Premium Vs Regular

[Rambird]

New to forum and ready to consider new bird as summer cruiser. However if they require only premium gas that might be a deal breaker for me Sure this has been discussed before but would like to get some input
Thanks in advance
Bob

[PaulD]

Re: Premium Vs Regular

91 octane required. Pay to play.

[kbrighton]

Re: Premium Vs Regular

Well...

Here's what the owner's manual has to say about fuel:
Octane recommendations
Your vehicle is designed to use “Premium” unleaded gasoline with an (R+M)/2 octane rating of 91 or higher for optimum performance.
The use of gasolines with lower octane ratings may degrade performance.

[Indy225]

Re: Premium Vs Regular

A very small price to pay as we drive the car seasonally. The fun and happiness it brings cruising around with the top down in a roadster is awesome. You want to save money, go buy a Sebring, I have rented them in florida,Trust me.....

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Premium Vs Regular

New to forum and ready to consider new bird as summer cruiser. However if they require only premium gas that might be a deal breaker for me Sure this has been discussed before but would like to get some input
Thanks in advance
Bob

If you are going to use it as a summer cruiser you are probably going to be in the under 5K per year club. Whick means about 250 gallons per year at about .30/gal upcharge from regular or $75.00 per year extra for the premium. If $75.00/year is a dealbreaker you should probably not buy any car as a summer cruiser.

[Sandman]

Re: Premium Vs Regular

I know a member who has used reg gas since he purchased his Bird new in '02 and and has never had a problem. Wonder how many more are using reg.

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: Premium Vs Regular

I used regular for all my daily fill ups for Texas Thunder trip and caravans. Absolutely no difference in performance. If I know I am not going to use the car much within the next two months I fill with highest octane. Don't let octane stop you from buying. I see no problem with alternating through the three grades of gasoline. Just be sure to keep the tank more than half full at all times......it helps keep your fuel pump cooled.

[My Raven]

Re: Premium Vs Regular

91 octane required. Pay to play.

Ditto.

FoMoCo Didn't Put the 93 Octane Sticker on the Fuel Door to Cut Production Costs ...

[Canuck]

Re: Premium Vs Regular

I did an unofficial test on a two way, coast to coast trip through the US, with another car, also rated for premium fuel. I found on highway cruising, steady speed, flat terrain, that the milage difference from regular to premium was significant enough to actually make buying the higher grade a better bargain. The results were consistent, tank after tank, but don't necessary transfer to this car although I suspect there is a relationship. That said, I still hesitate and my hand quivers slightly when reaching for that higher priced hose.

[PaulD]

Re: Premium Vs Regular

Ditto.

FoMoCo Didn't Put the 93 Octane Sticker on the Fuel Door to Cut Production Costs ...

My 03 fuel door sticker says 91 octane? Does your 04 say 93 octane?

[DudleyM]

Re: Premium Vs Regular

We alternate fillups between regular and premium. Don't notice any performance difference (only when ethanol involved). A friend with a Cashmere actually gets a little better mileage than our Bird and he uses regular.

[PaulD]

Re: Premium Vs Regular

The computer in our cars can monitor the type of fuel you are using and make adjustments to advance/retard the spark and other stuff to accomodate lower octane fuel. You engine should run fine but you can expect lower performance (aka...lower fuel milage, etc) out of the deal. If you choose to accept that impact, I would never use any fuel lower than 89 octane.
HOWEVER....my TBird is a precious commodity to me and I treat it as such. I tend to have a heavy foot so I always use 91 octane pure gas. I am fortunate to have numerous sources for achohol free gas in my areas so I stick with that unless I am traveling somehwere I cannot get it. Yes it cost a bit more but the difference is well worth it to me.

[Ediron]

Re: Premium Vs Regular

Florida has 87-89-93 I use 93 to a 1/2 than 89 .If I fall below to a 1/4 than 93

[keithwand]

Re: Premium Vs Regular

I used regular for all my daily fill ups for Texas Thunder trip and caravans. Absolutely no difference in performance. If I know I am not going to use the car much within the next two months I fill with highest octane. Don't let octane stop you from buying. I see no problem with alternating through the three grades of gasoline. Just be sure to keep the tank more than half full at all times......it helps keep your fuel pump cooled.

Good to know that about the the fuel pump.

Premium only but then we only drive the car 500 miles annually.

Thats what about 25 gallons annually. What will be do now that Toms last cruise is in November? That attributes to most of our mileage!

[Gobird]

Re: Premium Vs Regular

I used reg. one time in my Bird. When pulling onto the interstate I lost power and the engine pinged. Never used it again.