The PCM and programming in these cars continue to evolve. If you a have stock engine, you probably don't have anything to worry about. You have knock sensors that should pull timing based on fuel quality. Not all of the early models had these and factory programming on the ones that did, didn't pull that much timing. On modified cars pushing 18 psi, or thereabouts, detonation can be a real engine killer if the factory retard settings were left alone with bad/old gas.

 

Thanks Catmonkey! Good questions. The engine, tune and entire car is stock.
I've personally never considered using Octane Boost since 93 octane is readily available here.
I can't conceive of a reason adding it would hurt-but that's why I'm asking.

 

With the gas mileage theses 20/21's get you could probably drive around your neighborhood for about a half hour and the tank would be empty! LOL! As John said, just stay out of the boost until you get shed of most of the stored gas and refill with fresh high test and you should be fine.

 

If I were you, I would skip the octane booster and avoid boost. Just take it out for a leisurely drive. Once that tank is low (it will take longer than you think avoiding boost), fill it with fresh 93 and hammer it!

I personally store my vehicles with very little gas in the tank, otherwise I’d be constantly dealing with old gas issues.

 

NEVER store your car without adding Sty-Bill to the fuel. 3 months isn't that long but I use it in all my cars that I hardly ever drive. I would not think the fuel needs any booster unless you buy cheap fuel. I never buy cheap fuel for my 12 Taurus SHO or my 07 GT500

 

I tend to avoid octane booster because the formulations I've used tend to color the plugs. Maybe the newer versions don't. If your main purpose is to go out and beat on it, use it. If you want to just drive aggressively, just wait until you're about 1/4 tank and fill up. However, you car is factory calibrated for this type of situation.

Here are some good tips from Sunoco in preserving octane. It covers race gas, but the same general principles apply to all gasoline.

404 Error - Items of Interest - Sunoco Race Fuels

www.sunocoracefuels.com

 

Siphon most of the gas out, put it in your lawn mower. Top car off with fresh premium and hammer down!!

 

Siphon most of the gas out

Having done this with old gas that came when buying a few cars, getting gas out of modern cars is no easy task. I've done it a few ways and it is a battle every time. I suggest just burning it unless it is YEARS old.

 

3 month old fuel you will be fine

 

Or you can have your tuner write a tune to keep the fuel pumps running and disconnect the fuel filter. I've done that. It fills a 5 gallon can quicker than you think, so watch it close. I resorted to that tactic when my car was inoperable for about five years. I put the fuel in my truck. It holds twice as much as the mustang, so I was able to mix it with some fresh gas.

 

Oh man-just about every idea and perspective has merit, and has run through my mind once or twice. Thanks for all the input. I bought the Royal Purple, but I think I won't use it and just putt my way through the first tank with the boost pressure displayed on the dash for reference. For the record, the point of the question was not about wanting to stomp on it right away, it was about avoiding unintentional pre-ignition damage.
Catmonkey's Sunoco link has the answer I like the best for high performance vehicle storage-Sunoco Optima Race Fuel. 95 Octane, no alcohol and 3 year storage rating. Storing Vintage, Collector, and Muscle Cars

 

I have not tried this personally but have read where people have used the supplied funnel, inserted in the filler neck and then used a tube that fit through the funnel, feed it into the tank and siphon.

 

I thought about that, but it would have to be a pretty tiny hose.

 

Ethanol-blended gas lasts up to three months.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, most gasoline sold in the U.S. is “E10” gas made of 90 percent petroleum-based gas and 10 percent ethanol (ethyl alcohol). Ethanol-blended gas usually has a shelf life of up to three months because of the high speed at which ethanol oxidizes. Because ethanol is hydrophilic (a.k.a., water-loving), it will also readily absorb any water or humidity in a sealed container resulting from condensation, causing both moisture contamination of the fuel and the eventual separation of the fuel into distinct gas and ethanol layers. Generally, the higher the ethanol content in the gas, the shorter its shelf life, so E15 (15 percent ethanol content), E20 (20 percent ethanol), or E85 (85 percent ethanol) gas will expire sooner than E10 gas will.

Fuel-stabilized gasoline keeps for one to three years.
Fuel stabilizers (from brands like STA-BIL) are petroleum-based additives you can mix in with gasoline prior to storing it to slow oxidation and volatile compound evaporation and extend the shelf life of the gas. Depending on the product, the stabilizer can increase gasoline shelf life to between one and three years. Stabilizers work best when you mix them with new gasoline; they’re ineffective at slowing the degradation of old gas, and they can’t return contaminated gas to working order.

 

OP: since your original post was 2 months ago, this may not matter now, but when adding an octane booster, be VERY sure it contains NO metals. I am in Ca and can only access 91 octanne, but desire 93. I mix Sunoco SS100 to my 91 to ontain 92.8

A common additive many companies use is manganese ( Denoted on cannisters as MMT). I tried VP Octaneum unleaded because the claim was safe to use for o2 sensors and cats. Then after multiple calls to VP tech they admitted all of their boosters contain MMT..NO BUENO! After much research, Sunoco makes a truly good product, called SS100...octane derived via ethanol. No metals. Since the most hp we can make stock is 760, and that is tested on 93 octane, any timing being pulled will slightly reduce the power.
Further the ford owners manual clearly spells out “no metals, such as MMT. I called Ford performance to verify exactly what they meant. They stated as long as no metals, ok. Hope this helps.

 

I live in PA and recently found a Sunoco station that sells 100 octane race fuel ... yeah! Just filled up with that liquid gold and I think the Pony runs better. You can take a guess how much per gallon that stuff sell for, LOL. Let's just say that I won't be making it my regular fuel, just a treat now and then for my baby.

 

IF it feels good, do it!