Survey says??? - Gasoline Discussion

If you don't see or feel an improvement, I agree that it is a waste. Some engines have a little higher compression, or some hot spots in the cylinders, or run in a little different environment. That all makes a difference. I can't know that it's better for all. I have 20,000 miles of numbers from my truck and nearly 100,000 miles of numbers from my other cars that say yes and no to higher octane.....
My 300,000 mile FJ80 would argue that synthetic oil is not necessary (better maybe). The truck had 15 year diet of 7,500ish mile 20 minute oil change shops. No particular brand.
I pulled the engine when it needed a head gasket because a set of bearings and rings would be good at 300,000 miles.... Right?
Not one component in that engine was outside of spec! The bearings showed nearly 0 wear, the ring end gap was great, the timing chain was fine. Shoot the cylinders were still dull and the hone marks were clearly visible!
I put the engine together with new seals, bolted a TRD supercharger to the side and it was happy as a clam.
Synthetic? Value? I have always argued for it but..... Every high mileage engine I hav pulled down suggests that regular maintenance is more important.

 

Just as an FYI. I am sure most you know this but....Toyota Synthetic oil is Mobil 1 re-branded.

 

This is very good to know.

 

A Toyota parts department employee told me this. Now I am sure Toyota will say there are difference between the products.

(I also realize there is potential the employee is incorrect. So if anyone can confirm this that would be great! I have a feeling though he is correct.)

 

FWIW I've been curious myself about 87 vs 91

Frys Regular grade 87 octane

Drive: 91°F amb, 52% humidity, 70°F dew point, 30 inHg pressure, IAT 33-37°C

TowHaul: 91°F amb, 47% humidity, 68°F dew point, 30 inHg pressure, IAT 35-37°C

Runs completed back to back. Surface streets onto freeway, cruised for a little, then surface streets with lights. last little bit was WOT from rolling about 13-15mph. I did my best to maintain the same throttle input between both drives. Total route was about 9miles.

Max timing advance while under load driving was 33.5° with 87. Ill look it over again but I don't recall see much of a difference in timing between Drive and Tow Haul mode.

Currently still have a half tank of 87 to burn off, then I will try to run again with 91. unfortunately I will not be able to have the exact same conditions, oh well. is what it is.

 

Higher octane is a waste in standard engines. It's only needed in turbocharged and supercharged engines. Good standard grade gas, however, is a definite plus. I was using gas from one of the local grocery stores and found the lower mileage wasn't worth the difference in price. Check out http://www.toptiergas.com/ for stations that are rated as Top Tier vendors. E85 (in a previous vehicle) caused some expensive nightmares during the annual state inspection. Some ECU's don't reset the monitors when you run E85. If they aren't reset, you don't pass. There was an EPA document out that listed the vehicles that wouldn't pass on E85 and recommended that those vehicles not be tested and given an automatic pass. The state of Texas doesn't recognize that recommendation. The EPA has since removed that document from their site. I'll never run it again if I have a choice. The only positive I found from running E85 was that the first tank cleaned the injectors beautifully. After that, it was just lower power, lower mileage, and large repair build trying to find out why it wouldn't pass inspection.

 

FWIW
In AZ at least, mainstream E85 had been phased out - we have E54 now.

 

I get my gas from the same station and always get 89 octane because it's ethanol free.

 

If I could get it in California at the pump, I would simply get gas without ethanol. The ethanol mandate is inane for a number of reasons but my biggest reason for not wanting it is energy content: gasoline has has about 34 MJ/L while ethanol has about 20 MJ/L. Using corn as fuel is stupid.