Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stocker?
 

Considering a 2015 Ecoboost Mustang for I/J/K Auto.

I see Sunoco 260GTX and VP C10 on the list. Anything else I should be considering?

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

Neither are probably worth the effort/price to find consistently for any performance gains you think you might see.. We tried them both with no noticeable difference over just running the easy to find and "cheaper" Sunoco 110 purple. If you're looking to squeeze every last HP out of it, this might be worth the effort, but based on your other post it seems like this car isn't going to be a record holder or anything like that.

I'm sure others will have another opinion as fuel is something that many people differ on, but this is just with my experience for what it's worth.

Brad

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

But this car has an O2 sensor or two, that will be used by the stock engine computer for closed-loop operation, and I don't want to be fouling them and replacing them...

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

If you can by higher quality ones that still interact correctly with the OEM computer that wont be as big an issue as you think it is. We're running and late 80's 302 EFI car and have had zero issues with both the OEM computer system and the new Holley system we put on with running leaded fuel and killing O2 sensors.

Maybe we've just been lucky.. I'll have to look into the O2's we ran with the stock system, but we are running the NTK O2's with the Holley.

Brad

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

My question was kind of turbo-specific, but thanks for the input, Brad.

Frankly, it should be able to run under on pump 93, with or without a little octane booster for insurance, but pump 93 isn't on the approved list.

Does NHRA conduct fuel checks only at national events, divisionals, or what?

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

They check fuel at divisional, national and national open events in stock and super stock so you will have to run an approved fuel. Pump gas is not legal to run in NHRA competition.
With the new regime taking over in January leaded fuel will be going away soon so hopefully the fuel suppliers are working on unleaded fuel for our type of engines.

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

I hope so.

110 R+M/2 unleaded available and on the approved list, would be pretty cool.

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

VP C-16 is what I run in my SS 84 2.3 turbo Mustang. Not cheap but it works and has never had any issues passing fuel check. I buy a barrel, and transport what I need for each race. I believe that is what the other guys running this combo in stock are also using. We also own a 2016 Ecoboost Mustang, in sport mode it will product over 32-34 lbs of boost. Don't shoot yourself in the foot by not running the right fuel for a turbo combo. As for O2 sensors, I replace mine every season as preventative maintenance. I do not see any change in performance after changing out the sensor.

Stick or auto? If you delete emissions stuff and get the weight down to minimum, that combo will run well under the index. What are you planning on doing for engine management?

Sean

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

We're thinking about a VERY basic combo. Stock engine, stock computer, stock converter, and stock rear end gears. Baer SS4 front brakes, 15" Bogarts, mandrel-bent 3" open downpipe, rear O2 spacer, an aftermarket tune, the required safety equipment, and a fuel tap per the rules for fuel testing. If it won't run under, then maybe a converter for the stock 6R80 automatic transmission.

Frankly, I'm thinking of DOT drag tires, license plates, and liability insurance, to avoid the cost of a truck and trailer. It should get at least 30 mpg on the highway. For any race that is any significant distance away, we can rent a U-Haul truck and open car trailer.

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

It doesn't matter if it gets 300 mpg. It REALLY sucks when (not if) your car breaks, at the track or wherever.
I broke an axle on the starting line. The starter said, "Well, it hooked". Yep, and all of the money flew out of my wallet, because of that hook.

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

You should reach out to Mark Lelchook from Performance Welding Headers.

He has been flogging his Ecoboost Mustang for sometime and has gathered lots data and done many mods at different stages. He has been working with Lund Racing and others. He drives his car to the track and has made passes in the 9.80's @ 140 MPH.

He has a dedicated page in Facebook under "Ecoboost Mustang Drag Racer".

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

Lund is one of the most likely sources of a tune.

The K/SA index is 12.65, and the current I/SA record is 10.93. There are plenty of these cars running mid-11s with stock engine/turbo/converter/gears/brakes and heavy wheels/tires...

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

Is Lelchook's car silver? I saw a video of a 9.45 @ 146 lap that looked like a street car.

He's reportedly been 11.29 @119 and change on a stock engine and stock turbo...

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

Yes, it is Silver. It went quicker than 11.29 on street tires and 93 octane pump gas with stock exhaust and OEM weight.

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

I'll throw 2 cents in on this. I don't have a turbo car but I have used C10 & 260GTX with an O2 sensor. And I've tried to use an O2 with leaded fuel. While in my case the lead did not "Kill" the O2 sensor, it Did make it lazy. On a different vehicle that I just worked on, Leaded fuel "Murdered" 4 O2 sensors. I don't know the brand of fuel (or the brand of sensor) but it ran at Bonneville @ least 10 years ago.

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

Thanks, Dave. That was my concern.

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

I came across a list of Ecoboost Mustang quarter-mile numbers that are below index for K Auto. These are not necessarily Stockers, but other than the top part of the list, most of them are startlingly stock street cars on street tires.

9.755 @ 140.39 Mark Lelchook Lund

9.870 @ 138.500 Bill Putnam

9.999 @ 131.41 Brad-Nina Gusler

10.248 @ 132.47 Jesse Ringley

10.602 @ 121.50 Lexi Fruggiero

10.773 @ 129.90 Ken Compton

10.888 @ 122.91 Livernois Build

10.960 @ 129.19 Josh Beasley

11.034 @ 121.84 Lund car

11.265 @ 120.36 BJ McCarty

11.383 @ 122.47 Stephen Keen

11.478 @ 121.04 Daniel Higdon

11.573 @ 119.55 Frank Gates

11.600 @ 122.81 Walt Hooker

11.616 @ 117.21 Josh Parker

11.677 @111.24 Zack Allport

11.678 @ 116.90 David Tittermary

11.783 @ 115.86 Frank Gates

11.799 @ 114.44 Jason Justi Lund

11.865 @ 119.91 Brian Hicks

11.898 @ 117.64 Wildcat Mccants

11.930 @ 114.26 Lethal Performance

12.175 @ 113.44 Ken Meile

12.257 @ 115.62 Casey Richmond

12.290 @ 111.44 Jason Atwell

12.396 @ 112.05 Darren Furgeson

12.457 @ 110.94 David Zimmerman

12.518 @ 111.61 Senad Fetic

12.575 @ 110.59 Frank Gates

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

I just checked Nitro Joe's year end stats for 2020 and did not see any Ecoboost Mustangs listed in K/SA
There were 35 different entries in K/SA
Only 1 Mustang. '88 302

the 2019 year end stats only show these Mustangs in K/SA
K/SA 12.65 12.135 -0.515 1477 Nick Scavelli '92 Mustang 1992 Ford 302 225 220 Q D1R4 ATCO
K/SA 12.65 12.136 -0.514 1431 Ronald Kievit '88 Mustang 1988 Ford 302 225 215 Q D1R4 ATCO
K/SA 12.65 12.190 -0.460 1476 Alyssa Scardelli '92 Mustang 1992 Ford 302 225 220 RD 1 D1 DUTCH CLASSIC
K/SA 12.65 12.334 -0.316 302 Brent Voges '68 Mustang 1968 Ford 302 230 223 Q D5R5 EARLVILLE

Re: Best unleaded from the approved fuel list for turbo Stoc
 

Should be able to run index.
I had thought of this combo in 2018 to update from my " Pinto based " 2.3 Turbo.
Buying the car and bolt-ons was going to run 30K. Plus taking out the interior for the roll bar.I think I'll wait.

FWIW....not sure how different the O2 sensors AEM sells for their Wideband O2 gauges are from the OEM Ford versions, but I have been running one for 7 seasons using VP C16 and no issues