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Regular or premium fuel in 3.5

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Wrench71485, Jul 24, 2017.

  1. Jul 24, 2017 at 6:46 PM
    #21
    GPsevinSixx

    GPsevinSixx Well-Known Member

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    I tried regular, but went back to 89 as soon as I heard the evil spark knock. Heard it 4 times over the period of half a tank while accelerating on street drives with the window down..
     
    slvrtaco11 and bshammer0 like this.
  2. Jul 24, 2017 at 7:33 PM
    #22
    shakerhood

    shakerhood Well-Known Member

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    If you can find Ethanol Free, that would be your best bet.
     
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  3. Jul 24, 2017 at 8:19 PM
    #23
    The hammer

    The hammer Who’s the Wrench?

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    Running top tier '87 regular here, runs great!

    Most ppl (at least those that lease) would rather run cheapest gas they can find, but I run top tier for the long term option and have ever since I can remember and never had a fuel related issue so why would I spend more for premium??

    Cheers!
     
    shakerhood likes this.
  4. Jul 24, 2017 at 8:37 PM
    #24
    Hank Heel

    Hank Heel Well-Known Member

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    I have Ethanol free fuel near me, it isn't much more than other top tier gas. I've used it, but can't say i felt the difference.
    I was a sceptic of using 92 when it calls for 87, but was pleasantly surprised how it felt down low, doesn't feel like a complete pos. I'm hoping this and tune will make me relatively content for what I use my truck for.
    For sceptics, I say try it, you've got nothing to lose but a few bucks
     
  5. Jul 24, 2017 at 9:01 PM
    #25
    Paterico

    Paterico Well-Known Member

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    Lot of misinformation here.

    Higher octane just means the fuel is more resistant to detonation. If the ECU was tuned to use 91, there would be a sticker on the fuel door and the manual would state that premium fuel is required.

    You're not gaining anything by running a higher octane. Modern engines that require premium fuel will retard timing when knock is detected but an engine that is tuned for 87 won't add timing if you run 91.

    Ethanol free fuel, on the other hand, does provide some benefits and can lead to a slight increase in fuel economy along with cleaner combustion and reduced carbon buildup.

    But hey, if your butt dyno makes you believe you're gaining something then run it I guess..
     
    CrippledHo, Boxerocks and HardCase like this.
  6. Jul 24, 2017 at 9:08 PM
    #26
    Paterico

    Paterico Well-Known Member

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    Highly doubt you heard detonation. On my race car, I use a det can and even then, detonation isn't blatantly obvious unless you really know what you're listening for
     
  7. Jul 24, 2017 at 9:12 PM
    #27
    Hank Heel

    Hank Heel Well-Known Member

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    No misinformation, in basic sense, modern ecus adapt to knock and pull timing or lack thereof.
    Not even that modern, my 05 m3 adapts as well, I've had that car "forever" and went trough multiple iterations of self tuning, I have a basic idea how ecu works
     
  8. Jul 24, 2017 at 9:15 PM
    #28
    AAChaoshand

    AAChaoshand Well-Known Member

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    Physics don't lie, octane is for detonation resistance with higher compression. Higher octane does not equate to better performance for an engine tuned for 87. What you may be "feeling" in some premium fuels is the lack of ethanol if anything. Shell and Chevron that I know of don't put ethanol in their 91/93 octane fuels, unless that has changed. I won't try to argue with feelings against facts, that argument will be lost every time, put what you want in your vehicle.
     
    Lawfarin likes this.
  9. Jul 24, 2017 at 9:16 PM
    #29
    Blazingbluesport

    Blazingbluesport Well-Known Member

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    I think you are mistaken what research octane means. It doesn't mean they used US 91 octane when they tested the truck. Research octane is the number used by most countries except the US. The US and a few other countries use a different method to calculate octane rating. So research octane 91 is equal to US octane 87. Page 570 of owners manual.
     
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2017
    CrippledHo, NC Rick and Herniator like this.
  10. Jul 24, 2017 at 9:22 PM
    #30
    AntMan408

    AntMan408 Well-Known Member

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    I have put 91 in since I purchased the truck. Does it need it? Probably not, but I'm coming from two turbo'd cars and I'm used to putting in 91 so I don't view it as a big deal. It also makes me feel mentally better to put 91 in. I know it's a placebo, but I choose to do that.
     
