Anyone else get knocking with 87 octane?

Have you resolved this?

What is your type of driving? A lot of short trips? If you don´t drive in the freeway or highway and/or baby it to get the best fuel economy you could get some carbon in the pistons. I suggest let the tank go down the most you can, fill it with 91 or 93 and drive it like you stole it or go on a road trip, that should clean the carbon. Then go back to 87, if it knocks find a dealership that listens.

 

I always run 87 around town and 93 on super long trips. But no pinging on 87 even on a hot day under load

 

On a recent trip to colorado (with 85octane in the tank), I experienced brief knocking on two occassions when starting the vehicle above 13,000 feet. Both times it was on an already warmed-up engine, and both times the computer caught it quickly. That was the only time I’ve experienced knocking. Kinda sounded like the bottom end was falling out lol.

 

likes ball bearings dropped in a trash can. Lol

 

Exactly! It was not nice to be surprised by that. Once was on top of engineer pass after a break to take it all in. It was so beautiful up there. When it was time to descend, started her up and heard that sound I had a brief moment where I thanked the 4runner for its service. I had a mini funeral for it in my head! All was well though, thankfully.

 

Before I got my 4Runner I drove a 2010 Tacoma, with the single VVTi 4.0, for ~12 years. Early on with the Tacoma, I noticed some light engine knock with 87 octane. Switched to using 89 octane and it went away. Got so used to using 89 that I just kept using it with the 4Runner. Have used 87 and 85 on trips to Colorado when 89 was not available and did not notice any knocking. Will probably just continue to use 89.

 

I live outside of the USA and the owner´s manual that came with my 2023 Limited states that 95 RON (same as 91 premium in USA) should be used for best performance, if 95 RON can´t be found 91 RON (87 in USA) can be used instead. I´m happy to report that I´ve used 95 RON since day 1 when I bought it and the truck has never knocked. The get up and go is strong and the throttle response is very good. When I see videos saying the 4Runner is a slow vehicle or that it needs pedal commander or similar for good throttle response I just shrug. It´s not a race car by any means but if you floor it stopped it will be fast. Where it does not feel fast is when passing on the road or accelerating when you already are moving. That may be because 2 things, the torque curve on the 1GR is really flat and when you are close to 2k rpms accelerating more won´t give you that much extra torque. The other thing could be the transmission, the gear relation could not be in favor of speed. Got off topic but wanted to share this to the ones that could be interested.

 

Actually my driving has been a lot of short trips and I have been babying it for fuel economy. I will give your suggestion a shot.

 

You're gonna love it man. I got the OTT tune nearly a month ago and it is a night and day difference. So much more usable torque. Shift points are better. Gear hunting is gone even with 34's and added weight. Best $600 I've ever spent.

For the record I'm now running 93 octane OTT tuned.
I can still run 87 if needed but with the temperature in Texas this summer I've been playing it safe with 93.

I stand by what I said though. These rigs should be able to run on 87 (especially stock and in non-extreme environments) so I'm not sure why OP was knocking.
Although it's not the first time I've heard of a 5th Gen doing this...

Personally if I ever started knocking I'd be running high octane from then on. I beat on my rig but I do want it to last.

 

145k on my 2015… have been running on 87 since day one. Only knocking I hear is when I forget to unlock the passenger side door!

 

Recently bought a new 2024 4Runner. The truck came with a full tank of regular, top-tier gas. While returning from the distant dealer in relatively hot weather - 90F, and climbing a grade, I could clearly hear some engine pinging. When the tank was nearly empty, I filled with 92 octane, Oregon premium, and the next time driving that grade the pinging was gone. Not particularly surprised. With VVTI, these vehicles will retard timing as needed to accommodate 87 octane gas. The minimal pinging I heard was not going to damage the engine (so says Toyota) but I really don't like it. I am willing to eat the cost of the premium fuel to prevent it. I buy Costco top tier gas and premium there with my 4% discount is about the same cost as regular at other top-tier stations.

The vehicle I dumped was a 2023 Tacoma. It also could run on regular gas. But that truck had a manual transmission and I could feel engine roughness through the shift lever when using 87 octane gas. That completely smoothed out when using premium. The truck just ran better on the higher octane fuel. Obviously the Tacoma has a different engine than my 4Runner - the 3.5L 2GR-FKS with direct and port injection. But both seem to like the high octane fuel better even though they will run without damage on 87. I like to feed my girls what they really want.

 

try to drive one day in S3, in higher RPM, observe and report

 

I’m in Colorado… so putting in 85 is frowned upon ?

I’ve been doing it since new and I’m at 1400 miles on our 2024… should I stop and go with 87?

 

If the 85 is not causing knocking - no problem. Gas octane is lower in the Rocky Mtn states due to the higher elevation. At higher elevations the air is less dense than at sea level/slightly above sea level. This results in a slightly richer air/fuel ratio in the combustion chamber which deters engine knock. Regular gas at most Rocky Mtn state gas stations at elevation is usually 85 octane because of this. At closer to sea level regular gas is usually 87 octane. I’ve driven our 2023 Limited to Colorado a couple of times from Missouri. Usually the gas stations in eastern CO (High Plains) start having the lower octane gas - as compared to what you would fill up with in MO/KS. I’ve never had a problem driving around in CO with 85 octane gas. Driving home I’m usually filling up with 87 or 89 octane before getting back to anywhere near sea level (western KS is 2000-4000 ft above sea level). If driving in the high plains or mountains- 85 octane is fine - sometimes all you can get.

 

I don't feel so bad now... I have done a few fillups since new (currently at 1400 miles). I'll run 87 the next few... Maybe switch back and forth won't hurt? For what it's worth, my 2001 Infiniti called for 91 octane, but had a blurb in the owner's manual that it was ok to run slower octane at higher elevations. I ran 85 fro 125,000 miles up until now 211,000 miles and no issues. Of course, this is a Nissan

 

I tried it and it made no difference unfortunately.

 

OK then, you may be barking on the wrong tree. those knocking sounds may well be VVTI

 

interesting ..

https://youtu.be/kJyd6C99_3g?si=nX2_hyn7VWv4mBMm