Octane and Oil

[CRUZTAKER]

I wonder if anyone else out there decided to get their (stock) '03 MM's used to a lower octane fuel such as 89? I mean from the start, before it gets spoiled on 91, or even worse, 94. My MarqLS performed well on 87.
That is all that went in from day one.

As far as oil, I have read that alot of you are using synthetics. I have always been a big fan of them, as I was an AmsOil dealer in the early '80's when people said, "synthetic what..?"
How long should I break in before I switch? What are YOUR favorite change intervals?

I used to go every 10k on my Wankle rotary :flamer:

Once a year on grandma's 81 Olds.

[SergntMac]

anyone?

[MassMarauder]

go for it Mac

[CRUZTAKER]

Be gentle...it was just a thought. 91 was $1.98/gl. last I looked.
At Speedway!!! (the cheap station if you don't got em)

[chapel1]

Gee,I was wondering if alittle of that racing fuel would do?:coolman:

[bugsys03]

i only burn amoco ultimate 93 octane and run the synthetic blend from motorcraft--change it every 3000 miles. if you wanted to drive your MM like grandmas olds im sure you could use regular unleaded if you wanted to

[LincMercLover]

Octane is relevent to that of the compression of the motor. A 1994 GM is a lower compression engine (8:1 maybe?), our MM's are a higher compressiong engine (9.85:1) which make it require the 91 octane. I put nothing but 93 in, and was forced to settle for 92 once because I was LOW. The car will run on lower octane gas, however, a slight performance loss can be noticed to the particular driver. When you use a lower octane gas, it won't burn as well in this higher compression engine, which will cause a slight knock and the knock sensor will back off your timing (reason why you don't notice the knock). This is where your power is going. There are those who believe a Vitalizer attached to the fuel line will allow the car to run on "cheap" gas without affecting the knock factor. I think these people also put Tonardo Super Chargers on there cars though too...

As far as oil, it's a matter of preference. I swaped mine at 1000 miles. Some swap out at 5000 miles (first schedualed oil change). Somewhere between there. As far as period of change, NOT a year... Everyone has there own opinion, and it's been proven with today's oils that the oil is still good after the 5000 miles recommended by the dealer. I personally am a 3000 miles guy. Sarge is a 2000 mile guy. Some are 5000 mile people... Once again, depends on your opinion. I would not try what you do with your grams 81 Olds on this car. That car's motor wasn't an OHC motor, and OHC motors CRAVE oil.

[jgc61sr2002]

Cruztaker - According to the owners manual the MM comes with a 5W20 Syntheic blend. I would think you could use full synthetic after the first oil change. Several auto manufactures use synthetic from the factory ie: Corvette and Mercedes are two that I can think of. I had a 2000 GM with the handling package and it called for 87 octaine whereas the MM has a high compression engine calling for at least 91. Hope this helps. John

[looking97233]

The Marauder is programed to use 91 octane as a minnium, if you use a lower grade of fuel it will not perform well and could ping badly. As for the oil it comes from the factory with synthetic in it.

[LincMercLover]

looking,

It's synthetic BLEND.

[CRUZTAKER]

LML, and all others:

Thats the way to set someone straight. With direct, easy to understand answers. I have alot to learn about automobiles in general. I appreciate the input. My wife jumped my @#%* when she saw my last post. She wanted to why I made her put hi-test in her Lincoln LS and I was thinking about using cheaper. Anyway, can you tell I'm trying to pay off ANOTHER loan. I won't be cheap, I won't be cheap,I won't be cheap....
I have to go apologize to my auto now....

[MassMarauder]

Cruztaker - many folks here are running the Rienhart chip and because of that they are most likely running 93 or 94 octane petro....because the chip is programmed to take advantage of the high octane. SergntMac has a flair for providing clear, concise answers to quesitons like this. Hopefully he will stop by and visit this thread soon.
Oh, and as far as oil goes, my first change is at 1000 miles, then every 2500 until I reach aprox 10 - 15k. I will probably switch to syn at that time.

[looking97233]

LML- wherre do you find the 'BLEND' at. My owners manual and dealer both just say 'synthetic'

[LincMercLover]

Top of page 202 and bottom of page 203 in your manual.

[UncleLar]

I use Ford oil&filters in my Mercs and Fords,oil changed at the dealer. reasons being I have no garage and if they screw up and I lose an engine they eat it,not me. In the past I used to do my own oil and filter changes and still used Ford oil&filters.I 'd heard that if you use the OEM filters and it failed causing the engine to destruct then they were responsible for the repairs,whereas if you look at the warranty on Fram filters and such it states they are responsible ONLY for the replacement of the oil filter,I don't know for certain that an OEM filter would make them liable for repairs if the filter fails,but I feel better using Genuine Ford parts. Rumor has it Mobil ! is coming out with a 5W20 full synthetic oil soon. In my 2003 Expedition I'm sticking with Ford 5W20 oil for warranty reasons,my Cougar gets Ford 5W30.

