High or low Octane

I'm just about to fill up my tank for the first time and was wondering what octane rating everyone out there was using. I was flipping through the manual and found that all Toyota's specs (such as HP and MPG) were done using 91 octane, but you only need 87. Has anyone noticed better MPG with a higher octane or had any notably better performance?

 

I use 89. Middle of the road. Get some performance but not too expensive.

 

I have been using 87 octane, but tried 91 for three consecutive tanks last summer and never noticed any measurable difference in mileage. My engine doesn't knock with 87 Octane and I dídn't notice any performance gain with my truck and 91 Octane. I have around 5 000 miles on my truck.

I was getting 23 mpg (HWY) and 18-19 mpg (city) during the summer months running 87 octane in my 2006 Dcab LB 4X4 Auto.

SAM

 

With the exception of the x runner, all toyota tacoma engines are designed to run on 87 octane. However it doesnt hurt to use the high test gas every once in a while.

 

i run midgrade or high test all the time nowadays. it may be a couple dollars more expensive when you fill up, but i can tell a significant difference between the high test and regular. truck runs smoother and idles better on the good stuff, imo.

 

I agree, the high test is good because it not only has higher octane but also more detergents and such. My butt dyno tells me that my tuck runs best on mid grade, I've tried them all and 89 seems to work the best. I put a tank of 91 in every once and a while just for good measure.

 

I run midgrade as well always had in my 03 for 60,000 miles now, my father borrowed it not to long ago, put regular in it and I could tell a HUGE difference, I knew immediately, It may not really make a difference now but down the road, your yoter will thank you and treat you the same

 

I too have tried them all and i have noticed a difference, 91 is the best but gas prices in cali suck ass but what can you do, i run 89 and its very good for my truck and that what i mainly run, 87 is ok but i can tell the difference in performance.

 

This may explain the ongoing debate as to which Octane Rating to use:

1GR-FE 4.0L V6 from a 2007 Toyota Tacoma. The 1GR-FE is the 4.0L version. Bore is 94 mm and stroke is 95 mm. Output is 236 hp (183 kW) at 5200 rpm with 266 lb-ft (382 Nm) of torque at 4000 rpm on 87 octane, and 239 hp at 5200 rpm with 278 lb-ft at 3700 rpm on 91 octane. This engine features Toyota's single VVT-i, variable valve timing, system and a compression ratio of 10.0:1. Inside, the 1GR uses a taper-squish combustion chamber design with matching pistons to improve anti-knocking and engine performance, while also improving intake and fuel efficiency. Toyota adopted a siamese-type intake port, which reduces the surface area of the port walls and prevents fuel from adhering to such walls. This engine has special cast-iron cylinder liners cast into the block, which are a spiny type to improve adhesion between the liner and cylinder block. With these special thin liners it is impossible to bore the block. In the event of cylinder wall damage (scoring, deep protrusions, etc), the entire cylinder block must be replaced. For increased block rigidity, the 1GR also receives a high temperature plastic insulator/protector, which fills the empty space between the outer portion of the cylinders and block material common to open deck engines. For increased cooling efficiency, the 1GR employs water passages between the bores of the engine. There are such 2 passages for each bank for a total of 4. This reduces cylinder hot-spotting and keeps combustion chamber temperatures more uniform.

Some applications:

2003 Toyota 4Runner
2003 Toyota Land Cruiser (Europe)
2005 Toyota Tacoma
2005 Toyota Tundra
2005 Toyota Fortuner (Middle East)
2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
2007 Toyota Tacoma

 

I have used 91octane on my 2015 tacoma since I bought it... and it has 30k miles now... with not problems but I am worried after reading most comments about engine damage etc... O well I don't want to just add 89oct I feel I might mess it up stepping down to a lesser octane...

 

Wow!!! 12 extra torques!!!

 

You won't damage these Toyota engines by running lower octane fuel. Higher octane in most modern engines will result in slightly higher peak horsepower and torque numbers but not by much. The ECU simply adjusts timing to take advantage of the higher octane fuel resisting detonation longer.