Gas Octane

Obviously a torquey-er motor will accelerate a given load to interstate speed faster, but don't short the benefits of a higher HP motor to cruise that load at speed, i.e., do work over time, more smoothly and effortlessly.

It's curious to note: 266 lb/ft @ 3700 gives 203 hp, while the 278 lb/ft @ 4000 only 195 hp. Both RPM's are SCREAMING the motor, hardly highway cruising friendly. Clearly, it's more complex than just looking at torque at one RPM only; one needs the entire torque curve to gage benefit. The key thing is: get that torque at lower RPM's, where you want to cruise on the highway, and that's what diesel's do very well.

That said: it's also seems to be clear to me this motor is being throttled; it's 10:1 compression suggests premium but runs very much as well with it as with the regular Toyota reccomends. Would be really curious to know if anybody is chipping 1GR motor ECU's, or if it's even possible.

 

Yeah, I haven't seen any dynos but the leading community theory is that the Taco's torque curve is flatter than the competition (i.e. Frontier) which is why it feels like the more responsive vehicle.

My point was simply: For a truck, I'd rather have the emphasis on torque than HP. Highway cruising is what my little Matrix is for anyway.

 

WOW...I havent been on this post for a while, and I am glad that this actually became a good thread. A lot of great info is posted and I would like to thank all you Taco enthusiasts for your help on the topic.

 

87 but do 93 once a month

 

Exactly. And if the knock sensors retard the timing, your MPG's go to shit as well

 

avgas?

Or racing fuel?

 

i use 89 or 93. But that's mostly because i am used to my wrx and bmw that allways needed 93

 

200 miles v6 1/2 tank left. 07 v6 manual. regular gas

 

I doubt that fuel economy is going to be night and day on premium vs. regular, and I know nobody can really feel 5 hp, or even 10. To me, the benefit is that the less pre-detonation the engine senses, the less intervention there will be. In essence, the engine will run as designed rather than 'acceptably', but with retarded timing and enriched mixture. Although I've seen higher octane effect lap times on some cars, I think on most it's just not perceptible. The problems with running regular in an engine designed for premium are subtle and accretive over the long term, not obvious from one tank to the next.

 

It's an engine dyno. BHP is around 203 for our trucks.

The more you mod your truck the more of a benefit of 91-93 octane you'll see. Grandpa in his 2.7 banger won't see shit for a difference.


But Joe Blown with the APR-X1, super charger, cold air intake with the aftermarket exhaust and DTLT Headers sure as fuck will though.

Take it with a grain of salt. I run 91 cause I see a bit of an improvement in engine responsiveness and I have a heavy foot due to my work so I'm in the upper RPMs anyways. That and with bigger tires, hills and prairie wind to contend with any extra power and torque I can get is a welcome bonus.

 

The article didn't mention what method was used to measure HP so it's probably safer to assume it was measured at wheels and adjusted to flywheel values like they usually do. If it was measured at the flywheel then I'd expect to see the measuring method (SAE gross or net, bhp, etc). If Toyota did it I suspect it would probably be SAE certified since they are so big on it now.

At any rate, since they did NOT state the method, it's still highly questionable exactly HOW they did it and therefore just how it compares to the SAE certified value Toyota claims for the engine. It's important to note that when Toyota went to SAE certified claims for the V6 Camry in 2005, it went from 210 down to 190 hp. Same engine, just different measurement method.

Totally agree if you add any kind of forced induction that premium should be a major benefit in this motor (considering it's purported compression ratio). If not a requirement to prevent early self destruction!

 

85.

 

91

 

3 tanks with 87 high was 18.1
3 tanks of 93; 18.1, 18.7 and 19.1

All shell gas. I have gone to two stations,and use the same pump at each of the stations.

 

v6 manual, 204 miles at 1/2 tank line

 

on regular 87

 

I got 400 miles on a full tank of 91 octane

 

I kept track of mileage in a spreadsheet when I first bought the truck. I definitely got better mpg with the 91, but with the difference in price there was no savings. Truck just works better with the more expensive fuel!

 

Now that I've had mine a couple months and tried more grades I've settled to using 89, at least while the price is down somewhat.

Not saying there is no difference but I can't really see it with all the other variables at play. On principal, if the V6 has a 10:1 compression ratio I really think it SHOULD matter so I'm using 89 at least for now while prices are relatively low.

IMO: with a 10:1 the difference from 87 to 89 and especially to 91 or even 93 should be very obvious (it sure as heck is with my Maxima and it's only a 9.5:1). That it's not means Toyota has de-tuned this engine: so we get the mpg of a 4.0L engine without the power. What pisser.

Maybe it was a nod to TRD, steering people to the supercharger...

 

i have used 91 Octane since the day i got the truck.