Octane grade for towing |
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lostagain
Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2587 |
Topic: Octane grade for towing Posted: 26 Jun 2018 at 4:44pm |
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Chrysler states in the 2004 Dakota owners manual regarding fuel: "Your engine is designed to meet all emissions regulations and to provide excellent fuel economy and performance when using high quality unleaded 'regular' gasoline having an octane rating of 87. The routine use of premium gasoline is not recommended. Under normal conditions the use of premium fuel will not provide a benefit over high quality regular gasolines and in some circumstances may result in poorer performance." [Emphasis added.]
They don't talk about high altitude 84 or 85 octane and don't state what they mean by "normal conditions" nor "some circumstances." They do warn against allowing heavy spark knock at high speeds and suggest that it indicates service on the engine is needed. So the the dilemma persists. Should one buy 87 in "high altitude" states where they sell 84 or 85 octane gas? As for premium grade gas, looks like the Chrysler 4.7L, naturally aspirated engines don't drink it, though it'd be nice if they would clear up their ambiguities on the topic. Seems to me the best source of octane information is the engine maker, since it knows what the engine design parameters are.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
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OldNeumanntapr
Senior Member Joined: 23 May 2018 Location: CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 204 |
Posted: 26 Jun 2018 at 4:42pm | |
My dad was a water polo / swimming coach for almost 40 years. He had a word for people like that. He called them ‘Uncoachable’. |
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419 |
Posted: 26 Jun 2018 at 3:56pm | |
+1, you can only say so much.
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Mike Carter
2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
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OldNeumanntapr
Senior Member Joined: 23 May 2018 Location: CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 204 |
Posted: 26 Jun 2018 at 2:10pm | |
I for one gave up on the 7th page of ‘four cyl towing thoughts’! |
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SC for Huskers
Senior Member Joined: 22 Feb 2017 Location: Goose Creek, SC Online Status: Offline Posts: 144 |
Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 3:33pm | |
We have a winner "Glueguy" he said WE. I'm going with him on this one.
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Happy Traveling,
Tom 2017 172pod 2011 F150 STX |
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GlueGuy
Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2630 |
Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 1:06pm | |
And just to flog this old horse a little bit more... It seems that the automobile industry is pushing for a single grade of fuel (95 octane) as a way to improve overall costs and efficiency.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
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GlueGuy
Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2630 |
Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 12:59pm | |
You really do need to pay attention to the requirements of the engine. For example, the F-150 has four engine options. Two are normally aspirated (or NA); the 3.5L V6 and the 5.0L V8. Two are turbocharged (EcoBoost); the 2.7L V6 and the 3.5L V6. They all accept 87 octane fuel under normal conditions. However, the turbocharged models recommend higher octane for "severe duty", and specifically call out towing as an example. Octane Recommendations
Do not be concerned if the engine sometimes knocks lightly. However, if it knocks heavily under most driving conditions while you are using fuel with the recommended octane rating, contact an authorized dealer to prevent any engine damage. 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost Engines We recommend regular unleaded gasoline with a pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87. Some stations offer fuels posted as regular with an octane rating below 87, particularly in high altitude areas. We do not recommend fuels with an octane rating below 87. To provide improved performance, we recommend premium fuel for severe duty usage, such as trailer tow. 3.5L V6 and 5.0L V8 Engines We recommend regular unleaded gasoline with a pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87. Some stations offer fuels posted as regular with an octane rating below 87, particularly in high altitude areas. We do not recommend fuels with an octane rating below 87. |
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6289 |
Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 8:43am | |
+1 😁
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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lostagain
Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2587 |
Posted: 23 Jun 2018 at 10:44pm | |
In both UT and CO they were using the (R+M)/2 method as is pretty standard in most places I've been. Thus, my dilema continues. I think next time I'll just buy the gas without ethanol. What I need is an anemometer with a constant graph print out to measure the varying wind velocities, then compare the mileage with the wind factored in. On second thought, I think I'll just keep cruising along and go slower when I need to. Eventually, we'll arrive..... somewhere at any rate.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6289 |
Posted: 23 Jun 2018 at 1:27pm | |
As for the grading method, it was the (R+M)/2 at all the pumps we visited on our trip.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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