The Types Of Gas A Ford Mustang Takes (Explained)

This article will help you find answers to your queries about your favorite car. Now you won’t have to do the hectic work yourself, as we have gone through owner’s manuals of every generation of Ford Mustang on top of the strenuous research and expertise to answer more accurately.

Most Ford Mustangs manufactured since 1994 use regular unleaded gasoline with an octane of 87. However, the 5.2, 5.4, and 5.8L engines use premium unleaded gasoline with an octane of 93.

At this point, we are only at the tip of the iceberg. In the following sections, we will discuss in great detail what gas should and shouldn’t be used in your Ford Mustang, the reason for knocking after refilling, and tank sizes of different versions of each generation. Read on!

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Infographic explaining the different fuel types for a Ford Mustang.

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Fuel Requirements Based On Engine Type

This section will go through all the engines and their required octane across all generations after 1994.

To make things easier, we have compiled all the data in tables. So take a look at them, and you will find your exact model.

Also read: Is The Ford Mustang A Sports Or A Muscle Car? Or if you’re interested in a different Ford model then you can check out other articles, like the types of gas a Ford Escape can use, among many others!

Fourth-generation 1994-2004

Engine	Fuel Requirement
5.8 L (1995)	Mid Grade, 91 octane minimum
3.8 L (1994)	Regular 87 Octane
3.9 L (2004)	Regular 87 Octane
5.4 L (2000 Cobra R)	Premium with 93 Octane
4.6 L (1996)	Minimum of 87 of octane, mid-grade, or premium preferred
5.0 L (1996)	Minimum of 87 of octane, mid-grade, or premium preferred

Fifth-generation (2005-2014)

Engine	Fuel Requirement
3.7L V6	Regular 87 Octane
4.6L Modular V8	Regular 87 Octane
4.0L V6	Regular 87 Octane
5.4 V8 Supercharger	Premium with 93 Octane
5.0L V8	Minimum Regular 87 Octane
5.8L V8 Supercharger	Premium with 93 Octane

Sixth generation (2015-present)

Engine	Fuel Requirement
2.3L Ecoboost	Regular 87 Octane
3.7L Cyclone V6	Regular 87 Octane
5.0L Coyote V8	Minimum Regular 87 Octane
5.2L V8	Premium Gas, 93 Octane

What Types Of Gasoline Can And Can’t Be Used?

There are different kinds of fuels which we use in our daily lives to make our vehicles work. Following are some standard fuels used in most cars. We have also discussed if each of these fuels is compatible with your Ford Mustang or not.

But in short, a premium vehicle like the Ford Mustang will generally require more premium fuel, especially compared to Ford’s entry-level vehicles like the Fusion many of which will run great on your basic E-85.

Reformulated Gasoline

Reformulated gasoline (RFG) burns more cleanly than the gasoline we usually use. RFG produces less smog and other harmful agents. Compared to gasoline, RFG consists of fewer chemicals, which reduces ozone formation and other toxic air pollutants.

All manufacturers suggest the use of RFG to reduce toxic element formation. In areas with high temperatures, RFG is more preferred because of its less evaporating property. Ford recommends not to use RFG that contains MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) greater than 15% or ethanol greater than 15% (2013-Present).

If you further treat RFG, it would combust more effectively, and the production of harmful carbon compounds would be reduced to a significant fraction. If we are to discuss Ford Mustang specifically, it is stated in the owner’s manual that Ford encourages the use of reformulated gasoline in every generation of Ford Mustang.

Gasoline/Oxygenated Blends Or E-85

Ford Mustang was never allowed to use premium gasoline in “regular” gasoline engines until 2018-present. 4.6L V8 (Mach 1), 5.0L V8, and 2.3L Ecoboost were allowed to use premium gasoline without damaging their engines. That was authorized for optimum performance and increased power output as it resists pre-ignition and reduces engine knock.

Ford Mustang wasn’t allowed to use ethanol in its fuel engines until 2009-2012, when 10% of ethanol was permitted to be used at maximum. In 2013-Present, this percentage was increased from 10% to 15%.

If your vehicle is FFV (Flex Fuel Vehicle), it will have a yellow bezel around the fuel inlet, introduced after 2011 (According to Ford Mustang owner’s manuals per se).

Years	Ethanol
1994-2004	No Ethanol
2005-2008	No Ethanol
2009-2012	10% Ethanol / No E85
2013-Present	15% Ethanol / No E85

Gasoline With Added Materials

Added materials are generally used to increase the octane number of fuel in an engine. In some vehicles, they are also used to reduce engine corrosion or just as a lubricant for the engine.

Additives are mainly used with gasoline to extract high amounts of energy from combustion to the engine. As gasoline combustion engines are only about 30% efficient, 70% of energy is not utilized. Generally, in every owner’s manual of Ford Mustang, Ford prohibits the use of the following additives and fuels:

Methanol
Kerosene
Metallic-based additives (Especially manganese-based)
Leaded fuel.
Silicon-based additives

Ford mustang prohibits using these aftermarket additives. Instead, it’s recommended you use TOP TIER gasoline instead, which was introduced in 2004. The gasoline sold by TOP TIER retailers won’t have any harmful side effects on your emission control system or fuel tank. As per the owner’s manual of Ford Mustang after 2017, it is recommended to use Top Tier gasoline for optimum performance (early models can also trust in using Top Tier without any caution).

However, there may be instances in which TOP TIER gas is not available in your region. In this case, you likely fill up at BP, Amoco, Walmart, or 7-Eleven. All these brands aren’t TOP TIER retailers and you need to add a detergent to your gasoline to keep your engine clean or deposits will build-up, reducing MPG and the lifespan of your fuel system.

