What octane of gas do you use?

[khalid74120021]

This thread is pretty old so I'm going to re-ignite it (pardon the pun).

I used to driver a Lexus IS250 which was required to use 91 octane.

I just bought a 2016 4Runner and the dealer told me 87 octane is fine. I want to be one of those 250,000 mile toyota owners. Will is be better for the long term life of the car to fill 91?

Also, I read an article that said the high quality additive gasolines can cause additive buildup in the engine. So now I fill up at ARCO about 3 times a month, then Shell or Chevron once a month in order to not over-do it with the additives.

Any input? Thanks in advance.

Just bought a 2017 4Runner Off-Road Premium and land on this page related to which octane rating gas is ok to use. My previous car was an Infiniti Q60S which required premium gas and I was hoping regular 87 rating gas would be fine.

According to my manual pg 474 and 475,

"You must only use unleaded gasoline.
Select octane rating 87 (Research Octane Number 91) or higher.
Use of unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 87
may result in engine knocking. Persistent knocking can lead to
engine damage.

Related to your question,

Recommendation of the use of gasoline containing detergent additives
●Toyota recommends the use of gasoline that contains detergent additives to
avoid the build-up of engine deposits.
●All gasoline sold in the U.S.A. contains minimum detergent additives to
clean and/or keep clean intake systems, per EPA's lowest additives concentration
program.
●Toyota strongly recommends the use of Top Tier Detergent Gasoline. For
more information on Top Tier Detergent Gasoline and a list of marketers,
please go to the official website Home | Top Tier Gas

So looks like Toyota recommends gasoline with detergent additives and 87 rated Octane is ok. However, I might just continue with premium as I was putting that in my Infiniti already and it might help with engine longevity. I want this car to last to 300K+ miles.

 

[Ashby]

Toyota engineers did there research. I feel like anything more is just money into Big Oils pockets

 

[ryanlord43]

I use the cheapest gas possible haha I don't see a huge improvement when using premium in my runner.

 

[jonhdz313]

91 for my Lexus and 87 for the T4R.

 

[TRT87]

Toyota's Response

Everyone,

I was curious what Toyota would say about this, so I emailed their customer service. Below is my question and their response.

============================================

Subject
Optimum Octane for 2018 4Runner

Discussion Thread
Response Via Email (Daniell T.) 01/23/2018 01:34 PM
Dear Mr. Txxx,

Thank you for taking time to contact Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and congratulations on the purchase of your 2018 Toyota 4Runner!

We appreciate the opportunity to address your inquiry regarding the fuel for the vehicle.

The "Research Octane Number 91" quote refers to the research done by the government. When testing the vehicle, 91 grade octane was used in order to determine the miles per gallon (MPG) ratings for the vehicle. The higher grade the octane level, the better mpg the vehicle will get.

For more information on fuel economy we encourage you to visit: Fuel Economy.

Your email has been documented at our National Headquarters. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Daniell T.
Toyota Customer Experience Center

Customer By Web Form (Tyler Txxx) 01/18/2018 07:02 AM
Sir/Ma’am,

The 2018 4Runner owner’s manual states the following: “Select octane rating 87 (Research Octane Number 91) or higher. Use of unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 87 may result in engine knocking. Persistent knocking can lead to engine damage.”

The minimum octane requirement is clear, but what is the optimum octane content for engine performance?

What does “Research Octane Number 91” mean?

===============================================

Hope this helps clarify what the manual says.

- Tyler

 

[Sr Auron]

Manual says 87, I'll put it in whatever i can afford xD

 

[muellernautique]

87 in the 3rd gen, no less than 91 or 93 in the c1500 and miata.

 

[TacoRunn0517]

I've been putting in 87 gas. I just make sure its Top Tier if I can help it. Would be interesting to hear from high-mileage 5th Gen owners pertaining to this "issue." I'd imagine there haven't been any issues with gas that isn't Top Tier...

 

[mnofpeace]

2014 SR5...

i usually put in regular, but once a month i have gotten into the habit of dropping in 91 or even 93 octane into it. or if i am going to road-trip it...definately 91/93.

Ive read, and already know from my motorcycle racing, higher octane will give you more hp. And ive seen that the higher octane in the Runner will give about 300hp...so...

