88 Octane?

It was a mistake in the owner's manual. Toyota has issued a correction.

Tom

 

See the other primary thread on this, in particular Doug Coleman's response. If you are new here, note Doug's job title.

 

please new members, do the following:

1. if you have a question, search priuschat.com BEFORE you post it- there is a 95.2% chance your question has been answered in at least one previous thread.

2. if entering a thread at say the 41st post, as a minimum skim the posts in that thread to that point - there is a 78.7% chance your question or input has already been made. This will enable you to build on that foundation and add something new.

 

I think I was in Winnemucca NV when I encountered 'regular' 85 octane! What's with that?

 

97.3% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

Tom

 

I'm a big fan of Cick and Clack, the Tappet Brothers on NPR, It cracks me up when they make up statistics just like that!

 

Winnemucca is at about 4300 feet, where octane needs of ordinary engines are significantly lower than at sea level.

Enjoy it. Absent special blendings and oxygenate recipes, lower octane fuel will have a slightly higher energy content per gallon. Just be sure to refuel with 87 before you descend to low elevation.

 

85 octane *is* regulars at altitude, as explained above.

Tom

 

In western Montana the lowest you can get is 87, but during the summer we have been able to get 85.5 east of the continental divide. Not sure what it is about but I think it doesn't contain ethanol and I always get better mpg when I use it.

G

 

Also note that, while warning of danger when filling up with 85 then descending to sea level type altitudes is fine, you won't have a problem. There is so little variability in octane when you "fill up" with one then another that you (and the engine) won't notice the difference. Especially from 85 to 87. Add to that modern engines' ability to "adapt" to poor fuel and you'll be fine.

Been there, done that! With cars much more sensitive to octane rating than the Prius.

So far Pearl "tells" me if it burns and is called gasoline, it's fine.

 

Note also that nearly all the 85 octane is sold very far away from low elevations, beyond the range most people would drive older generation gas guzzlers before refueling.

My last two carbureted engines were rated for 87, but age related ping problems forced me to use 89 whenever driving below 1000-1500 feet. With more modern fuel injection including the knock sensors, I've never had any problems, even with fuel range long enough to reach low altitude.

 

There are three kinds of people in the world, those who are good with numbers and those who aren't.

There are two kinds of people I can't stand - intolerant people and Belgians.

 

There are 10 kinds of people in the world: those that understand binary and those that don't.

There are 2 kinds of people in the world: those that divide people into two groups and those that don't.

Tom