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12-24-2015, 02:25 PM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member
Longport
, New Jersey
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 307
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Is premium gas worth it?
We have a 2003 Toyota Sequoia and trying to figure out if premium gas is worth it while towing. What do you think?
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12-24-2015, 02:27 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,669
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Any VERY slight mileage gain produced by some timing advance, is not offset by the cost difference. Use what the owner manual states and save your money.
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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12-24-2015, 02:36 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2014 27' FB Eddie Bauer
Chelsea
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,792
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It's not likely that the owners manual for this particular vehicle recommends premium gasoline which means that you will get absolutely no benefit from using it. However, if the manual does mention the use of premium fuel, then you might get a very small performance boost but you are not likely to notice it without some sophisticated instrumentation and the increased cost would basically be wasted.
__________________
Bob Martel
WBCCI# 5766
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12-24-2015, 03:22 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Walnut Creek
, California
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 3,952
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Maybe
Considering the poor octane that is accepted as standard for fuel these days it would seem like a bit of an upgrade would help. So, try a tank and see how much of a difference it makes for you. While it's not supposed to help, your experience could vary as several brands of premium are not spiked with Ethanol. Good luck with your investigation. Just don't go for the premium that is about $0.60 more than regular. Wait until you get in an area where premium is only marked up about $0.20. Pat
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12-24-2015, 03:32 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,118
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If it keeps it from knocking or retarding the timing as much as the regular while pulling it would be a good thing. I would be very inclined to try it.
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12-24-2015, 03:49 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1995 25' Excella
xxxxx
, xxxxxx
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 2,351
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Read the owner's manual and go from there. Using it when unneeded is a waste of money. If your engine does not call for premium and you have pinging, you other have a timing issue or excessive carbon build up in the combustion chambers...I have a car with a high compression engine. It has at least two labels that say "Premium Fuel Only"...The inflated cost of premium over 87 ticks me off at every fill up.
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12-24-2015, 05:02 PM
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#7
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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91 E-free...
It depends on what benefits your looking for....I use it 'cuz 91 E-free is available at the local outlet I go to.
It's a must have for the boat which needs the octane and the purity, system won't tolerate the corn.
I also use it for our 53 Victoria for the same reason, it also requires a lead substitute and a couple oz of MMO at every fill-up.
91 goes in the Burb for the little bit of mpg gained, I use a FlashPac tuner to program the PCM for toeing & mpg when not.
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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12-24-2015, 05:33 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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It's only useful if the engine was designed to allow the timing to advance slightly higher without preignition. Which will give a little more power possibly noticeable when pulling a heavy load, climbing grades or strong headwind. Our 2012 Ram does this and we may occasionally fill with premium for more a little power in the western mountains. Otherwise it's a waste of money.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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12-24-2015, 06:22 PM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
2008 34' Classic S/O
Arnprior
, Ontario
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 231
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I burn premium because I have an engine with high enough compression ratio that it NEEDS it. I could try to sneek by with mid grade and save a few cents a mile but again I refuse to dwell on the little things in life. Look at the cost of premuim gas as compared to depreciation, tire wear, oil and filter changes and on and on and guess what the cost jump to premium is NOTHING! Look at the big picture, read the owners manual and drive on. Be more concerned with 2 wheel drive vs 4 wheel drive, half ton vs 3/4 ton or Hensley vs Pro pride,... and enjoy.
Merry Christmas and we will see you down the road, or at Canopener!
Pete
__________________
Pete Crook
"Put it all behind you!"
S/OS#88
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12-24-2015, 10:28 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mission
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 836
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12-25-2015, 03:55 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1977 31' Sovereign
1963 26' Overlander
1989 34' Excella
Johnsburg
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,944
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If the engine knocks or has ping on the hills, it is a sign you need to increase the octane of the gas used. That is what octane is all about. That is how they measure it. A pinging engine is on its way to a $2,500 rebuild job. The valves are likely to burn and so is the piston. If it actually knocks, that will blow the wrist pin bearings and maybe the rod bearings. If there is no ping under any operating conditions, you are using the proper octane rated fuel.
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12-25-2015, 10:53 AM
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#12
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Silver Star
1970 23' Safari
Victoria
, British Columbia
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 352
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Premium gas
This past summer my friend and mechanic told me he always uses premium mid grade instead of regular when towing his trailer (he has a chev pu).
I decided to try it on a trip in sept with my 4rnr towing the AS. I figured that I recovered at least 1/2 the cost increase on improved mileage and I really felt that I had slightly better performance especially on the hills.
Toyota has no problem with using higher octane and I believe (not100%sure) that they use higher octane in their performance testing.
I sold the RnR a few months ago and purchased a 2010 toyota tundra limited 5.7.
