3rd gen and cheap gas

How many of you run the 87 octane gas, and how does the truck handle it?

I'm shopping new trucks and comapring fuel costs. My 99' 4x4 v6 can ping like crazy sometimes on 87, but is great on 89, wondering if the 2017's run any better on the cheap stuff?

 

Oh boy. This question is much like oil change intervals. Everyone has their own opinion. All I can say is, I have run 87 octane for every tank so far, except for one and that was 89. I noticed no difference whatsoever. Just my opinion though. I am sure guys will chime in that you should never run 87 octane and it will blow your engine up.

 

Is your '99 supercharged? No reason a healthy, stock 3.4l should ping on 87 octane...unless you're buying crappy gas somewhere. I'd start with fresh spark plugs if the current ones are old.

 

The 2GR engine for the Taco application is designed to run on 87....though that number is the minimum octane recommend. A good quality 87 should serve it just fine.

If you're towing 5000 lbs on a hot summer day increased octane certainty can't hurt and might even allow the ECU to advance the timing a bit for slightly increased performance.

Also...most Top Tier premium fuels contain added fuel system detergents. There's probably something to be said for that.

But 87 would be my choice most of the time

 

I've only run 87 and beat a camry yesterday

 

I don't know the Toyota technology in 1999 but nowadays the ECU will adjust timing depending on detonation. If you run 87, no problem. It is detected and adjusted. Run 93? It's your pocketbook but the timing will be adjusted (gradually) to take the different octane into account. IMO there is zero advantage to running a high octane unless you do it religiously for extended periods. You will eventually get a few more HP (not because the octane level but because the ECU has changed operating parameters) but man, the cost of that few HP would be amazing.
I run 87.

 

My experience:
87 E10 = slower on the low-end more of a "slight miss" feeling folks complain about on TW
89 E10 = a bit better on the low-end and while the "slight miss" is still present, it's not nearly as noticeable and the truck still handles relatively smoothly
93 E10 = first 1/2 tank felt like i found the holy grail, better MPGs, gas pedal/steering vibes vanished. after 1/2 tank the steering wheel and gas pedal were vibrating like crazy and it almost seemed like it was either sucking too much air in or too little. the steering dampening and/or power steering even seemed to struggle once it got "adjusted" to the premium. something to do with how the fuel maps adjusted I would hypothesize. it should run OK on premium, but mine just doesn't. I could run a tank of 89 or 87, put a tank of premium (or E0) in and it would run like a dream again for about 1/2 tank before reverting again... like advancing the timing for the octane caused chaos in the computer....
87 E0 (pure gas) = much like the premium, felt like a totally different truck initially but then eventually turned to be a really crappy drive altogether.

In the end, I had to reset my fuel maps with a battery disconnect and am now sticking with 89 E10. Seems to be the best balance of costs and performance anyway. I did LOVE the way it ran on ethanol free for a time, but the software adjusted poorly. I thought my truck had so many issues that came down to the learning behaviors...

 

I'm concerned much less with mileage and power differences, and much more with ping/knock/rattle.

For my 99' which is stock and I have driven for almost 200k miles now, when I buy 87 some tanks it rattles like crazy, other tanks it's 100% fine. It seems to vary by batch of gas, not by brand. Running 89 resolves it 100%. However our last two Prius's (Prii?), also an Atkinson cycle engine, run flawless on 87. So I'm just curious if the new trucks have any ping or knock issues with 87.

 

Do a compression check. It is not unheard of carbon deposits to build on in the combustion chamber and piston dome in high mileage engines and raise compression, and/or create hot spots causing pre-ignition. This happened on my wife's old '96 RAV4 at 230k or so and we had to run 89 octane to keep it from pinging.

At 200k miles I would expect cranking compression to be 10% to 15% less than the high end of the specified acceptable range--if it is at or near the max then carbom buildup could be the problem. Short of pulling the head there's not really much to be done except run higher octane fuel or maybe install a lower temperature thermostat.

Another possibility--it could be a clogged EGR valve or plumbing. EGR reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by reducing combustion temperatures at light loads and lower rpms (already "burned" exhaust gasses cannot be burned again). When not operating as it should it is possible that high chamber temps can spawn detonation.

 

None of those.

91 for me. I have experimented with 87 and it get a lot of piston rattle. I also have a company gas card and I am stuck to using Mobil, if I was able to use Chevron/76 I would run 87.

 

This topic is funny to me. Everyone here touts the science behind extended oil change intervals from blackstone but for some reason the science behind octane ratings eludes everyone. If you have a knock, sure bump the octane rating, otherwise you are wasting your money. Engines in the Tacomas tend to be naturally loud, boosting octane won't change that.

 

I use 87 have since new, however, all the new tacos and most modern vehicles may emit minor pinging at times but not loud or excessive or all the time.
But your '99 sounds like it may have carbon build up in the combustion chamber?
I would bring it to a pro shop and have them run a professional grade cleaner and ck\change the pcv and egr components if equipped on your vehicle.

 

I heard that aviation gas usage will even allow you to pass a Ecoboost and maybe even a Prius.

I tried others than 87 and it messed up my lights, GPS and even cooled off my coffee in a Yeti knockoff. Just not worth it to me. Might even be the cause of all of Smitty s problems.

 

I usually fill up with 87 and never had problems. Notice a bit more pep in the engine when I run 91 but I only get it when I'm out of cali. Gas prices here are too high for marginal gains.

 

Mine knocked a bit at first, but then I stopped running diesel and it now runs like a dream.

 

Costco 87 is all Charlie drinks.

Occasionally I throw in 93 if I want to live like a 1%er. No other value in it.

 

High octane in a Turd gen?

 

Mexico gas 82 Octane

 

i put 87 octane in my wife's Turbo Mini Cooper S, and I thought I was going to ruin the engine with pre-detonation. Absolutely nothing happened.

I don't understand the necessity of high octane without super high boost levels or high compression chambers. Maybe I am stupid.

The 3rd gen V6 is such an inefficient engine. I wouldn't put anything other than 87 in it.