![]() |
|
Welcome to the Australian Ford Forums forum. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and inserts advertising. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features without post based advertising banners. Registration is simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. Please Note: All new registrations go through a manual approval queue to keep spammers out. This is checked twice each day so there will be a delay before your registration is activated. |
|
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
![]() |
#1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 1,260
|
Just bought a Mondeo wagon (I'm in NZ) with the 2.3 petrol engine. On checking the handbook to see which petrol to use, I found a sticker that said to use 91. But it doesn't feel happy on 91 - I can hear light pinking under load and the engine just doesn't pull cleanly.
Having been down this road before with my last Ford (XR6), I expect that it will run better on higher octane petrol. I'll probably try BP Ultimate next time I fill the car, but in the meantime would be interested in other people's experiences with using higher octane petrol in the 2.3 engine. BTW, our 91 is pretty basic stuff. I'm sure it meets the 91 RON standard, but my XR6 would sometimes audibly pink on 91, so in the end I used BP Ultimate as it ran much better and got better fuel consumption. |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#2 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 1,260
|
Here is a quote from the very extensive Ford Australia press release when the Mondeo was released:
Knock Control: The engine knock control system adjusts spark timing and cylinder pressure to deliver best performance from 95 octane petrol. However, the engine has been calibrated to operate with varying fuel octane ratings to optimise engine power output and protect engine durability, and will safely run on 91 RON petrol. So why do Ford say to run the 2.3 on 91 in Australia and NZ? Is it a mistake in the press release, or are they trying to make the vehicle look good to fleet operators? |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#3 | |||
Where to next??
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 8,893
|
Quote:
So perhaps run a few tanks of it, take it easy to start with and see if you still have the pinging problem? |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#4 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 1,260
|
Quote:
Thanks for mentioning this though - I'll reset the ECU when I try it on higher octane petrol. |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#5 | |||
Starter Motor
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 4
|
Quote:
|
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#6 | ||
I wanna XR5
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: South Oz
Posts: 749
|
Sounds like our Focus. It pings its head off on 91 and sometimes ot will ping even on 95.
I persume the 2.3 has a high compression ratio like the 2.0 so its better to run at least 95. I wish the ECU did learn to use 91 cause when we got our focus we only use 91 for the first 5 or 6 tanks and it was crap, even had it back to ford to get software update.
__________________
Great Wall X240. Bouncing around the APY Lands Ex Ford owner and member of this great site for ages. South Australia, where the RIGHT hand lane is the NEW LEFT lane??????!!! %&#@* |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#7 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Melbourne northern suburbs
Posts: 4,025
|
Change where you are buying your fuel! Just because it says 91 on the pump does not mean its a quality 91 octane fuel that your getting.
|
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#8 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 1,260
|
Quote:
Another point, which I'd forgotten, is that the lowest octane petrol in the UK is 95. I'll give Ford NZ a call about this in the New year. |
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#9 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Shakey Isles
Posts: 3,428
|
Quote:
|
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#10 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 1,260
|
Quote:
|
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#11 | ||
Giddy up!
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2,126
|
I've got the diesel, but can't the Mondeo petrol run on E10? It's cheaper than normal petrol, at least here in Vic.
__________________
Current: June 11 built Titanium TDCi Territory, Edge, side steps, mud spats, bonnet protector, tow pack, full tint. Nov 10 built XR6 Sensation. Previous: Oct 07 built Mondeo TDCi hatch, Stardust Silver, bluetooth, leather, tow pack, sunroof. |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#12 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 1,260
|
Quote:
|
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#13 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 545
|
Test drove a Mondeo today [nice car] it ran on 91 and I could hear the engine ping a few times in city traffic. Even though the handbook says it can run between 91 & 98 + e10 I would prefer nothing less than 95 then again I would probably run 98.
|
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#14 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 1,260
|
Quote:
|
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#15 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 1,260
|
Filled the tank with 95 yesterday. Wow, what a difference - no audible pinking, the engine pulls far better from low revs and the petrol consumption has improved. The engine was clearly designed to run on 95, NOT 91.
I am at a loss to understand why Ford NZ specify 91 for the petrol Mondeo. I almost decided against buying the car because of the way it performed during my test drive, and I wonder how many other prospective buyers have had the same reaction.
__________________
MB Mondeo TDCi wagon, sea grey, on MAK Invidia 16" wheels. |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#16 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 83
|
The handbook (for MB, not sure about MA) says that it can run on 91 fuel but performance is not optimal unless you run it on 95.
__________________
Mine: 2009 Mondeo MB Titanium TDCi Thunder Hers: 2017 Focus LZ Titanium Magnetic with Sports Executive Pack and Technology Pack |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#17 | ||
Starter Motor
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 4
|
Yes I know that but what I'm asking is does the spark timing adjust for 98 octane as well?
|
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#18 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 1,260
|
The knock sensor will only cause the timing to retard if it detects pinking, not advance it further if there is none. So if the engine runs optimally on 95, then there will be no benefit from running a higher octane.
In theory, you could get a custom tune that would optimise the performance on 98. But even if it's possible, I doubt that it would be worthwhile for a standard engine. And I've found no real difference between 95 and 98 in my Mondeo.
__________________
MB Mondeo TDCi wagon, sea grey, on MAK Invidia 16" wheels. |
||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#19 | |||
Starter Motor
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 4
|
Quote:
|
|||
![]() |
![]() ![]() |