Manual transmission Fan Club and BS thread (All Generations Welcome)

I'll admit i did that once.

on a frame up custom build with a hand-built custom high dollar motor. i put in diesel.

how i feel about it now:

how i felt about it then:

 

I remember taking the Pepsi Challenge at the Mall back in the early 1980's.

 

The PreRunner is dead

Long live the PreRunner

 

You will get better mileage with high octane fuel, but the fuel cost increase is significantly more than any savings from MPG.

 

I would say mine runs smoother on 93. Only performance increase I've noticed is when taking off on a hill (almost like the power band starts a few rpms sooner). I've run 93 since I've owned the truck. For the last couple months I've been running 87 though. Engine seems louder with acceleration.

 

In general, I agree that folks should run the minimum recommendation. I run 87 in Ducati since it is only 10.2:1 CR. The difference is in the Taco seems to be worth it? I'm still checking it out.

My average fill up is 18.2gal. Costco prices on the last two fillups were $2.899/gal (92) and $2.659/gal (87). That is a fair spread between Reg and Prem. They don't sell Mid, which probably caused my mistake (They also don't have window washing squeegees, which drives me crazy). That is a $4.37 fillup cost increase. If I get one additional MPG, that saves $2.55. So, the real cost increase is only $1.82.

I'm only a quarter of the way through the tank, but Costco can have that $1.82. It has taken the $700+ OVtune off my radar for now, esp with the torque hole between 1,500rpm and 4k being gone.

This is just my experience so far.

 

Yeah, I'm not saying you or anyone SHOULD do anything. Just stating facts: it is always more expensive to run high octane fuel.

 

I put 3 tanks of 92 octane in my Tacoma on a trip. No difference in performance and no difference in mpg as tracked by my Ultra Gauge.
There is no benefit to using a higher octane than the engine was designed to use.

 

I agree on any other motor that we have owned, but for my 3rd Gen, I feel there is. So far.

 

Wow, not bad. Here it's $2.67 for 87 and $3.19 for 93, so about $10 per tank extra.

 

Oh boy. Don't get me going on gas prices. When I was using Chevron, I was happy that station was separating grades by about $0.10 or so also. The spread has been getting wider. It is kind of funny because during the bad days in 2008 (before and after) it was always a $0.10 difference.

 

I can say one thing about the manual. The auto has 390/91 gears and the manual has 430s. I surprised a Colorado driver when we took off and going into 3rd at 60mph, he was still behind. Fortunately I did not miss a shift. Love my 6 speed manual.

 

For Pino. I have the Husky floor mats. The front is hard like Weathertec (this type only due to clutch) and I have the softer mat in rear. Love the Husky and the way they wrap on the side areas.

 

IIRC in other applications (Lexus?) the 3.5 requires higher grade fuel. I am assuming the Tacoma's tune is different for 87 but I wonder how hurried it was or wasn't but it feels smoother right now. Didn't the 4.0L have wording about performance being different at 87 vs 91 for a bit in the early years of the 2G / FJ?

I don't see or expect a difference in raw performance, but the power delivery seems better. There is still a bit of a surge at 3,000 RPM at part throttle but it's noticeably less abrupt. Maybe it is the placebo effect but I will definitely take it.

I will say though that both my 4.0L and the 3.5L would ping on a very specific part of my commute with 87 and the 93 has vanquished it.

 

I skip gears at times going up or down. For those new at downshifting, you should tap the gas and bring the rpms up BETWEEN THE DOWNSHIFT, so the gear and flywheel are near the same speed when the clutch is engaged. It’s easier on the clutch. Hope I said that right.

 

Actually, gonna use youre quote to springboard to a question i dont think ive read since ive been here...

How many peeps here stepped into a MT Taco as their very first MT vehicle?...i seem to recall there might have been this one cat from Japan...

 

Mine was a 1950s John Deere.

 

Taco was my first and so far only. Had it about a month now, liking it so far. She's still got less than 1,000 miles on her, hoping to change that soon.

 

Cool...you are that cat from Japan?

 

No, sorry, I'm just a boring Hoosier here in the states.