87 octane gas

Hello,

I must admit I am still on a wait list to receive my new tundra, but I am very excited! I have tried scouring the web reading forums and things but I still have a question. I live in SLC where the gas is 85 octane. I have read enough that it seems pretty necessary to fill up the tundra with 87 despite being at high elevation. However, my question is. At a station where 87 is not available, can I mix a portion of 85 and 91 to make 87? Is that insane? Is the "crap" in 85 going to affect the motor despite having the higher octane added into it? Also is it that simple? Adding 85 and 91 = 87? I know people have strong feelings about this...Thanks!

 

If you're in SLC there are TONS of stations with mid grade. Use them.

 

Ran 85 for good part of a trip on I15 last month no issues. I doubt elevation matters much re turbos.

 

Spend the extra $5 and just fill up with premium or find a new station with mid grade. Don't bother mixing and having two separate transactions just to save a few bucks

 

The truck can probably run 85 but you’ll get a ton of spark retard to keep the engine from knocking. Your engine will operate below maximum brake torque spark timing and lose some fuel economy.

 

Isn’t it more like $15 per fill up for premium at most stations? .50 a gallon for 30 gallons ~

 

Maybe that's location dependant. In my city premium is only 30 cents more and I've never once pumped 30 gallons most fill ups are more like 20-25 and yes I have the larger tank.

 

I just got my 23. Haven’t filled it up yet if you can’t tell.

 

Sam’s or Costco have good gas at good prices. I get the 91 at Sam’s usually. I’m in CO and there is a ton of 85 around here also due to the altitude. I have ran a tank or 2 of 85 but it is smoother with 87 or up. Some will say it’s ok to run lower octane at high altitude but for a few bucks I think it’s better to go as directed by Toyota. This is a fascinating subject and I have even ran a few tanks of ethanol free.

 

All correct, they run better on premium. Smoother, more power and better mpg, no lag.

 

Also in UT, I don't think I have seen a gas station w/o a mid grade. From the wording of your questions it sounds like you are saying what do you do if you stop at a gas station that does not have it for whatever reason. Either go to another gas station or pay the extra 10 bucks for 91

 

I concur. There are a bazillion Mavericks there and I think almost all of them have 85, 87, 89, and 91. 87 is usually 15c more than 85, but sometimes the Maverick around the corner from the other Maverick with be 20c more for 85. Most of the Sinclairs and Chevron’s usually have 89, but are sometimes 30 or 40c more. I’d avoid the Holiday stations, but I may be biased. Had bad fuel at more than one. Either way, you shouldn’t have any issue finding 87. I quit putting 85 in my truck a few years ago and it’s much happier even with just 87; sounds better, idles better, pulls better without having to wrap it out.

 

Ok. I will be the one to say it. You buy a full sized truck that costs a lot of money and now you want to go chintzy on the fuel? Maybe should have bought something else if a low monthly fuel bill is important to you.

 

I fill up 93 one time. Then 87 next time. Never let it get below half tank.

 

It's a game Toyota plays. To get the maximum performance and efficiency you do need premium. But the system can safely compensate for lower octanes by pulling timing. So premium is not "required".

 

funny how people are so concerned about 87/89/91 price differential. just skip 1 starbucks coffee or kids meal trip or burger run. i bet most people waste more than the price differential on worse junk.

the only thing i run 91 (non eth) is my lawn mower and snow blower.

 

Im in Utah and have not seen a station without mid-grade. Im pretty sure that our gas stations blend 91 and 85 anyways, which is why most mid grades here are 88, not 87.

Also, at least where I am, 91 is only like 15-20 cents more per gallon than 88 so I just buy 91 all the time.

 

well ive run 87 (eth) in my 14 4runner since day one and my mpg or response, etc has not suffered in the 9yrs ive owned it. still on oem spark plugs but will prob replace them this year since i am nearing 95k.

 

Thats because your 4Runner is a 25 year old port injected naturally aspirated V6 with a lower compression ratio than the turbo motor in the Tundra.

Imagine dumping 14 PSI of boost into your 4Runner engine on 87 octane

 

but by your reasoning i should have been using 91 all this time instead of 87.

if toyota expecting me to use 91 on any of my toyota's i would have said that in the manual instead of 87.

 

I didnt reason anything. I was responding to this:

"and my mpg or response, etc has not suffered in the 9yrs ive owned it."

It does make a difference on a modern GTDI motor. They can run on 87 but higher octanes help when you are running a 10.5:1 compression ratio with 14 psi of boost.

 

IMO there is little to be gained by using 91... unless you intend to get a hole shot from every light or head out on the highway and do roll on races. Or towing heavy, especially in hills. I haven't run a scanner whilst driving to watch the timing but the effects in unloaded gentle or normal driving will be small. YMMV.

 

pretty much our situation with the new tundra. its the wife daily driver and she is way more conservative than me driving. and we are lucky if we load anything heavier than a few bags of grass/leaves to take to the compost site up the road. on the 2018 we pulled a 6x10 uhaul once in the 5yrs we had it. on my 2014 4runner i pulled a 6x12 once from ga to nd.

 

so in other words i should tell myself ..... shut the hell up and run what you want to run

 

Yes! And don't forget to give yourself a head slap! ;-)

 

I live in Utah, near SLC as well. We have 88 octane at Maverik gas stations, but I wouldn't use their fuel.. I'd recommend a top-tier gasoline. Costco is a great option. If you're running a twin-turbo you will see a lot of benefits from going with premium fuel. For normally aspirated engines just use the minimum required octane (but still top tier). For turbos you will get performance benefits out of using higher octane top-tier fuels.

 

Im in UT as well and I always fill up at Costco because it’s cheaper and a top tier brand. They only offer 85 or 91. It’s the only gas station I’ve ever seen without a mid grade. So they do exist but they are rare.

 

they just need to start up a polygamy gas, just like the beer (just cant have one)

 

Will the V35A timing max advance mapping match the Lexus HP and torque if we run 91+. HP and torque should go up right?