Fuel Types for Oz Prius

G'day mate.

I'm running my 2010 on BP Ultimate 98 Ron. Simply because the small cost increase has yielded better fuel consumption, negating the price difference, for me on every other vehicle I've owned. So I would expect the same to hold true in my Prius.

That and the quality of the fuel is better which ultimately is only a good thing for what is a sophisticated rather expensive machine.

I do know you would never catch me putting Caltex in it though

 

I had the Prius for a few months now and could never tell the difference between 91 RON and 95 RON. This may due to that the fuel I used have always been a mixture of 91 and 95 as my family could never put in the right fuel. You might be wasting your money with 98 RON IMO.

 

Mine is leased and employer requests we use Shell so Shell premium unleaded is the regular fuel used. Occasionally we might use BP or Mobil on a trip when no Shell.

Cannot use petrol card for cheap fuel outlets and children have picked up to many fills of Caltex rubbish to risk them in my pride and joy.

The difference between 95RON and 98Ron seems to be insignificant.

David

 

Recommended fuel is either E10 or Premium Unleaded.....either of which are above 95 Octane.

E10 is around 12 c/litre cheaper, but will give approx. .5 l/100 km worse economy than Premium.

We run E10 most of the time, with around every 4th tank a Premium fill to clean the system out. This seems to give a balance between efficiency and economical running. Seems to work well.

 

That's a smart choice! I'm also about to buy a prius, but as what you said, it uses either E10 or Premium, it must could us 91, and why don't you constantly use regular 91 instead

 

Here we have 95 and 98 unleaded.
I always use 95 which is a lot cheaper.

 

I often heard that the difference between 95RON and 98Ron is insignificant but never try myself. I only use 95RON.

 

Wasting your money. Somewhere some other thread even suggest that you are better off with just 95.

There was a research article about a year ago indicationg that 98 performed no better than 95.

 

Regular unleaded is not a high enough octane...besides which, the petrol companies in Australia are phasing out regular unleaded here and it is becoming difficult to find stations stocking it anyway.

 

Hi
Thanks for this thread that I have started using E10 fuel in my 2010 Prius. Just to let you know that the Shell E10 is rated as octane 94 but the united petrol stations E10 is rated 95 octane.
I have achieved about 3-4% lower fuel economy by using this E10 fuel. I average about 4 lit/100km ( 60 % freeway or highway driving) with the AC on all the time and drive at around the 100 kms/hr speed. The cost different is a lot as it its 4 cents cheaper than the normal 90 octane regular fuel ( which is not recommended for the prius) hence you end up putting the premium which costs 10 c more than the regular fuel ( in effect you are paying about 14 -15 cents more).
The best fuel range and economy was achieved by the Caltex/woolworths vortex fuel which I think is 98 octane.
I get around 900 kms before I have refill ( put about 40 lit)
Mand
Melbourne (Oz)

 

Hi SmogSlide
Your figures are what I expected in my car also. Its average was around 4 ( with the AC on ) in summer with 95-98 fuel. My average dropped since the first car service at 10,000 kms.
And now in winter its worse. I am getting 4.6 - 5.5 ( Depending on the external temp as its been 3 deg C some AM in Melbourne at 0630 hrs when I go to work). It also has been raining now in Melbourne which worsens the fuel consumption.
I have resorted to using E10 fuel ( 10% ethanol) which is 95 octane. Every 3rd or 4th fill I will use 98 octone (usually woollworths Vortex).
It will be interesting to see your figures with the 95 fuel. Also please let us know re the figures after the first service.
Mand

 

10% ethanol will be hurting your fuel consumption compared to zero ethanol fuel.

 

You will also gain fuel economy by increasing your tyre pressures to 42 front/40 rear psi. It will do no harm but is the cheapest beneficial modification you can do for your car.
Unless you drive a lot of km, or in extremely dusty areas, there is really no advantage to be gained in tapping out your air filter monthly. You risk damaging it by disturbing the seal too often. Blowing it out with compressed air every 3000 - 5000 km is a better option.

Cheers,
John.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I agree with you that there is no advantage in tapping the air filter monthly as risk of damaging the seal is more.
I get the car serviced every 4 months ( I do 10,000 kms in about 4 months) hence do not need to worry re the filter.
After servicing the car recently I checked the tyre pressure which was down to 32 PSI in all the 4 tyres. HENCE THE LESSON LEARNT is always check the tyre pressure after your car has been serviced as they are likely to reduce the pressure back to 32.
Cheers,
Mand