Premium Fuel

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scoresman903

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Ford seems to clearly recommend Premium for Gen 3; here's the link for my 2022 model: https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/models/f150-raptor/.

There was quite a debate for Gen 2, as evidenced by a 22-page "discussion" in the Gen 2 forum: https://www.fordraptorforum.com/threads/fuel-grade-required-for-the-2nd-gen.57035/.

I ran Regular for 70,000 miles (without issue) in my Gen 2 because Ford stated:
"Your vehicle is designed to operate on regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87 or regular unleaded gasoline blended with a maximum of 85% ethanol (E85). Some fuel stations, particularly those in high altitude areas, offer fuels posted as regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating below 87. We do not recommend these fuels. For best overall vehicle and engine performance, premium fuel with an octane rating of 91 or higher is recommended. The performance gained by using premium fuel is most noticeable in hot weather as well as other conditions, for example when towing a trailer."
 
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K223

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Ford seems to clearly recommend Premium for Gen 3; here's the link for my 2022 model: https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/models/f150-raptor/.

There was quite a debate for Gen 2, as evidenced by a 22-page "discussion" in the Gen 2 forum: https://www.fordraptorforum.com/threads/fuel-grade-required-for-the-2nd-gen.57035/.

I ran Regular for 70,000 miles (without issue) in my Gen 2 because Ford stated:
"Your vehicle is designed to operate on regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87 or regular unleaded gasoline blended with a maximum of 85% ethanol (E85). Some fuel stations, particularly those in high altitude areas, offer fuels posted as regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating below 87. We do not recommend these fuels. For best overall vehicle and engine performance, premium fuel with an octane rating of 91 or higher is recommended. The performance gained by using premium fuel is most noticeable in hot weather as well as other conditions, for example when towing a trailer."
Exactly and one of the major boosts in power is allowing the truck to add timing advance. Air too hot? Towing? It will lower timing and performance.

It used to be gas company’s never added any cleaners to the low end fuel vs the premium. This certainly affected older style pintle injectors years back. Not to mention intake valves.
 
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Regardless of the fuel used (87, 89, 93 Octane) they ALL STILL CONTAIN ETHANOL. The fuel injectors will slowly lose efficiency and should be cleaned as ethanol causes issues with injectors and will slowly damage the fuel rails. You can clearly see it on a Dyno and drop in performance. Far too much proof and documentation on the issues with ethanol. Ford won't clean your injectors and will only replace them ($200each vs $25each getting them cleaned). Better fuel helps performance but if you don't keep your injectors cleaned (don't waste money on the crap they recommend putting in the fuel) you won't have optimal performance. Ethanol free fuel is better but still have your injectors cleaned. They have micro-sized trash baskets in them that will plug off with any kind of trash. I've had Gen 1, 2, and 3 Raptors - keeping the injectors clean makes a difference in all of them.
 
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