Gasoline in your 2nd Gen

I appreciate your curiosity on the matter and certainly don't feel you're judging. When I took the truck in after first hearing the knocking I spoke with the lead tech and service manager about the TSB, to which they explained what it does to resolve the issue.They said it technically only applies to 2012 - 2015 but my 2011 according to the VIN was a late 2011 production and therefore said they'd perform the TSB at no charge after detecting the knocking themselves after a test drive.

The lead tech though advised against it based on the fact it ultimately retards the timing which theoretically reduces power. He said if it was his truck he wouldn't do it. Here is the link to the TSB thread which has the official TSB attached in it: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/t-sb-0044-14-feedback-engine-ecm-reprogram-pinging.337705/ After consulting that thread back in 2015 when I first found it, and speaking with several more Toyota Tech's at three (3) different dealers, they all differed to running higher octane if I didn't mind spending more money on fuel over having the TSB performed. The thread I linked mentions many times no noticeable power loss after performing the TSB, but I just didn't want to go through with it knowing what the TSB ultimately did to correct the knock. I tow all the time (Overland Trailer, Boat, & Flat Bed Trailer) which was another reason I chose not to have the TSB performed. These engines are already down on power as it is and i've not helped that any by performing the mods I have (bigger tires mainly) which is another reason I'd rather pay more to run 93 OCT to correct this knock issue. Since then, no issues and when I had my steering rack replaced a couple of weeks back, my shop that I goto for big jobs I don't want to perform myself did me a favor and stuck a camera down in my cylinders just to have a look at them with the mileage i'm at. Cylinders didn't have any major build up which they'd showed me from photos and told me to keep doing what i'm doing and the engine will last another 100,000+ miles.

 

Costco - $1.25 - 87 octane

 

Chevron 91 all the way with seafoam every 3 months.....and regular maintenance ...great gas mileage are the results

 

FYI, theres no way they could of applied the TSB to a 2011- truck, the cal file simply isnt there to load to the different ecu's of the older truck.

Also the change made is a reduction in timing (by like 1-1.5*) in a very specific area, doing so reduces knock in that area which allows a greater Knock Correct Learn values over the entire "rpm zone" resulting in a more advanced and proper timing everywhere in that zone.

Needless to say you dont loose any power with the TSB.

And lastly, never listen to the dealers when it comes to the TSB... they dont know their head from their ass on them.

 

2008 V6 , 87 octane . I have almost 124000 miles. I added Seafoam once or twice .

 

Filled up today . $2.19 a gallon . That’s cheap for around here ! 87 octane Citgo

 

That seems.. odd. But if it works then thats cool

 

Guess I'm the only one running 89 Mid Grade, or plus depending what the station calls it. I've been running 89 since I bought the truck. I can tell the difference in power from regular to plus gas, but not so much between plus and premium.

 

Gasoline is gasoline. Whether you buy from Chevron, Shell , Arco or who ever, the basic gasoline is all the same. The difference is in the additives including Ethanol. Most all known retailers sell tier 1 gasoline which means it has a certain minimum amount of cleansing additives. They all cleanse and work about the same. It is marketing that tell you one is better than another. I put the brand in my truck that is the cheapest and in my area that is generally ARCO. Chevron and Shell around here usually run about .50 cents a gallon more. No matter what additives they use it is not worth that much a gallon more. Never ever have I had any problems with my vehicles due to using lower priced gas.
At every oil change I put a bottle of gas additive/cleanser as an extra cleansing agent. Works good, runs great.

 

All the dealers I took it to hooked it up ready to perform the TSB and said it would work, but i'm not trying to argue, simply stating what they showed me. I appreciate the valued input; I've never been a fan of dealerships performing work on my vehicles and have built up a trusted relationship with a local business to perform any work I can't do on my own for both of my Toyota's.

 

Regular gas and a can of Berrymans B12 Chemtool every couple months.

 

Gas brand threads are the new oil brand threads.

 

Negative on Sam's.

All of your major brands are going to be Top Tier certified. List can be found here.

Certification has zero to do with the gasoline itself and everything to do with the additive package. If the additive package is Top Tier certified, then so is the gasoline (or diesel) that it goes into.

There is no such thing as a "highest refinery standard" when it comes to gasoline. Refineries do not produce gasoline in quality tiers. Does it pass the single set of specifications established by the EPA, API, etc? Yes? Then here is a CoA/CoQ and that's it. Did it matter that in order to meet specs the gasoline in question needed 10,000ppm of H2S scavenger or metal passivator or reblending? Lol no.

I use 89 in my 2010 for the past 100,000 or so miles. I'd use the same in my 2014 were it not superchargered.

 

I am reminded every so often about just how little people actually know, if anything at all, about the stuff they put in their vehicles to make them run.

 

I paid $1.39 at Jay C in Corydon, for 87 octane. I'd been running 93 octane for a couple of weeks since it was all cheaper. I think I noticed about a 1/2 mpg improvement, not really worth the extra cost.

 

My 1rst gen has a Supercharged 4cyl so I can only run 91 octane and currently paying $3.15 gal

 

with this virus going on within a few mounts in WA went from $3.xx a gallon to $1.59. getting plenty of wheeling in when it cost about $25 for a full tank

 

From my knowledge, engines don't run more efficiently and are certainly not producing more power with premium gas over regular gas. the only difference is a higher octane, which increases the temp at which the combustion will take place. higher compression motors need the higher octane so they do not combust before the cylinder has reached top dead center. this creates knock. When someone says their tacoma engine "runs smoother on the highway" or "is more powerful" with premium, they are experiencing this all in their mind. Its their mind telling them that it totally made a difference. In reality, running a higher octane when not necessary is not going to make any difference (unless you're experiencing a knock from improper timing).

Buy the cheap gas. additives later on can make a difference for life of the gas, cleansing injectors, etc, but buying premium gas at the tank will not make you more efficient or more powerful.

 

I’m running e10 87 from Costco at 94 cents a gallon. Why use any additives if you are running quality gasoline? Look for “Top Tier” this rating means it’s got more than the minimum amount of detergents in the additive package. Been using it for years no problems

 

Exxon 87 and Amsoil PI every 5K. 21-22 mpgs. No pinging of any kind, 91K.