 

[muellernautique]

2014 SR5...
i usually put in regular, but once a month i have gotten into the habit of dropping in 91 or even 93 octane into it. or if i am going to road-trip it...definately 91/93.

good habit because lots of premium gas has additives and fuel system cleaners, much like the stuff Lucas makes. when I go on a road trip, i put in 91/93 and pour in a bottle of Lucas fuel system cleaner. it's not good to let that crap sit in your tank for a week/200miles while you let it burn down. best to put it in then run it down.

 

[Bluesky 07]

It astounds me that this comes up again & again. Absent special circumstances like altitude, any octane higher than the manual recommends is simply a waste of money. Ever see a manual that specified 89? The only reason it’s even offered is marketing research that shows when people are offered three choices, they tend to choose the middle one.

It’s your money but you care way more than your truck ever will.

 

[99problems]

In case anyone wanted a decent rundown of WHY you don't need anything higher than the minimum recommended octane (argument for additives notwithstanding):

Is Low Octane Fuel Bad For Your Car or Should You Use the Expensive Stuff?
https://youtu.be/r6_yyJZ2w7w

 

[Bluesky 07]

In case anyone wanted a decent rundown of WHY you don't need anything higher than the minimum recommended octane (argument for additives notwithstanding):

Is Low Octane Fuel Bad For Your Car or Should You Use the Expensive Stuff?
https://youtu.be/r6_yyJZ2w7w

Great info & cool retro dress too. Scotty Kilmer gives his manically entertaining take on the subject here.

 

[Redcamaro72]

try to get mid grade in mine. I keep reading that when people are towing they use higher octane. I might have to try that when I finally get a chance to tow my boat for the first time.

 

[toyotaspeed90]

I've posted about this for years on other forums, might as well post it here as well.

You want to run the LOWEST octane (either recommended or without pinging) possible in your vehicle.

The octane (or, the slightly different rating value found for RON) are values for the ability for the gas to resist ignition.

The higher the number, the more difficult it is to burn the fuel.

This is why in high performance engines (turbocharged, supercharged, high compression ratio, crazy advanced timing, etc) there are needs for higher octane. Those performance engines have a higher temperature in the combustion chamber, and lower octane gasses will pre-ignite (also known as knock). This is the principle in which diesel engines work - pre-ignition - which is a chaotic ignition event. Gas engines use a spark plug for a controlled ignition - meaning, the time when the gas is to ignite is specifically when the spark plug tells it to. Anything else is pre-ignition.

So then you might think "well, running higher octane is good then, I won't ever knock/pre-ignite, and I'm protecting my engine" - that may not also be true.

That isn't necessarily the case either, though. When you remember the number of ignition, and fuel spray, events that happen each minute - and you consider the fuels ability to "resist" ignition as you increase octane (I didn't mention this, but it also slows the flamefront of the gas burning) you could be causing unintentional damage. Unburned fuel could build up on valves or on O2s/cats, a slow flamefront could cause issues in the exhaust, etc.


As a side note - it doesn't surprise me that with towing there is a suggestion to increase octane - that is because the engine is being pushed harder and is under load more - which increases internal combustion temperatures and increases the risk for pre-ignition.

 

[Hokie-Pokie VT]

Top Teir

I've been putting in 87 gas. I just make sure its Top Tier if I can help it. Would be interesting to hear from high-mileage 5th Gen owners pertaining to this "issue." I'd imagine there haven't been any issues with gas that isn't Top Tier...

This guy has got it. Octane needs to be what the owners manual says, and putting in higher octane can produce better performance.

HOWEVER - after having worked at a dealer all of the technicians agree on one thing, don't put in the cheap crap. Wal-Mart gas is 5 cents less for a reason, it's not as high of quality. Lower quality gas leads to excess carbon buildup in the valves and cylinders. It also can lead to a condition called spark knock, where the excess buildup inside of the cylinders is occasionally combusted with the fuel in the cylinder.
Heres a list of all the Top-Tier gas providers in the US https://www.toptiergas.com/licensedbrands/

I will put that 87 in all day long, as long as it comes from a station on this list.

 

[nevada]

I've posted about this for years on other forums, might as well post it here as well.

You want to run the LOWEST octane (either recommended or without pinging) possible in your vehicle.

