'05 Tacoma V6 needs 91 octane premium gas!

[Muleskinner]

Originally Posted by dhaydel

I have now run 2 tanks dry on my X. First tank was with 87 octane and the second was with 93. The Dealer filled the tank up with 87 octane and said it was sufficant for the engine. I enjoy cruising at a low RPM at all gears. What I noticed is I was able to run between 3 and 500 RPM lower with the higher octane without the engine making a grumbling sound. Purrs like a kitten. I do not claim to know much about octanes and engines, but as for me the I would recommend the higher octane because if it run better at a lower rpm, I could just imagine how much better and efficient the engine is running at higher rpm's givin the stress the engine is experiencing. Just a though.

Dhaydel

Most likely it ran better with 93 octane due to more timing. My point exactly.

[impulsives]

My gas mileage dropped by 1 mph with 93 vs 87 on my new 05 4x4 Doublecab with almost all highway miles at 75 mph. I can tell no difference in power. I only thing about the truck I don't like is that it doesn't have a HEMI(V8) and that the cruise control sucks. I don't even use RES because it almost redlines the truck when I'm at or a little above the speed I set it on. My old Honda Accord cruise was much better.

[v8Toilet]

Originally Posted by impulsives

My gas mileage dropped by 1 mph with 93 vs 87 on my new 05 4x4 Doublecab with almost all highway miles at 75 mph. I can tell no difference in power. I only thing about the truck I don't like is that it doesn't have a HEMI(V8) and that the cruise control sucks. I don't even use RES because it almost redlines the truck when I'm at or a little above the speed I set it on. My old Honda Accord cruise was much better.

Doesn't the Tundra have hemispherical combustion chambers or similar pent roof?

[lelandstanford]

I think Impulsives is refering to a V-8 engine.

[Muleskinner]

Originally Posted by v8Toilet

Doesn't the Tundra have hemispherical combustion chambers or similar pent roof?

Basically.

[stephen.bernstein]

I recently purchased a 2005 Tacoma and know that this web site will be a huge help. I am told that while Premium (92-93 octane) is technically called for in the new Tacoma with the 4.0, you can use regular unleaded (87 octance) without issue.

Is there anything detrimental that can happen to my truck by doing this? Is mileage significantly lower?

Please post what you are and have been doing and your results.

Advice is greatly appreciated!

[disabati]

I have an 05 Tacoma 4x4 Dbl-Cab V6 and have been running 87 octane so far and haven't noticed any difference in power between that and the premium fuel grade.

Also note, I have a 94 Integra GS-R (calling for premium grade fuel) that I've run 87 octane in since practically day 1 and I now have 205,000 miles on it with no major engine repairs at all and it still runs almost like new.

What I have found is that the regular gas grade differs from station to station. There are two stations in my area (Baltimore) that I always get my gas at and the GS-R rocks (as if I put premium in it). Other stations are hit and miss. When I get a miss (i.e., low-grade gas) in the GS-R, I can definitely tell the difference in performance and engine knocking.

So, bottom line: I use the same two stations for filling up my Tacoma and all seems fine. I know this may not be practical for others (filling up at the same place all the time), but, you may want to take notice of how the vehicle runs after filling up at the various stations.

[gamagatsu1]

the taco needs premium noe does that mean 92 octane or 89 octane?

[belacyrf]

Octane has nothing to do with fuel mileage. You can run 100 octane and your mileage will be the same. Octane is strictly a barrier to detonation or "knock". If you run 87 and hear the knock (aka Ping, Detonation which will sound like frozen peas being machine gunned at a tin pan), then you'll want ot run a higher octane.

To say that this octane reduced by mileage by 1 MPG is hardly accurate. Unless you used robotics to modulate throttle position and ony drove the exact same route for each tank of gas ensuring that load, mph, and throttle position were the exact same for each test.

Octane is ONLY a barrier to detonation. It doesn't burn smoother, or cleaner or better, maybe only a tad slower.

I have no idea why Toyota said this engine needs premium. The dealer I was at today said 87, but deaer salesreps usually know less than the average street guy. However with enough experiences on this board having run 87, I would 87 is all that is necessary, unless you hear some pinging, then upgrade your octane. Now if there is small, almost un-audible detonation, you should feel the car be a tad down on power, but if you do not notice it and continue running your truck that way, you'll noticeably decrease the life of the engine.

Personally I'm gonna run 89. It's not Cali 91 and it's not 87 but hey.. I'll feel better being in the middle.

[05tacoman]

Originally Posted by RobL

Article also lists expected pricing.

"The V6 needs 91 octane premium, while the four-cylinder, which Toyota anticipates will account for 30 percent of Tacoma sales, makes its power on 87 octane regular."

http://www.starks-news.com/NewsArchi...yotaTacoma.htm

I run my 05 on mid grade 89 no problem

[bigbobsmall]

4.0-liter V6 engine with 5-speed automatic (city/hwy) 18/22 17/21
Fuel tank (gal.) 21.0 21.0
Required fuel Reg. unleaded [11] Reg. unleaded [11]

(Legal Disclaimer - Premium unleaded fuel recommended for V6 models for optimum fuel economy and performance.)

thats some bullshit. i dont think the tank in my 05 is 21 gallons, i think its 18.

[belacyrf]

Definately 18 gallons. No way it's 21.

[nhparrot]

Originally Posted by bigbobsmall

4.0-liter V6 engine with 5-speed automatic (city/hwy) 18/22 17/21
Fuel tank (gal.) 21.0 21.0
Required fuel Reg. unleaded [11] Reg. unleaded [11]

(Legal Disclaimer - Premium unleaded fuel recommended for V6 models for optimum fuel economy and performance.)

thats some bullshit. i dont think the tank in my 05 is 21 gallons, i think its 18.

Fuel tank is 21.1 US gallons

[jon_lozon]

must have a huge fuel line or something, i ran mine on e for like 15 miles, still was 18 to fill.............

[belacyrf]

If it truly is 21 gallons. Then Toyota screwed up big time, calibrating that fuel gauge. I mean who drives on E for 70 miles?