The Ford Bronco is one of the more popular SUVs in North America right now as the Bronco brand has been enjoying a huge cult following since the 1960s.
Ever since the new Bronco came out, the demand has significantly outweighed the supply. Ford can’t keep up with this demand, so the Bronco is on backorder for months, even years in some specifications.
With so much hype behind the Bronco, the internet is brimming with lots of misinformation about how to maintain it and which fuel the Bronco actually takes.
In this article, we are going to tell the Ford Bronco gas type, which to take, and which to avoid.
What is the Ford Bronco’s fuel requirement?
The minimum fuel requirement of the new Ford Bronco is unleaded 87-octane gasoline. However, it is recommended to go for 91-octave fuel or even higher.
Premium octane fuel is usually associated with 91-octane or up, which means that the Bronco can use non-premium fuel, although not recommended.
Does the Ford Bronco need premium gas?
Premium fuel isn’t a necessity for the Ford Bronco. However, if you want the best performance possible, premium 91-octave fuel or up is recommended.
If you consult the new Ford Bronco owner’s manual, you’ll come across a section that refers to the types of fuels that should and shouldn’t be used for the new Bronco.
Which fuels can’t be used with the new Bronco?
Diesel fuel, leaded fuel, E-85 flex fuel, MMT gasoline, biodiesel, and gasoline with added metals should not be used for the Ford Bronco.
Always be sure to read the owner’s manual to find out which fuel can and can’t be used for any particular car.
Diesel Fuel
Diesel fuel is much thicker and denser than gasoline, which is partly what gives it more energy per volume.
But if you put diesel fuel into the new Ford Bronco, you are risking clogging the entire system, possibly even making a huge spillage at the fuel station.
However, the worst thing that can happen is engine damage caused by the fact that diesel fuel is predominantly 25-30 octane, while the Bronco shouldn’t take anything less than 87 octane fuel.
As such, diesel fuel is able to withstand compression without detonating a lot more, which is going to strain all of the systems running from the fuel tank, to the engine, and possibly even the exhaust.
Leaded Fuel
If you use leaded fuel with the new Bronco, you are going to damage the catalytic converter after a few fill-ups.
The system itself is designed for unleaded fuel only, which means that many other things can also go terribly wrong in addition to your health.
Leaded fuels have been banned throughout the world ever since scientists realized that it is extremely toxic and deadly, which is why finding leaded fuel is much more difficult nowadays.
The use of lead in fuel increases the octane rating by itself and allegedly helps with engine knocking.
E-85 (Flex Fuel)
Most gas stations in the US offer E85 fuel, which is also commonly known as flex fuel. Flex fuel consists of gasoline and ethanol with around 85% ethanol and 15% traditional fuel.
The idea behind flex fuel is to lower the overall CO2 emissions and reduce the dependence on raw oil.
Some deem it to be the fuel of the future which could potentially become the new standard. Moreover, E85 is known to push 100 octanes or even more.
As far as the Bronco is concerned, it is not rated for E85 flex fuel, which means that it is likely going to result in a check engine light.
If you make this mistake once, nothing bad is likely to happen, but be sure not to do it repeatedly.
MMT Gasoline
MMT gasoline consists of regular low-octane fuel mixed with Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl in order to boost the octane level of low-quality fuel.
As these additives tend to be aggressive and can even cause severe damage to your spark plugs and your EVAP system, it’s best not to use them for the Bronco.
You can use MMT gas only on cars that are specifically rated for MMT. Even then, it’s not 100% clear if MMT is safe.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a blend of diesel manufactured domestically from biodegradable materials such as vegetable oil, animal fats, or recycled grease. It is an entirely renewable type of fuel that can be mixed right in your backyard.
All newer Ford engines are rated for biodiesel blends, but there are various types of blends, and not all of them can be used with the new Bronco.
We will list all of the available blends below:
| Blend Name | Blend Rating | Compatible with the new Ford Bronco? |
| B2 | Up to 2% of biodiesel in a gasoline mixture | Yes |
| B5 | 2% to 5% of biodiesel in a gasoline mixture | Yes |
| B20 | 5% to 20% of biodiesel in a gasoline mixture | Yes |
| B100 | 100% pure biodiesel | No |
Gasoline With Added Metals
The market is brimming with all kinds of fuel additives designed to either boost fuel octane ratings or to help with the car’s CO2 footprint.
