I'm using #91 gas instead of #87 since gas price went wild. I think worth it.

the gas price has more than doubled since I bought 4Runner
in Canada, #87 gas is $2.03/L (=$7.68/Gallon welcome to Canada) and #91 is $2.10/L
right now the price difference is only 4%, rather than the previously 20%+

premium gas has no premium price anymore. so I added #91 gas instead of #87. 4Runner behaves very differently.

1. Significant torque improvement:
the 20-year-old engine has terrible torque output, especially <2000rpm. If using #87 gas it frequently lowers the gear to accelerate. When highway cruising at 100kph (60mph), it lowers to 4th gear 3000rpm almost every time goes upslope, I had one worst time down to 2nd gear 5000rpm.
After changing to #91 gas, the torque at low rpm has significantly improved, a lot less auto-downshift, and much much easier to accelerate over 140+kph (85mph).

2. A little gas saving
Average fuel consumption marginally improved from 12.5L/100km to 12.1L/100km. (cruise 110kph, 300km return trip *10times because I commute a lot)
Not a lot, but indeed 3-5% gas savings.

Then gas-saving is only marginal, but, when #91 gas price is only 3-5% higher than #87, it totally worth it because of great torque improvement.

I would recommend #91 gas when the price difference is less than 5-10%. If you haven't tried it yet.

Search 1GR-FE Torque Curve and understand how low RPM torque performance gain is compared to max torque. Or simply try and feel it. A few extra dollars won't blow the engine off.

 

The “gains” of 91 vs 87 in the GR engine family are within the margin of error for variance in engine output between individual trucks out in the wild.

 

Do our trucks even have adaptive timing curves and octane sensors? If not, it's hard to see how 91 would change anything.

 

I think Toyota claimed that to get the advertised EPA fuel efficiency and engine output with the fourth generation and FJ cruiser you had to use premium, but they dropped that later on.

 

4Runner billed to run Regular Octane Gas by Toyota Engineers? Or is it Otherwise?

 

Around here they seem to be keeping the price difference proportional. Lol, Im seeing places charge a dollar more per gallon for the premium vs regular.

 

Yeah by me $1 more per gallon for 89 vs 87 octane. If you want premium 91 closer to 1.50 more per gallon vs 87

 

The VVTi system makes valve and timing changes based on engine load, temperature, and fuel octane. I'm not surprised one would see a difference with 91 Octane fuel.

 

Jesus....

 

is coming back.


Normal is not.

 

Unless you dyno tested before and after power output, I don't believe it. This has been a long, ongoing fight with the 1GR but no one has ever spent the time and money to dyno the vehicle properly. There is no way for the ECU to see octane. Octane itself is nothing more than the fuel's resistance to ignite and doesn't contain more power. In some states, higher octane fuels can be ethanol free which would slightly increase mileage.

Many years ago, Sport Compact Car tested this higher octane theory on a 2000ish Honda Accord V6 and found a consistent 10hp loss anytime 91 was used on an engine that only calls for 87.

I personally use 91 but only because the 1GR had been known to ping during high load/low RPM situations and I believe I have heard it on my Runner. I have not noticed any power gain when using 91 or loss when switching back to 87.

 

The 5th gen has a 1GR-FE Dual VVT-i 4.0 liter V6 w a 10.4:1 compression ratio.

It will run on 87 or 93 octane, because of the Dual VVT-i valve train and knock sensors.
When running on 87 under a heavy load it will retard the timing to avoid detonation.

When running 93 under heavy load, it does not have to retard the timing as much, and may advance the timing a little bit.

At 10.4:1 compression, without the Dual VVT-i, these engines would not run very well on 87. Maybe 89 but it would still be susceptible to detonation under heavy load. These facts are undisputable.

The power and mileage claims CANNOT be substantiated until someone spends a butt load of money on dyno and mileage testing.

Does my 6k lb behemoth pull a steep grade with less effort on 93 octane? It sure seems like it to me. But, there are those that say they do not feel a difference. Have I ever rode in their truck to dispute that? No, and I will not do so.

