What Fuel Do You Use in Your EcoBoost?
So last year we got a 2018 Explorer Sport with the 3.5L EcoBoost, the same motor they put in the F-150's that a lot of guys tow with. (The Explorer is not on towing duty, we still have the Suburban for that.)
The owner's manual says to use whatever octane of fuel you want, but that the engine will perform better on hi-test. We've been putting only 93 in the tank and it runs great!
This month Car and Driver runs an article about "Are you wasting money on hi-test" and it looks at 4 examples of vehicles, one of which was the F-150 with the 3.5L EB. Apparently the PCM uses the knock sensors to "measure" the octane of the fuel...the PCM advances timing until it detects knock, then backs it down until no knock is detected.
The results of the C&D test were that the EB was the only engine tested to significantly benefit from the higher octane fuel, as measured by +20 hp, +1.5 psi boost, and -0.5 sec in the 1/4 mile. Fuel economy at highway speeds was also 0.5 mpg better, although it was noted that this in no way makes running 93 an economical option. It costs more to run 93 no matter how you slice it.
C&D also noted that the truck ran fine on 87, no knocking, hesitation, or other symptoms of poor performance, but it felt slower in daily driving.
I'm curious if you guys that run F-150's are using hi-test, and if not I would suggest you give it a try.
The owner's manual says to use whatever octane of fuel you want, but that the engine will perform better on hi-test. We've been putting only 93 in the tank and it runs great!
This month Car and Driver runs an article about "Are you wasting money on hi-test" and it looks at 4 examples of vehicles, one of which was the F-150 with the 3.5L EB. Apparently the PCM uses the knock sensors to "measure" the octane of the fuel...the PCM advances timing until it detects knock, then backs it down until no knock is detected.
The results of the C&D test were that the EB was the only engine tested to significantly benefit from the higher octane fuel, as measured by +20 hp, +1.5 psi boost, and -0.5 sec in the 1/4 mile. Fuel economy at highway speeds was also 0.5 mpg better, although it was noted that this in no way makes running 93 an economical option. It costs more to run 93 no matter how you slice it.
C&D also noted that the truck ran fine on 87, no knocking, hesitation, or other symptoms of poor performance, but it felt slower in daily driving.
I'm curious if you guys that run F-150's are using hi-test, and if not I would suggest you give it a try.
