Should I be using premium gas in my Tacoma?

Do you really think using 87 in a vehicle that requires 87 is going to cause issues?

I'm 42 and drive 2-3× as much as most people. 25 years and well over a half million miles, all on 87, and I've never had an issue.

My experience is that paying extra for premium because you think it's somehow better than regular is a colossal waste of money. There may be a few exceptional situations where performance might benefit, but for the vast majority it's just a waste of money.

 

Well, i'm glad i was cautious spending money in my younger years. I made a decent living racing bikes, but I suffered a serious stroke at 60 possibly related to head injuries during my career. My insurance didn't cover all my bills, thankfully what i saved investing over the years has led me to a comfortable living today. I wish everyone that has a good job think twice about pissing money away on an unwanted need as premium gas for these vehicles. Sure you could die tomorrow getting hit by a car just crossing the street, but thats not the point i'm trying to make.

 

Well it sounds like the point you’re trying to make is by not buying premium gas in allowed you to pay your medical bills are ridiculous someone who buys premium gas is also someone that by Starbucks there’s also someone that probably can afford to eat out and go to the movies etc. etc. some people enjoy life while it’s here all others save for a rainy day to each his own but if we’re talking about being misers the Tacoma was the wrong purchase to begin with. you don’t buy the most expensive midsize truck on the market and then turn around and say I can only afford the cheapest gas because I like to save money.

 

Well you don’t drive more than me bud I got about 1,700,000 miles under my belt live in Southern California my whole life started driving when I was 15 and I’m 48 now construction has caused the commute I’ve driven many vehicles and some of the older ones like an 83 Buick regal would knock when was put in it As I was flooring it getting on the freeway same thing with a Chevy nova I have it varies vehicle the vehicle probably don’t have that issue a newer vehicles but like the owners manual says in in. Why people like to argue I don’t know but it clearly states minimum absolute minimum this means use this or better you people are the kind that would put 85 in it if you could get away with it you are also the same people that spent 30+ thousand dollars on a midsize truck

 

I appreciate the intro as far as I was coming off as rude but that was not my intention you are correct I came across a little stiff because of the condescending and arrogant enough said final statement that was made by you as if enough said and your comments here on out will be irrelevant

 

Do people make me laugh when you throw around the term top-tier as if all fuels are created equal. For the most part all if your bases are equal the additives they’re in separate brands in Southern California or California for that matter has probably the strictest regulations in fuel in the country press in the 1990s the top-tier came about and also in the top-tier is the absolute minimum requirement that is made to be considered top-tier Arco later join the bandwagon to make that car barely make that cut but again we’re talking to someone that probably wants to use 85 But they have to use 87.

 

And some people enjoy life by spending their money on things that make a difference, rather than wasting it on premium fuel that is completely unnecessary.

It's not about what people can afford. It's about realizing that there is no benefit to buying premium.

So you think we should run premium because a carbureted Buick used to knock sometimes? We're talking about a fuel injected modern vehicle that is designed and engineered to run on 87.

The fact is that your vehicle will not last longer by needlessly using premium fuel. The fact that you keep arguing that point proves that you really don't understand fuel and modern vehicles.

Go ahead and run premium if it makes you feel good. The rest of us will spend our money on things that matter.

 

I think this whole 87 versus 91 or 93 octane is getting out of control at least for the ridiculous amount of replies and responses I’m getting personally every time I open up my account on Tacoma world I got 10 or 15 new replies about something I said. Yeah I tend to be a little hotheaded and in person And online and I can apologize when that happens because sometimes I read things or take things the wrong way and for that I do apologize if I come across rude unnecessarily and if the way I come across as justified then you had it coming anyways the whole point is is all I do not sell gasoline I am not trying to convince anyone that you must buy 91 or else what I’m saying is is what the manual says assuming the manual is the be-all of everything as far as proper instructions are concerned it says 87 minimum if we all look at the definitions in the understanding of the context here of minimum that means nothing lower it doesn’t say use 87….It says use 87 or higher there is a reason for the or higher part think about it there’s also a reason why it says do not go below 87 think about it am I suggesting that 91 will give you 50 more horsepower sent you rocketing down the street to the grocery store no I have done upgrades to my truck I have installed quarter inch larger pipes mandrel bent, I installed the TRD cold air intake (yes I know the stock box was cold air as well anything that pulls air from the outside is considered cold air) , I have a k&n air filter, I regularly add Lucas fuel treatment every so many full tanks and use nothing but Chevron premium or Costco premium by choice. Is my truck faster than yours probably not I have a lift kit larger tires and tools in the back and I’m also a pretty big dude. Does my truck run better than yours probably not assuming you do your regular maintenance and oil changes religiously like I do. In the long run assuming we both take care of our vehicles the same minus the fuel conversation we will both probably have 300,000 miles on our trucks and be happy. All the naysayers on here will say and I’ll have an extra $2000 in my pocket and I will say I will be making $40,000 more a year so I won’t care. If in 10 years I’m not making $2000 more than I making now then I’ll probably be sleeping in my truck with a sign that says help with gas please. I spend more on my truck than some and less on my truck than others you could also argue that as long as you wash your truck and take care of it you don’t need to wax it every couple of months like I do and how much money you will save by not waxing your vehicle it doesn’t affect its performance how about we end up with this. The original question was 87 or premium and I guess the answer is if you can afford the premium it sure as hell isn’t going to hurt putting upgraded fuel and a beautiful truck and if you can’t afford it it’s not going to hurt it either

