Octane difference?

So recently in my area the gas station made all the fuel choices the same price. So 87,89,and 93 are all equal at 4.09 a gallon until yesterday and now 3.99. So I figured what the Hell I will try 93 in my truck to see if it makes any improvement at all in response and mileage. I know there is a lot of information stating that it's a waste of money to use in your vehicle if the manufacturer says to use 87 octane and that to make the vehicle run its best is the only octane needed. But for the same price currently I figured it can't hurt since it isn't costing me any ore to fuel up. Have any of you ever done a comparison with 87 and 93 or the level of Premium you have in your area and noticed any difference at all in how your truck ran? Do you also use any additives purchased at the auto store at every tank full or every other for efficiency?
Just want to get some thoughts on it without creating a big debate or a lot of scientific jargon just to give your opinion. Did you notice any difference or not?

 

Its been discussed here in a few threads. Here is one https://www.tundras.com/threads/octane-difference.112677/

search feature in upper right and you can usually find whatever information you are looking for quite easily here on tundras.

and for fun
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a28565486/honda-cr-v-vs-bmw-m5-ford-f-150-dodge-charger/

https://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/to-save-money-on-gas-stop-buying-premium.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/11/smarter-living/premium-gas-worth-it-octane-summer-ethanol.html

 

Doubt there is much benefit on an NA motor.

 

Better question is what the hell is wrong with your gas station?

 

Use the minimum octane or better and always go ethanol free. Octane does NOTHING for performance. It's association with performance comes from it's requirement in performance applications, but all a higher octane does is increase knock resistance. The 5.7 isn't running in a manner that is going to be prone to knocking, so there is no real benefit.

One caveat, some stations do use additional detergents and cleaners in their premium fuels, so you may see something from that, but not because of the octane.

 

Again - it’s been discussed a few less times than “what oil brand is best” - but it’s a common topic on just about any vehicle forum.

Just to toss another variable in - the electronic system of a modern vehicle. Just putting a single tank through is unlikely to greatly effect anything - the system adapts to what you are running - so if it’s 87 with 10% ethanol 5 times in a row - a fill up of 93 ethanol free is unlikely to greatly change anything immediately.

Just like with oil - go with the best you can regularly afford that meet’s manufacture specs and feel comfortable with. Going with 89/93 is not going to yield higher results on its own. Less ethanol might boost mpg and power slightly over time - but if your paying a dollar more per gallon and filling up weekly - is it really a “savings” ? Just spend the savings you gain on lower priced ethanol on more frequent oil changes.

 

Not sure but I think it is probably temporary and for the month of December to ease costs for consumers during the holidays. The station is a Sheetz. We have several of them and some of the others that have 88 octane fuel is being sold at 1.99 a gallon but I do not know what that fuel is considered as far as maybe a flex fuel or not as to why it is so cheap. I have never used 88 before. Just the 87 until this time when the premium was the same cost.

 

I buy 87 regular Exxon gas.

 

I have an 08 2wd crewmax;
Use only chevron midgrade 89
Liquimolly Jectron fuel cleaner
Spark plugs at 100k
Have TRD air intake and true dual exhaust
Bully dog gt tuner
TRD bbs 18”s with oem tires at 35psi
Stock air box mod
Use TRD oil filter with penz oil fully synthetic 5w20
Mixed driving I average hand calculated 15.7mpg

Bottom line is 07-13 trucks won’t best 15 mpg. Two friends have newer 2.5 gens and average 18 bone stock!
Fuel, oil, exhaust Koolaide , can’t beat the government mandated computer.

 

Crazy, I was filling up at Sheetz yesterday morning in my Acura Mdx which requires premium and noticed the 3.99 price. Had to walk over to the next pump to verify the other grade prices. Thought there was a mistake or something soon to be caught. Apparently not.

 

I typically use 85 octane in the Toyota. If I happen to be in the neighborhood and their ethanol-free (87?) Isn't outrageously priced, I'll shove some in.

The old Bimmer likes the stuff. Never noticed a change in how the 5.7 runs or the mileage I get.

If I can keep the truck under 75mph on long highway stretches, my 2012 Tundra (2" level and +1 A/T tires) will reward me with 18+ mpg still. And I do most of my driving between 5k and 10k in elevation.. and I am a flagrant idler.

My brain is not grasping how 2014+ is yielding substantially better mileage than a 2nd gen with the exact same equipment. I personally believe driving style would have the largest impact over mileage between what are basically the same machines.

