent, regardless of altitude.

 

[Meeka]

The knock comes from pre-ingition. " Engine knock, also known as detonation or pinging, is an abnormal combustion event in an internal combustion engine. It occurs when the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder ignites prematurely or unevenly, causing a rapid, uncontrolled pressure increase that results in a metallic knocking or pinging sound. This can lead to engine damage if not addressed. " So using the wrong octane causes knock. Luckily the Maverick will control ignition for you. No longer need to manually adjust timing.

The knock comes from pre-ingition. " Engine knock, also known as detonation or pinging, is an abnormal combustion event in an internal combustion engine. It occurs when the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder ignites prematurely or unevenly, causing a rapid, uncontrolled pressure increase that results in a metallic knocking or pinging sound. This can lead to engine damage if not addressed. " So using the wrong octane causes knock. Luckily the Maverick will control ignition for you. No longer need to manually adjust timing.

Been there done that, adjust timing, set points and plug gaps, don’t miss that one bit!

 

[Joe Strummer]

I've only every used 91. I go to the liquor store twice a week (my wife said she would leave me if I went every day) and Whistler (110 kms round trip with 650 m elevation gain and loss) three times a week.

 

[24hrsun]

Once I went to ethanol free for power equipment a lot of my power equipment issues went away. That is the biggest reason to look for it. I started converting things to electric and that removes even more issues, but TBD if I am just buying other issues in the long run. Time and use will tell on that one.

 

[Tbone289]

Nothing wrong with that, but my point was you can actually use lower octane at that kind of elevation. Turbos will still perform better than NA vehicles at higher altitude, but even a turbo is starting with a lower baseline atmospheric pressure.

Understood. Keep in mind that the effect alters the actual octane rating of fuel offered as well though; that's why you generally can't find 91 at high altitude, and you will see 85 octane as the starting value. That is why I buy "high" octane there (usually 87 or 89). I travel in the Rockies about 2500 miles a year, so the advantage of a turbocharger is not lost on me.

 

[Tbone289]

So using the wrong octane causes knock.

More specifically, using fuel that doesn't have enough octane to prevent pre-ignition with the current timing causes knock. Retard the timing enough, and it's no longer the "wrong" octane. Octane is the measure of a fuel's ability to withstand compression without causing knock (pre-ignition).

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