To all 2003 owners,

After 3 weeks of testing and research I found that Sunoco has the least amount of sulfur for US gas companies. I ran a full tank of 94 and then 93 and the sulfur smell no longer exists.
Thats my story and I'm stickin to it.

 

sunoco and hess is what ive found works best. shell is the wort ive used

 

Sunoco, eh ? Hmmm.... Got a road trip this weekend and I'm gonna have to try it. Did you see any difference between the 92 octane and the regular 87 ?

Thanks cervesa for the info !

Steve

 

Do you guys know what is equivalent to Sonoco on the west coast? The highest I can get is 91 Octane.

-Ash

 

The higher octane does give a bit of push over the lower octanes. In my research I also contacted the EPA and according to them all US gas companies must lower the content of sulfur to under 20% over the next 4 years nation wide. Right now CA and I think GA and maybe MI are only states the require the lower sulfer gas.
So hopefully soon we buy gas anywhere and not have the sulfer side affects.

Adios

 

I drove all the way to work and then to lunch today with the windows, sunroof and back window open. I don't have the sulfur smell at all. I have the port installed dual side Borla exhaust, maybe the angle of the exhaust is preventing the smell from reaching me. But so far so good. I filled up the first time with Phillips 66 93 octane.

 

I'm having good luck, and no sulphur smell, with Chevron Supreme 91, the highest octane available here.

 

The only time I smelled sulfur on mine was when I was on the freeway with the back window down. I punched it and the smell came in. I was running 89 octane at the time. I've never smelled it with 87.

I'm here in SoCal so the highest I can get is 91 unless I go to a 76 that has race fuel. F paying almost 5 bucks a gallon.

-Sac State.
Any pics of your exhaust? Sound clips? How is the sound?

 

Thanks BT17R!

There's one right by my house. Looks like I'll be going there for a while.

-Ash

 

Boy, everyone with the 03 4runners is running high octane. Do they require that? I have a '98 Tacoma and I run the cheapest gas I can find!!

 

I usually run ExxonMobil 93 or Sunoco 93, never noticed the smell with either, but it happens that with the Sunoco 93 I see higher MPG's

And the highest MPG I have seen was 18.7 (real and not from the car computer)

Cheers

 

Slib77: No pix yet, wife won't let me use the digital, something about not reading the manual yet and I'll break it. The pipes are SWEET! I noticed yesterday that I also have the Borla intake system as well as the exhaust. I hand washed the rig last evening, the gray cladding is great, no streaks, runs or spots!

 

Not me buddy... I put in Amoco 87. The smell is still there (on and off,) but not as bad as when I was using Sam's Club gas.

The one time I put in 93, I do think I got better MPG. I average 15 right now.

 

I have a question...how do they get the pipe to come out the driver side? With the minimal amount of room with the spare tire there? I am just curious because i didnt think there was enough room to get out the driver side with a functional pipe

 

Good info on the gas- its definitely not just 2003 toys that deal with that stench. I'm not sure about the relationship between the octane rating and the sulfur content though- I'm not disagreeing with you, but I just don't know if there is a direct relationship. In general, the higher octane gas is a waste of money, IMO, unless you've got a supercharger of course, then the high octane appears to be a necessity.

 

Maybe I have already heard and I forgot but is Toyota doing anything about this? I would hate it if i bought a brand new vehicle it the 35,000 range and it smelled like someone is busting a$$ all the time.

 

The smell is limited to a sampling of the population, I for one, do NOT have a bad smell coming out of my exhaust, Sport V8. Too bad the people who are reporting this occurance have not found a solution to their problem. The Borla pipe splits before the spare tire and one pipe wraps around the tire and pokes out right behind the rear mud flap, about one inch clearance between flap and the lower rear cladding. Same for the passenger side. Two silver shiney beaded Borla branded pipes. Haven't opened her up yet, only 700 miles, but it sure sounds pretty cruising on a country road at 45-60mph.

 

If at all possible when you do take some pictures, if you could get one of underneath, so i can see how it looks, thanks for explaining it to me....must be a nice exhaust...enjoy!

 

Nope, Toyota's stance is... Try a different brand of gas. I would really like to know THE REAL REASON for the smell. Is it the motor, the exaust system, or the 3 cats ?

I can live with it... It's only an on again/off again thing with me (even using the same brand of gas.) But, it always happens if I have the rear window down. Hey, I live in a beach town... I would like to be able to drive out to the beach with all the windows down, sunroof open, and girls in skimpy bikinis.. Ya know.

 

You have a Magnaflow, I am sure it is very similar. I will try to post some pics of the exhaust, shortly. Do you have grey or color cladding, I cannot tell by the scrunched picture under your handle?