 

Me two gallons of high test then the rest low grade. It really helps “pep” up the fuel while saving $

 

Just run jet fuel and you'll be faster than a Tesla Plaid. VVT-i will adjust beyond what it's physically capable just because it knows you put special juice into the tank.

 

And ridicule on an internet forum always gives you a higher octane rating between the ears.

 

The amount of energy in a liter of gas at 87 is exactly the same as the amount of energy in 91. The only thing that separates the two is their ability to not auto ignite under high pressure in the combustion chamber.
Kinda like you running a 5k drinking tap water and then running the same 5k faster while drinking spring water.

 

Just sit down and have a beer or two after filling up. It definitely helps. It’s the new norm get used to having less.

If you’re burning that gas out looking for baby formula then have four beers when you get home and maybe a shot too.

 

Given the 1GR's compression, and VVT-I, I don't doubt there's a potential for a slight improvement in performance with higher octane. I just haven't experienced it.

And, whether it's worth the extra cost will probably depend on a lot of factors. Here, the price difference is so significant that it's probably never worth it, unless your vehicle specifically requires higher octane.

If 91 was only 5-10% more than regular, I'd be very tempted to try it out as an experiment. I run 88 E15 usually, because I've never noticed a difference in fuel economy between that and 87 E10. And, it's usually a nickel cheaper. But, sometimes it's a bigger difference.

 

Are your pumps clearly labeled E15 out there? I have not seen that available yet. I hope I don’t. The coast guard issued a warning for guys with trailer boats to be careful at stations on land. Apparently there have been a few fires

 

For those who have no idea what I talk about, go search 1GR-FE Torque Curve, understand how the engine work, and how low RPM torque performance gain is compared to max torque.

Or simply try and feel it, listen to the engine itself. I did this recently only because the gas price is already so high so it's just a few extra dollars. Trying once won't blow off the engine.

Dual VVT-i started 2009 with all 5th gen 4Runners, my engine is no better than anyone else's. The engine is designed for low octane gas so not much gas-saving, but torque improvement is very obvious.

 

The only "91" that is going to save you on gas is driving like you are 91 years old. If I could go cheaper than 87 I would.

 

E15 is actually illegal in boat/PWC engines:

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-e...lly prohibited for,possibility of a boat fire.

 

Yep I get it. Problem is some I read anyway a few stations did label it properly.

 

When I worked in powertrain calibration for an OEM the powertrains were calibrated to run on a specific fuel and spark timing could only be subtracted. I've never seen any vehicle that adds spark beyond what the recommended fuel is capable of supporting...that would be a bit of a hand grenade calibration strategy. The 4.0 is a tractor engine. Kind of like a modern Harley where to breathes well from idle to its low 6000 rpm redline. VVT will do little or nothing to help you leverage high octane fuel...the ideal valve timing (maximum air charge) is based on rpm, not load or octane. The 10.4 CR is low by today's standards. Miatas are 13:1. Prius is 14:1. Honda CRV 1.5 is 10.3:1 but it also runs 16.5 psi of boost. On 87 octane. And doesn't benefit from 93 per the Car and Driver study. All that said, if the OP tows and shifts the trans manually I can imagine there could be torque benefits at super low rpm (where the trans wouldn't let the vehicle run in Drive).

 

You're wrong because butt dynos never lie.

 

And my butt is calibrated!!
Unfortunately, I am unable to print for proof... er... poof!

 

Yes, they are. It's totally fine for newer vehicles.

Boats, apparently, not so much.

 

But it will help you get used to paying for premium fuel for when you install that Magnusson SuperCharger....

 

Jeez, that sends shivers down my spine. Gas is nuts right now, but I view a 4runner ownership like an investor should view investments. There’ll be ups and down…just dont look…over the course of 20 years of planned ownership, this will be a blip.

Last time gas got expensive everybody flipped out and took on additional losses/loans trading F-150s for slightly more fuel efficient cars. Then gas went back down for years.

 

My local Costco is $5.75 for premium or $6.05 for regular. $.30 X 22 gallons = $6.60 difference. That's paying a little more than an extra gallon. For me I just want to avoid pinging. There's no tire melting performance gains though.