91 Octane - ECT Test

So, having spent all day excitedly glued to the OV Tune thread and like many others, ready to pull the trigger on the highly anticipated release of "Cupid" (seems like a no-brainer), I made a pleasant discovery tonight and just trying to figure out if it was real or all in my head.

1200 miles and 4 weeks into my new PRO ownership and thinking about how OV tuning will bring out the best in my beloved new ride, I pulled into the gas station for a fill up and, just for shits and grins (and curiosity), I filled her up with ethanol-free 91 octane and engaged the ECT power button (only turned it on briefly one other time) and drove 6 miles home. Noticeable difference in throttle response and smoothness! I mean the engine sounded and felt better, not just holding onto the 2000 RPM cruise that I noticed last time I tried the ECT! Am I dreaming or is this a real phenomenon?

Question. Any downside (i.e. harm) to 91 or even 93 octane in the stock engine? Any issue with leaving the ECT button on every time I drive? I certainly don't mind springing for the top shelf gas if there is a real performance benefit as long as there is no risk of damage. Just curious if this is a common practice among TW'ers and maybe a mild performance solution while I contemplate the "pros" (and "cons") of going the OV Tune route.

 

The ethanol free gas is Placebo effect imo. Don't know about ect.

These modern vehicles are designed to run on gas with ethanol . Now I will never put gas with ethanol in any of my atvs.

 

The octane thing and the butt dyno have been debated around here for a while now. You can leave the ect on all the time, there is even a mod you can do so it will stay on until you turn it off. The ov tune I hear is supposed to be a good thing, I don't have it.

 

Don't know about the octane giving any gains on stock engine but many people are driving with ECT on all the time. A member has even designed a mod so it's always on and you dont have to push the button all the time...designed and built by @mesojdm
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ect-auto-turn-on-module.514627/

 

Maybe on just the 91. But ECT on is not a placebo.. there is a noticeable difference.

 

Octane means nothing as far as power from the gasoline. ECT will help you. Ethanol free helps a tiny bit.

 

Yeah, I fully acknowledge the placebo possibility though my ECT/butt dyno effect was real, not imagined. Guess I've been a little reluctant to use the ECT during "break-in" and just experienced the better driving feel really, for the first time tonight. Now that I've surpassed the 1000 mile mark, I'm a little more footloose with the go pedal, so maybe that's all it is. Could be just all the OV Tune thread Kool-Aid I've been drinking today. Anyway, it was my most enjoyable drive tonight (except the first mile driving out of the dealership on day one!) and I can't wait until tomorrow morning's drive to work.

 

ECT on 24/7 FTMFW

 

I'm a believer.

 

Well, ECT is a transmission mode. Fuel octane would have absolutely no affect on that.

Using higher octane gas than is recommended by the manufacturer gets you nothing. Well, maybe more detergents, but no additional performance.

 

Flawed experiment.

You have no control group of running 91 without ECT

You have no control group of running ECT without 91

Your sample size of 6 miles is nowhere near n

"and engaged the ECT power button (only turned it on briefly one other time) and drove 6 miles home."

 

Ain’t that the freakish truth!?!

 

As a scientist, I have to agree with you. Just happened to try 2 new variables tonight and the result was . Sounds like it was pretty much discovering that ECT is a good thang!

 

It's the ECT shift points

 

Not only the shift points, but the changed throttle response is most noticeable

 

As an engineer, you never, ever test two new variables at the same time lol. Just makes results way too confusing!

 

These trucks do run better on premium gas. Period. It isn’t conventional wisdom because yes - normally you just piss money away when you run a higher octane than the engine is rated to run. Even on stock tune I noticed smoother power delivery, the engine is quieter, less vibrations and overall drive ability improvements. Those are clear noticeable differences. Butt dyno could be placebo, yes and I won’t claim you are getting more power from the premium even if it feels like it (unless you are tuned) but overall driveability is improved.

 

My 2016 V6 Tacoma - ECT button on.

0 - 60. Using Shell V-Power 92 octane *






0 - 60. Using Circle K 87 octane *



* = In my mind

 

you have a mind like a diamond.