Gasoline octane & MPG

[AZ_Craig]

Close enough to identical. If there were any kind of storm or high wind I wouldn't consider the mpg numbers to be valid. I don't see how a 20 degree difference in temperature matters much, though. The more important point is that after filling the tank again the numbers jumped right up immediately.

Fair enough; 20 degrees shouldn't make a big difference... Was just pointing out that I do think wind can have a huge effect on things, especially if driving in wide open places where it frequently blows really hard (like Wyoming).

Sponsored

 

[JT58Bronc]

The second that traffic light ahead turns yellow, my foot is off the accelerator pedal. Brake wear is reduced significantly. Pads and rotors also last far longer due to less heat build-up.

On a side note, brake pad heat is dissipated out through the sides of the pad. So as the pads become thinner, their ability to efficiently dissipate heat decreases. Thus pads run hotter and inherently the rotors as well. But change your pads more often and they all run cooler.

I drive like this too, coast to the red lights. People are flying by me just in a rush to get to the red light. They slam on their brakes so hard last second. Then when the light turns green the pedal is to the floor, LOL. If you drive this way you will get terrible MPG no matter what you drive. I find that most people seem to drive like this than not. I by no means poke either- just steady acceleration and steady on the gas. My 2 door Sas yields me 22.7 and my 2023 Colorado with 2.7 I average almost 36 driving them the same way.

 

[UncleBrad]

Taking a dump at every fillup will net you +1MPG. This is an undisputable fact and anyone who argues is constipated.

Thank you for sharing that. We're all better people now for knowing this.

 

[crenca]

Don't look at the computer calculated mpg, it's always off, you need the raw numbers to get the real mpg. My computer is .6 mpg higher than actual.

.6 is not as bad of an inflation as I would have anticipated. I haven't bothered to manually calculate my mileage, but I have noticed my computer reports 18.2 or 3 so I have assumed my actual mileage is maybe 17 MPG, which feels right based on the number of miles I'm averaging between full ups.

I only have 91 octane in the area, so I spike it with 2 or 2.5 gallons of E85 to get an E20 blend and a 92 minimum octane to feed my 2.3 with FP tune. My butt-o-meter tells me I might still not be getting the full 385 ft lbs of torque however. The octane adjustment gauge on the ProCo however stays right on zero, but I don't know if that indicates that it's giving the full timing advancement to get to 385 ft lbs as at least one other user has reported that that number goes positive when they get higher than 93 octane in the tank.

I think I might experiment with an E30 to E35 fill up next time to see if I can get a moar torque...

 

[Jwis]

I just finished a 3000 mile trip, reset the average economy at start. Typical interstate speed was 5 over limit, 70-80 mph. Found several variables affecting instantaneous and average mileage.
First, leaving 6000 ft elevation going east towards 600 ft without wind, great 23+ average economy. That is until the headwinds in Kansas dropped average to 19.8 (10% premium).
In Iowa filled with "real" 100% premium and had significant head and side winds through Nebraska. The trip average dropped to 18.5 at 65-75 mph. Entering eastern Colorado now with 90% premium the winds died, cruise set at 80, the "uphill" average for the entire trip went back to 20.3.
My opinion: biggest variable is higher boost due to wind and speed to maintain cruise setting. For economy and performance, use high octane and do your best to reduce boost.
Full disclosure, trip was in a '24 Aviator with 3 liter/10 speed, but our 2.7/10 speed Wildtrak has the same boost variation, but more like 16-18 mpg...

 

[NCWildtrack]

The Bronco is not a gas guzzler per say… It’s your foot.

Definitely the biggest factor for me.

I just drove to Off Rodeo TN (500 MI RT)

75-80 mph with cruise control on the way there. 18mpg

Stop and go traffic w/snow and never topping 50 on the way home. 19.2mpg

In worse conditions, it went up considerably.

Counter intuitive for sure but
driving habits and techniques matter!

 

[tock13]

I got my 4dr Sas 2.3/auto last Feb 13th and over the 5600 miles of spring/summer driving I averaged 21.1 mpg hand calculated….until October. I’ve lost 3/10s of a mile per gallon for some reason. Always fill up with Costco 87. I guess this “winter blend” really is a thing?

I found a farm/feed store near home with ethanol free gas, going to give that a shot and see how it goes.

 

[Squatch]

Drove cross-country towing an unspecified amount and got 14.4mpg cruising at 55-65 depending on the state and time of day (Texas...).

Daily driving in Miami, where no long section of unclogged freeway exists, I got 15.6mpg for, basically, city driving (like a Miami driver, iykyk).

