Do you get more than 13% improvement in Miles Per Gallon using Premium vs what you got using Regular?

According to the 25-December report by the U.S. Department of Energy for average gasoline prices, Regular Gasoline cost an average $1.414 per gallon vs $1.597 for Premium Grade gasoline.

This represents a price differential of 12.94% more for Premium.

This means that for my meager 13.5 MPG using regular, I'd need to see 15.3 MPG to break even.

If you've seen an increase in fuel miles-per-gallon that is at least better than the additional cost -- would you mind telling how you did it (and what parts, and what it cost to get you there)?

Thanks,


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Y2K™ 7700 4x4
Jim - N8JG@Hotmail.com

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

jgorka
If you are after mpg, I suggest a "toy"ota or nissan. If you are after a truck, I suggest Ford-Chevy-Dodge.

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97 Lariet-sc-4.6-4x off road-auto-3.55 LS-
superchip-K&N-3"
pvc air box mod-Granetelli MAF

 

I suggest Ford.

 

Thank you both for your suggestions.

FYI: A 7700 Series is the Ford F-150 7700# GVWR replacement for the 1999 F-250LD.


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Y2K™ 7700 4x4
Jim - N8JG@Hotmail.com

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

Easy there guys You won't see any noticable gains running premium. You fuel and timing curves aren't set up for it. You may even get worse mileage.

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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.

1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17

My Home Page

 

All I get when I run premo is some knocks n stuph

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'97 F-150 XLT Clearcoat Red
4x2
17 inch Wheels
Stepside, K&N, bedliner
32inch tires,flowmaster,
tint, matching ford sticker
5spd fully loaded, hidden hitch
new spark plugs

 

Yep, the only thing you get by running premium is a smaller bank account.While some cars(mostly performance) are set up to run on the super unleaded and really dont like anything less(knocking and pinging on 87 octaane) THese trucks are set up for the reular unleaded,and any gains you see will be very minumal,if it all.

 

You need to run at least 2 tanks of premium for the computer to adjust, learn that it can give you a little more advance without knocking or pinging. I had been running 87 octane since my truck was new and recently switched to 92 octane after my second tank I noticed 1.5 mpg increase. The mods I have done to my truck may help the the effect of using premium.

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'97 F150 4.6L XL WHITE,FLEETSIDE R/C L/B, LEER SHELL W/FISHING POLE RACK, BED MAT,LIMMITED SLIP,245/75/16 DESERT DOGS ON POLISHED ALUM, WHEELS.
AIRAID, 3" CAT BACK OUT THE SIDE w/MAGNAFLOW MUFFER

 

jgorka,

There are only a couple of mods I have ever done that improved mileage on my '95 302.

Underdrive pulleys.....very small (approx .5) improvement

Jacobs ignition.... a little better than 15% improvement. Keep in mind the ignition on the '95 isn't up to par with the newer models. Try a search, I think some have posted mileage gains with the DIS on newer models.

 

Here in Austin, TX, reg. gas costs $1.21 a gallon and premo is $1.32 a gallon. So that's a diff. of 8.3%, if I'm doing the math right...After running premo since just before christmas, I can say that the mpg gains have been slight, but noticable. We're talking maybe 1 mpg better. But I only get about 13 in the city, so for me, that's a gain of 7.7%. Good enough for me!

Dimitry

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Never let your schooling interfere with your education --Mark Twain

 

Here is my experience. When running around town on regular gas I got 14.3 mpg over 3000 miles. I just got done with my 3000 miles on the premium gas and ended with a mpg average of 16.2. Here in arizona the average for regular gas is about 1.53 a gallon. The average for premium is 1.72. keep in mind that this is jsut the Texaco I go to, I dont mean to start an argument about the fuel prices. Anyway, over 3000 miles at 14.3 per gallon and 1.53 a gallon, on regular I spent 321 bucks on fuel. With the same distance, 16.2 mpg at 1.76 a gallon, it cost me 320 dollars. So it cost me 1 dollar MORE to use the cheap stuff. Everyone has an opinion about how much better the Premium stuff is for your engine but if it is in fact better for the vehicle to use premium and it costs 1 dollar less every 3000 miles why not use it. Right? But hey, thats just my experience.

 

Turtle, can you elaborate a bit more on what you did? What months did you run regular gas and what months did you run the premium?

Reason I ask is I really believe that the time of year has an effect on gas mileage.

 

I think spending an extra twenty cents per gallon (my fuel tank holds twenty nine gallons) to gain only a mile or two per gallon does not justify the added expense. I think that you are wasting money if you do. There is no added benefit in doing so unless you have a sports car. I always run 87 octane in my trucks and I never had it ping at all. These engines are designed to run on 87 octane.

 

Well, Dennis, I see your point in your question about the time of year. I started my test in september and as I said, ended it today. The first miles were the miles that I used the regular gas. The term ended around teh end of october or the beginning of November. I am sure someone will question the number of miles and wonder how i got them all in a short amount of time so here is the reason. I am a courier in my own vehicle and often drive 2-300 miles per day.
As far as your reply Bugman, I am guessing you either didnt read the whole post or you missed something in it. I noted that on the premium gas I got 1.9 miles per gallon more than on regular. I went on to state that even though It was 20 cents more per gallon for the premium, I still saved one dollar per 3000 miles. So, if you are getting better fuel mileage and saving a buck, why not try it? And like I also said, this is just my experience, yours could be very different as everyones seem to be different when it comes to all the topics in these posts on this site.

 

Dude,
I read your post. I drive 300 miles or more a day. It is too costly for me to spend an additional twenty cents or more per gallon to sit in traffic, hence the New York area. If it works for you, then more power to you.