02-05 What octain gas do you use?

[biddle]

Try searching here : https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=PA

I used ethanol free gas in the past until a mechanic told me that the other gases actually keep the engines cleaner than using "pure gas". I guess there is less buildup.

 

[Rusty_G]

When my wife and I test drove our 2005, it had audible pings when pushed hard. For this reason I will only use premium in this car now. I have a Focus ST with a turbo that can adjust to the octane of the fuel you put in, it will never ping audibly. It is not labeled "Premium Fuel Only", but rather recommended for best performance. A good rule of thumb regarding pinging, if you can hear it is definitely doing damage to the engine, if you can't hear it, it still may be damaging your engine. Don't take the chance to save a few $$. Ford didn't put that label on there to cost you more money, they did it to protect against warranty claims.

 

[Tbird Harley 03]

For everyday driving Shell 93 octane from specific local Shell gas station that keeps fresher fuel and does not dilute (mix) with other grades.

For track days 100 octane race fuel from pump at secret station.

My car is modified and dyno'ed.

Wish I could find a station that sold this in Rhode Island but I have check everywhere and asked around we can only get it by ordering from shops in cans

 

[Sully55]

I found an excellent write up about using various octane levels in our 2002-05 Birds. Unfortunately I did not get the authors name to attach to this.
There fore I'm telling everyone who reads the these are not my words.
You will find this, I think very interesting & probably answers many of your questions.

Should or shouldn’t use hi octane premium fuel

I hesitate to chime-in here because I always end-up getting beat-up when I've either posted this or opened this dialogue with friends and/or automotive enthusiasts. There is so much myth about gasoline and how it impacts a MODERN engine. I assure ALL of you that you are flushing money out your tail pipes.

I'll explain...

The 3.9L engine in your Thunderbird is a high-compression (performance) engine, with a compression ratio of 10.75:1. Regardless of what gasoline you put into the tank, the compression is NOT going to change. ALL gasoline has the same energy content...PERIOD!

• ALL gasolines sold in the United States have fuel additives which clean the combustion chamber. There is no increase or decrease in the amount of (nitrogen-based) cleaning additive in any given gallon of U.S. gasoline. These additives are required by FEDERAL law. These additives will clean carbon deposits as the additive in the gasoline comes into contact with the internal engine surfaces. Though, different fuel retailers will label their fuel additives by differing marketing terms, it's ALL THE SAME cleaning performance. Adding a bottle of fuel injection cleaner, etc. to a tank of modern gasoline is wasted money (and depending upon the chemicals in that fuel-injection cleaner, potentially harmful to engine sensors). The same cannot necessarily be said if you fill-up in Mexico.

• Gasoline-air vapor will self-combust (that is, ignite/explode) when compressed. Modern gasoline has additives in the fuel which helps it resist this phenomena...dependent upon the level of additive in the fuel, the more resistance that fuel-air mixture has to combustion under compression. That level of resistance is known as 'octane'. There are several different ways to measure its resistance, but in the United States we use the (R+M/2) method. This is the number posted on the pump.

• All MODERN engines have acoustic "knock" sensors installed on them (your Thunderbird is no exception) which detect pre-ignition/pre-detonation (a.k.a. "knocking" or "pinging") constantly (hundreds of times per second). If the sensors detect engine/spark knock, the ECM automatically and instantaneously adjusts the spark timing to back-off of the ignition advance to eliminate knock.

• If you put 'regular' (87-octane) gasoline in your tank, and start your car, it will run and idle just fine. As you drive it gingerly down the road, it will run and perform just fine. As you accelerate hard (put a demand on the engine for more performance), the ECM will advance the ignition timing to account for the milliseconds of expanding ignited fuel energy so that the engine can get the most efficient use of that energy to push the piston down. At the same time, the ECM is listening for spark-knock. If the ECM detects spark-knock, it will back-off of the ignition advance (slightly) until the spark-knock is no longer detected. This happens hundreds of times per second, and is indiscernible to the human ear or other senses. When the ignition timing advance is 'retarded', the engine is not operating a 'peak' performance, and therefore, you are not able to eek the maximum engineered horsepower out of the engine at that
moment. This would be known as a performance 'degradation'. Since your Thunderbird engine is naturally-aspirated (not turbo-charged or super-charged), the instances of pre-ignition/detonation is minimal (comparatively-speaking).

Now, with all that said, what does this really mean to a lay-Retro bird-driver? Well, if you decide that you don't want to pay an additional ~50¢/gallon at the pump and opt to fill the tank with 'regular' (87-octane) fuel, you're going to save about $9.00 per fill-up. If you drive your Thunderbird as a cruiser, you're going to realize little to no difference in the performance of your car. You will NOT gain or lose any MPG (remember, there is no difference in energy content of premium fuel versus regular fuel (or anywhere in-between))! Now, if you drive your car like you stole it, accelerate hard from a stop, and put your foot into it when your "accelerating" on the highway, you may be able to notice, or I should more accurately say "measure", a minor horsepower reduction as opposed to the same driving-style with a tank of 91-octane. Why? - Because the ECM is detecting spark-knock and retarding the ignition advance to eliminate it, which takes away from the maximum-engineered engine performance potential. So, if you don't drive your Thunderbird hard, you can opt for 87-octane fuel and save yourself approximately $450 annually which you can put into your maintenance fund, or spend otherwise.