In this case, we recommend you go with a product like Hot Shot’s Gasoline Extreme and Stiction Eliminator. Gasoline Extreme cleans the complete fuel system whereas Stiction Eliminator focuses on the sticky, gummy residue of burnt oil in the engine.

Furthermore, these products don’t contain metallics or silicon and are guaranteed to not void any warranty. It’s the best option if you can’t fill up with TOP TIER gas in the first place.

Gasoline With MMT

MMT (Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl) is a gasoline enhancer that can be used in the United States in specific quantities. MMT is allowed in U.S. gasoline at a level equivalent to 1/32 grams per gallon manganese. Alfon Chemicals first produced MMT. It is considered an octane boosting additive, but if used in non-recommended vehicles, It could affect the emissions control system.

There is a reason not to use metallic additives, especially manganese-based because upon burning elemental manganese, it gets deposited on the inside walls of the engine, which can cause rapid corrosion and harm the engine in general.

Ford does not recommend using any manganese-based additives in any of its generations, as well as models like the Ford Focus or Ford Expedition among many others. If still used in any model of Ford Mustang, then it will harm the emission system or may lower the vehicle’s optimum performance. The vehicle warranty does not cover this kind of damage to the vehicle.

Biodiesel

Ford recommends 20% biodiesel in some vehicles at maximum – does not include Ford Mustang. If not correctly formulated, biodiesel has been put to use. It could cause problems to your engine.

On a serious note, serious fire accidents could happen when gasoline and diesel mix, so gasoline-diesel mixing should never be done. Ford Mustang does not come in diesel engines. Hence biodiesel can not be used in Ford Mustang engines.

What If I Hear A Knocking Noise From The Engine After Refilling?

The use of recommended gasoline with recommended octane rating is essential for the excellent health of your vehicle’s engine. If you use fuel with a lower octane number, it will cause knocking in your engine, which might lead to damage to your engine.

Knocking occurs when gasoline or fuel used in a vehicle is burnt before the optimum temperature range. When air-fuel mixture pockets are burnt in the engine without the spark, the piston does not hit the stroke precisely, making small shockwaves in the cylinder, then the metallic sound heard outside of the engine is referred to as knocking.

This process pressurizes the cylinders, and the result would be devastating.

Use the right kind of fuel with the proper octane number, but if you still notice a dull sound of knocking, that’s not something to worry about as it will go away after some mileage. If you still hear the sound of knocking or increased knocking after using the right octane-rated gasoline, contact an expert right away because it might lead to an unrecoverable damage.

Does the Ford Mustang Have Good Gas Mileage?

Fourth-generation 1994-2004

Engine	Lowest Combined MPG	Highest Combined MPG
5.8 L (1995)	12	20
3.9 L (2004)	18	25
3.8 L (1994)	18	27
5.4 L (2000 Cobra R)	12	17
4.6 L (1996)	15	23
5.0 L (1996)	15	23

Fifth-generation (2005-2014)

Engine	Lowest Combined MPG	Highest Combined MPG
3.7L V6	19	29
4.6L Modular V8	15	20
4.0L V6	17	23
5.4 V8 Supercharger	15	23
5.0L V8	18	25
5.8L V8 Supercharger	15	24

Sixth generation (2015-present)

Engine	Lowest Combined MPG	Highest Combined MPG
2.3L Ecoboost	20	28
3.7L Cyclone V6	20	27
5.0L Coyote V8	15	24
5.2L V8	14	21

What’s The Gas Tank Size Of the Ford Mustang?

The fuel tank size of the Ford Mustang ranges between 15.5, 15.7, and 16 gallons standard size.

Fourth generation (1994-2004)

Engine	Quantity
5.8 L (1995)	15.7 gallons or 59.4 liters
3.8 L (1994)	15.7 gallons or 59.4 liters
5.4 L (2000 Cobra R)	15.7 gallons or 59.4 liters
4.6 L (1996)	15.7 gallons or 59.4 liters

Fifth-generation (2005-2014)

Engine	Quantity
4.0L Cologne V6	16 gallons or 60.6 liters
4.6L Modular V8	16 gallons or 60.6 liters
5.4L Modular supercharged V8	16 gallons or 60.6 liters

Sixth generation (2015-present)

Engine	Quantity
2.3L Ecoboost	16 gallons or 60.6 liters
5.2L	16 gallons or 60.6 liters
5.0L Coyote V8	16 gallons or 60.6 liters

How Much Does It Cost To Fill Up a Ford Mustang?

If you are in New York, you will be paying $55.95 for 15.7 gallons in your Ford Mustang and $57.02 for 16 gallons at the rate of $3.564 (at the time of writing this article).

In California, you will be paying $73.93 for 15.7 gallons and $75.34 for 16 gallons at the rate of $4.709 (at the time of writing this article).

On the other hand, in Oklahoma, the rate per gallon of gasoline is $2.971 (at the time of writing this article ), the lowest in all the United States. You will have to pay $46.64 for 15.7 gallons and $47.53 for 16 gallons.

So overall, in the United States, you will be paying in the range of $46.64-$73.93 for 15.7 gallons in your Ford Mustang and in the range of $47.53-$75.34 for 16 gallons at the time of writing this article.

State	Gallons	Cost
New York	15.7 gal	$55.95
New York	16 gal	$57.02
California	15.7 gal	$73.93
California	16 gal	$75.34
Oklahoma	15.7 gal	$46.64
Oklahoma	16 gal	$47.53

Sources

Stefan K.

Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.

I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.

Read more about our fantastic team on our about page!

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