[Reaper948]

93 Octane at 1.75 a gallon
Lucky NJ's got the best prices

[Macon Marauder]

GA has the lowest average gas prices in the U.S.
93 octane is about 1.68 a gallon (up .20 in past 2 weeks), less if you shop. Go for the premium stuff - you won't be sorry!

[LincMercLover]

UncleLar,

5w30 will not void your warranty. The manual says 5w20's RECOMMENDED, not REQUIRED...

[SergntMac]

Well, there's not much for me to add here, y'all presented the facts rather well, with good advice. I would like to add a personal opinion.

Detonation is a cancer you won't discover until it's too late. The factory ECM will detune the car as best it can on the fly, to accomodate lower octane, but over the long run, things melt without you knowing it, until it's dead. That's why I like the Reinhart chip on a switch. When I cannot get 93 octane fuel, I can control the effects of the chip by switching it off and returning to the factory program. I think this is a real plus over other chips. Should I want to drive cross-country, I would have to decide to pull out a full time chip or not before leaving. Now, I have a choice on the fly.

It's my view that the MM is still somewhat an experimental build. Though the parts have been around a while and tested out well in other platforms, they are collected together here in the MM for the first time. To be driven by us in a variety of conditions, is the final beta of the design, IMHO. LM may carry on with the experiment in '04, maybe not.

I tend to drive hard and stay in the cams, constantly running through the gears with short bursts of hard power. This is why I change oil more often than others, and plan for changing rear end and tranny fluids early too, because I'm beating on these systems likewise hard. I have a few other simple mods in the works and I'm enjoying my MM just the way I had hoped to. I want to protect my investment as best as I can, so, in some ways I am very conservative.

There's no telling what any of us may have to deal with at 25 or 30K miles, maybe nothing ahead to worry about. However, should the 4.6L DOHC develop a chest cold over long term use, I want my MM to be as fit as possible for the repair, and that is why I'm sticking to the recommended oils, fluids, and filters, and having all my work performed by certified LM wrenches and recorded their files. Contrary to my past experience, it just so happens that the FMC recommended stuff is the cheaper buy too.

[CRUZTAKER]

OK, all is well. I really don't know what I was thinking. This is the first hotrod (persay) since my ex-wife got my '73 Malibu 396 4-speed back in 1994.
I have the need for speed too, occationally of course, in short bursts as you say. My goal this summer is to mod out like many of you have. The call to Reinhart is on my to-do list.
MORE,MORE,MORE.....atleast my new wife understands. not so happy tho$$$$ But my 21 month old boy (Gage) always want to ride in daddys car when he see's it. He says: "daddy...new one...better..."
So I got her there, Jeez, he is not even two and tired of mommy's LS.

I juiced up that tank of 89 I put in with a bottle of 108 octane booster, apologized, and washed her. Stayed clean 4 blocks,....she didn't know.

So, last question on this subject. How does everyone like utilizing octane boosters? WHO MAKES THE BEST?

[MAD-3R]

Now clue. I get 93 pump, so not boosting.

[RF Overlord]

Cruz:

You mentioned getting it "used to" 89 octane and not letting it "get spoiled" on 91...um...I don't think it works that way...if you use fuel with too low an octane rating, the knock sensor and ECM will just pull back the timing until the car isn't detonating anymore and runs crappy...

Not sure if the octane boost will clog the cats, play tricks on the O2 sensors, foul the plugs faster...or maybe not...why not just use the 91-92 octane it was designed for...?

I don't think octane boost would be good for a newer car...I have to use it (along with lead additive) in my Buick, 'cuz it's got 10.5-1 compression and non-hardened valve seats...was designed for 99 octane...but I'd rather not...

Seems like just using the correct octane would also be less expensive...
0.10 per gallon more for 92 vs. 89, so 20 gallons would cost you 2 bux a fill up...can you get octane boost for less than $2/bottle? The Octane 104+ I use in the Buick is about $8/bottle, plus lead additve...costs me about $52 to fill it...good thing I only drive it 2000 miles a year!

[CRUZTAKER]

Yeah, I did the math too. No point to additives if the good stuff is available. I will certainly follow the rules from now on.

[WolfeBros]

Very good advice RF. :up:

Did I mention that you took the words right out of my mouth ? :lol:

[cyclone03]

:flamer: Flame suite on,


Well I've track milage on my maruader since day one and I've found I average a solid 1.5mpg better milage on 89octane than 93.
My back and forth to work milage runs 16.5 with 93 and 18 with 89 this is all city stop and go max speed 50mph.
I've also hit my all time best highway with mid grade (89) of 27.3mph best 93 was 25.6.

Now back in the day when you could twist the distributer and set the timing to match the gas your running you could here the pinging.With knock sensors it SHOULD pull out the timing before you hear the ping.
It also seems to pull better with 89.

I'm all stock.