Ford has included this information (from its engineers) in your operator's manual:

"Your vehicle is designed to use 91 “Premium” unleaded gasoline with an (R+M)/2 octane rating of 91 or higher for optimum performance. The use of gasolines with lower octane ratings may degrade performance. We do not recommend the use
of gasolines labeled as “Premium” in high altitude areas that are sold with octane ratings of less than 91. Do not be concerned if your engine sometimes knocks lightly. However, if it knocks heavily under most driving conditions while you are using fuel with the recommended octane rating, see your dealer or a qualified service technician to prevent any engine damage." (Keyword: "optimum", "may").

If you understood all of that, consider yourself a wiser consumer. Don't let myth, marketing, or outdated information ruin your wallet

I also want to Thank You for the excellent words on this subject Bruddah!!! That really puts things in perspective on what to use depending on how You drive more than just recommendations from Ford or any Auto maker!! Just got My 2002 T Bird with the 3.9 V8 and put 91octane 76 in it, ran perfect but i think I will try 87 and see if it runs the same since I drive slow and smooth,, rarely tromping on it at All!!

 

[medurham]

I have a couple of old cars and I was told to use the lowest octain gas you can (without pinging) because the higher the octain the more eythinal there is in the gas. And that is what causes problems on older cars.

Would that be the same for our T birds? Does only one use 87 or 89 suscessfully?

So, even with the lower hp of the 2002 models, we are getting more horsepower out of 3.9 liters than we used to get on premium in 5.0 thru 5.7 liter engines. These 3.9s are already ported with 4 valves per cylinder and more aggressively camed and computer controlled to narrower margins to achieve that power. Reducing octane may more easily cause pinging and reduced power and poor drivability because these engines are more finicky. Many classic car drivers look for stations that sell no ethanol premium to avoid issues with the alcohol in the fuel and provide the real octane the engine is designed for.

 

[medurham]

So, even with the lower hp of the 2002 models, we are getting more horsepower out of 3.9 liters than we used to get on premium in 5.0 thru 5.7 liter engines. These 3.9s are already ported with 4 valves per cylinder and more aggressively camed and computer controlled to narrower margins to achieve that power. Reducing octane may more easily cause pinging and reduced power and poor drivability because these engines are more finicky. Many classic car drivers look for stations that sell no ethanol premium to avoid issues with the alcohol in the fuel and provide the real octane the engine is designed for.

Different octane fuels burn at different rates. When the manufacturer sets a minimum octane standard that is what it will need for normal operations. Yes, we are lucky to have computers smart enough to adjust to what it sees as poor quality fuel to preserve the engine , but keep in mind engineers design fuel and ignition mapping that the computer uses and when you make changes like lower octane fuel you are forcing the computer to work along the areas of the maps where at times the computer cannot fully adjust and therefore cannot adjust timing or fuel mixture properly. In my mind it’s simply not worth it.
It’s like using a poor quality oil. Works fine until that one hot day where the oil can no longer protect and the engine destroys itself. Not worth it!!

 

[RDH]

I use either Shell 93 and or Sunoco 93, I travel to NJ about twice a year except for last year cause of the Virus, I get 25 MPH with my 3.9 with shaved heads and Borla exhaust

 

[The Flash]

I use either Shell 93 and or Sunoco 93, I travel to NJ about twice a year except for last year cause of the Virus, I get 25 MPH with my 3.9 with shaved heads and Borla exhaust

I think you mean 25 MPG may have fat-fingered the H. I have not checked my MPG in 15 years, when the wife says, "I need Gas" I go fill it up. But I think it may get 8MPG. with 4 miles drives.

 

[RDH]

I think you mean 25 MPG may have fat-fingered the H. I have not checked my MPG in 15 years, when the wife says, "I need Gas" I go fill it up. But I think it may get 8MPG. with 4 miles drives.

Take me a tank and a half to go 700 miles

 

[RDH]

I think you mean 25 MPG may have fat-fingered the H. I have not checked my MPG in 15 years, when the wife says, "I need Gas" I go fill it up. But I think it may get 8MPG. with 4 miles drives.

yes MPG my mistake size 13 ring too

 

[medurham]

My 2002 with 68K miles gets pretty much book spec for miles per gallon. Out on the open road it does about 24, I think. That is perfectly acceptable
in my book. In the northwest at 2000 feet our premium is 91 Octane, and where I can I buy alcohol free unleaded Premium.

 

[Frankie the Fink]

Use what the owner's manual states (premium) and you'll be fine) as to the original post about the member also having "older cars"; if those go back to the 60's that is an entire 3-4 steps back in technology, no computers, no MAFs, and no electronic fuel injection and the "ping test" was more relevant back then, cars can detonate before you actually hear it which is not good but you could usually get away with it with vintage cars.

 

[RomyLee]

My emissions light stayed on, when I put non ethanol gas in my car the emission light went off and stayed off. Yes I had taken my car to the shop prior and the light stayed off for a while but returned.

 

[Tuckers Baby]

Only premium, and in the case of my regular gas station that would be 92 octane. In Texas we’re fortunate to have very low fuel prices and since I drive her 1-4 days a week, filling up for at times $1.97/gal premium is plenty doable twice a month. Now gas is going up again but coupled with my points discount from grocery shopping I rarely pay full price for gas unless I’m out of town.