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  11. Jul 24, 2017 at 9:26 PM
    #31
    GPsevinSixx

    GPsevinSixx Well-Known Member

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    It was.. I was surprised. I was thinking to myself, "no way". Sure enough after the second time I heard it, it was a familiar sound. After half a tank was consumed, I filled up with 89 again.
    That fill up with regular wasn't from my normal station. I've tuned some 12:1 NA race motors before. Not a good sound. Wrenched at dealers also, familiar with the sound. Thought it was odd to hear it on this 3.5 with modern sensors that can really react quick enough. It wasn't constant in a single drive session. No drivability issues when I heard it, I just let off the throttle and resumed. It happened over a period of a few days. Haven't heard it again since. I'll try regular from my normal stations later.
     
  12. Jul 24, 2017 at 10:02 PM
    #32
    Boomer3731

    Boomer3731 Well-Known Member

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    This is highly dependent on area and the specific station.

    Ethanol-free gas is pretty sparse here in Colorado, for example, but we have plenty of Shell stations.
     
  13. Jul 25, 2017 at 2:37 AM
    #33
    Woodrow F Call

    Woodrow F Call Kindling crackles and the smoke curls up...

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    No.

    Higher octane is just slower to burn. Benefit only comes with engines running higher compression and tuning, but there are other factors that can impact that. If anything, the ecu might advance ignition timing providing more response, but that is making up for a slower burn.

    Funny thing is, as much as this topic is discussed here, I haven't seen anyone who belives it's better, actually really test this. Also haven't seen the idea tested elsewhere. It's all butt dyno and ego. That tells me something.
     
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  14. Jul 25, 2017 at 2:56 AM
    #34
    Greenbean

    Greenbean B.S. Goodwrench

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    Topics like this do make me thankful I have access to Ethanol free 87 and Ethanol free 91.

    One for the mower, other for the 2.7, lol...
     
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  15. Jul 25, 2017 at 3:12 AM
    #35
    Exracer2

    Exracer2 Well-Known Member

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    I have done lots of dyno tuning on carb'd motorcycles. Ran everything from '87 pump gas to 112 octane VP C12. Unless you have a motor that needs higher octane use the lowest octane you require. It simply makes more power.

    In the case of street gas some stations do have crap in their tanks. So in that case maybe your higher octane stuff from another station seems to perform better. But that is because you are comparing clean fuel to contaminated. At one point I used race gas ONLY due to the fact I knew it was from a sealed container and was reliable. It cost me 3X the pump gas price and made a exactly 1 hp more. The HP increase was due to the higher BTU (power) of the race fuel and NOT the octane rating. Also many stations put more of their cleansing agents in the higher octane fuels so you may actually feel your truck run better because of the additives and not the octane. Buy a bottle of whatever and put it in yourself.
     
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  16. Jul 25, 2017 at 3:48 AM
    #36
    tacoflavoredkisses1

    tacoflavoredkisses1 Well-Known Member

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    Got a full tank yesterday. Ill report back if there is a noticeable change. I got ethanol free once before but it was ~6 gallons (I stumbled on it and decided to try it). This was 18 gallons worth.
     
  17. Jul 25, 2017 at 3:56 AM
    #37
    Wrench71485

    Wrench71485 [OP] Member

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    Im getting a mile per gallon better on my ride in to work this morning compared to last night outside temps same been watching
     
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  18. Jul 25, 2017 at 5:17 AM
    #38
    Hank Heel

    Hank Heel Well-Known Member

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    My ego is fine, I can admit when I'm wrong, my dick doesn't get smaller.
    People in the other hand, aren't willing to experiment with a few dollars because they "know".. you don't know, talk about ego
    My butt dyno is conservative, the difference can be felt.
    And before anyone else comes in here to explain the octane rating and how it works.. come on.
    I'm not the one who thinks that you'll get hp out of cai or cat back exhaust, but in my case better octane yields better results.
    Take it or leave it, don't care
     
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  19. Jul 25, 2017 at 5:34 AM
    #39
    Clearwater Bill

    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

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    Lets assume you get a couple of MPG out of your choice.

    Do some basic math. Considering the higher cost of the fuel, what MPG improvement do you need to see to break even?

    Hint. At a 30 cent/gal delta and 20mpg avg, you need to go to 23mpg to break even. OEs would die for a 13% rating increase just by changing fuel.

    Hint 2. I don't care what your dash calculator says. A 'ride into work' reading is NOT sufficient to prove actual MPG has changed. 10 manually calculated tank fulls, averaged together, would be a start. Problem is you don't have a baseline to compare to.
     
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  20. Jul 25, 2017 at 6:11 AM
    #40
    Jleeb

    Jleeb Well-Known Member

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    Our local Conocos sell ethanol-free gas. SW Colorado.
     

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