 

The rest of us I didn’t realize you have a club do you have jackets cheapskates ARE US

 

It’s funny I read this and I see guys who laugh at people who want to put premium fuel in their vehicles and how we’re wasting our money and those same guys who are crying about the price and it’s a waste of money and only is 87 are the same guys that put thousands and thousands of dollars into their truck which I also say is that going to make your truck last longer or drive better let everyone spend their money how they want and if someone wants to “waste their money “
Let them do it. I’m going to turn off notifications now because this is just silly. I’m sure those that use multiple quotes for me in a single post will probably troll me on another conversation. They are also probably the ones that like to go around and snitch to the mods Anytime their feelings get hurt so I would just like to say take care and Godspeed

 

There's nothing cheap about using the proper fuel.

Do you also run Amsoil and then change at 3K intervals?

Like I said, I spend my money on things that make a difference. I drink good beer and good booze. I travel every other weekend. I buy good tires. I just don't spend extra money on a product that isn't better for my car.

 

No, point is don't piss your money when your young on things you don't need...try to save for that rainy day because it will come. When, or if you become older you'll appreciate it having the resources to enjoy your later years.

 

Recently retired from the oil industry. Please use premium/supreme/top tier gasoline in all your gas powered devices. It boosts oil company profits thus helps secure my pension and health benefits.

 

I can agree with this

It's difficult to pick up on the tone of others through a forum. I don't think anyone has a personal vendetta against you. I appreciate the conversation/debate, I enjoy trying to understand the perspective others are coming from, and it sometimes leads to helpful insights. No one is laughing at you. At the end of the day, I'd like to think that we all have a common interest; properly maintaining our Tacos. Obviously, what we believe is necessary is a matter of opinion. My point wasn't to discount yours, rather to provide insights as to the potential cost/benefit/reasoning of my own.

 

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I just came in to say what I am about to say and saw this. I haven’t read through the whole thread so not taking sides in whatever other dispute may or may not be going on but it may be relevant to my comment.

I’ve seen a hundred of these high octane vs. low octane threads. I’ve read how the experts say octane has absolutely zero to do with how your motor functions unless it’s a high compression engine designed to run on high octane and I totally agree with that based on my actual real world experience.

I’m 58 years old and have been driving all manner of vehicles and riding motorcycles almost since I could walk and people have been having this argument for a long time. All I know is whether it’s 86 or 93, my Taco runs exactly the same. It’s not the octane it’s the quality of the fuel. If it’s shitty gas, it’s shitty gas. The smartest thing the gas companies ever did was labeling high octane gas “premium” because it immediately puts it in people’s mind that it is better. All it it does is it resists burning at a higher rate. If your engine isn’t designed to work with it, it does absolutely nothing.

I know there will be someone along to tell me I’m wrong and that’s ok but I won’t waste money on higher octane gas in my truck. Had that hammered home to me again recently. I just got back from a very long trip from NM to Minnesota and back. Used a variety of different octanes. I have no dog in the fight either way when it comes to what someone chooses to do with their money, I can only report my own experience and my experience shows zero difference.

 

I was. But, not for using premium.

He was insinuating that those of us use regular do so because we can't afford premium. If he would actually do some research, he would realize that he was wrong.

I have nothing against people who prefer to use premium. It's their money, and their vehicle. But to act as though others are "cheap" for using the proper fuel is silly. And, suggesting that his kids make more money than you was entirely unnecessary.

 

Again, the point shouldn’t be whether people are cheap or that they want to waste their money but what octane fuel is recommended by Toyota and how some people benefit from higher octane fuel. You are also mistaking by calling 87 the proper fuel because Toyota recommends 87 or higher so it would not be right to imply that higher than 87 is not proper fuel.

 

You are right but you’re also wrong because you are imposing your experience and opinion on others like myself. In my case, I’ve only been using Shell for as long as I can remember and for the first 3 years of owning my Tacoma I only used 87 until about a month or so ago when I decided to try 93 and I can tell you that the difference in the way my truck drives is like night and day compared to 87 octane. It performs and drives much better and that’s my reality just like you have yours. That’s why I’m not here to tell anyone that 93 is better than 87 but to answer the OP original question about what gas he should put in his truck. So based on my experience, I would not use 87 if have the option to use 93. The other argument is that it’s a fact that Toyota states in the owner’s manual in black and white that 87 or higher is recommended and not 87 only like so many want to believe.

 

Now you're splitting hairs. I never suggested that premium was not the proper fuel. All I said is that 87 octane is proper according to the manual. Anything 87 or higher is recommended, so anything 87 or higher is the proper fuel.

Maybe some folks in some situations could benefit from higher octane. But, that's not what was being discussed. The member I was quoting was implying that people who use regular are cheap, or can't afford it, when the actual reason is that we don't want to spend more money for the same result.