 

[Sidney073]

I was involved in a fuel mileage project a few years ago. A few things that were proven, and that I have used with every vehicle I have owned for the past 25 plus years.
1) Higher Octane results in better fuel mileage with the same driving habits/style.
2) For an accurate fuel mileage assessment a drive loop of between 100 and 150 miles that starts and stops at the same fuel station, and same pump used, that can be duplicated To ensure accuracy.
3) Tuning for fuel mileage specific driving does result in better fuel mileage, especially with fuels with alcohol added. A faster burning fuel can allow for less timing which reduces the load on the engine resulting in better fuel mileage.
4) Remember that our Bronco’s are like a brick being pushed through the air, so comparing them to something more aerodynamic wouldn’t b e fair. My 1977 with 17/40X15 Monster Mudders, 4.56 gears, and a built 302 (5.0) V-8 w/ 650 DP Holley got 16 MPG which was the same as the Astro Van 4.3 I drove for work at the time.
5) With turbo charged engines the higher the boost the more fuel is metered to the engine, so if you are using ECO GOAT Mode, also have the Boost Gauge visible and try to keep it at a minimum.
Hope this helps answer some questions.

 

[buzzcutt2]

Drove cross-country towing an unspecified amount and got 14.4mpg cruising at 55-65 depending on the state and time of day (Texas...).

Daily driving in Miami, where no long section of unclogged freeway exists, I got 15.6mpg for, basically, city driving (like a Miami driver, iykyk).

Like a Miami driver.... , that's the reason I stay out of Miami. I'm glad you didn't say Hialeah driver...

 

[FreddyG]

Kinda scratching my head browsing 4 pages of comments here, how are you guys just figuring this out? Can’t speak for the 2.7, but the with the 2.3l engine mapping there’s absolutely no point in filling it with 87 unless the premium for 91 is over 15%, so you’re getting a noticeable performance improvement by feeding it 91, FOR FREE! Add the FP Procal tune and the difference is even more noticeable, plus I often find 93 with only a 1-2% premium over 91, so its a no brainer.

Can’t say I’ve noticed a difference between non-ethanol and 10% ethanol, but you do notice a small penalty with winter gas up here. Keep a clean intake air filter

 

[Smocaine]

I always use premium, not so much for the added power and economy, but because better fuel can make a legitimate long-term difference in things like DI intake valve buildup. I average 18 MPG in my 2.3/7MT non-Sas Badlands with mostly city driving.
Of course, your engine, transmission, gearing, and wheel/tire package will all affect your mileage, and the Bronco is available with a variety of each, so most of our figures won't be directly comparable.
I have found that one of the most effective ways to increase your highway mileage in any Bronco is to draft. As others have mentioned, this thing is a brick. Getting behind a bigger brick can significantly reduce required boost pressure and increase fuel economy, even when following at a conservative and safe distance.

 

[Jason519]

So, I've been getting shockingly bad gas mileage. I've put 1700 miles on my BD in a couple of weeks. averaging 15.5 mpg..... but thats including different drive modes.
Anyway, today, I filled her up with 89 octane, instead of 87, and over 50 miles, (most of it highway), I averaged 20 MPG.
In my old FJ cruiser, I had found that higher Octane gas, especially on highway trips, made a big difference in terms of better mileage. However as the vehicle got older, it seemed like the lower octane fuels were causing problems, even though the FJ was supposed to handle multiple octane fuels.
I dont know anything about what's considered the best fuel to use in the 2.3 engine.?

I usually get around 16.5 to 17 when I went out west I would fill up and it showed 200 miles to empty wth! At home it’s usually around 300 to empty

 

[huey]

I would say the biggest savings to fuel is gonna be driving habits....you want to have a better MPG? Stay out of Boost....... I get 475 Miles to each tank....2023 Big Bend 4 door. I have mixed city, highway, and country though most of it is highway point is if you stay out of boost you wont be using as much fuel.

I'm happy to get 360 on a tank! I have never gotten a whiff of 380 and I usually get 320-340 with 50/50 driving highway & city. Even on road trips where its all highway my best is 360 ish

running Ford perf tune on premium and a heavy foot on 35's
2.3 MT

 

[Stever39]

I'm so confused by these good gas mileage numbers. Maybe it's because I'm generally always in town but I get around 17.5 City or highway and getting around 16.5 in the cold with remote starting. Im not a heavy footed driver. I've tried different fuels over the past few months, ethanol 10% 87/93 and non ethanol 91 and 87. Seems to not matter at all for my mpg. E10 93 and 91 non ethanol just give my 2.7 a little more pep.

Sponsored