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Better Gas mileage with Premium?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by error_repair, Feb 13, 2009.

  1. Feb 14, 2009 at 9:11 PM
    #41
    Janster

    Janster Old & Forgetful

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  2. Feb 14, 2009 at 9:34 PM
    #42
    WilsonTheDog

    WilsonTheDog Kylie's dad

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    Interesting. I wonder how recent that map is because I can't find non-Ethanol gas anywhere around here.

    I should've mentioned that I do have pinging when I use multiple tanks of 87. It definitely disappears with 93.
     
  3. Feb 16, 2009 at 5:43 AM
    #43
    Demoncleaner

    Demoncleaner Well-Known Member

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    Past summer, ran 2 months of 87, 2 months of premium. Warm summer weather (& fuel blend), same trips, same commute, difference was always .3-.6 mpg better on premium. More of increase with towing and hauling heavy loads.

    So not huge difference, but doesnt feel and sound right on 87, so its usually 89 or better, and 93 towing.
     
  4. Feb 16, 2009 at 7:35 AM
    #44
    papabear050

    papabear050 Well-Known Member

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    Hey DemonC,

    Any tips to increase the MPG on my 08 6SP to get 18 or 20 like you..... I'm still getting 14-15 average..... Do you think the fluids in your diffs, xfer case, and manual have anything to do with it.... I'm still running all stock fluids with about 5K on the clock.
     
  5. Feb 16, 2009 at 7:49 AM
    #45
    Kyouto42

    Kyouto42 Iron Beard

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    A few years back someone on 3si (3000GT/Stealth International) did a test with costco fuel, and found they got significantly less mileage with similar driving habits. From my understanding, Costco basically just get's leftover amounts from other stations and dumps it all into their tanks.... so it's basically a mix of crap and good stuff. I stopped using it for a few reasons, the last time I tried costco gas in my stealth TT it ran horrible (not idling correctly, noticable loss of power, ect... just like Arco gas). Since then all I use on any car is QT, Shell, or Chevron... unless I'm desperate for petrol.

    However, take it for what it's worth. No real "scientific" study that I've found on it. But, it gives me more of a piece of mind... in the end that's worth a couple of bucks to me, valid or not.
     
  6. Feb 16, 2009 at 8:18 AM
    #46
    Demoncleaner

    Demoncleaner Well-Known Member

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    I run full syn oil in motor, tranny, & diffs (except LSD rear). Probably helps in 'tenths', like running higher octane gas. But the biggest reasons are probably:

    1. No RFG or Oxygenated fuel (which are up 10% ethanol) in the stations around here. Thats 1 mpg.
    2. Drive hilly but rural roads, 1 stoplight on a 25 mi r/t commute. Most hwy is state/county rds below 65mph, sweet spot for 6th gear.
    3. Accelrate normal, can skip shifts esp heading downhill, also overgear on any downhill where engine braking not needed. Cruising at 1500-2000 rpm, easily pull well over the low 15/18 or 14/19 sticker mpg.
    Avg 20.5 (trips 21+) all summer but now on winter fuel blend, stickier and chunkier winter tires, a snowy (more 4hi) or cold spell avg 17, but dry and a little warmer 18 mpg (trips 19).
     
  7. Feb 16, 2009 at 8:30 AM
    #47
    papabear050

    papabear050 Well-Known Member

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    Ok,

    I see mostly it's gonna be non ethanol and the fact that you don't have stop and go for 25miles.....

    I'm in socal and lucky to make to work without catching at least 8 lights.... suck..

    Thanks for the info.
     
  8. Feb 16, 2009 at 5:46 PM
    #48
    fubar

    fubar Active Member

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    Just did two trips of my regular commute ( 150km round trip) and got horrible mileage on COSTCO's premium. Will try it again in a tank or two...
     
