Premium fuel?

No, pretty much the worst mileage config possible (except manual): Double Cab V6 4x4 Off-Road. Off-Road and Pro get worse due to tires and no air dam.

(All TRDs and Limiteds are V6)

 

Excuse me all..... has everyone but me received a separate maintenance guide book from the dealership when you purchased your new Tacoma ??

I do have a maintenance schedule in my owners manual but it seems apparent that there is a more expansive separate small maintenance booklet.

Can anyone straighten me out on this. I'd appreciate the help. Seems I may have to go back to the dealership for this manual? ( though I was handed so
Dannyblues many manuals and leaflets it looked like first day at college on book buying day. ).

 

There is a small manual that came with it where you record mileage and services done.

 

I never received that with my 2016 TRD bundle of manuals. I'll call the dealer and get one if available. I keep all my receipts and service reports now. Thanks for that information.
Dannyblues

 

They did not even give me a leather case for the Manuals but they are ordering one for me

 

A leather case. !!!! Wow. !!! I felt like a school boy on first day of school with five or so manuals but no maintenance manual or any leather case.
I definitely have to contact my salesperson at the dealer. They were very busy the day I bought my TRD and as soon as I signed the papers I was given the keys and on my own. The salesman did synch my Bluetooth iPhone. That's it.

In fact I drove up the road just a bit and the drivetrain was acting strangely. I owned my TRD only a few minutes and was stuck a hundred yards up the road at a cargo cover business. It seems the salesman and I fooled with the 4wd selector too much and my truck was locked in 4wd low. I was told to reverse it 13 feet with 2 WD selected to free the drivetrain. Good to know anyway. I pass along this tip to you. This is my first truck and 4 WD anything. I'm learning.

I must say at 67 most of my experience has been with old rear wheel drive vehicles so I'm really at home in 2 WD especially with the limited slip rear.
Dannyblues

 

I am on my 4th Tacoma, all V6 Manual Off Road 4x4s.

 

How have you found the different models over the years. My 2016 is my first truck and 4x4. Moved to rural western Connecticut from NYC five years ago. Never needed a truck before now. I'm loving it. It was always a dream to own a truck and live in the country. Now I have both. God has been good to me. Dannyblues

 

The hardest one to get was the 2017 and the easiest was the 2000, the 08 and the 15 my Dealer had to locate and trade for and took a couple weeks.

 

I got my 2016 just like you. Swap for another to get a black TRD manual. Actually it even came with the few options I wanted. But they had to drive it 96 miles. Dannyblues

 

My 17 l had to order, took from December to just a couple days ago. The 08 and 15 were Dealer trades

 

Thanks. Dannyblues

 

I agree with you. Was it 91 RON or actual 91 octane at the pump. They derive the final octane rating by running two old fashioned cylinders. First one gives RON( research octane number. Generally higher ). Second cylinder gets worked hard and it gives MON ( Mechanical octane number usually a little lower ) then they divide by 2 to get the posted at the pump actual octane. There is often a little decal that says octane rating method : ( RON + MON)~ 2. So maybe it was 91 RON or actual 91 octane on that EPA certification you read.

I will question what does 87 OR HIGHER actually mean? 87 at least but if you can't find it use higher octane and it's ok ? Or... simply use at least 87 octane or better?

As I've posted too often I use Shell 93 octane. Not just for a very insignificant mpg gain of 1 mpg I've observed over non toptier 87 but for its detergency which is supposed to be best on the market. If we had pure gas here I'd use that but none anywhere around except very high race car and boat fuels up to 112 octane. That will put a tiger in your tank! Not a very useful tiger however. Dannyblues

 

Premium fuel, increasing performance by lightening your wallet since the 1950's. Octane rating has one function, to prevent detonation, that's it. My understanding is that many fuel suppliers add the same detergent package to all their fuels. If you're still not satisfied, a bottle of techron periodically will do. If you keep that to once every 5K miles, you'll be saving about $100 (or two full tanks).

E0 vs E10-15, yeah, that makes sense because your fuel trims will reduce the amount of fuel injected since Stoich on pure gas is a higher ratio than an alcohol blend.

I'm sure they use E0 for EPA ratings. The octane would make absolutely no difference. I see this confusion about RON, MON, and R+M/2 all the time. Bottom line, this engine is designed and tuned for 87 R+M/2 (which is how the US rates octane). Details covered in the post above by Dannyblues. I just don't agree on the use of premium as he prefers.

