Car and Driver octane test

We used to have a Lincoln Navigator. But annoyed me to no end that it specified 93 octane. Traded it for an Expedition with same engine but tuned to run on 87 octane.

wanderingaimlessly wrote:
Funny, this made me think about it, the new 7.3 I havent seen anything about fuel requirements on it. Reg, Premium, flex fuel etc.

If it is variable valve, variable ignition, and can adjust timing depending on knock, then it will probably say the same thing the Ecoboost, 5.0L, and current 6.2L states in the owners manual. At least 87 octane is required, but premium 91/93 octane fuel is recommended if you want the best performance out of the engine since it can increase its horsepower output with higher octane fuel. This performance gain is too little to be noticed in regular driving, but it will be noticed during high load/high heat situations like towing.

My 150 EB tows just fine on regular gas. Engine winds up and turbo boosts when needed. 20 hp at WOT is meaningless... because I can't think of a single time I've gone WOT with a trailer behind me.

My Charger... that's a completely different story, it sees WOT more than it should, but it's just so much fun :)

Lynnmor wrote:


Name a few people that said that.

What do you use for a tow vehicle?

You were one of them that stated premium fuel is required when towing with an an Ecoboost truck.

I currently use a Ram 2500 CTD as a tow vehicle. What does that have to do with anything?

Funny, this made me think about it, the new 7.3 I havent seen anything about fuel requirements on it. Reg, Premium, flex fuel etc.

ShinerBock wrote:
Thanks for posting the article. It pretty much confirms what I have stated in the past on what happens to the Ecoboost trucks when you use higher octane fuel.

Although, you are still going to get a few people to chime in here that do not and have never owned an Ecoboost pickup to saying that the all Ecoboost trucks "requires" 93 octane when towing. They are hard set on that no matter what the facts or actual Ecoboost owners who have towed with these engines say.

Name a few people that said that.

What do you use for a tow vehicle?

Thanks for posting the article. It pretty much confirms what I have stated in the past on what happens to the Ecoboost trucks when you use higher octane fuel.

Although, you are still going to get a few people to chime in here that do not and have never owned an Ecoboost pickup to saying that the all Ecoboost trucks "requires" 93 octane when towing. They are hard set on that no matter what the facts or actual Ecoboost owners who have towed with these engines say.