Premium gas

On my MT Tacoma, with 87 octane fuel, the torque dip around 3K RPM makes for painful driving - the acceleration almost ceases for a few seconds, until well past 3K - especially bad in hot days (I live in Florida), not as much in colder temps. Super unleaded mitigated the problem, then the addition of Papa Ree's tune plus high octane almost erased this symptom. I tried again regular unleaded after the tune, and it was not as bad as prior to the tune, but not pleasant either.

As previously mentioned, the ECU retards the ignition more with regular octane, and so the engine feels very lethargic. So I am only using high octane.

Interesting though, on my Lexus ES (also with the 2GR-FKS), the issue is much, much reduced. I am guessing the automatic shift mapping (8 speed auto in this case) is helping disguise this dip in torque by staying out of this low-torque zone. Here high octane helps a bit with response, but not at all a must.

 

No sir. “Premium” starts at 91.

 

E0=non-ethanol

I guess it's only a few retailers that do it; not a nationwide thing.

 

Only a few according to this website...
https://www.pure-gas.org/

 

It is not. But it is most useful in vehicles designed to require it.

True. Hang around here long enough and you'll get to meet many.

 

The biggest thing I noticed is that made any difference and still small was using ethanol free 87 octane. A place near me sells it. I was like 20-30 cents more than the 10% ethanol gas we get everywhere else but now the place wants more than premium. So as not to blow out my budget it’s not something I’m doing anymore.

 

No difference other than $$$$$. I use Premium only in my lawnmower, ATV, chain saws as it is the best for small engines. just saying

 

Tip to make your A/C run better upon startup (if you have hot cab). Don't run inside air right away, it puts strain on the A/C compressor and keeps hot air trapped in the cab longer.

On startup to get the best A/C performance with a hot cab it is best to open the windows, run outside A/C, wait for relatively cool air to start flowing then close then windows, then turn on inside air.

I use this trick with my 2004 Camry (202K miles) and with my 2017 Tacoma (72K) miles. Works well and the vehicle cools down way faster.

As far as premium gas goes, other posters are correct, you will need a software ECU tune to unlock the potential of the engine.

 

I use E0 87 octane and my truck loves it. I ran several tanks of premium in a row last year to see if I gained anything significant and didn't really gain much. Switched back to E0 87 and I am getting 2+ mpgs over E10 87.

 

Tried the premium pumps in my truck for a few fill up's...it sucks. The truck runs sub-par power, transmission hunts on every road grade, plus the fuel leaves the tail pipe inside tip black as soot compared to a grayish brown when using 87 regular. Truck runs excellent otherwise when you use regular.

 

If that were the case every 3.5 engine should see a noticeable difference in power. I see just the opposite. The truck is tuned to run at its peak with regular.

 

Depends on station. E0 is definitely way more common here tho. It’s all I’ll run in my small/turbo motors. Tacoma just gets regular.

 

that would be true with older vehicles, but not newer ones with dynamic timing. you can see this for yourself if you use an obd scanner and track your timing advance in a graph. takes a few tanks for the ecu to adjust to the higher octane fuel so you will mainly see the short term fuel trim change, then slowly the timing will change.

 

What @saint277 said. If you're staying on the Stock tune, stick with Reg.

 

I stand by my statement. The ECU is designed to adapt to many things. However, there are many videos and studies showing little to no benefit from running premium in an engine not designed for it. You're pretty much throwing your money away at that point.

 

I'm tuned and run premium fuel . I definitely see the benefits of running premium fuel. I'm 5400 lbs and I get about stock mpgs. 19 to 20 mpg with stock gears and 315/75/16

 

No measurable difference as far i can tell. Same goes for MPG

 

https://youtu.be/Bb5VfiFy0kY
addresses octane, fuel additives, tunes, manufacture recommendations (general) and exceptions.

 

I think I will stick with 93. I'm running a tune but prior to the tune I always ran 93. I tried the lower grade and few times and I can just tell it runs different. I can tell in my truck so for me there is a difference.

 

...that's some seriously good mpgs...