Fuel Type Used...

I've used 87 for about 33,000 miles. Mostly top tier gas. No pinging. I have little confidence that anything with greater octane value provides any significant advantage.

 

This sentence is in the article and you cite this as 'proof'???

'The higher octane level is necessary for cars with high volume cylinders because it is able to withstand more compression before igniting.'

High volume cylinders..... Riiiiight

 

Manual sez 87 is fine. That's what I use. Top Tier if available, which is just about everywhere I go. I do admit that once in a while going up the hill to my house there is a very short period of ping when it shifts up; maybe 1/2 second.

Now, if someone can explain why it's shifting UP when going UPhill .... But that's like another oil thread.

 

Might be a good idea to do actual research on what octane is and does as well as why its needed for higher compression engines. Your statement is wrong and the article is bogus. This kind of mis-information spreading doesn't help anyone. I've almost exclusively had performance cars for the last ten years and not only do those engines disagree with you but so does the research done by both universities and independent scientists as well as the engineering industry.

 

Dude literally same thing happened to me. Started off putting only premium 93 in there and all was good. Then after the new wore off I decided it was a waste and put 87 in there but it ran noticeably rougher. Didn't even bother running multiple tanks, I wasn't having that. Bumped up to 89 and it runs great. Been on 89 ever since which is about 10k miles now. 14k total on the truck.

 

In a modern engine higher cylinder volume frequently translates to a higher compression ratio (the difference between the cylinder's largest volume capacity and its lowest volume capacity). The higher the compression ratio, the higher the octane requirement.
However, bigger cylinders don't automatically translate to higher compression ratios, which is a common mistake.

 

Why would you pay for high octane fuel when the engine was tuned for reg.87?

 

I've never used anything but the cheap shit in all my vehicles, you guys are nuts putting premium in a taco... It's a truck, not a lambo

 

welcome back

 

The sad thing is you actually believe this. Done my research. Tuned my vehicles. Tuned maps for 91 and 93 octane respectively, as well as methanol injection. The premium fuel requirements in vehicles tuned for that octane are necessary. You can limp along with regular fuel provided you don't put the vehicle in too high of load conditions that would induce knock.....but if you actually drive it, you risk damage, either short term due to catastrophic piston, ringland, rod or bearing damage, or long term due to stress it induces on the components accelerating wear.

In our trucks, it's not necessary. They are not tuned for it. However, benefits of ethanol free have been noted, and many times is only available in premium grades.

 

87 "corn" free

 

Certain vehicles

Vehicle do not call for premium gas because it burns cleaner, they call for it because that's what the engine is tuned to use. I have a camaro that is tuned for 93 octane fuel and I can tell a huge difference when I use it in power. If an engine is tuned for 87 like our tacomas, there is literally no reason what-so-ever for using premium. The engine wont magically gain more power by just burning premium without a tune. The engine has to be setup/tuned to run premium. And likewise, if an engine is setup to run it, there will definitely be advantages for using 93, namely more horsepower.

At the end of the day, you should use the octane level gas that your vehicle is designed to run with. period. end of story. no more debating. Toyota says the 2GR-FKS is designed to run 87, so that is what we should all be using. unless you tuned your engine to run something different, you are just throwing money away.

 

If you’re MPGs decreased with regular vs premium I would highly suggest you check out or replace your CKP sensor (the one thy are replacing on the stalling risk recall). There are a lot more trucks affected by this than the recall states. You should NOT see a difference in MPGs between octane levels but if you do - at least in my case - the culprit was that sensor feeding bad data and causing timing issues. Once I replaced that sensor I get about the same MPGs whether regular or premium...

 

I use the middle one, 89. It might be a mental thing, but I think it runs better. I can afford the $1-2 difference per tank for a piece of mind.

 

WB.

 

I buy from corporate Shell or Chevron when available. I prefer 93 due to the poor quality of today’s gasoline. It’s hard to prove increases in HP unless you’re hooked to a dyno. For my ‘02 Taco 3.4 & ‘98 S-10 2.2 (daily driver, 550,000+mi) I can drive an extra day before filling up (42miles). The other noticeable- since changing from 87, is the fuel system has given me “0” issues. Some say it’s a fact that 87 breaks down faster than 93. I even run 93 in my mower, weed eaters, chainsaws and Honda rancher. I have seen a difference that’s worth buying premium. You can also note for you diesel owners that it’s not the same either. I have to add a qt of tranny fluid to my tractor & equipment to keep the diesel stable/engine running smooth.

I’m spending a little more at the pump, but I’m saving on mpg’s and components/parts.

Just because someone sets a minimum, doesn’t mean you should follow it. I’m one that prefers quality over lowest bidders.

Good luck

 

Wasn't able to find a decent video with the pinging/knocking i've herd throughout the years... but what it actually is going on is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_knocking

Yeah quite positive on my end. I've had older cars that when going up a hill i lived on would ping (along with power loss when "pinging/knocking") all the way up with Regular, switched to Premium and it would stop...

 

No issues with regular 87.

 

Premium from 76. Chevron if I'm in a pinch.

 

Same here.