My first Prius - 2013 III with 131k miles for $6800. Question about premium gas

Also the prius was made to save on spending on gas so Toyota made it to run perfectly on 87 without the need to spend on higher octane prices.

 

https://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/m_episodes/2012-2013/pump-fiction

 

I walk back all my previous statements based on your data from the report. Great study, just would have liked a larger sample size. Just use Top Tier 87 octane (Regular) in your Prius and use PEA based cleaner every 3k.

 

FWIW I've tried a few tanks of Chevron's highest octane. Mainly because it claims to be ethanol-free. If they offered ethanol-free regular I'd be all over it. Couldn't tell any difference in feel, albeit just one tank, once in a while.

 

Several stations do, here. The mark up is 35 cents more than E10, so you get 3% better MPG for 15% more cost. I will pass.

 

Have you tried it? Not much difference in mpg?

 

I have tried it on my GenIII, it is only a 2 to 3% gain in efficiency. The difference on my '99 Jeep is 10% or so and I run it exclusively (I also don't use it everyday and only fill it up once a month), but that is because the ignition coil isn't 'hot enough' to deal with the ethanol in the fuel even though it will run fine, the MPG suffers.

 

I did in my Gen 2. but not in my v. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

 

Too bad o/p left thinking premium was a lock

 

Free Lifetime filter and oil changes plus state inspections? Shit, I need to move to Virginia.

 

With most of the blown head gaskets here, the first codes to come up are P0300 and P0301. Which indicates head gasket failure, more often than not.

If at all possible, I would DIY. And with your miles, it's very timely.

 

So my check engine light for a P0401 (insufficient flow to EGR valve) didn't come on until January this year (This is the code Toyota designated in their ZF3 Warranty Enhancement program. There are also around 5 or 6 TSB's in regards to this issue). When I took the EGR circuit off of my car 2 weeks ago, it was clogged solid (the EGR cooler/pipe subassembly). The car had a knock at start-up only twice ever and also I only ever noted rattle under low load or in heavy traffic. Once the accelerator was depressed more heavily the rattle, which was the EGR system, would go away.

I am sorry, but this guy doesn't know what he is talking about. The clogging of the system is due to a poor design and there are multiple threads on this forum and elsewhere about it. The exhaust pipe that feeds the EGR circuit on the GenIII comes directly off of the exhaust manifold before passing over the pre-cat on the exhaust manifold. The problem is also confounded by the tendency of the 2010 - 2014 GenIII Prii to burn oil due to poorly designed oil rings and grooves. Toyota changed the design of the EGR circuit with the GenIV and moved the exhaust pipe feed to post-cat; however, there are trickled reports of the system getting fouled even on the GenIV's.

The system needs to be removed and cleaned (or replaced), period - prior to CEL illumination... If not addressed it could lead to premature head gasket failure as stated above.

 

Here is a picture of the tube that feeds the intake manifold, after the EGR valve on my car. My vehicle had 150000 miles on it, give or take, mostly highway.

 

Premium is not necessary. The Prius is designed to run on 87 octane gas. Save your money.

 

So he thinks you don't need the ERG cleaned? Is that what you asked him or did you ask what the charge would be? Did he give you a price?