Corolla Hybrid - 2018 Fuel spec.?

In part, it's because of the ethanol mandate. The other is that it could be a cheaper octane booster, depending on the market for the petroleum sourced compounds usually used for raising octane.

 

???

 

Some servos here (a nearby BP for instance) have, UNLEADED - and in small print on the Bowser, "with up to 10% Ethanol" - it's rubbish, but they're charging 91 price. The same servo, doesn't have 95 - only 98 - astronomically dearer. I went down the road to CALTEX.

 

Just thinking - a number of TAXI companies have both Gen 3 and Prius v fleets - you could give them a ring and ask what fuel they use. I was told by my salesman (used to be PRIUS mechanic) that mechanically it is identical to Gen3.

 

One reason for Premium in OZ could have to do with allowable gaso additives. For example, manganese which I am not sure if still allowed as additive in some countries. Just speculating....

 

Not sure if sulphur content has anything to do with it:

"The octane rating is 91 RON and the sulphur content is 150 parts per million (ppm), which is one of the highest figures globally ... . Australia is massively out of step with the rest of the world. While our premium unleaded might be 95 RON, the sulphur content is still very high at 50ppm." from Motoring.com.au - March 28, 2017 (and other similar reports - talking about phasing out both 91 and E10).

 

More sulfur in fuel leads to more emissions, and that is before it poisons the catalytic converter. The amount in US gas is 30ppm, going down to 15ppm.

If higher sulfur is the reason for not using regular in Australia for the gen3 Prius and Corolla hybrid, why is allowed in the gen4 and Prius c? Are the latter certified for more emissions?

 

That's pretty much it.
But it is still a mystery why a gen3 Prius and other hybrids with that drivetrain need premium in Australia, but only regular elsewhere.

 

Not sure if this explains anything:

 

That could be a good idea re: sulfur, but although they are calling 150 ppm high sulfur, in the old days sulfur was much higher, so it doesn't scare me too much...but yes it would reduce effectiveness of the cat converter. In the U.S. they always clobber the big oil with very low regulatory limits and ethanol mandates, etc., but smaller companies are given exclusions. So it would not surprise me if back in 2004-2008 Gen2 days something like 150 ppm sulfur may have been common in USA, not sure. I wonder what smaller companies are allowed to do today.

As far as calling 50 ppm S "very high", USA was there until maybe 5 or 6 years ago we had a lower sulfur put in place, and probably that rule is still phasing in although we must be getting near full implementation.

I always thought gaso would smell better with near zero sulfuir, but it still stinks. Must be that the detergent additives are stinky.

 

Could it be related to CAFE standards?

 

Toyota might be worried about high sulfur, it influences particle emissions, leading to deposit build up in engines with the older EGR. That might be a problem regardless though

The 30ppm limit came into effect during Bush's presidency, at least according to the website where it. I do know that the 15ppm limit started phasing in last year. It might be that low in Europe already.

Waviers could be issued for some, but in the case of the switch to ULSD smaller refineries were just given longer to comply. By this time, they should be in compliance. Even off road diesel and heating oil should be ULSD by now.

ULSD does smell a whole lot better than the old heating oil I use to use.