Originally posted by Y2KSVT:
If anybody wants me dead, please start a new thread with this exact same question. Because the next time I see it asked, I'm putting 87 octane gas in my car, and driving into oncoming traffic!

Canadianballer - If you're such a baller, put the right friggin' gas in your car. I know you "gotz da hoez to take out in dat pimp ride of yo's," but wow.

Mark



Take a deep breath, and if you're driving, pull over.

I use 87 octane in my 98 SVT E0 and it runs great. I have had maybe 20 tanks of premium in it since it was new.

Before you puke all over yourself, I should further explain a few things. I believe in agressive maintenance, including the combustion chambers and injectors. In other words, there is no carbon build-up that might agrivate pinging.

Also, I have more experience than I care to remember as tune-up specialist and hot rodder. I very well understand what octane is and how important it is. Even as an agressive driver, my car just doesn't need 91 octane fuel. It does NOT run any better with premium fuel, nor does it get any better mileage with premium fuel. I would not dream of taking a risk with lower octane fuel if it didn't work. In all of it's life, I have heard light trace pinging only two times, and both of those were on hot winter days (we have a few of those in southern California) with winter blend gas at part throttle that went away with only slight throttle increase.

That said, I don't recommend this for all SVTs. My car seems to have a less than stellar factory tune that doesn't optimize performance for premium fuel. Frankly, I'm disappointed. I would gladly trade even better performance for using higher octane fuel. So if the factory tune for other SVTs is more agressive they would be more prone to problems. Also, the 2000 has higher compression and may be less able to use lower octane fuel. Someone that isn't as up on maintenance may have a problem. Someone that can't recognize it when they do have a problem should not try it.

I have driven the car with the Ford scanner on it, monitoring timing, with both 87 octane and 91 octane and cannot see any difference. There is no evidence of the knock sensor pulling timing.

Others may not have the same result.

Please stay away from your car until you can gain control of yourself again. (Don't be a Mel Gibson).

Jim Johnson 98 SVT 03 Escape Limited