rfryer
Phoenix
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Joined: 04/19/2005
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It mostly depends on your speed, you're pulling a barn door through the air. My 5.4 F150 will get over 17mpg solo at high speed on the freeway. Towing my 3000# TT in the 55-65 range I get 14, and a little less in the mountains. My guess is you'll get 12-14 on the flats if you keep the speed down, you'll know for sure after a couple of tanks towing. I don't think high test will be any benefit, but you could try it and see what kind of mileage you get.
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H & E
North Texas
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Joined: 10/05/2006
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I have purchased a chip programmer that I can tune the engine for more performance with different grades of gas. I have learned that the mileage stays about the same when pulling the TT no matter what program or octane I use. I am using the 87-octane tune and using 87-octane gas while pulling. The owner’s manual says use 87.
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dmzempr
ohio
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Joined: 07/01/2007
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Hey OP. You'll get about 9 MPG towing with your XL, 19 on the high side when not. That's about what I get while driving 60-63 MPH. Ours is a 2004 XL 1500 with 3.73 gears. Thought about 4.10's but not worth the investment the other 330 days of the year when we just drive it.
2004 Yukon XL 5.3, 3.73, Prodigy, Equalizer 1k/10k, Maxair II, Barker Deluxe 3000 electric jack, AirLift Air Bags with compressor (newest)
2007 Jayco 29A
5 campers + dog
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gheicher
Pennsylvania
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Joined: 03/03/2007
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The octane needed for an engine is generally the result of the engine's compression ratio. Some high compression engines will "knock" (ping) or run-on (diesel) if the octane is too low. The owner's manual will specify what octane rating should be used and buying higher octane is generally a waste of money. At higher altitudes like Denver, CO 85 octane is commonly substituted for 87 octane since the thinner air also affects how the fuel is burned in the engine. Modern engines with computer controlled fuel and ignition are much better at using "regular" gasoline than the older engines.
The only vehicle I ever owned that needed higher octane gasoline was a 6 cyl Austin Healey. It would run-on after turning off the ignition and I would need to stall the engine or let it run out of fuel to get it to stop.
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whjco
Lexington, KY
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Joined: 01/26/2007
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A consideration. While your vehicle is designed to run on 87 octane, there may be a possiblity of some predetonation (spark knock) on hard pulls. The engine is set up to detect this knock and will retard the timing accordingly to compensate for it. If this happens, the retarded timing will result in increased fuel consumption. You might want to experiment with mid-grade fuel to see if the performance is improved. I found this to be the case with my Suburban when I was towing with it. The little bit of extra cost for the mid-grade fuel was absorbed several times over in reduction of fuel consumption. Premium fuel would probably be a waste of money.
Congratulations on your new acquisition! You're going to have a large time!
Bill J., Lexington, KY
2006 Starcraft 2500RKS 25' Travel Trailer
2000 Excursion Ltd. 7.3 PSD
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4ABURN
Ontario
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Joined: 04/05/2008
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I run regular when not towing but give it a treat when I am!!!!!you will not have to,but I just treat my TV the best I can,when its working hard!!!
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Fraser in YYZ
East York, Canada
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Joined: 10/16/2006
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When we used to tow with our 5.2 litre 98 Jeep GC, if we did not run with at least 98 octane we had TONS of pre-ignition pinging which would make you think that your TV was about to explode!! When not towing reg 87 was fine. I suspect each vehicle is different and you'll discover which category yours falls into first time out towing. Have Fun!!
Fraser
DW
2 sons 14+17
2008 Jayco 213 Exp
2005 Dodge Durango 5.7 Hemi
Performance exhaust
Factory tow package
Prodigy brake controller
Husky WD hitch, friction anti-sway
McKesh tow mirrors
A bad day of camping is better than ANY day stuck in the city!!
Go Jays!
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mobeewan
Hampton, Va
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Joined: 01/03/2007
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fuzzy194 wrote:CRICKEYDOG
Keep an eye on your REFG.in your camper. I just lost mine to a fire on 5-22-09 too a gas fire goning down the road.(2006 37skq HD Presidential Suite,it stard in refg,gas leak. good luck
Were you using 87 or high octane in your fridge? Remember, only use propane for the fridge.
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Tvov
CT
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Joined: 07/19/2003
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seamonster wrote:
I would use it, especially if the premium is all gas and no ethanol.
That is what we have here the lower octanes have 10% ethanol.
I have not heard of that. On the fuel pumps in my area it just says the gasoline contains ethanol, it doesn't say there is more or less depending on octane rating.
I would love to find out if high octane fuel in my area doesn't have ethanol... I would use it for my small equipment engines, as the ethanol can accelerate the decay / rot of the fuel lines and carburator parts.
_________________________________________________________
2008 F-250 CrewCab 5.4L,
2004 21' Forest River Surveyor
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dkhender
Omaha
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Joined: 02/15/2007
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I think the fuel octane question may depend upon your vehicle and engine. I have a Ford and had run across info on some Ford msg boards that I would see increase in mpg using premium while towing. It was worth a couple of tanks to test it out - and I found that my mpg did increase while using premium, and have found I will actually save $$ by using premium, due to increase in mpg. Plus, as others have noted, I think the engine performs better. Can't hurt to compare.
2007 Four Winds/Thor Hurricane 34B
2002 Ford Explorer --> 2004 Ford Expedition & 2008 Gulf Stream Gulf Breeze 23 TRS
1994 Ford Explorer & Coleman PU
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