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Do I need premium gas in GT?
10-07-2011, 12:40 AM
#11
TECH SAVANT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Posts: 10,938
I've always used regular 86 octane gas in my 2002 GT, but I was thinking about trying a tank full of 90 octane. Would that make the engine run a little stronger? It runs fine on the 86, but does seem a bit sluggish at times. I think the compression is 9.4:1, which seems borderline high to me, but I don't know anything about the computer adjustments to gas quality on this car.
However the stock tune does run pig rich in open loop, so it may be OK...
10-07-2011, 08:31 AM
#13
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 283
i believe thats what the coating is.
but i see the dangers it pose, ie debrie falling into engine
10-07-2011, 12:13 PM
#14
speed'n
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: MN
Posts: 2,248
I was wondering that too. I've never heard of a gas station running 86 & 90? I've seen only seen: diesel, e85, 87, 89, 91,92,93, 100, 110, 115 at pumps.
10-07-2011, 03:30 PM
#15
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 268
the octane range around here is 85-90. Occasionally you can find 91 and I think there is one station that sells 92. Of course you could go out to the private airfield and get some 108 av-gas if you needed it.
10-07-2011, 03:32 PM
#16
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 268
it has 140K miles. I just changed the sparkplugs to motorcraft coppers and cleaned the MAF & TB with the appropriate cleaners, and changed the old K&N air filter for a fresh motorcraft filter. That fixed the trouble codes I was having, but I guess I just expected a little more get up and go for my 260 HP.
10-07-2011, 04:07 PM
#17
TECH SAVANT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Posts: 10,938
We are fortunate to get 93 octane year-round over here in FL.
A fresh off the showroom floor new-edge GT would only put out 222 or so at the wheels. At 140k, even in top condition, 2% to 5% less than that would be what I would expect.
Re: Spark plugs; the combustion chambers in these cars were designed to run fine wire precious metal plugs, which fire faster and hotter than conventional nickel/chrome alloy electrode plugs. I would recommend installing a set of OEM Motorcraft single platinum, or some other make of platinum plugs. I run the Champion #7963 double platinums, but only because I was experimenting with some aftermarket COPs that fired with reverse polarity.
The Champion #3401 single platinum units would be fine with the stock COPs.
If you want a power boost open up the exhaust to 2-1/2" from the manifolds back, then buy a tuner and load a tune optimised for the highest octane fuel you can regularly get. That will move you up to 235 to 240 rwHP. Then install an aftermarket upper plenum and 70mm TB. That will not add any peak HP however it will beef up the middle and upper mid range at WOT, and let the engine pull strongly right out to the rev-limiter.
A fresh off the showroom floor new-edge GT would only put out 222 or so at the wheels. At 140k, even in top condition, 2% to 5% less than that would be what I would expect.
Re: Spark plugs; the combustion chambers in these cars were designed to run fine wire precious metal plugs, which fire faster and hotter than conventional nickel/chrome alloy electrode plugs. I would recommend installing a set of OEM Motorcraft single platinum, or some other make of platinum plugs. I run the Champion #7963 double platinums, but only because I was experimenting with some aftermarket COPs that fired with reverse polarity.
The Champion #3401 single platinum units would be fine with the stock COPs.
If you want a power boost open up the exhaust to 2-1/2" from the manifolds back, then buy a tuner and load a tune optimised for the highest octane fuel you can regularly get. That will move you up to 235 to 240 rwHP. Then install an aftermarket upper plenum and 70mm TB. That will not add any peak HP however it will beef up the middle and upper mid range at WOT, and let the engine pull strongly right out to the rev-limiter.
10-07-2011, 04:14 PM
#18
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GA
Posts: 1,232
We are fortunate to get 93 octane year-round over here in FL.
A fresh off the showroom floor new-edge GT would only put out 222 or so at the wheels. At 140k, even in top condition, 2% to 5% less than that would be what I would expect.
