infiltrator

okay guys i have a 2nd gen 4runner and i got happy cuz i got my truck washed today. im going to the gas station, and gas prices dropped a little. my gas light was on so im like okay cool ill get some here...

just putting my new oil filter and new oil in, im gonna try something here.

i filled up with shell V-Power gasoline (91 octane), and im gonna reset my trip OD and see how much of a difference i get.

normall with some freeway driving but mainly stop and go i get 200 miles for a tank of gas (its freaky how accurate this is)...

i will let everyone know how much better or if it stays the same im gonna miss my 5 bucks lost lol.

OSU4Runner

mmmmmmm 91 octane.....

infiltrator

alrighty so far so good. i notice a big change in acceleration!

im at 60 something miles and its almost a quarter tank done (well im going by what i see as a quarter tank because the gas guage shows bigger middle sections in the middle and not so big in the sides...)

i feel like it runs better but ill keep you guys updated.

MonsterMaxx

What I've noticed with mine is that with premium it can run a lot more timing which clearly can give my modded motor more seat of the pants pull.

I've long since given up running low grade gas.

fredtheturd

I never notice any difference in mileage with higher octanes but performance may be a bit better. Here's a link to Quiktrip gas station's website that talks about premium gas from their point of view.

http://www.quiktrip.com/gasoline/myth.asp

I do find alot of truth in it.

infiltrator

well i am officially half a tank down... the results thus far is that i find no huge noticeable gain in gas mileage. i was a little lead foot, and this is probably good if you are, but for most 3.0L drivers stick with what you got...

there was one event that occured today. i was in a situation where there is a slow truck in one lane, and people catching up in the next. i passed with EASE. the truck had so much pickup and shifted gears and rocketed like no other!!! it was great! but i dont expect everyone to have those moments all the time, and its sure not worth 5 more bucks on fillup...

i appreciate that web site, i now understand why my findings were the way they were... thanks guys. so much for premium...

Turbo4Runner

I'm not familiar with the ECU's for the 3.0 but most modern ECU's would take a good portion of the tank to relearn the estimated octane value which means you wouldn't really see much improvement in the first half or so of the tank.

You could increase the accuracy by resetting your ECU between tanks (can be done by unplugging the battery for a few min. or so.). Or just make your next tank 91 again and see if the results vary.

But in all honesty most naturally aspirated production motors have little to gain from a 4/6 point octane increase as far as gas mileage.

S/C'd, Turbo'd or high compression motors is a different story though.

javadoody

i'd never run higher octanes unless i'm pinging. that said, if you increase your timing BTDC for performance, you will begin to ping, requiring the upgrade in gas. and up to a point of severe timing advance you should also see a slight increase in gas mileage. trade off: a modicum of performance and mileage versus increased fuel costs for higher octane = performance increase only. (keep in mind this is a gross generality as factors such as intake and exhaust mods make a huge difference.)

cchilders13

you only get 200 to a tank? im pretty sure my 3.0 gets more than that...what is the typical mpg these things get?

Greg_Canada

I've got anywhere fom 250-300 in the warmer months.
Usually, 265.
225 in the winter...

AustinTaco

When my 89 3.0 4runner is running good, I would get close to 20 on the highway with 31" tires. When its in need of a tune up, its more like 14 or 15. I track mileage on the highway since its more consistent and easier than around town.

I bought an original brochure for my truck a few years ago and it had a blurb in there about the engine having some type of knock sensor that:
"And its knock control system changes ignition timing to compensate for varying grades of gasoline. With unleaded fuel, this V6 produces 145 hp and 180ft-lbs of torque. With Premium unleaded fuel, the torque and power output is increased"

Whether that is advertising BS or the truth, I do notice a difference in my 89 with higher octane and better quality gas.