What Gas Octane do you use ?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mastermason11 @ Aug 19 2007, 03:42 AM) [snapback]498587[/snapback]</div>

As per the owners manual. use only 87 octane. Anything higher and you will be wasting your money and could cause engine problems.

 

I use 95RON E10
The Aussie Prius should use 91RON but I like E10 which is 95RON

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mastermason11 @ Aug 19 2007, 01:42 AM) [snapback]498587[/snapback]</div>

I'm brand new at this and haven't yet read through the manual for the '07 we just got... I asked the dealer rep the same question and he said "either 87 or 89 is OK" My impression of most of the posts I've seen here since I started my pre-purchase surfing is that PriusChat is a great source of good information!!

I certainly agree with Duane that the cost of gas is a bottom line thing, but then so is engine wear & tear... Here in Nebraska, because 89 octane is ethanol-added, and because we grow corn and produce the stuff, it's subsidized and therefore less expensive that 87.

So, aside for the politics of all this, how, specifically, is ethanol better, worse or the same? (for the Prius... let's not talk environment yet). Thanks!

 

It's not better at all. There will be a very slight decrease in mileage and performance with ethanol.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lenjack @ Aug 19 2007, 09:13 AM) [snapback]498624[/snapback]</div>

thats true, and since ethanol is made from corn, milk prices are going up..go figure

 

I like the fuel with 10% ethanol added. I use 87 octane (no ethanol currently) fuel however.

The ethanol added fuel will give slightly poorer mileage as noted by others. It also burns cleaner, however. You will see much less carbon or soot buildup on the throttle body. It also makes your car smell like an alcohol burner when you first start up (before the cat warms).

I'm surprised Prius owners would comment on ethanol use causing shortages or any other "problem". We see so much BS against our car I thought everyone would think these things through before repeating such nonsense.

 

As per the owners manual, 87 octane with no ethanol.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lefat1 @ Aug 19 2007, 10:28 AM) [snapback]498650[/snapback]</div>

That's because cows that produce milk eat corn. When the price of their feed goes up, the price of the milk they produce goes up.

That's why the price of everything goes up when the price of oil goes up. Just about everything is moved by trucks that need gas. There are also hidden oil uses, like fertilizer for food.

 

87; anything more is a waste. We use gas with ethanol, but that's because it's the only thing you can get in the Midwest.

Tom

 

What about in Montana where 'regular' is 83-85 octane, and midgrade is 87? What is the consiquence of burning 83? It took me years of driving across Montana to realize the octane was so low.

Icarus

 

In the UK all Unleaded Petrol has an octane rating of 95. In the US you seem adamant that you should use 87 not even 91, how does this compare with us having 95.

Not sure what I am asking, but does anybody understand the difference.

Also what else do people use around the world?

Thanks
Gary

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gazz @ Aug 20 2007, 04:58 AM) [snapback]499028[/snapback]</div>

That's because in the UK, you use the RON method of octane calculation. In the US we use the RON + MON method, which results in a lower calculated number.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Duane @ Aug 19 2007, 07:33 AM) [snapback]498599[/snapback]</div>

Engine problems with higher octane? What problems?

Rick
#4 2006

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(viking31 @ Aug 20 2007, 12:46 PM) [snapback]499181[/snapback]</div>

Incomplete fuel ignition causing carbon buildup, assuming that the ECU can't use the knock sensors (if they even exist in this engine) to determine optimum ignition advance.


Strongly doubt any actual engine damage would occur, but you could get less MPG if the engine isn't utilizing the higher octane to advance timing.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Fred S @ Aug 20 2007, 01:13 PM) [snapback]499196[/snapback]</div>

Knock sensors can advance timing? :huh:

 

It's not good for the emissions system. This is true in any car not just the Prius. I use 85 octane, but I'm at 5400+ feet so 85 is similar to 87 close to sea level.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Duane @ Aug 19 2007, 07:33 AM) [snapback]498599[/snapback]</div>

Engine problems with higher octane? What problems?

Rick
#4 2006

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gazz @ Aug 20 2007, 01:58 AM) [snapback]499028[/snapback]</div>

I hope this helps:

 

surely it has knock sensors to use higher or lower grade?
how new is this engine design?