Should I be using premium gas in my Tacoma?

Yup. I personally don't keep vehicles longer than 5 years so I don't see the issues that can pop up with fuel etc. Only car I will have for a long time is my Nova and it gets premium from whatever station I go to. However that motor gets rebuilt when needed so doesn't really matter

 

I like to think outside the box and for a much longer return on my assets.

So let's just say that if 20 gal a week is only four dollars a week X 52 weeks, than in a year it’s $208. And In ten years it comes to $2080. That’s tangible, not perceived or a placebo effect.

 

The price difference here (Texas) is $0.42 89 and $0.5 for 91.
Per tank:
89 = $8.40 more
91 = $10.00 more

Annual (Assuming 1 tank/week):
89 = $437
91 = $520

10 Years:
89 = $4,370
91 = $5,200

This assumes you have only one car you fill with premium. The extra amount you would pay for 91 in 10 years would be equivalent to 15% of the cost of your truck new (assuming you paid $35k). So I don't think this should be looked at as "Is it worth an extra $5-10 now", rather "Is it worth $2,000 - $5,000 in the life of the truck". Even if higher octane somehow granted you an extra couple of years of engine life, it would not financially make sense. Would an extra $5k be nice for a downpayment on a new truck? Probably.

 

I put 93 octane in my truck and I was able to fit 35's on stock lift without rubbing. still gets 28MPG.

 

If you're not having engine timing issues, what difference does it make.

 

Can of seafoam works better.

 

Yes ,I have used a can of seafoam as it cleans out the injectors etc but still like to throw in a tank of high octane once in a while. I use seafoam on my small engines to stabilize the gas over the winter month storage. Great stuff

 

Seafoam is for old 2-cycle boat motors. It has no PEA. I use Gumout All-in-One but even wonder if that makes much difference. You know ethanol itself is a pretty good solvent and cleaner.

 

I use regular almost all the time. I sometimes tow up to 700-800 miles of 4k lbs, so running at 2500-5k rpm for hours on end. I've done it on premium and regular, but noticed no difference. I do tend to run premium when running heavy though, and even if it does nothing else it makes me feel good about myself lol.

 

I use no fuel additives at all. I spend my $$ at a name brand top-tier fuel dealer who services the pump filters regularly as mandated by the brand maker contract and with the proper amounts of additives in the fuel already added in, at the refinery.

Moreover, I've had no fuel related issues in hundreds of thousands of miles for the past 20+ years, therefore I'm not a fan of additives that may harm expensive fuel system components by using too much of any given additive.

 

Well if we’re going to take that route Then it’s also look at the 10 year difference in maintenance and repairs and let’s see if you end up spending $2000 more than I would 10 years from now because you weren’t using premium products on your vehicle

 

I am older school I was taught take care of what takes care of you

 

You know this math gets ridiculous where does it stop do you drive 5 miles down the street to go to the cheapest gas station in town no you spend more in gas to get there than you would fill up at the higher price across the street from your house do you use fresh whole milk or do you drink powdered milk do you cut open your toothpaste tube you know after 10 tubes of toothpaste and you cut those open you get one free tube of toothpaste out of it don’t forget coupons don’t forget if you’d like to ply toilet paper and separated you get two rolls per one I mean Jesus Christ this could go on foreverIf you’re going to look at things in the long run you have to remember one thing you’re not gonna fucking live that long and you’re gonna die saving money for nothing

 

Dude, I just posted on post #176 I've had no fuel related issues using top-tier fuels. And that includes no other major engine failures such as head or valve damage. Only thing I had was a clogged EGR port on a '97 (In '99 @ 50k miles) Ford CV 5.0L V-8 which was notorious and well known to the Ford techs and NOT related to regular\premium or any type of fuel used lol!

All I ever use is the minimum or cheapest top-tier octane rating recommended in the OM.

 

Sir, I am an accountant. Nuff said

Edit: Also in my 20’s. Unfortunately, I don’t plan on dying in the next 10 years, so I guess saving my money is a priority. Kudos to you for not having to worry about that type of thing.

 

NO,total waste of money.

 

sir accounting people die young all the time. People don’t plan on dying young. I’m just saying save all your pennies or none of them. Do you tell your clients don’t buy a Tacoma because the money you’ll spend on the poor mpg these trucks are know for you easily buy a different vehicle or truck with much better mpg and save your money because, after all not every one is young like you. He it goes stud. I was 20 once then I was 30 now I’m in my late 40s I’ve seen people in their teens in their 20s die unexpectedly it happens unfortunately I have kids that are older than you they probably make more money than you I’ve taught them well they make wise choices I’ve also taught them don’t listen to accountants who tell you to save a few dollars and go buy shit gas so you can turn around and use your credit card later on down the road when your vehicle runs like shit because this guy is telling you to spend the absolute minimum you can to make a vehicle function bottom line is once you’re 50 years old come talk to me about life experience stud. Nuff said

 

Damn dude, it's a fuel thread.

And to stay with that, how will 91 octane top tier gas take care of your truck better vs 87 top tier? Because you can have the same additive package and quality of fuel regardless if it's regular or premium. AKA the octane rating. Which may or may not effect timing advance/retardation (performance) depending on a whole other crapload of factors.

 

When it's all said and done...THIS is the only benefit of using Premium over Regular.

 

Hey man, at first I thought you were coming off as rude but I don’t think that’s your intention. First off, not all accountants consult. I’m all for you doing whatever with your own money. Second, my stance was 87 is sufficient, and spending the extra on 89/91 is not indicative of a good/bad owner. I don’t pretend to be an expert but I have torn down and replaced engines for AutoX. My (and most) early miatas have 200k- 300k miles. I would compare the Japanese 4-banger in those cars to that of the Tacoma. Guess what? All these early miatas have ever used 87. Thirdly, a bit personal, but I’m sure you know someone around my age who makes more. But guess what? I’m debt free. No student loans, car note, have never had a balance due on my credit card, etc., and that’s not because someone paid for them for me. You don’t have to make a lot to make wise investment choices and save for the long-term.

I’m not a penny-pincher. I was taught to do research and understand the reasons why, and benefits, before making decisions. If the old school way is spend money on the most expensive option because quality must follow the absolute dollar amount, I think there is flawed logic right there. I bet you’re one of those guys who buys Fiji water because it’s more expensive, and therefore taste better.