Has anyone had any luck running regular unleaded? I have been running super for a long time but someone told me there would be minimum effect if I ran regular. Performance is not really a concern. What say you guys?
What octane do you run?
- Thread starter Gandy
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Lots of threads on here about this subject. Searching will yield good results. Depends on what type of "performance" you mean. In general, 100s run fine on regular although super is recommended by Toyota. Super seems to make a difference at altitude. Personally, I notice a difference w/ running higher octanes in terms of simple "get up and go".
92
Yeah, tons of threads and even more discussions/debates on this matter, leaving one to believe they really can't make a 'wrong' decision either way. With that said, however; I absolutely love my cruiser and try to do everything within my power to make sure she's not only running as optimally as possibly now, but will continue to do so for another 100K miles. With this mentality, I follow the manufacturers instructions and only feed her premium (as instructed per the owners manual for my 2000, I believe newer model 100s don't require premium per OM guidelines...).
Ultimately, after doing extensive research, reading, and homework on this topic myself, I just feel as though it's worth the few extra bucks to decrease the chances of future issues related to gas quality, even if I'm only decreasing the chance by 1%
Ultimately, after doing extensive research, reading, and homework on this topic myself, I just feel as though it's worth the few extra bucks to decrease the chances of future issues related to gas quality, even if I'm only decreasing the chance by 1%
My 2007 manual says 87.
87 in my 2000 with 187k miles. brother in law has a 01 LX that has well over 300k on it and only runs 87 and my wife has an 05 with 256k and nothing but 87 in it.
Sometimes it depends on my bank account.
The octane rating of a fuel is a measurement used to indicate its resistance to engine knock. A fuel with a higher octane rating will have more resistance to knock. Another way of thinking about this is how much compression that fuel can handle. A higher octane fuel can be compressed (along with air) more without detonating as a result of the heat from compression. Higher octane allows the mfg to advance the timing as well. Basically higher octane means the fuel has a lower energy value so it can withstand high heat, high compression, and/or advanced timing. All for the sake of better emissions (not performance). Exceptions being something made by Enzo Ferrari or his competitors, or that lives on a track, or flies, because the compression ratios are high enough to require higher octane fuel. Grocery getters require higher octane fuel because the engines run hotter and the timing is advanced so they can pass emission standards and be sold in the US.
So if the manufacturer brands their auto with 92 octane they believe that nobody will ever run lower octane fuel in it right? No... Basically the detonation sensor retards the timing a little to compensate for the energy level of the fuel (don't get all picky here, i said basically not absolutely)
PS- I run 87 and have since I bought the LC
So if the manufacturer brands their auto with 92 octane they believe that nobody will ever run lower octane fuel in it right? No... Basically the detonation sensor retards the timing a little to compensate for the energy level of the fuel (don't get all picky here, i said basically not absolutely)
PS- I run 87 and have since I bought the LC
To add to the confusion:
Lexus 2005 LX470 from http://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM60B45U/pdf/om1sourc/2005om/05lx470o/gasinfo.pdf
And out of curiosity:
My son's 2000 LC from http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM60866U/pdf/2.pdf
and my 06 LX470 from http://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM60C51U/pdf/OM60C51U.pdf
From 2007 LC manual @ http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM60C79U/pdf/OM60C79U.pdf
Lexus 2005 LX470 from http://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM60B45U/pdf/om1sourc/2005om/05lx470o/gasinfo.pdf
And out of curiosity:
My son's 2000 LC from http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM60866U/pdf/2.pdf
and my 06 LX470 from http://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM60C51U/pdf/OM60C51U.pdf
Last edited:
soooo basically anything other than vegetable oil
North America uses the (R+M)/2 grading method (average of RON and MON) and that's the first number published in North America owner manuals and at the pump. Pretty much everyone else uses RON. For identical fuel samples classified under these two methods the North American method returns the slightly lower number. So the 91 in one of the examples above = 96 in the rest of the world.
87 at 235k
Use the cheapest gas and go on! Don't believe it makes a meaningful difference. Tell me I'm wrong.
.30 to . 40 a gallon difference does not excite me.
.30 to . 40 a gallon difference does not excite me.
87 9 out of 10 tanks, super with Seafoam every so often...
You can't buy below RON95 in EU I believe, at least I have never seen it. Then you get RON98 and in Germany some places sell RON101 or 102.
Thus, funny to me that Toyo "allows" RON91 which you can't get around these here parts...
I am convinced there is a difference in MPG (still), no matter how many people tell me otherwise. How the RON relates to you non-metric types, I don't know
Thus, funny to me that Toyo "allows" RON91 which you can't get around these here parts...
I am convinced there is a difference in MPG (still), no matter how many people tell me otherwise. How the RON relates to you non-metric types, I don't know
87 every time. Cannot justify an extra $.40/gallon when it averages 13 mpg.
I fall into the "premium camp". With the miles that I drive per year, the cost difference is trivial. I have no doubt that the ECU can retard the timing and run just fine on 87+ octane fuel.
Owners Manual recommendations:
(It would be kind of silly for Toyota to make one of their "World Traveler" flagship vehicles unable to retard the timing enough to operate on 87+ fuel.)
Additional annual costs associated with "premium" (assuming 13MPG):
If 91+ fuel is available (and used), how much "improved performance" is there really?
How does engine "carbon buildup" (age/miles) affect timing/performance and octane requirements?
Of those that choose to run 87 octane fuel:
Owners Manual recommendations:
(It would be kind of silly for Toyota to make one of their "World Traveler" flagship vehicles unable to retard the timing enough to operate on 87+ fuel.)
Additional annual costs associated with "premium" (assuming 13MPG):
If 91+ fuel is available (and used), how much "improved performance" is there really?
How does engine "carbon buildup" (age/miles) affect timing/performance and octane requirements?
Of those that choose to run 87 octane fuel:
How many are running synthetic fluids?
How many have made changes, like snorkel/headers/exhaust, for "additional performance"?
How many have made the typical "mud" modifications, that knock down MPG?
How many have made changes, like snorkel/headers/exhaust, for "additional performance"?
How many have made the typical "mud" modifications, that knock down MPG?