MPG Fun Facts for My PB (Disclaimer: No Science, Just Anecdotal Observations :))

[TJE]

This video expressly says NOT to put it in a modern turbo, direct injection motor. And Ford says so, too.

I've driven through the mountains many times in an EcoBoost and I HATE buying "midgrade" 87. With the Powerboost I make sure to fill up in Nebraska and then get as far as possible before buying cheaper gas on the West side of the Rockies.

I'm speaking generally. In my old 5.4 f150 I always threw 85 in at high altitude, if I was traveling to lower altitudes I'd switch. Like i said, with my ecoboost I haven't put anything but premium in.

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[Shooter56]

I’m in the 91 octane camp. I would also be in the ethanol free 91 camp, except it’s not readily available here (Colorado Springs).

 

[Snakebitten]

I’m in the 91 octane camp. I would also be in the ethanol free 91 camp, except it’s not readily available here (Colorado Springs).

Ironically, in context to this discussion, a dose of ethanol is medicine for an Ecoboost.

If I caught myself somewhere that I couldn't get the octane fuel I desired, but there was E85 available as well? I'd pump the 87 (reluctantly) and add about 5 gallons of E85.

I'd still be well within the parameters of the PCM's fueling strategy capabilities (Lambda target) and that 87 would burn closer to being 89?

 

[SteveP150]

I'm in Park City at about 7000 feet. Haven't tracked things closely enough to decide if there's a meaningful difference between mid and premium. Feels like there's too many variables from trip to trip to make it a good comparison. If I'm at Costco, I'll put in premium, as it's cheapish, and here UT, there is no mid-grade option at Costco. Other places I'll usually use mid. Have not done 85, as others have pointed out, it's clearly discouraged by Ford.

 

[SuperRaptor]

Ironically, in context to this discussion, a dose of ethanol is medicine for an Ecoboost.

If I caught myself somewhere that I couldn't get the octane fuel I desired, but there was E85 available as well? I'd pump the 87 (reluctantly) and add about 5 gallons of E85.

I'd still be well within the parameters of the PCM's fueling strategy capabilities (Lambda target) and that 87 would burn closer to being 89?

For the cooling effect? I ran my old 18 almost purely on non ethanol 92. Was planning on doing the same with the new PB.

 

[My 2ND Ford]

Here in the Northeast , premium is priced anywhere from $ 1.00 and up higher than 87. We have no 85 octane and premium is 93. After crunching the numbers, premium doesn't make economic sense for me. I only use top tier gas and I do minimal light towing, so the higher octane isn't as necessary. P.S. ethanol free is 90/91 octane and that is also about $1.00 higher. I use that in all my small engines and anything that goes into summer/winter storage.

 

[MJ Heat]

I guess I am on another planet. I am an east coaster. Here regular gas is 87 octane & up to 10% ethanol. That is all I have run in my Powerboost so far (2800 miles). The truck is averaging 26.3mpg on the dash & hand measured, up to this point. MPG has been slowly going up with each tank of gas burned. The trip odometer showed 830 to empty at the last fill up.

 

[My 2ND Ford]

I've enjoyed multiple videos of his.
He's so smart though that he's caused brain-siez a couple of times.

He has the ability to explain complicated ideas in such a way that most anyone can understand it.

 

[turbospartan]

Tank 1: From dealer so assuming Regular, and yielded ~490 miles
Tank 2: Also Regular yielded ~490 miles
Tank 3: Midgrade yielded ~520 miles
Tank 4: Premium yielded ~560 miles

490 / 26 gallon tank = 18.84 mpg
490 / 26 = 18.84 mpg
520 / 26 = 20 mpg
560 / 26 = 21.54 mpg

Using a King Soopers gas station in the Denver Metro area, their prices currently show:

85 octane = $3.89
87-89 (not sure what Midgrade is) octane = $4.15
91 octane = $4.40

So fill ups would be:

$3.89 x 26 = $101.14
$4.15 x 26 = $107.90
$4.40 x 26 = $114.40


Cost per mile:

$101.14 / 490 = 20.64 cents per mile
$107.90 / 520 = 20.75 cents per mile
$114.40 / 560 = 20.43 cents per mile


Right?

 

[TrucknCamper]

He mentioned the spread between low/high octane was $0.70 so maybe different prices than what you're showing. I did some similar estimate just to see and it works out that the cheapest gas has the lowest cost/mile. I assumed 25 gallon fill-up and this is the cost/mile:
$0.156 Low
$0.172 Mid
$0.184 High

Maybe when gas prices normalize a bit more the math will work out a little better. This is a lot of assumptions, maybe I'll try a tank of the good stuff and see.

OP thanks for the post, always good to look at things a bit differently!!

 

[Granch]

Premium for me time is money, road trip’s premium too.

Im guessing if you tuned for premium you could improve even more?

 

[SuperRaptor]

Just put my 1st tank of 92 ethanol free, going to run a couple tanks and see how it likes it.

 

[capetownkg]

The truck is averaging 26.3mpg on the dash & hand measured, up to this point.

Wow this is the best mpg I have heard of. Im 1500 miles in, fellow east coaster and I am getting 21.7.

 

[scott011422]

I'm also seeing 1.5 MPG increase. I've always ran Premium fuel. If you ever look at the gas, Premium fuel, Expecially from BP is clear. Doesn't have that tinted tea color as the 87. So for me its always been used just because its cleaner. Whatever is in the fuel giving it that tea color is in your fuel system and getting burned up in the engine. Its ending up somewhere...............

 

[MJ Heat]

Wow this is the best mpg I have heard of. Im 1500 miles in, fellow east coaster and I am getting 21.7.

Well.........I drive like an old man, because I am one. I run about 65 on the expressway & for the most part take it easy around town. Another big factor is that I rarely take short trips in my truck. In my experience, it takes at least a few miles to get up to optimum operating temp & efficiency.

I averaged 20.6mpg with my 2015 157" 4x4 with the 3.5 Ecoboost over 235k miles, including very occasional towing. I regularly got 21.5mpg, right up to trading it, unless there was some extenuating circumstance, like hauling, towing, off road, etc.

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