Octane grade for towing

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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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lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List 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
	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.
	Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 26 Jun 2018 at 4:46pm
	Yeah, I have my own words but not something I can say here.
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2587	Posted: 26 Jun 2018 at 4:56pm
	Oh, come on Mike, you can say them. Just use symbols in the middle of the words. Seriously, though, do you have some reason to disagree with what the Ford and Chrysler folks have published?
	Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 26 Jun 2018 at 4:59pm
	LOL, yeah I try to preserve my southern hospitality, Bless their Heart.
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 26 Jun 2018 at 5:03pm
	Oh and BTW - I'm not stopping at gas station to read the pump and decipher what some manufacture says about fuel, I don't know what's wrong with me, yes I do, I don't care.
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2587	Posted: 26 Jun 2018 at 5:07pm
	Dang, Mike, with an answer like that, makes me wonder if you are a politician or a lawyer. I guess out here on the edge of Nowhere, we're a little more direct.
	Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2587	Posted: 26 Jun 2018 at 5:09pm
	You should see what Antwerp Chrysler in MD says about fuel. Shoot, it's over a half a page and I fell asleep trying to read it all.
	Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 26 Jun 2018 at 5:09pm
	Don't set me up, I know you are a lawyer, pleading the 5th Bro. I still don't care, but I admire your effort.
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2587	Posted: 26 Jun 2018 at 5:12pm
	Yeah, but I'm a retired lawyer. I don't bother setting people up anymore [especially in cross-examination, though it was fun to catch them spinning yarns]. I worry about big things, like why are my nail bags wearing out in the middle of a patio roof project and why is it so much harder to climb up on top to put down the 2x2's compared to when I was young. .... and, of course, octane.
	Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 26 Jun 2018 at 5:18pm
	God Bless You - octane is not something I spend a lot of time on, nail bag different, I can connect with that and ladders and stuff I'm with you. I spin no yarns, not my style and not PC.
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."