Better gas better mileage?

Thank you for confirming my point.

 

Actually, fuel burns at the same rate regardless of how fast the engine is spinning.

Higher revs let you outrun an engine's tendency to knock. That's why you can run more advance up there. The converse happens at lower speeds; the flame fronts can get so much farther relative to how soon the pistons drop down that pressures go up quickly. Remember, octane is fuel's resistance to spontaneous pressure ignition. It helps torque because the more pressure you can have when the connecting rod and crankshaft are at right angles when mechanical advantage is best, as a general rule, the more efficient the engine is.

That's why premium helps low rpm torque. Just look at Toyota's specs for this engine; on 87 its peak torque is at 4500 rpm, but on 91+ it's at 3700 rpm, and 12 ft-lb more to boot.

 

It can, but the 2.7 won't.
The 4.0 arguably does.

With MOST engines, the computer will not advance more than specified for the OM specified fuel, and this is how the 2.7 is.
Run 2000 octane and the 2.7 will run 10 degrees (making that number up).
Run 87 octane and the 2.7 will run 10 degrees.
Run 80 octane and it'll back down if it senses knock. If it's not sensing knock, it'll run 10 degrees.

FYI: "Regular" in higher elevation states is only 85... Utah, Texas, etc...

 

I agree.

It's not so much that higher octane fuel "boosts" performance so much as it allows the engine to perform at factory specs.

But, I think we're getting into semantics at this point.

 

The engine has no ideal what you put in it for fuel and will adjust to a predetermined timing tacking many things unless it detects a knock then it will push the limits to that point. These systems are not intelligent they just do what they have been programmed to do. Let’s see some actual timing curves and HP charts that reflects rear time driving not WOT on a dino just real driving in the mean time I'll continue to buy regular and use the extra money for a coffee and doughnut shoot in a couple tanks I could buy a 6 pack.