Re: Spark plugs; the combustion chambers in these cars were designed to run fine wire precious metal plugs, which fire faster and hotter than conventional nickel/chrome alloy electrode plugs. I would recommend installing a set of OEM Motorcraft single platinum, or some other make of platinum plugs. I run the Champion #7963 double platinums, but only because I was experimenting with some aftermarket COPs that fired with reverse polarity.
The Champion #3401 single platinum units would be fine with the stock COPs.
If you want a power boost open up the exhaust to 2-1/2" from the manifolds back, then buy a tuner and load a tune optimised for the highest octane fuel you can regularly get. That will move you up to 235 to 240 rwHP. Then install an aftermarket upper plenum and 70mm TB. That will not add any peak HP however it will beef up the middle and upper mid range at WOT, and let the engine pull strongly right out to the rev-limiter.
A fresh off the showroom floor new-edge GT would only put out 222 or so at the wheels. At 140k, even in top condition, 2% to 5% less than that would be what I would expect.
Re: Spark plugs; the combustion chambers in these cars were designed to run fine wire precious metal plugs, which fire faster and hotter than conventional nickel/chrome alloy electrode plugs. I would recommend installing a set of OEM Motorcraft single platinum, or some other make of platinum plugs. I run the Champion #7963 double platinums, but only because I was experimenting with some aftermarket COPs that fired with reverse polarity.
The Champion #3401 single platinum units would be fine with the stock COPs.
If you want a power boost open up the exhaust to 2-1/2" from the manifolds back, then buy a tuner and load a tune optimised for the highest octane fuel you can regularly get. That will move you up to 235 to 240 rwHP. Then install an aftermarket upper plenum and 70mm TB. That will not add any peak HP however it will beef up the middle and upper mid range at WOT, and let the engine pull strongly right out to the rev-limiter.
10-07-2011, 04:16 PM
#19
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 268
We are fortunate to get 93 octane year-round over here in FL.
A fresh off the showroom floor new-edge GT would only put out 222 or so at the wheels. At 140k, even in top condition, 2% to 5% less than that would be what I would expect.
Re: Spark plugs; the combustion chambers in these cars were designed to run fine wire precious metal plugs, which fire faster and hotter than conventional nickel/chrome alloy electrode plugs. I would recommend installing a set of OEM Motorcraft single platinum, or some other make of platinum plugs. I run the Champion #7963 double platinums, but only because I was experimenting with some aftermarket COPs that fired with reverse polarity.
The Champion #3401 single platinum units would be fine with the stock COPs.
If you want a power boost open up the exhaust to 2-1/2" from the manifolds back, then buy a tuner and load a tune optimised for the highest octane fuel you can regularly get. That will move you up to 235 to 240 rwHP. Then install an aftermarket upper plenum and 70mm TB. That will not add any peak HP however it will beef up the middle and upper mid range at WOT, and let the engine pull strongly right out to the rev-limiter.
A fresh off the showroom floor new-edge GT would only put out 222 or so at the wheels. At 140k, even in top condition, 2% to 5% less than that would be what I would expect.
Re: Spark plugs; the combustion chambers in these cars were designed to run fine wire precious metal plugs, which fire faster and hotter than conventional nickel/chrome alloy electrode plugs. I would recommend installing a set of OEM Motorcraft single platinum, or some other make of platinum plugs. I run the Champion #7963 double platinums, but only because I was experimenting with some aftermarket COPs that fired with reverse polarity.
The Champion #3401 single platinum units would be fine with the stock COPs.
If you want a power boost open up the exhaust to 2-1/2" from the manifolds back, then buy a tuner and load a tune optimised for the highest octane fuel you can regularly get. That will move you up to 235 to 240 rwHP. Then install an aftermarket upper plenum and 70mm TB. That will not add any peak HP however it will beef up the middle and upper mid range at WOT, and let the engine pull strongly right out to the rev-limiter.
10-07-2011, 04:41 PM
#20
TECH SAVANT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Posts: 10,938
However they are quite incorrect about doing both and re-tuning, which will accomplish what I described above--improved mid to upper mid-range power at WOT and and extension of the usable power at the high end.
Click here to find out why...