  9. Feb 16, 2009 at 5:47 PM
    #49
    AK27

    AK27 Well-Known Member

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    how bad was ur mileage? if you dont mind me asking
     
  10. Feb 16, 2009 at 6:08 PM
    #50
    fubar

    fubar Active Member

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    13.5L/100km on Costco premium compared to 11.9L/100km on Shell Regular.

    I was driving a bit faster then normal for a bit... hence why I will try it a few more times.
     
  11. Feb 16, 2009 at 6:10 PM
    #51
    AK27

    AK27 Well-Known Member

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    i usually run shell premium when i can but i might try out the sunoco 94 octane, see if there is a difference
     
  12. Feb 16, 2009 at 6:12 PM
    #52
    Dockhead

    Dockhead Formarly 08TRD4X4RadientRed

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    I run premium with octane booster and get about 21 around town
     
  13. Feb 16, 2009 at 6:42 PM
    #53
    trd2001

    trd2001 Well-Known Member

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    I have not noticed a difference with 87 vs 91. 91 will ping less while towing. I been running 89, and i can get 17 on the highway with 32's. I normally get 280 to 295 miles on a tank.
     
  14. Feb 26, 2009 at 5:51 PM
    #54
    lukebz

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    jsut discovered this a few days ago...was getting between 260-300 miles per tank of 87, ran a tank of 91 for the past three days and got 320.
     
  15. Feb 26, 2009 at 6:04 PM
    #55
    SRFIVE

    SRFIVE Well-Known Member

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    I religiously take my MPG, every tankful was recorded last year.
    When NYS switched to 10% ethanol my mileage went down over 20%!
    So actually I am buying more fuel made from oil, (i.e. 10% ethanol, if I got 10% less mileage it would be even, but at 20%, I am buying 11% more fuel made from oil. I wonder if the govt. even understands this?!?

    93 octane will raise you MPG over 87 and 89, but the $/mile is still (marginally) higher.
     
  16. Feb 26, 2009 at 6:11 PM
    #56
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    My calculations showed me I was saveing $2.00 per fill up with the 91 oct. AND getting better performance.
     
  17. Mar 16, 2009 at 6:42 PM
    #57
    swcurby

    swcurby Member

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    I have a scangauge that helps me get my mpg for each tank. I check it when I fill up to make sure it is correct. I average around 17-18mpg on 87. I am going to try premium soon to see if there is a difference. But, the numbers don't lie. I have seen other people have gotten 2 mpg better on premium so I will use this in my calculations.

    Say gas is 1.80 per gal (87 octane) and I get 18 mpg. That comes to 10 cents per mile.

    Premium is 20 cent more per gal, 2.00 per gal and I expect 20 mpg. That comes to 10 cents per mile.

    This comes out to be even. No cost savings or lost. But if you did the same analysis at the prices of 3.50 (87 octane) and 3.70 (premium). That would come out to 19.4444 cents/mile(87) and 18.5 cents/mile(premium). There is a cost savings. It seems marginal but it adds up. If you drive 25k miles per year and gas is the latter, the savings is $236.11. That is ~3-4 tanks of gas savings.

    This is based on the 2 mpg increase with premium versus regular and an 18 mpg average with regular.
     
  18. Mar 16, 2009 at 6:48 PM
    #58
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    I did my calcs when gas was more expensive. Regardless if it "did" cost me a little more at the pump, how much could it be? $1.00 a tank? $3.00? Its worth it to me to run 91. :)
     
  19. Jun 17, 2009 at 9:50 AM
    #59
    buck

    buck Don't sweat the petty - pet the sweaty

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    Costco's pumps in Barrie state 10% Ethanol.

    In Ontario, I get best mileage with either Shell or PetroCan.
     
  20. Jun 17, 2009 at 10:03 AM
    #60
    jandrews

    jandrews Hootin' and Hollerin'

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    All 93 Octane around here...91 isn't available...I run 93 anyway if for no other reason than to keep the engine happiest.
     

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