The octane (or, the slightly different rating value found for RON) are values for the ability for the gas to resist ignition.

The higher the number, the more difficult it is to burn the fuel.

This is why in high performance engines (turbocharged, supercharged, high compression ratio, crazy advanced timing, etc) there are needs for higher octane. Those performance engines have a higher temperature in the combustion chamber, and lower octane gasses will pre-ignite (also known as knock). This is the principle in which diesel engines work - pre-ignition - which is a chaotic ignition event. Gas engines use a spark plug for a controlled ignition - meaning, the time when the gas is to ignite is specifically when the spark plug tells it to. Anything else is pre-ignition.

So then you might think "well, running higher octane is good then, I won't ever knock/pre-ignite, and I'm protecting my engine" - that may not also be true.

That isn't necessarily the case either, though. When you remember the number of ignition, and fuel spray, events that happen each minute - and you consider the fuels ability to "resist" ignition as you increase octane (I didn't mention this, but it also slows the flamefront of the gas burning) you could be causing unintentional damage. Unburned fuel could build up on valves or on O2s/cats, a slow flamefront could cause issues in the exhaust, etc.


As a side note - it doesn't surprise me that with towing there is a suggestion to increase octane - that is because the engine is being pushed harder and is under load more - which increases internal combustion temperatures and increases the risk for pre-ignition.

this! so much this. somehow it has been beat into people that more octane means more power, but by itself that's just not true. technically it could be less power, all else being equal.

 

[TacoRunn0517]

This guy has got it. Octane needs to be what the owners manual says, and putting in higher octane can produce better performance.

HOWEVER - after having worked at a dealer all of the technicians agree on one thing, don't put in the cheap crap. Wal-Mart gas is 5 cents less for a reason, it's not as high of quality. Lower quality gas leads to excess carbon buildup in the valves and cylinders. It also can lead to a condition called spark knock, where the excess buildup inside of the cylinders is occasionally combusted with the fuel in the cylinder.
Heres a list of all the Top-Tier gas providers in the US https://www.toptiergas.com/licensedbrands/

I will put that 87 in all day long, as long as it comes from a station on this list.

Thanks! Unless I have no other choice, I get gas ONLY from the Top Tier List. Nice that Costco is on the list and Sunoco joined in the game within the last year or so. I want to get 300K miles out of my 4Runner. I've had it since Memorial Day 2017 and have 46K miles on it. I'll do whatever is reasonable to have this ride age well. I think getting TT gas is worth the extra cost.

 

[toyotaspeed90]

Thanks! Unless I have no other choice, I get gas ONLY from the Top Tier List. Nice that Costco is on the list and Sunoco joined in the game within the last year or so. I want to get 300K miles out of my 4Runner. I've had it since Memorial Day 2017 and have 46K miles on it. I'll do whatever is reasonable to have this ride age well. I think getting TT gas is worth the extra cost.

I think the "technicians" are right, and wrong. I'm not in the industry, but I will say that I use stations I trust (which are considered "Top Tier" - though I've watched a truck fill up a Mobil 1 station and then an AM/PM).... and the argument, as I see it, is surrounding the profits the station sees.

A station that has a better profit margin (or a company like Costco) is going to maintain/clean their tanks and not let them run low. Meaning - not necessarily the gas itself (as there are federal minimum requirements - just like Oil - the cheapest oil today is probably better than the best oil 20 years ago) but what else is introduced into the gas when it's put into the stations tanks (water, rust, who knows what else).

 

[nevada]

I think the "technicians" are right, and wrong. I'm not in the industry, but I will say that I use stations I trust (which are considered "Top Tier" - though I've watched a truck fill up a Mobil 1 station and then an AM/PM).... and the argument, as I see it, is surrounding the profits the station sees.

A station that has a better profit margin (or a company like Costco) is going to maintain/clean their tanks and not let them run low. Meaning - not necessarily the gas itself (as there are federal minimum requirements - just like Oil - the cheapest oil today is probably better than the best oil 20 years ago) but what else is introduced into the gas when it's put into the stations tanks (water, rust, who knows what else).

adding to that, the turn around of the tanks. meaning, a busy station will be getting refilled more often, so the fuel isn't sitting for long periods in the tanks. our fuel degrades pretty quickly, the fresher the fuel, the better things work in general.