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Australian 2010 Prius question

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by nameless dude, Nov 28, 2009.

  1. nameless dude

    nameless dude New Member

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    I recently visited a few Toyota dealerships for the 3rd gen Prius and after asking the dealers about what fuel the Prius requires, they all told me that the Prius will do fine with regular unleaded (91 RON). However, I have previously learnt from Toyota Australia's website (Toyota Prius: Prius specifications) that the 3rd gen Prius requires premium unleaded fuel (95 RON), so given the reputation of dealers, I am a little skeptical about their claim. So can anyone here who knows about this issue tell me whether or not the Australian 3rd gen Prius can run fine on just regular unleaded without doing any damage to the car?

    Thanks in advance.
     
    #1 nameless dude, Nov 28, 2009
  2. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    I made contact with Toyota Australia via people I met at the media launch of the new Generation III 2009 Prius in Australia regarding this very issue. The car will accept 91 RON no problem at all. The 95 RON is specified because fuel economy and performance will be slightly better on 95 RON and it is my suspicion that is what was used for economy rating testing.
     
    #2 patsparks, Nov 28, 2009
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  3. AussieDave

    AussieDave New Member

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    Yes the Prius will run on 91 RON but I suspect that there are many times when the fuel being sold might not really be 91 RON. My kids have had so much trouble with dodgy cheap fuel that I stick with big service stations (usually Shell as that what is preferred by my car lease company)

    Thankfully the printing error in the original owners manual that specified 95 RON has resulted in the fuel card I got with my company car being for premium unleaded and I do not intend to dispel that myth.

    David
     
    #3 AussieDave, Nov 30, 2009
  4. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    It's a wet lease then?
     
    #4 patsparks, Nov 30, 2009
  5. Mike Dimmick

    Mike Dimmick Active Member

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    The same engine is rated in the US for an Anti-Knock Index of 87. AKI is the average of Motor Octane Number (MON) and Research Octane Number (RON). MON is typically 8 to 10 points lower than RON; an AKI of 87 is about 91-92 RON.

    Earlier Prius model years supposedly run slightly worse on higher octane-rating fuels. Additives to raise octane numbers may have more or less energy per litre than relatively 'straight' fuel, but commonly slightly less.

    Typically the higher-octane fuels will have a better cleaning additive package, though, which may make an improvement for that tank if deposits from cheap fuel have built up.

    Over here the lowest you can usually get is 95 RON, and most branded fuels (as opposed to supermarket filling stations) will have a good enough additive package. There's little benefit in going to a 'super' blend.
     
    #5 Mike Dimmick, Nov 30, 2009
  6. AussieDave

    AussieDave New Member

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    Never heard that term before but if you mean a petrol card is part of the package then yes.

    Obviously not having to worry about fuel costs very clearly shows that my new Prius is for all the fantastic toys it has.

    Last car was a Kluger, and before that an Avalon. So performance like speed and acceleration was not a factor.

    Lease also covers servicing, tyres, insurance and roadside assist although Toyota provide that also.

    As I work for KMart they stipulate new tyres from KMart Auto so before I head of on our first big trip I will find out just how available replacement tyres will be through them.

    David
     
    #6 AussieDave, Dec 1, 2009
  7. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Oh OK, yes a wet lease is a lease which includes fuel. I know this is a term used to describe the lease arrangements we had at work, but now we lease from another government department and our department pays for fuel, so a dry lease.

    It will be interesting to hear if Kmart sell low rolling resistance tyres. I got my last tyres from a Michelin dealer local to my work after shopping for a good price. I'm really happy with the Michelins.
     
    #7 patsparks, Dec 1, 2009
  8. AussieDave

    AussieDave New Member

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    With 730 kms up so far normal tyre replacement is a long way off.

    I am trying to source a space saver at the moment to put in just for the long trips.

    David
     
    #8 AussieDave, Dec 1, 2009
  9. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Yeah, I don't blame you. I had a broken valve stem near Ti-Tree in NT, what a pain that would have been with a can of goo, a compressor and no spare!!
    Ti-Tree is a little over 200 km north of Alice Springs.
     
    #9 patsparks, Dec 1, 2009
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