Yes I am a newbie and I have used the search feature but I found nothing but my question is do y'all recommend using 87 octane in these trucks, 99 3.0 V6 FFV? I ask because that is what the manual says. I usually put premium in all the cars I drive, even if they are not mine, but if I can save $$$, let me know.

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What do y'all use?

87 octane

I use it and everything is just fine. Mine doesn't ping on the stuff. Just beware that most FFV will ping and knock on cheap stuff, E85 would be best if they sell it in your area.

I never even heard of that E85 stuff, is it expensive or just rare? One other thing that little tree branch badge or leaf means I have that Vulcan engine right?

Try doing a search on the board for it...there are MANY topics about it. The leaf means you have a FFV and can run off E85 (which not all vehicles can). Cost is usually cheaper, truck will run better, but gas mileage will go down.

Also ALL Rangers that have the 3.0 have the Vulcan engine, also as said before watch your rating or your engine will start pinging or valve clatter as most put it, glad to see so many people joing RPS welcome and nice to see that you use the search function

Well the closest E85 refueling station to me is in Pennsylvania and I am in MA, oh well someday. When you say watch your rating you mean stay with 87 octane or?

I have the flexfule also, i use 91(so-cal) and i get better mpg and more power

I also have the FFV and use 87 octane. I've been using it for about 40k miles and I rarely hear the engine ping.

I run 93, 94 if I can find it. And when Im at the drag strip I run 115 LEADED gas :thumbsup:

i run 87 everyday. my truck has never pinged. running 93 is a waste of cash unless your car needs it specificly states 93 octane.

Off topic what part of mass are you in Byron

I got a 2000 3.0 FFV and it pings on midgrade. Makes me mad. But this is a trick I heard and was wondering if it was true.

Take the positive battery cable off for 5-10 minutes
Put it back on and turn the key to "On" but dont start it for about 15 minutes

They told me it will reset the computer to the octane you are using. I always put midgrade in mine cuz I dont want the pinging. I havent tried the method yet but I will here momentarley.

I got a 2000 3.0 FFV and it pings on midgrade. Makes me mad. But this is a trick I heard and was wondering if it was true.

Take the positive battery cable off for 5-10 minutes
Put it back on and turn the key to "On" but dont start it for about 15 minutes

They told me it will reset the computer to the octane you are using. I always put midgrade in mine cuz I dont want the pinging. I havent tried the method yet but I will here momentarley.

This just resets your computer and then it has to reprogram itself to your driving. It won't hurt anything, but you're going to end up with the same issue all over again because it will eventually adjust to the different fuel. It will probably give you worse gas mileage until it readjusts itself again.

You can do a # of things to keep it from pinging. I've set the timing back on mine a lil bit.

87.
You WILL NOT see any performance increase from using 91 octane EXCEPT:
When you have a tune specifically for a higher grade of fuel or:
there is something wrong with your vehicle.

This is how it works, every time the knock sensor (later 3.0's) hears a ping, it retards the timing for all cylinders for a rotation (VERY Stupid, it knows what cylinder just fired on the compression stroke, why not just turn off the one cylinder for 1 rotation to use the fuel charge to cool the cylinder? ...but I digress). If it keeps pinging, you lose timing all the time. This reduces your HP/Torque and your mileage goes down. If 91 octane improves your gas mileage with a standard (factory) ECU tune, you have a problem… Detonation. Fix it and you can run 87 octane all the time and get reasonable performance/mileage.

Otherwise you are just giving the terrorists more $$

hmmm, i can get about 190 miles on 87, with a full tank of gas(19.5 gal.) and i notice not as much "launch power" and when i use 91 i can go 220 miles on one full tank of gas! and im able to spin the tires. what would be the problem w/my car, since you said
"You WILL NOT see any performance increase from using 91 octane EXCEPT:
When you have a tune specifically for a higher grade of fuel or:
there is something wrong with your vehicle."
Im not tryin to be a punk but i wanna know whats going on w/my truck

87 should be fine...actually running higher octane than needed will carbon up the combustion chamber.
I personally would stay away from ethanol unless you've ran it since new...have put lots of injectors in when people decide to try it . If you're gonna try it do it while the trucks under warranty.

The issue is, as I stated. Your truck is pinging on 87 octane. You may not hear it, but if you notice a performance increase with higher octane, it is because the ECU program is doing some major retarding with the 87 octane .

i run 87 everyday. my truck has never pinged. running 93 is a waste of cash unless your car needs it specificly states 93 octane.

Off topic what part of mass are you in Byron




Somerville next to Boston and Cambridge

i live 15 minutes north from ya in reading.