:flamer: away.

[RF Overlord]

Consider yourself flamed...

J/K

Lower octane fuel DOES have a higher latent energy (I forget the technical term), so I'm not surprised that you get a mileage boost...I'm curious as to why you say it pulls better, too...it shouldn't...if the knock sensor is pulling your timing, it should not have the same pick-up as on higher-octane fuel...hmmm...have to find a petroleum specialist now...

But, hey...if it runs better all around on 89, go for it!

Note: this would probably not be true on a chipped car...

[jgc61sr2002]

I would only use Ford filters and their 5W20 Synthetic Blend and at least 91 octane fuel. Have yet to see any 5W20 Synthetic in the auto parts stores. I would like to use Synthetic and I think the 5W30 would not be a problem. At present I am staying with Ford products. John

[smithr]

Cut open a 5,000 mile filter to make sure you can run that long. Bob Smith

[MAD-3R]

An oil thread thats been dead for OVER a YEAR!!!


It LIVES!!!!!! :lol: :baaa: :lol:

[woaface]

I can usually find 93 octane (most popular above 90 around here) for 1.60 or less. I never pay above 1.65. Well whenever I can pay $1.20 for some 94, ya'll let me know.:uzi:

[TripleTransAm]

An oil thread thats been dead for OVER a YEAR!!!

I think RF's pager must be going off right about now... :lol:

[CRUZTAKER]

OMG!!! My newbie thread!!!:uzi: :shake:

This was like one of the first 3 posts I ever made, one of the three that apparently didn't get locked!

Very nostalgic....:sleepy:

[Mad1]

OMG!!! My newbie thread!!!

I didn't see the dates until just before I got to the end. I just kept wondering if Barry had hit his head recently? :)

We'll just pretend this didn't happen, OK Barry?

Jeremy
Mad1


I hope no one resurrects one of my old posts.

[CRUZTAKER]

No doubt....my cat scan came back negative:P

But just in case the newbies are still wondering....

I was confused on day 6, the marauder needs high octane fuel for proper performance. At this point in it's (my MM) life with my current mods and programming, it is required.

As far as oil, there a very few folks doing things their way against the grain, I do what the owners manual calls for or better.

[jgc61sr2002]

Where is RF? :D

[teamrope]

Where is RF? :D
He'll be along shortly....I think I'm gonna duck under the desk now. :D

[67435animal]

OK, all is well. I really don't know what I was thinking. This is the first hotrod (persay) since my ex-wife got my '73 Malibu 396 4-speed back in 1994.
I have the need for speed too, occationally of course, in short bursts as you say. My goal this summer is to mod out like many of you have. The call to Reinhart is on my to-do list.
MORE,MORE,MORE.....atleast my new wife understands. not so happy tho$$$$ But my 21 month old boy (Gage) always want to ride in daddys car when he see's it. He says: "daddy...new one...better..."
So I got her there, Jeez, he is not even two and tired of mommy's LS.

I juiced up that tank of 89 I put in with a bottle of 108 octane booster, apologized, and washed her. Stayed clean 4 blocks,....she didn't know.

So, last question on this subject. How does everyone like utilizing octane boosters? WHO MAKES THE BEST?

Barry, octane boosters are a bigger waste of money than throwing money in the toilet. There are none made that are worth payin anything for. Buy premium fuel only.

Been there, wasted that. For my baby (below), 99 octane composed of 93 UNL plus 110 leaded joy juice (2 to 1 ratio).

Bob

[CRUZTAKER]

Thanks Animal, but this thread is well over a year old.

Therefore, let me reiterate:

OMG!!! My newbie thread!!!:uzi: :shake:

This was like one of the first 3 posts I ever made, (2,382 posts ago) and one of the three that apparently didn't get locked!

Very nostalgic....:sleepy:

[purelux]

94 octane is discontinued at sunoco so if you have it it should be gone soon. Thanks to the ks you can use lower octane but there are a few things to consider. Looking into sulfer I found sunoco at least though it ranges tends to have a lower octane the higher grade of gas you use. So depending on who you use for gas along with less performance. IF they follow sunocos suit you are more likely to have higher sulfer count which cloggs up cats the more you have. Also it causes cars to have to run a slightly richer fuel/air mix than if it were lower except california which is extremely low sulfer content in all grades. You bought a higher performance car for a more premium price, use it! As far as oil a good true synthetic like amsoil, mobil1 etc.. will not only keep your engine running cleaner internally but also flows better cold as well as hot vs dyno oil. Espically using a 5w20 the extra stability of synthetics is very helpful resulting in a descent amount less wear on internal parts.

[FordNut]

I know it's an old thread but since it's been brought up to the top of the heap again, I'll repeat what I posted in another octane thread.

I have the chip in mine so I always run 93. My wife's is stock and she has always run 87. She has caught up to me in miles, they both have about 23,000. Hers will probably last longer than mine because of driving styles.