Hello, All:
The only way to get an increase in power out of premium fuel is to increase the timing. since these engines are optimized for regular, using premium is a waste of money, unless you get something like a superchip which advances timing to utilize the higher octane levels premium has.
Alcahol DOES eventually rot rubber lines and hoses. In Aviation, any kind of alcahol additives to Aviation fuel for piston engines are prohibited for this very reason. So, stay away from the stuff, unless you need to add a small amount for very cold weather to keep fuel lines from freezing.

 

WOT=Wide Open Throttle...

We have been discussing the "adaptive" characteristics of EEC V on other threads. If no pining exists, and you drive hard, the PCM should bump up timing and increase injector pulse width (among other things). There is no
base adjustment, but you can train it.

After running 89 octane, I still have some light pinging when I shift. At this point, it is negligible, but I need more time to "train". I actually want to wait at least another week.

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'98 4.6 5-sp F-150
We've come for your Tundra.

http://www.mcmullenargus.com/gallery...ge=1165&pub=12
trixters-playground@excite.com
www.truckinweb.com

 

As requested here is the article:



Ford Tweaks Engines for Premium Power Payoff
USA Today

Consumer groups insist there is no benefit in using premium fuel if the owner's manual specifies regular. But many Ford, Mercury and Lincoln trucks, and the 1998 Lincoln Town Car that goes on sale in December, have a feature that makes their engines more powerful and improves mileage slightly if you use premium. That's so even though the engines are designed for regular, and advertised poweris obtained using regular. Ford engineers David Amos, Gary Barringer and Gary Brewer came up with the clever gimmick brainstorming. The magic gadget is a knock sensor similar to those on many engines, but set to work differently. Other knock sensors work in the negative. That is, they tone down some engine computer settings when the engine starts knocking, quelling the commotion at the expense of engine power. But Ford's has headroom built in. It will work like the others, but if you use premium, it'll also step up settings to exploit premium's properties. Amos says it adds five to seven horsepower to the nominal 205 hp in the overhead-camshaft Explorer/Mountaineer V-6. And he says premium improves fuel economy in that engine 0.8 to 1 mile per gallon. Ford can't advertise the higher horsepower and fuel economy numbers unless it's willing to specify premium fuel, which marketers fear could scare off buyers. The sensor also is on all trucks using Ford's 4.6-liter and 5.4-liter V-8s and 6.8-liter V-10. That's most F-series V-8 pickups, all Expedition and Lincoln Navigator sports utilities, and some Econoline vans. And it will be on the 4.6-liter '98 Town Car.


I know I feel a difference and the MPG has increased!


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The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html

 

Triton46,

So this means our 97 4.6's had this new knock sensor in it?

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97 F-150 SC Lariat, Styleside, White over Gold, 4.6L (Windsor), Automatic, 3.55 rear end, electronic 4X4, w/ every option of Lariat and ORP packages except the 17" wheels and the 4X4 decals, MODs so far: K&N air box mod, Gibson Super Truck, clear Bugflector II, Leer TSC 600 hard cover, Bridgestone Dueler OWL ATP 265/75 R-16's, TrailMaster Invader N7 shocks, Smittybilt step bars, Ford moulded mud guards, "White-white" head lamps, Bosch platinum + 4's.

 

Yes! I checked the USA Today site and the article is out there. Ive heard different people have had different experiences with premium fuel so it may or may not work for you. I got a friend of mine at work to use premium in his 99 Explorer Sport. He said he definately feels a power increase.

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The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html

 

Triton46,

I also read the article...my 98 DID have better performance with Premium fuel. My 2000 is completely different..MUCH more power with regular 87 Octane fuel.

I am consistently at 8.0 seconds
going from 0-60 mph. (87 Octane)

With 92 Octane...I had a 9.9 0-60 test.

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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II

 

Dustoff,

Thats what I have heard on a couple of different boards. I wonder if they didnt change the tuning on the trucks because of some problems (ie some were stuck on premium mode and some stuck on 87 mode).

Looks like 97 - 99 can reap the benefits if all is well with the program.