Shell 93 v-power and my imagination, maybe,

So much wrong here. And compression matters.

You're guarantee isn't worth shit.

37k miles in my truck going between regular and premium tells me it's not in my head. And again no one here is talking about power. It's about drivability. I guess the guys who have logged their trucks missing on regular vs. how they run on premium is in their head too.

 

Sorry to hurt your feelings with facts, but facts are facts and the feeling your are getting is in your head. I get it, we all want to believe in Santa Claus, but it just isn't true.

 

OVTune did mention very high amounts of misfiring, stuttering and audible knock / pinging on the stock tune, maybe it's not all in your imagination...

 

I'm still waiting for you to say anything substantial. You talk about facts, but fact is you have no idea how my truck or anyone else's runs. You also have no answer for guys who have logged their trucks performance on different fuels. You know, using actual facts.

Why in the world would I want to believe that my truck runs better on .40 per gallon more expensive fuel? Lol. Clown.

 

This has been logged by several users as fact. Some are lucky and don't notice or have it. Lots of others do.

 

The newer engines are indeed advanced, and the Tacoma only needs 87/86 octane... anything more is not going to hurt, nor help... eliminating ethanol is the key, which could explain why folks think their vehicles run better (using TopTier is also recommend by Toyota). Believe what you wish, spend your money as you wish, and if you desire, do some research on different octane levels and the why, what, and when required. There is no conspiracy... the net is full of professional automotive research companies and highly educated engineers explaining octane. If you think the truck runs better, keep pouring extra octane (aka money) into the tank... me, I’ll save that cash for my next down payment.

 

This thread is the reason why you should never trust the internet / or base any decisions on what you read on the internet. I have based quite a few purchase because of TacomaWorld.... none have been bad due to my own research.

You can seek advice but really it is up to you do do actual research and base a decision on your findings.

I have only used 91 or 93 for years but today ... ironically...I actually filled up with a half tank with 87. I will see how it goes.

YMMV..... old saying. Ha.

 

Interesting, what school and degree?

 

Wow... you seem to be making some ignorant assumptions, I was actually being sincere vs sarcastic with my inquiry. I wasn’t challenging your ECQ’s, just looking for an educational foundation on your thought processes to assist me in my understanding of your thinking. Maybe it’s best not to read emotion into the non-emotional written world.

 

Anybody running ethanol free in their 2.7? I have a station around the corner from me that sells e-free gas, and it's all I run in my small engines (lawn mower and 2 strokes).

On other note. About 20 years ago, I helped a friend move a table and after we were done he filled my gas tank with premium. I didn't really pay much attention or even think about it at the time. Later in the week I noticed a difference as it ran smoother. It took a few days before I remembered that it had premium gas in it so it wasn't just my imagination. It wasn't a car that called for premium gas and it was a station wagon.

 

The question I have (and I experience the same stuttering at low rpm/high load), is how is the truck 'passing' any emissions with a misfire? Secondly, if it is truly a misfire, why is the ECU not picking it up? Dieselgate anyone?

 

That’s what I’ve understood is that ethanol is only an issue for carburetors, for mordern fuel injection it’s not an issue since it burns everything.

This is only what I’ve read, so it may be heresey.

 

What fact do you need beyond 87 and 93 octane fuel have the same amount of energy per gallon? I log my fuel as well and see variations. I could make my numbers look better using shell vs exxon, but you can't ignore the facts. Increasing octane is not a performance improvement.

 

That's just total bullshit! Telling someone it's all in their head. I have two new Tacomas and both run better on 93 octane. It's a fact! Simple as that I can tell a difference and I might not be up on the technical jargon but it definitely does run and drive better.

 

Calm down Larry. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you that Santa isn't real and Budweiser really isn't the king of beers, but it is true. Octane isn't a performance enhancer.

When you start to get carbon build up because you went high on octane and not getting the burn as engineered, don't come back here crying.

 

Not in California

 

Ok Buddy, I can see where this is going. Keep on living in your dream and I will keep on using the higher grade gas. Not getting into a pissing contest but if my truck get carbon build up. I can do two things if I still have it and that's buy another one or let Toyota fix it under my extended warranty but in the mean time if it runs and drives great on 93 why suffer with poor driveability. Not me! Oh by the way Buddy, I don't cry. I do where big boy pants not pull ups like some. I don't believe in santa but in my necc of the woods budweiser isthe king of beers, sorry but you gotta face it. Not some panty ass special beer for me.

 

These are all in Cal.

 

Your logic is not quite right - it's not a simple function of energy content or directly related to the octane itself. I will agree that 87 and 93 have the same energy content. However, if the engine can run at advanced timing (without pre-detonation), and efficiently extract more of the energy content, it can produce more power; possibly even running smoother. The octane helps with the pre-detonation only. Not saying the 3.5L will or won't produce more power, but the potential is there if the control logic will allow it to run at more advanced timing figures with higher octane fuel. Engines aren't operating at 100% efficiency so there is always room to improve, but sometimes it's just not worth the added cost.

For the record, mine seems to run just fine on 85 octane - but I live at 6,500 ft altitude. It may run better for me with higher octane, but do I want to pay .50/gl more?

 

Ok. I'm convinced now.