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What Gas Octane do you use ?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by mastermason11, Aug 19, 2007.

  1. duanelaugh

    duanelaugh New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(viking31 @ Aug 20 2007, 01:55 PM) [snapback]499218[/snapback]</div>

    For starters, burned exhaust valves. It's never been mentioned here, but it can do just that. The slower burning higher octane fuel will still be burning when the exhaust valve opens.
     
  2. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mastermason11 @ Aug 19 2007, 03:42 AM) [snapback]498587[/snapback]</div>
    It runs fine on 87. Anything higher is a waste of money.
     
  3. icarus

    icarus Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius2go @ Aug 20 2007, 11:59 AM) [snapback]499255[/snapback]</div>
    It has always been my experiance that knock (preignition) occurs with lower octane than spec. Higher octane is just wastful. My question about low octane (83-85) remains. I assume that the ecu/knock sensor in a engine as advanced as a prius should retard the timing and allow it to run safely, but the real question is what happens to mpg/performance. (My 1986 vw westfaila ran fine on 83-85 but once I discovered that it was that I low I always bought the more expensive 87 just to make sure) Question is how will the Prius do? I guess I will have to do a test next week when we drive across Montana end to end. I'll do one tank on 83, the next on 87 and report the results.

    Icarus
     
  4. rwhoyle

    rwhoyle Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bapajack @ Aug 19 2007, 07:45 AM) [snapback]498619[/snapback]</div>
    bapajack,

    Ethanol has a high affinity for water and usually, in an older car, will clean out your fuel system and carry all of the debris into the fuel filter causing possible plugging problems. Last, but, not least, ethanol can soften and, over a period of time, damage/destroy some rubber and rubber seal and o-ring compounds. Thus, causing leaking gasoline seals and o-rings wherever they come into contact. Does anyone know the rubber compound used in the Prius fuel system o-rings, seals and elastomers? In the petroleum industry, we normal specify Viton "A" seals for all ethanol handling uses. It is a higher grade of rubber than Buna "N", which many non-critical seals and made from because it is a cheaper rubber compound. This is why some cars are specified as okay for Ethanol blended gasolines and some are not. Does the Pruis Owners Manual specify ethanol blended fuels as okay for use? Hope this helps!!
     
  5. tripp

    tripp Which it's a 'ybrid, ain't it?

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sliderule @ Aug 20 2007, 08:21 PM) [snapback]499518[/snapback]</div>
    I think it says up to E10, like most other cars out there.
     
  6. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    E10 is good in mine, I ran my Camry on E10 and it ran better and got better economy than on standard petrol. E10 is cheaper than standard, it has slightly lower calorific value than standard unleaded but in my camry it stopped the pinging and improved economy.

    I'm getting about 4.4l/100km which is the rated estimated consumption city cycle from the Prius on it so economy isn't suffering.

    Ethanol in Australia is made from sugar cane waste.
     
  7. devprius

    devprius /dev/geek

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mastermason11 @ Aug 19 2007, 11:24 PM) [snapback]499018[/snapback]</div>
    They were supposed to give you a full tank of gas. Says so on the sticker price. I'd complain to Toyota about it, or go back to the dealership. And I'd probably be less inclined to take my car for service to that dealership. If they forgot to do that as part of the PDI, god knows what else they forgot to do.
     
  8. SureValla

    SureValla Member

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    Is E10 required now I cant seem to find any regular 87 in MA
     
  9. alanh

    alanh Active Member

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    E10 is required in many urban areas due to pollution issues, and that MTBE is no longer allowed.

    Anyway... all the octane does is resist knocking. If you're not knocking, extra octane will do nothing for you.
     
  10. Winston

    Winston Member

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    Regarding the Montana Gas question; At higher altitudes, the air is less dense, so your cars engine takes in less mass of air. That makes it harder to ignite the fuel. In order to help with the fuel ignition, they reduce the octane of gasoline sold at higher altitudes. The gas you are talking about must have been sold at a high altitude gas station.
     
  11. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    From the Toyota Technical Training literature:

    [attachmentid=10959]
     

    Attached Files:

  12. PearlDriver

    PearlDriver Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mastermason11 @ Aug 19 2007, 11:24 PM) [snapback]499018[/snapback]</div>

    I believe you got cheated out of a tank of gas. The factory sticker on every Prius we looked at included "Full tank of gas." It wasn't even part of the negotiations and filling it was listed on the pre-delivery check list as part of the vehicle check.
     
  13. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PearlDriver @ Aug 28 2007, 04:18 AM) [snapback]503134[/snapback]</div>
    When I picked up my Prius the the gas tank wasn't full. I pointed it out to the dealership and they gave me a voucher for a fillup.
     
  14. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    I've been pretty regularly going to Shell stations, as they accept Air Miles. The supposed benefits from Top Tier, who knows your guess is as good as mine.

    For the Prius I run 87 octane, for the FJ the "V-Power" as the FJ recommends premium. It runs on regular, but the performance and mileage loss is enough that I might as well run premium in it.
     
  15. mastermason11

    mastermason11 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(devprius @ Aug 22 2007, 05:26 PM) [snapback]500707[/snapback]</div>

    I did not buy it new nor did I buy it from a Toyota Dealer. I boughtit at an independent dealer. Here in Socal, we pay a prenium for the carpool lane (HOV) stickers.. I paid $5k over the price of a new package 6 just for the stickers... Damn stickers...
     
  16. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mastermason11 @ Sep 5 2007, 10:10 PM) [snapback]507795[/snapback]</div>
    Is that the same car that smelled like poop and had a very loose rear spoiler?