 

I'm sure you remember when 10 or 11 to 1 compression was high. Required premium fuel.

The 3.5 v6 in our tacomas has 11.8 to 1 compression. I too was under the misconception that like days of yore the compression was fixed. Whether right or wrong I was directed to see how variable valve timing in the Atkinson/ Otto engine works. I'm not an engineer or professional mechanic but my basic simple understanding seems to indicate the 11.8 to 1 compression isn't actually fixed but it's one of the engines variables also. Maybe 11.8 to 1 is the engines maximum potential under specific circumstances?

This complex electronic driven engine technology may be advanced etc but it puts guys like me on the sidelines watching some other experienced mechanic service my Tacoma

I realize the knock sensor is there to prevent pre detonation such as when a high performance car that requires premium 93 and the owner uses 87. Because of the sensor the engine will run and even be spared the damage from detonation at the expense of efficiency and power.

On the other side of the coin however does that mean our v6 that calls for 87 octane OR HIGHER runs and is tuned for that lower octane fuel but because of the electronics and variable valve timing including sensors etc the same engine will respond and efficiently use premium and those sensors will detect it and go into a higher state of tune and use its full 11.8-1 compression to maximize a available power ???

I've been told no by someone who seemed to understand far more than I do on this topic.

As stated before I find after half assed personal tests using non toptier 87 vs Shell premium nitro 93 I get at least 1 more mpg. But more importantly I use it for its superior detergency, not an insignificant gain in mpg. Just my personal opinion but based on Shell and independent research I discovered when I googled Shell nitro premium 93 and found you tube videos on the subject.

It's sad but I can no longer have an intelligent discussion with expert mechanics about today's automobile engines. The technology has left me behind. Dannyblues

P. S. If you or anyone else can shed some light on this subject I'd appreciate it. But please do so in a manly polite way. My ignorance does not indicate stupidity! Wasn't that long ago I discovered that ECU was electronic control unit. And the guys at the shop laughed at me when I ordered a distributor cap and rotor for my 06 Hyundai! Igniters? Oh yeah.

I thought with 11.8 to 1 compression which is pretty high my TRD would easily derive maximum performance from the premium fuel. The Lexus or Acura gets 331 hp from the same engine but it's tuned for high rpm speed not low end torque with shifts at 3000 rpm or less.

Thanks all.

 

Ok I barely understand your breakdown of gasoline analysis so I defer to your more knowledgeable understanding. Thank you.

But I can agreeably disagree that my essential choice to use that Shell premium 93 is for its excellent detergency that according to the independent research I discovered indicates it's the best of all toptier fuels for its top detergency

I was hoping that using premium would take full benefit of the available 11:8-1 compression but then I was directed to the electronic controls and variable valve timing. I still don't understand that if the knock sensor allows a premium fuel vehicle using regular to be adjusted to why can't it work the other way around?

Admittedly I'm not an engineer or professional mechanic and today's engines make it impossible for me to carry on an intelligent dialogue with those guys anymore but I am teachable.

Thanks for the great post.

P S. what is since Stoich?

 

Since it's obvious you know far more than I do do you feel there is the same amount of extra detergent in all top tier gas - 87-89-91-93? Shell premium nitro 93 being the exception. Since I use the shell 93 at an additional cost how much detergency would I lose by going to a top tier 87 regular. It seems the loss of power would be little to nil according to all I've read now and the loss of 1 mpg if I used a regular 87 vs Shell 93 or any other top tier gas is insignificant. But I don't want to lose any available power or cleaning ability by going to a lower 87 top tier gas. What are your thoughts??
By the way a can of Techron now and then has been shown to be of little benefit in cleaning piston crowns. Injectors I dont know Can you shed any light on this for me? Dannyblues

 

Holy long post. Couldnt get past first paragraph but compression ration is fixed. It is on all engines until probably next year when infinity hopes to release a variable compression engine (need an actuator between crankshaft and connecting rod to adjust stroke). No car engines to my knowlege use a variable compression engine today.

 

.

I think Saab had a variable compression engine, the head moved if l recall, strange design.

 

Variable compression is cool tech but as a parts guy i cringe. I sell a lot of actuators, they all fail eventually. But 6 in the lower end of an engine? That sounds fun.