Does The Lincoln Navigator Take Premium Gas Or Regular?

When refueling your vehicle, there are many options available at the gas pump. You will want to consistently select the fuel that your vehicle's engine was manufactured for. If you are considering a Lincoln Navigator and are wondering what to fuel it with, we can help you. We researched this SUV in depth so that you'll know for sure what to put into its tank.

The Lincoln Navigator should be fueled with premium gasoline. This type of fuel will have an octane rating of 91 or higher. Failure to fuel your Navigator with premium gasoline will lead to:

  • Reduced fuel economy
  • Engine knocking
  • Decreased overall performance
  • Possible voiding of the vehicle's warranty

Now that we know that you should always use premium fuel for your Lincoln Navigator, we'll look closer at what will happen if you don't. You might also be curious what the different fuel grades mean or if the Navigator is bad on gas. For the answers to these questions and more, read ahead in this post to see what we've uncovered in our research.

Large luxury SUV Lincoln Navigator in the city, Does The Lincoln Navigator Take Premium Gas Or Regular?

Why You Should Always Use Premium Fuel For Your Lincoln Navigator

Does The Lincoln Navigator Take Premium Gas Or Regular

We just listed the possible harm that could result from using lower octane fuel for your Navigator. The engine for this SUV was specifically designed for premium fuel. This is the one that should always be selected whenever you go to the pump.

Premium fuel is made for engines that are considered high performance. This fuel will tolerate more compression before it ignites, allowing the engine to operate with more power. If you use a lower octane fuel, it will ignite prematurely in this type of engine.

Pay careful attention to what can happen if you use lower octane fuel in your Navigator. Prolonged use of lower octane fuel can be quite costly.

Reduced Fuel Economy

While premium fuel will not increase the overall fuel economy of vehicles without high-performance engines, failure to use it in a vehicle like a Navigator will reduce your fuel economy. The fuel igniting prematurely will not allow the engine to use the fuel as efficiently. 

Engine Knocking

Ideally, fuel should only ignite one time in the combustion chamber. A perfect mixture of fuel and oxygen will only ignite whenever the spark plug engages. If the octane rating of the fuel is too low, this causes issues.

The engine of your Navigator is hot. It's so hot that a lower octane fuel can ignite itself before the spark plug can react. This will cause the fuel to ignite twice inside the engine's cylinders.

The premature ignition of the fuel sounds like a knock. This engine knocking can damage the engine over time and should be taken seriously. 

Decreased Overall Performance

If you used gasoline not rated for your engine, you will notice a decrease in the vehicle's performance. The vehicle will not accelerate properly. You might notice that the Navigator acts a bit sluggish when trying to get it to higher speeds.

Using premium fuel prevents these issues. The engine will be able to ignite the fuel at the proper time, allowing the vehicle to accelerate as it was intended.

Possible Voiding Of The Vehicle's Warranty

Prolonged use of lower octane fuel can void the warranty in your  Navigator. The powerful engine under its hood will not only need the factory-recommended maintenance but will also need the right fuel to make it run. Failure to comply with the manufacturer's instructions can lead to them denying you warranty service.

If you accidentally use the wrong fuel once, does that risk your warranty? Not at all. Should you use the wrong octane gasoline, there are ways to remedy this mistake quickly and easily. We'll discuss that later in this post.

What Do The Different Octane Ratings Mean?

Seeing the different fuel options at the gas pump might be a bit confusing. Here, we'll take a look at the three most common ones you will see when you pull in to refuel your vehicle.

Regular 

Regular fuel has an octane rating of 87. The majority of passenger vehicles will require this fuel type. Different gasoline companies will call it by different names, but it is most commonly referred to as "regular" or "unleaded."

Mid-Grade

Mid-grade fuel will have an octane rating of 89. This is also known as "super unleaded." The additives in this fuel can help clean your engine, though it is not necessary to use it.

Premium

Premium gasoline has an octane rating of 91 or higher. As we discussed earlier in this post, it has a higher compression rating. This means that it will ignite at higher internal temperatures than regular or mid-grade fuels.

Only use premium fuel in vehicles that require it. While using premium in non-high-performance engines will not harm them, it will not improve their fuel economy or engine performance. In short, it is a waste of money to buy premium fuel unless your engine requires it.

Gas pump detail of price window and octane buttons.

Is The Lincoln Navigator Bad On Gas?

The Lincoln Navigator is a full-size SUV. Larger vehicles generally will not experience the great fuel economy of smaller ones. But for its class, the Lincoln Navigator is above average in this category.

On average, the Navigator will get 22 miles per gallon on the highway. In the city, you can expect the Navigator to get 16 for every gallon of fuel. 

For the best fuel economy, keep the tires on your Navigator fully inflated. You should also avoid quick accelerations, and obey the speed limits. The faster you drive, the more fuel you burn!

Black Lincoln Navigator parked by the side of the road. Nobody in the vehicle.

What If I Accidentally Use A Lower Octane Fuel In My Navigator?

Using the wrong octane fuel in your Navigator one time isn't going to mean the end of the world. This is a common occurrence and one that can be easily remedied

You can always add an octane booster to your tank. This will help the lower octane fuel ignite at the proper time. Most of the time, you won't need to use these additives, however.

The best thing to do is wait until you need to refuel again. Fill your Navigator with the proper premium fuel. This will take care of the problem.

The damage that occurs from using lower octane fuel in high-performance engines tends to be from long-term use. An isolated incident or two will not cause damage. 

How Long Will A Lincoln Navigator Last?

The Lincoln Navigator should last at least 200,000 miles. If you drive an average of 15,000 miles per year, this means it will last more than 13 years.

To get the most mileage out of your Navigator, be sure to have it maintained regularly. The maintenance schedule is in your owner's manual. Follow all of the maintenance items at their recommended mileage/time intervals for the best results.

Odometer with 99999 miles

What Class Of SUV Is A Lincoln Navigator?

The Lincoln Navigator is a full-size luxury SUV. These luxury class vehicles are equipped with the latest onboard features. They are some of the highest-rated vehicles for safety on the road. A luxury vehicle will also commonly have a high-performance engine.

Final Thoughts

Front view luxury SUV car Lincoln Navigator

Like many luxury vehicles, the Lincoln Navigator requires premium fuel. Failure to regularly use the recommended octane will lead to engine damage and will void your warranty. Take proper care of the Navigator and it should last 200,000 miles or more. Drive safe!

We hope this post on the Lincoln Navigator answered all of your questions. For more helpful information, we suggest reading the following posts:

How To Program Garage Door Opener In A Lincoln Car

 Does The Lincoln Corsair Require Premium Gas

How To Rejuvenate And Recondition Old Gasoline?

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