You've no doubt heard the term “high - octane” and when you do, you probably think of some sort of
extreme sport that gets your heart pumping and your pulse racing. Yes, the term “high - octane” is applied to everything from super-caffeinated coffee to ultra-strong
liquor that's better used as paint thinner than as a drink. If you're a gear head like the team here at
Steeda, there's no doubt you subscribe to the “high-octane” lifestyle but do you put high-octane fuel
into your Mustang? For performance cars like the Mustang, high-octane fuels are necessary to produce the kind of power you
expect, and their power ratings are often achieved on 93 octane fuel. The story gets a little more
confusing because 93 octane fuel is not universally offered throughout the United States. So, what
gives? Is 93 octane necessary to achieve the most power? The short answer is, yes but don't worry, we'll explain everything you need to know about the
often-misunderstood world of 93 octane and pump gas.
What Is Octane
87 vs 93 Octane
Best For Power
Which Is For You
When you pull into a gas station, you're presented with three octane levels that you can put into your
Mustang. Depending on your state, these ratings range from 85 to 93 octane, but more typically 87 octane
to 93 octane is found at stations around the country. In short, simple, layman's terms; an octane rating is a measure of how much compression the fuel can
handle before igniting. Air and fuel are compressed in the cylinder and ignited by a spark that pushes
the cylinder down - which moves the crankshaft - which propels your Mustang. Since many performance cars
utilize a high compression ratio in their engines, the high-octane rating is required to achieve the
engineered result. Running a low octane fuel in a vehicle that requires a high-octane fuel can lead to
loss of power and in some cases damage to the engine. This scenario of early detonation is known as engine knock and it's not a good thing but modern cars have
ways of dealing with knock to mitigate damages. Older cars, however, do not have such fancy fail-safes.
So, 93 octane has a higher resistance to denotating under compression than 87 octane fuel. So what? Using the 5.0L Coyote in modern Mustangs as an example, this beefy motor is factory rated at 460 HP, but
Ford notes that this is achieved on 91 octane fuel, based on the SAEJ1349 standard. So, running a lower
octane rating in this performance focused engine will no doubt lead to lower horsepower ratings. This is
not due to the gas itself but due to the Mustang's ignition system retarding spark to compensate for the
lower detonation or ignition point. At the end of the day, the only thing you'll have more of at the end
of the day is a few more dollars in your pocket from the money you saved by going with the cheaper 87
octane. Actual power output with lower octane fuel is a hard number to lock down but most studies show a
reduction of 2% for naturally aspirated motors. It should be noted that turbocharged motors like the SAEJ1349 standard are
especially susceptible to the
negative effects of lower octane fuel due to the effect of compressed air that a turbo puts on an
engine. Technically, yes, 93 octane may produce marginally more power than lesser octane fuels but the real
question here should be: Is it worth it to run 93 octane in your Mustang? Here, the differences in
economy vs performance collide and the purpose of your Mustang must be brought into focus. When it comes
time for naturally aspirated powertrains like the Coyote 5.0L V8, running 87 will net you less power but
only a few percent less. If you don't plan to track your car and are utilizing it as a daily driver,
these few extra ponies will probably never be noticed. However, if you are a particular kind of owner
who's looking for the most power, or have a 91+ octane dedicated tune, go with 93 octane (or
whatever is
highest in your area). If you run an EcoBoost Mustang (310 HP on 93 Octane), then the story becomes a little more murky. In
2015, Ford ran into some PR troubles by misquoting the power of the EcoBoost Mustang. Here, the EcoBoost
achieved 310 HP on 93 octane, which is not available in some markets. Running 87 octane netted a huge
decrease in power, all the way down to 275. Check out the story here for more information. So, if you're
running an EcoBoost, it's definitely best to run the good stuff or you'll suffer some serious power
losses. If you want the most power, run the good stuff! However, you'll need to be wary that it may not always be worth it for you in every situation. If you
daily drive your Mustang and only see marginal improvements in performance, that extra few cents at the
pump will absolutely add up. However, if you track your car or happen to own an EcoBoost motor
(remember, turbos love high compression fuel) then you should be running 91+ by default. Additionally, if you live in the southeast and you're looking to take your Mustang or Ford to the next
level with top-notch Ford service & installation work, then you're at the right place! Be sure to set up
an appointment with our Valdosta, Georgia Service
Center or Pompano Beach, FL
Service Center for
everything from dyno tuning to supercharger installations, and more! These Are The Top 5 EcoBoost Mustang Parts Top 5 Mustang Drag Racing Mods Top Five Road Racing Mods For Your MustangIs 93 Octane Is Best For Your Mustang?
What Is An Octane Rating?
87 vs 93 Octane Gas: What's The Difference?
Do You Need 93 Octane To Make The Most Power?
87 vs 93 Octane: What's The Answer?
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