wtf - ford ranger needs premium?!

[zixxer]

I don't drive my truck a lot (I'm riding unless it's raining hard) but the engine makes a lot of noise when using cheap gas. (almost knocking - but not quite that bad... just very noisy, especially at any type of mid-low rpm). I added some chevron/techron fuel inj cleaner (I swear by this stuff -- everything else is snake oil) and the noise went away...


until I filled back up with gas. I was like wtf - I tried premium next time and it ran great too.... so... this POS cheap truck needs premium?!? there's no distributor and no way to adjust timing. Ford dealer said "some ford trucks just like high octane" ARG.


My check engine light came on awhile back (not sure if this is related since I rarely drive it) - it's the EGR valve. Is this something I can remove and clean w/ carb cleaner or something?

 

[fbrdphreak]

It doesn't "need" premium unless your manual says so. Me thinks something is wrong, year/engine?

 

[waggy]

i have had a few rangers. NONE of them needed premium. i think something is wrong with the truck.

 

[Juno]

my xterra requires 91 but there's no 91 around so i use 93 (premium) instead.

i'm sticking to 93 after using 87 and 89. 93 gives me extra mpg than 87 and 89 combined.

 

[iamwiz82]

Bad knock sensor, carbon buildup, running too lean.

4.0?

 

[So]

My ranger takes 87 just fine.

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: Juno
my xterra requires 91 but there's no 91 around so i use 93 (premium) instead.

i'm sticking to 93 after using 87 and 89. 93 gives me extra mpg than 87 and 89 combined.

what state has 93 as a standard fuel out of curiosity? Colorado is retarded and has 85,87 and 91. My car takes 89+ so im stuck buying premium. However in Nevada, where I used to live, it was 87-89-91.

Honestly, what kind of car takes 85? I didnt even know it existed before I came to colorado.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: krotchy

Originally posted by: Juno
my xterra requires 91 but there's no 91 around so i use 93 (premium) instead.

i'm sticking to 93 after using 87 and 89. 93 gives me extra mpg than 87 and 89 combined.

what state has 93 as a standard fuel out of curiosity? Colorado is retarded and has 85,87 and 91. My car takes 89+ so im stuck buying premium. However in Nevada, where I used to live, it was 87-89-91.

Honestly, what kind of car takes 85? I didnt even know it existed before I came to colorado.

A former Nevadan? :beer:

 

[iamwiz82]

85 octane is used at higher elevations, it's equal to 87 at about 4,000 feet.

 

[TheSlamma]

9.7:1 Compression... mid grade at most, anything more and your knock detection isn't working right

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Juno
my xterra requires 91 but there's no 91 around so i use 93 (premium) instead.

i'm sticking to 93 after using 87 and 89. 93 gives me extra mpg than 87 and 89 combined.

Supercharged?

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: krotchy

Originally posted by: Juno
my xterra requires 91 but there's no 91 around so i use 93 (premium) instead.

i'm sticking to 93 after using 87 and 89. 93 gives me extra mpg than 87 and 89 combined.

what state has 93 as a standard fuel out of curiosity? Colorado is retarded and has 85,87 and 91. My car takes 89+ so im stuck buying premium. However in Nevada, where I used to live, it was 87-89-91.

Honestly, what kind of car takes 85? I didnt even know it existed before I came to colorado.

Higher altitude changes up combustion. You don't need the octane levels you need at sea level. In mountain areas it's common to see 85 as the "low end" stuff.

 

[krotchy]

Hmm, so I can use 87 in my car since it wants 89, but Im at 5500 feet? Interesting. I guess ill give it a shot, and only go back up to 91 if I plan on leaving the state and dropping in altitude.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Should run on regular.

Techron is a cleaner not an octane booster, so if it ran fine on regular with Techron, the problem is not octane related, it's detergent related. The dealer's claim is BS. If the manual says 87, it should run on 87. If it's under warranty, they need to fix it. If not, you'll have to chase it down yourself. I would suggest starting with a fuel filter replacement and having the injectors professionally cleaned (means they need to be removed from the engine and taken apart).

ZV