 

Good grief. I paid $2.43 for 87 last week.

 

You are doing your engine no favors by going with a higher octane than recommended. Compression ratio on a naturally aspirated (no super- or turbo charger) is what necessitates a higher octane and at what, 10.2:1, these do not need anything more than 87. Rather simplistic, but I believe that running the higher octane in an engine that doesn't require it can lead to premature catalytic converter failure as higher temps/unburned "octane" (again, oversimplifying) really eats up the innards of the converters. We saw this happen a ton in the 14 years I worked in the service department of a new car dealer back in a previous life as people fell for the fuel company commercials that touted the higher octane fuels as "driving your engine clean" or some such nonsense, as all octane levels had the additives being celebrated.

As an example of one that needs it, I think the compression ratio in my 2017 Shelby GT350 was 12.0:1 which necessitated using high octane.

 

My suggestion to OP:

Try it if you like and see what happens.

There are a number of people who have said, and will continue to say "I don't care what people say: my truck runs better on premium".

Whether or not that's because those stations don't use corn in their premium or not is not clear.

Where I live, I have yet to find a station that clearly says "NO ETHANOL" on any grade. Instead just a generic useless sticker that says "may include up to 10% ethanol".

If I could definitively find a source of gas without corn, I'd use it, whether it was premium or not.

Corn isn't good for cows or trucks.

 

(There are also those who swear it's impossible to make a difference.)

 

Any of the stations I've seen selling ethanol free have a separate BLUE dispenser inaddition to the black unleaded, and green diesel.

Otherwise all of the options have upto 10% ethanol. Usually a higher percentage in the winter if I'm not mistaken.

 

I'll add that 87 is usually fresher. And fuel treatment (if you so desire) can be had cheap. but the only engine i've ever had with heavy deposit in the valves had broken rings.

 

So i have checked my trucks fuel average per the dashboard readout and the fuel mileage actually dropped by 3/10ths of a gallon with the one fillup I did with the premium. I went back to the regular unleaded and we will see what happens. I didn't really notice any difference in how it ran overall. I tried it simply because the price was the same. I figure what the Hell it won't to try it. I think I am just going to stick with the 87 and add some fuel system cleaner every so often to just keep things running smoothly.

 

2.65 recently in Conneaut Ohio. We are getting ripped off here in PA with the higher gas tax they have.

 

I know right? I was surprised it was the same price. Currently 3.94 for premium here.

 

At Sheetz, the blue handle is actually 88 E-15, which contains "up to 15%" ethanol, but is not anywhere close to E-85 FlexFuel. It is usually cheaper by about 25 cents/gal than the "regular" 87 that contains "up to 10%" ethanol. Either is fine in modern vehicles, as they are now manufactured to burn that stuff. I still vastly prefer ethanol-free gas, which I can find at a few local stations, as they provide it for boat gas here on the lake.

 

Sounds like your station's blue handle is different than mine. Definitely don't want EXTRA ethanol.

Fortunately I check the label of what I am purchasing... It is also priced between the mid-grade and premium even tho it only has the mid-grade octane rating (cuz its them pure dino squeeizngs), so they are not cutting any deals on it.

 

Premium here is close to 5.00 haha. Like others have said, near sea level 87 is ideal for most vehicles. Ethanol free will give you slightly higher mpgs as there is less energy per volume with ethanol but usually offset by higher cost and rarity. Ethanol free will last far longer in storage than ethanol fuel (months compared to weeks). 85 is fine for some vehicles at higher elevations but possibly not in the 5.7 or new 3.4.

 

In Colorado 85 octane IS regular. We only get 85, 87, and 91 (unless you go to special station for race fuel).

Like I said above, I almost exclusively run regular (85) or every so often the ethanol-free which is 87 octane.

No matter what octane fuel I have run, the engine performance is close enough to feel zero difference, and there is no knocking or pinging with anything I've run. I do agree there is a slight economy increase with the ethanol-free.

Edit: This is with the 5.7

 

What kind of gas do y'all use in your 2021 tundra. 87 91 93

 

87

 

85 - Denver

 

87-Girard Pa still 3.95/gallon, that's why I go 13 miles to Ohio where it's 2.59.........

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/the-great-fuel-debate-87-or-93.116718/


https://www.tundras.com/threads/octane-difference.112677/

 

Can all these threads just be combined? Reporting my own post for mod evaluation.