New owner with a couple questions

[John Miller]

Hello,

Just picked up a used '15 SHO with all options but PP and adaptive cruise.

I've been reading about and playing with the car for a week now, and there are two things I am still unsure about:

1. I love the auto high beam feature -- works much better than it did on other cars I've owned. However, it turns off each time the engine is cycled on and off. Each time, I have to go through the menu and check the box. Anyway to leave it on?

2. Octane of fuel -- I know this has been discussed at length, especially during the first couple years of this generation SHO. But, in looking at my owner's manual and reading online the manuals from previous years, the manufacturer direction has changed. For 2010-2012, it says 87 is okay, but 91+ is recommended. But, in my manual (2015), it says just to use at least 87. Is high octane still recommended for highest performance, or has Ford changed the tune such that it would now be a waste of money?

Thanks


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[Pintony]

Welcome John Miller.
I think the 91 octane allows the computer to adjust timing and fuel for MORE HP.
The 87 octane would be fine for long trips.. But for best performance 91-93 is recommended.
In high elevation areas they sell LESS than 87 octane. Don't get caught on a trip needing fuel at 6000+ feet.
Did that one time and Paid a very high premium for the 89 octane in my Turbo Pinto.

 

[Pintony]

Welcome John Miller.
I think the 91 octane allows the computer to adjust timing and fuel for MORE HP.
The 87 octane would be fine for long trips.. But for best performance 91-93 is recommended.
In high elevation areas they sell LESS than 87 octane. Don't get caught on a trip needing fuel at 6000+ feet.
Did that one time and Paid a very high premium for the 89 octane in my Turbo Pinto.

Sorry I can not help with the headlight question.

 

[SHOdded]

Welcome, John, and congrats on the new ride!

 

[2011TAURUSSEL]

My Auto Headlight stays on, I would check with Owners Manual and or dealer.

93 octane is rated for best horsepower. I have found that in Dallas city anyway there is no significant change in city MPG whether or not I use 87 or 93. The horsepower maybe slightly better but with the .40 cent difference between 87 and 93 Octane I will keep 87 for now. When I get a good road trip like the one coming down from Pittsburgh I was getting around low-mid 20's MPG with 93 Octane. I will re evaluate with m Livernois Stage 1 Tune.

 

[John Miller]

To be clear, you mean auto high beam, right? My auto headlights stay on fine, it's the auto high beam that I have to trim back on every drive cycle.


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[2011TAURUSSEL]

Correct there is a check block in the set up menu.

 

[BlueSHO]

Correct there is a check block in the set up menu.

Yeppers, left side cluster..

 

[John Miller]

Yea, it's that left side menu that magically gets unchecked for me when the car is turned off and back on again.

Probably not something I will take in to tone dealer - perhaps a question for next time I'm in for something else.


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[rubydist]

The EcoBoost engines are just fine with 85 octane fuel in Colorado and Wyoming, which are the only two states where that is available. The air density is low enough that even with the boost, you do not have a detonation problem. 95% of our Lincoln customers use 85 octane fuel all of the time, and there are no issues. Now if you have a 3 bar tune, that is a whole different story...

 

[Pintony]

Yeppers, left side cluster..

Still a bit foggy on the LH cluster. I do not seem to be able to do much with it.
I will learn more when the weather gets nice again where I can spend quality time with my SHO.

 

[John Miller]

I confirmed again last night --- the auto high beam works fine for me once I check the box via the left side menu cluster. But, I have to go in and recheck it each time I start the car back up. If others here have a different experience, it annoys me that much more.

In the end, it will be a software fix, I would imagine. If I bring it to the dealer, I am confident they will claim it is supposed to be that way. I love hearing "normal operating characteristic" from Ford

As for gas, maybe I'll try 87. The price for 87 has dropped to $1.50 - $1.55 where I live. But, the high octane is a solid .50 to .55 more per gallon. From a percentage basis, that is a huge jump.

 

[BoatSHO]

For the auto high beam issue. I was driving the other day and noticed this for the first time. But they were only activated after I manually flipped the high beams on and off (when a car was coming from the other direction). When the car passed...about 2-3 seconds later, the high beams automatically came on. I honestly had no idea my car even was equipped until that happened. I have not gone into the menu to even check that it set to On or Off. So my point being...perhaps once you flip them on/off manually it would activate the auto feature? Not sure if that makes any sense.......just kind of thinking out loud.

 

[John Miller]

Huh. It's actually an interesting thought that manual activation might check or uncheck the auto feature. Let me give that a try


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[BoatSHO]

Well definitely worth a shot. For some reason, mine don't come on automatically unless I manually flip cycle them first. It's kinda weird. I've driven the car at night plenty of times...and I'm fairly rural. They never come on automatically just out of the blue. Then if I flip them on for a few seconds, then off. They will start working auto. I will say the auto feature is kinda nice, but still needs more work. Sometimes if the car picks up a street light or something in the distance...the brights won't auto come on...until you pass the street light and it's super dark. (i.e. even if there is no car coming at you) SO it's a cool feature, but doesn't work quite as well as it should, IMO.

 

[Greg9933]

Welcome Mr. Miller. I have to echo 2011 Taurussel on the fuel. Higher octane no doubt gives the computers more lattiude on adjustment. My 2015 with PP i see a negligible change between 87 and 91. Let your pocketbook be your guide, unless you tune it.

My auto hi beams work as advertised with no reset, even when manually over-ridden. Being a 15, you likely have warranty remaining. Probably time for a visit to your local Ford dealer.

Enjoy the new ride!

Greg9933

 

[John Miller]

Thanks, Greg (and others). I out $10 worth of 87 in it this AM to see if I noticed a difference. I don't mind a slight performance drop -- but I am hyper sensitive to any knocking.

As for the auto high beams, I will mention it to the dealer next time I'm in. It will be a PITA to get the dealer to tackle it, so I'm not excited about trying.


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[Barry Raymond]

On my 2013 SHO, my auto headlights remain in the setting I left them in. I updated to the latest my Ford Touch update on 1/2/2016, but I don't know if that has any thing to do with it. One touch SIRI is nice though.

 

[John Miller]

Update: Used a tank and a half of 87. No problems, though I can feel the power difference. But, for the 35% savings in fuel cost, I'll take it .... I drive 24k miles a year.

As for auto high beams, no change. For all I know, it is a software change for 2015. Who knows.


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[SHOdded]

jmr061 very likely knows the answer to the hibeams question!