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Premium Gas or not?

Discussion in 'Prius v Fuel Economy' started by cucaio90, Sep 3, 2015.

  1. cucaio90

    cucaio90 Junior Member

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    I got my Prius v for a little bit over a month,I did two fuel up and put premium in the car.The owner's manual says grade 87 or better but also says that fueling up with premium won't get you better mileage than putting regular .But I noticed when I first got the car from the dealership,they filled up for free with cheap gas (87).Going up hill I was pressing on the gas pedal more on the first few trips with the cheap gas 'cause the car was not really moving that great up hill.Now with premium going up hill it's easier,less pressing on the gas pedal and the car runs a lot smoother.Now my question is ,do you get better gas mileage putting premium gas in your prius or not?
     
    #1 cucaio90, Sep 3, 2015
  2. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I don't notice a significant difference.
    I fill at "Top Tier" stations but fill with regular.

    Any improvement you may have or imagine you have with premium, is instantly off-set by the cost premium you are paying per gallon.
     
    #2 The Electric Me, Sep 3, 2015
  3. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Premium Gas or not?
    Not.

    If you have a high performance vehicle, it's one of two types:
    1. Premium Fuel Recommended.
    2. Premium Fuel Only.

    Many vehicles are covered by a Premium Fuel Recommendation.
    Relatively few vehicles REQUIRE premium fuel......and you know what?

    It's not really "premium."
    Premium is an oil company label meaning: "has additives to prevent pre-detonation."
    There's nothing magical about it other than that.
    The "premium" label is to sucker people into buying it when they really do not have to.

    Good News: It won't really harm a Prius.
    Bad news: Sacrificing ride quality and performance by driving a Prius and then giving your local gas company more profit by unnecessarily burning higher octane fuel isn't ........ah............fiscally sound, to put it nicely.
     
    #3 ETC(SS), Sep 3, 2015
  4. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Regular 87 recommended.

    However, you possibly have some games to play. in the states with EPA reformulated gasoline (not FL) there is essentially no difference in energy content and MPG between grades/stations, and we have no E0 around. But you live in Florida where there might be more variation in energy content. There is no way to guarantee more energy content in Premium vs. Regular but it's possible. Also you might have E0 which directionally has 3% more energy/MPG. In some states BP Silver Midgrade is E0 and that might be an interesting trial fuel.

    You're stuck with the fact that energy content is not a spec, and you do not know the energy content when you fill up. If it was me I'd be trying to see if I could find a higher energy content by a little testing, but all I got is reformulated gasoline in my area, so I have no games to play.
     
    #4 wjtracy, Sep 3, 2015
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2015
  5. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    All it will cost you is money, if you need to reduce your money, go for it!

    (For a Prius v, it has no benefits)
     
    #5 JimboPalmer, Sep 3, 2015
  6. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Florida? Hills? :LOL:
     
    #6 fotomoto, Sep 3, 2015
  7. Xterra72

    Xterra72 Senior Member

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    Takes regular fill regular.
     
    #7 Xterra72, Sep 3, 2015
  8. HGS

    HGS Member

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    This Prius may take premium gas and it can climb steep hills :cool:

    image.jpg
     
    #8 HGS, Sep 3, 2015
  9. HGS

    HGS Member

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    image.jpg
    We have hills in Florida. How do you think we climb to the highest point in Florida? Lakewood Park, 345 feet above sea level. ✌
     
    #9 HGS, Sep 3, 2015
  10. cucaio90

    cucaio90 Junior Member

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    Yes in Florida we call them hills ,but they're probably sand dunes and someone decided to put a road on top.I've been to Lakewood Park when I go there I get altitude sickness,I guess Floridians are not used high places.
     
    #10 cucaio90, Sep 4, 2015
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