I used premium mid grade all the way from Canada to AZ (3400km) in november and am convinced it's worth the extra costs while towing. I switch back to regular when not towing.
Everything seems to indicate that with the Toyota at least it's worth it .
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12-25-2015, 11:02 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2013 31' Classic
billings
, Montana
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,577
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Try a few tanks, my chevy caprice used to get better mileage when we used premium...just try it and see....
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12-25-2015, 11:17 AM
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#14
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3 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
belen
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 191
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I have an 03 seq. and run mid grade in it and its very happy under all conditions and with fuel so cheap right now why not? Premium is better for the motor under heavy loads!
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12-25-2015, 11:18 AM
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#15
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1 Rivet Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Panama City
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 10
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Not necessary if regular is recommended by your owners manual. The different grades are primarily for engine timing. Being that the vehicle is 13 years old going up to midgrade may help some but very little. You would be better buying a better branded gasoline that has the manufacturers additives to clean and decarb than to increase octane level
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12-25-2015, 11:30 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
I'm In
, Kentucky
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,251
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Toyotas typically were built to run on regular. You can put a higher octane in it but it won't run any better. Someone may perceive that they are getting better performance but without technical measurement it's probably just a placebo effect. If your engine is pinging you should take it in for service. If it's not pinging then you're good to run regular
Your owner's manual is your best source of information, follow its recommendations.
__________________
-Rich
Rich & Yvonne
2006 Safari SE -Dora-
2004 4Runner SE 4.7L V8
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12-25-2015, 12:45 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,669
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Use the grade your owner manual says to use and make sure the brand/producer is top tier spec'ed...for several reasons.
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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12-25-2015, 01:03 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2015 25' Flying Cloud
2016 30' Flying Cloud
Blenheim Ontario
, Ontario
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gomotomoto
We have a 2003 Toyota Sequoia and trying to figure out if premium gas is worth it while towing. What do you think?
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NOPE!
My previous TV was a Toyota 4-Runner 6 cyl. that I checked milage on trips by filling the tank completely, and after the trip, refilling the tank at the same pump, and recording the 'klikage'.
(I live in Canada). This, while towing a 23' Hi-Lo, [gross wt. 6000#. Avg. tow wt. 5300#.)
Then I ran two tanks of Premium fuel to allow the Computer to relearn the new octane rating; then did the identical trips using the premium.
No change.
The use of Octane is to prevent detonation [or "knock"] during the combustion process.
Octane will only give you more power, or better gas milage by other means; such as higher combustion ratio, supercharging, advanced ignition and so forth.
If your car is happy using regular while towing, don't waste your money on premium; and don't listen to so-called expert gas jockeys who want to take your extra money.
F.Y.I: I am a retired Canadian A.M.E., what you in the 'States would call an A&P-A.I. aircraft mechanic; who has been driving (and inc'l. rallying) for over 55 years.
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12-25-2015, 01:34 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2015 25' Flying Cloud
2016 30' Flying Cloud
Blenheim Ontario
, Ontario
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dznf0g
Any VERY slight mileage gain produced by some timing advance, is not offset by the cost difference. Use what the owner manual states and save your money.
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In the early 70s, I had a VW.412 Stn.wgn. that used regular gas. i think that it had a compression ratio of about 7:5, but not sure. It was gutless.
So I advanced the ign. 12 degrees, and used Sunoco 91 Octane, (R&M) which was 5 cents a gallon,[pre-metric] more. the power increase was impressive; the car was now more competitive on the highway; but more important was that the gas milage increased to the point of working out a 1/2 cent cheaper per gallon in use.
Later on, a 2001 Subaru Outback, rather gutless on the highway; starting using premium fuel. I could not advance the ignition, but the computer did it for me anyway. the car became rather more 'snappy', and the fuel 'milage' (Canadian Klikage?) increased to the point of ALMOST being equal to the greater cost [10 cents/litre] of the Sunoco/Petro-Canada premium.
Later Subarus, and my Toyota 4-Runner did not benefit from Premium, so I just use regular now. My new Ford-F150 EcoBoost calls for regular also.
Seems to work ok.
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12-25-2015, 02:04 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1995 25' Excella
xxxxx
, xxxxxx
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 2,351
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dznf0g
and make sure the brand/producer is top tier spec'ed...for several reasons.
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That is arguable...I have lived next to a non-top tier station for 22 years. I use their gas nearly all the time and whatever el cheapo I stumble on the rest of the time. My four wheeled vehicles are a '77, 87,89,90, and 94, with a '77 and '00 motorcycle thrown in. I have a mix of carbs, electro mechanical FI and electronic FI. I have never had a fuel related issue.
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