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Fuel

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by supercharged03, Feb 8, 2014.

  1. Feb 8, 2014 at 6:49 PM
    #1
    supercharged03

    supercharged03 [OP] Member

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    what fuel do you use in your tacoma and why? 87,89,or 91+
     
  2. Feb 8, 2014 at 6:52 PM
    #2
    fast5speed

    fast5speed Well-Known Member

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    87. because that's what the owner's manual says. and it can't take advantage of anything higher. low compression motor for ya
     
  3. Feb 8, 2014 at 7:43 PM
    #3
    Mr. Biscuits

    Mr. Biscuits gentleman and a scholar

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    1. this thread has already been created and discussed. search it.

    2. 91. in fact the engine CAN take advantage of the higher octane, most EPA fuel mileage stats are produced using higher octane fuel.
     
  4. Feb 8, 2014 at 7:46 PM
    #4
    fast5speed

    fast5speed Well-Known Member

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    Please tell me how an engine, such as our 3.4l Toyota 9.6:1, could take advantage of higher octane fuel?
     
  5. Feb 8, 2014 at 8:53 PM
    #5
    ThunderOne

    ThunderOne Well-Known Member

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    87. I use Texaco/Chevron gas with the Techron in it. Does it actually clean the engine? Who knows. I would prefer to use 89 because the ethanol in gasoline knocks a couple of points off the octane rating which results in reduced MPG/poorer running. But around here, the price jump from 87 to 89 octane is criminal. Usually it goes $3.00 for 87, $3.30 (at the least) for 89, $3.45 for 91. At that point, getting Plus grade gas just to compensate for the ethanol factor just isn't worth it.
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2014
  6. Feb 8, 2014 at 9:31 PM
    #6
    fast5speed

    fast5speed Well-Known Member

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    No. Ethanol raises the octane (or AKI) rating.
     
  7. Feb 8, 2014 at 10:06 PM
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    Norton

    Norton Senior Member

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    91, because my supercharger requires it.
     
  8. Feb 9, 2014 at 5:39 AM
    #8
    lipster

    lipster Well-Known Member

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    87, unless I'm in the mountains, then 85 or 84.
     
  9. Feb 9, 2014 at 9:00 AM
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    Indy

    Indy Master of all I survey.

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    The cheapest fuel available that doesnt cause knocking. Locally thats 85. At sea level you wont find 85.
     
  10. Feb 9, 2014 at 9:18 AM
    #10
    Petrol

    Petrol Well-Known Member

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    /\ YES !!!! This is absolutely correct.!!!!


    Why is this issue so difficult for people to understand?

    Burn the lowest octane fuel you can get away with. Spending more money for higher octane fuel does NOTHING beyond making your wallet lighter.

    There is NO improvement in performance, mileage or reliability acquired by burning higher octane fuel than necessary.
    If you like spending more money than needed then the fuel companies are happy to take your money. If your high compression/ supercharged engine requires higher octane fuel to prevent knocking then use the fuel necessary to prevent knocking. If you can burn 87 octane fuel without detonation, why would you pay more?
     
  11. Feb 9, 2014 at 10:57 AM
    #11
    mkatts

    mkatts Well-Known Member

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    barring the need due to mods or forced induction, higher octane fuel improvement is a placebo affext only.
    I will never believe othwrwise unless somwbody provides dyno reaults comparing the two.
     
  12. Feb 9, 2014 at 9:21 PM
    #12
    ThunderOne

    ThunderOne Well-Known Member

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    This may be true, but I worked at an oil refinery. Management said this once in a meeting. I didn't ask why that was the case... since I was just an intern. Maybe it has something to do storage or something.. evaporation? Either way, I try to run Plus whenever the price bump isn't ridiculous. Otherwise I just use 87. I notice a change in MPGs when using 89. Very minimal though.

    I did do some researching, it appears that ethanol contains a lower BTU rating than pure gas. Which means less energy/efficiency in ethanol. So I guess going from 87 to 89 won't make a difference if it has the same percentage of ethanol.
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2014
  13. Feb 10, 2014 at 5:27 AM
    #13
    lipster

    lipster Well-Known Member

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    Ethanol does raise octane. Ethanol does have less BTU's per gallon.
    Both statements are true.
    Buying 89 or 91 octane gas may or may not eliminate ethanol. It depends on your state.
     
  14. Feb 10, 2014 at 10:29 AM
    #14
    presto

    presto Well-Known Member

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    87. I've heard it's bad to use the wrong octane gas no matter if it's higher or lower. Basically if you use 91 when your supposed to use 87 it will make your engine work too hard or something. The explosions in the combustion chamber will be too intense.. Also you should realize these would be very small differences in performance.
     
  15. Feb 10, 2014 at 10:33 AM
    #15
    fast5speed

    fast5speed Well-Known Member

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    Ladies and gentlemen, I present you with SCIENCE! complete with theory, explanations, facts, and studies!

    "Will make your engine 'work too hard' or something"
     
  16. Feb 10, 2014 at 10:42 AM
    #16
    presto

    presto Well-Known Member

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    Lol notice how I said It's something I heard? I don't like making it sound like my opinion is fact because I'm just repeating something I've heard.
     
  17. Feb 10, 2014 at 10:44 AM
    #17
    fast5speed

    fast5speed Well-Known Member

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    Wow. That's actually so much worse. Spreading misinformation and fiction like wildfire.

    Thanks for your secondhand fictional explanation of how engines work.
     
  18. Feb 10, 2014 at 10:50 AM
    #18
    presto

    presto Well-Known Member

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    Lol.. Ok. It's not like I'm teaching a school here. You act as if I just changed the mind of the whole TW forum. The op asked what fuel I'm using and why so I answered.. If you don't like it well good for you.
     
  19. Feb 10, 2014 at 10:56 AM
    #19
    tacomataco2

    tacomataco2 A dude

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    Some of this Some of that
    That guy seems to start arguments like that with a lot of people lol don't worry.

    I use 87, because cheap. If I could get ethanol free gas in my state I would use it.. Closest place is Florida
     
  20. Feb 10, 2014 at 11:25 AM
    #20
    moondeath

    moondeath Well-Known Member

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    Quoted directly from Wikipedia. -Octane Rating

    Many high-performance engines are designed to operate with a high maximum compression, and thus demand fuels of higher octane. A common misconception is that power output or fuel efficiency can be improved by burning fuel of higher octane than that specified by the engine manufacturer. The power output of an engine depends in part on the energy density of the fuel being burnt. Fuels of different octane ratings may have similar densities, but because switching to a higher octane fuel does not add more hydrocarbon content or oxygen, the engine cannot develop more power.

    However, burning fuel with a lower octane rating than that for which the engine is designed often results in a reduction of power output and efficiency. Many modern engines are equipped with a knock sensor (a small piezoelectric microphone), which sends a signal to the engine control unit, which in turn retards the ignition timing when detonation is detected. Retarding the ignition timing reduces the tendency of the fuel-air mixture to detonate, but also reduces power output and fuel efficiency. Because of this, under conditions of high load and high temperature, a given engine may have a more consistent power output with a higher octane fuel, as such fuels are less prone to detonation. Some modern high performance engines are actually optimized for higher than pump premium (93 AKI in the US). The 2001 - 2007 BMW M3 with the S54 engine is one such car. Car and Driver magazine tested a car using a dynamometer, and found that the power output increased as the AKI was increased up to approximately 96 AKI.
     

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