Most of these rely on metallic additives which are only good enough for engines that are specifically rated for them.
In the case of the new Bronco, no other additives should be added except for TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline additive as this blend is specifically recommended for the Bronco by Ford.
This additive is designed to clean the engine’s internals and prolong life while also helping you reach the very lowest emissions levels possible.
How much does it cost to fill up the new Bronco?
It costs $52 to fill up the 2-door Ford Bronco 16.0-gallon tank to the brim.
As the current fuel prices are incredibly unstable, it’s difficult to say how much it is going to cost to fill up the new Bronco, especially as different states also come with immensely different fuel prices.
For more details regarding Ford Bronco fueling prices, check the table below.
| Ford Bronco 2.0L 4-cylinder AWD | Stats |
| EPA Fuel Economy Estimate | 23MPG Combined (21MPG/26MPG) |
| Average Car Fueling Prices Per 5 Years Comparison | You SPEND $2,000 more in fuel costs over 5 years compared to the average new vehicle |
| Annual Fuel Cost | $2,150 |
| Cost to Drive 25 Miles | $3.54 |
Do all new Ford Bronco models come with the same fuel tank size?
The 2-door Ford Bronco uses a 16.0-gallon fuel tank size while the 4-door model uses a slightly larger 20.8-gallon fuel tank.
As the size differences between these two fuel tanks are 31.25%, you can expect to add an additional $16 on top of the $52 you need to fill up the larger 20.8-gallon tank, which makes the total cost of filling up the Ford Bronco 4-door fuel tank $68.
How to Maximize the MPG of the New Ford Bronco
Fuel efficiency is arguably one of the more important factors to consider when buying a new car as fuel-efficient vehicles aren’t just cheaper to fill up, but are also much cheaper to run as many additional expenses are often associated with the car’s MPG and CO2 levels, which tend to go hand-in-hand.
If you want to maximize your Ford Bronco MPG ratings, be sure to follow these tips:
Avoid Unnecessary Idling
While a car idles for no reason, it basically gives you 0 miles per gallon, which is why you should avoid it as much as possible. However, be sure to take your time when heating up the engine as that is more important than MPG itself.
Accelerate Gradually
If you stomp on the gas pedal whenever you want to go faster, you are going to decimate your MPG ratings, which is why you should always accelerate gradually as that is going to improve your MPG while also exerting less stress on the car’s powertrain.
Obey the Speed Limit
When cars go over high speeds, the fuel needed to propel them grows exponentially, which means that the MPG ratings between 60mph and 80mph are incredibly big, so much so that it does not make sense while also destroying your MPG levels.
Cruise Control
Cruise control is both convenient and beneficial for your car’s MPG as the car chooses the most efficient gear and keeps it in a perfect RPM range in order to conserve as much fuel as possible.
Limit Your A/C
Air conditioning is run by the engine in most cars, which means that the A/C draws a bit of fuel while running. As such, it’s best to keep your A/C at a minimum if you want to achieve the highest MPG results.
Maintain Your Tires
The state and type of tires you are using also play a huge role in the car’s overall efficiency as properly balanced and inflated tires need much less energy to rotate, which helps your overall MPG.
Use the Correct Engine Oil
Proper oil viscosity is an incredibly important aspect of making sure your engine runs as smoothly and as efficiently as it can. As such, proper high-quality engine oil is going to benefit MPG, engine reliability, and overall smoothness.
Weight Reduction
It is said that adding more than 100 pounds of weight on top of a car can worsen its MPG results by up to 25%.
Maintain the Car
Maintaining your car’s mechanical backbones is equally as important as all the other factors on this list if you want superior MPG ratings.
Reduce Wind Resistance
Close your windows, and get rid of unnecessary light bars, roof boxes, or any other components that create unnecessary drag.
While on the topic of maintenance, be sure to check our 50 best car maintenance tips to up your maintenance game significantly.
