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Recomended Octane level?

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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 09:24 PM
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From: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Recomended Octane level?

Whats the recomended octane level for the 3.0's ?

I usually run 87 (chevron when I can) and I have gotten mediocer milage at best. I got around 410km in the summer, and im getting around 350 in the winter.

So the other day I filled up with 89 octane from chevron. And im up to 55km to an 1/8th.

Im going to run the whole tank and see where it gets me.
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 09:25 PM
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I always run 89 octane in everything (except my Cummins lol) and I have gotten 17mpg in my 89 V6 auto with it.
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 09:40 PM
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From: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Hmm, I think im gonna start going with 89. Sucks that its almost 7 cents more a litre. But I guess its worth it for the MPG
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 10:43 PM
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Most cars say that 87 is the MINIMUM, not the recommended. I run 93 in my runner.
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 10:46 PM
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Ide say try all levels of octane and what works best for you go with that. Chevron all the way IMO
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 10:54 PM
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Off topic a bit, but I am surprised you are getting that good milage with a 3VZE. I have a 22RE 4Runner and also live in the Lower Mainland only get about 410km to a tank (with 87).

For the 22RE, it pings readily with bronze grade gas (87 octane) and gets the previously mentioned 410km of mixed driving. So far with mixed driving and 89 octane, I have noticed there is hardly any knocking and it took 200km to the halfway mark. With 87, it was about 170km to the halfway.

My gauge seems to stay full for a long time, then between 3/4 and 1/4 it goes quickly and then slow again at 0/4 and then a good 50km after that.
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 11:32 PM
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ive always used 87 i got around 25mpg with my 22re of course i had it breathing a little better and got around 20mpg with the 3.slow and about 22mpg with the 3.4
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Old Dec 17, 2007 | 11:35 PM
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I run 89 unless I'm heading over the hills, then I'll throw the good stuff in the day before.
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 01:21 AM
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Converted to mpg, 410km to a tank is 17.4mpg on 87 octane.
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 01:24 AM
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From: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Hmm, that doesnt sound right. What size gastank are you figuring? Mine holds at least 60L
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 04:13 AM
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you know, ive tried 91, ive tried 93. theres no difference once so ever in my trucks performance, except a bigger drain on my wallet for gas. so i just use 87 arco. ya, not the best, but 2.97 is better than 3.15
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 09:27 AM
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I gave up really worrying about the price of gas between octanes. 3.15-2.97. I usually take in 14-15 gallons when I fill up. The price savings is less than 3 dollars.
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by ozziesironmanoffroad
you know, ive tried 91, ive tried 93. theres no difference once so ever in my trucks performance, except a bigger drain on my wallet for gas. so i just use 87 arco. ya, not the best, but 2.97 is better than 3.15
i think thats "what so ever" (not tryin to be a jerk)

ive heard that on most stock basic low compression engines that dont have any mods that 87 is better because it detonates easier. thats what i always run.

Last edited by to4menon4u; Dec 18, 2007 at 09:43 AM.
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 01:20 PM
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From: (Rednecks Inbreed In) Kansas
I reccomend 107 Octane in everything, even your lawn mower!

I usually run 87, never tried anything else, I've tried a few fuel addatives, they didn't do ..
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 02:01 PM
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Well, my truck seems to like the 89 octane, im going to run this whole tank and see where I stand with milage.
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 02:11 PM
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i filled up with the highest gas just to see if it would make a difference. whole tank full, got maybe 10-20 more miles. its not worth it i dont think. you are paying maybe 6 bucks more at the pump when you fill up for those 10-20 miles, when if you put 6 bucks of "more gas" you would get about 28-30 more miles. i hope you understand where im getting at here...
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 03:25 PM
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From: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
yep, I understand. Im up to 70km still on 1/8th of a tank. I think its working
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 04:59 PM
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I think my cat is near plugged. It looks ancient and the nuts have rust-welded themselves to the studs and the cat. Its ugly. It also seems as if my manifold-downpipe gaskets are being blown out after less than 1000km. Replacing the cat is on my to do list.

I live on a very big hill and have 4.10s with 31"s and going up the at a reasonable pace causes knocking with 87 octane. With 89, it doensn't knock.
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Old Dec 18, 2007 | 10:46 PM
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From: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
You might want to re-gear eventually too

Up to 105km with the first 1/4 of a tank. Looks like im back to my summer millage. Up from 315 on my last tank of chevron 87 octane.
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Old Dec 19, 2007 | 12:37 AM
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Originally Posted by ozziesironmanoffroad
you know, ive tried 91, ive tried 93. theres no difference once so ever in my trucks performance, except a bigger drain on my wallet for gas. so i just use 87 arco. ya, not the best, but 2.97 is better than 3.15
Arco fuel is 10% alcohol, It does nothing but reduce emissions, reduce fuel economy and their partially owned by the Argentinian government.
I make a 250 mile trip a couple times a week to go snowboarding, If I use Chevron Supreme I'll use 7.5 gallons there and back (7.4 without the boxes on top), If I use regular I'll use 8 gallons, If I used Arco I use 9.5 gallons, same trip, same roads. I've done this trip thousands of times for many years and have always had the same results.
If you have a gallon of gas and remove 12% of it and add 10% alcohol and 2% additives you loose 12% of the fuel no matter how you look at it. a gallon of fuel produces a given BTU rate, If you remove some of the gas and add something that doesnt burn as hot this will reduce the BTU rate and lower fuel economy.
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