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Premium fuel?

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by MountainMan, Dec 2, 2019.

  1. Dec 2, 2019 at 3:41 PM
    #1
    MountainMan

    MountainMan [OP] New Member

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    Sorry if it's been discussed to death before, but I did a forum search and no results...

    So, I know the 4Runner doesn't need premium and I've ran nothing but the cheap 87 octane ethanol crap which is all we can get around here pretty much. Gas mileage has been 18.0 mpg for months.

    Stopped at a gas station last week with only a couple of gallons left in the tank and decided to fill up with 93 octane, but still has ethanol.

    There are a couple of stations that sell the ethanol-free premium, and I run that in my UTV and small engines. Good stuff.

    With every other vehicle, putting premium in the tank resulted in a 1 or 2 mpg increase, so on a whim, decided to pay the big bucks and treat the 4Runner to a tank.

    Over the past week, with half a tank left, mileage has gone down to 17.6 mpg. It feels noticeably more sluggish and I can see the difference in the real-time mpg display on the dash.

    Weird.

    I've never seen that happen in any of my vehicles over the years, from a 500hp GTO to a 2014 Ram Hemi, they all have gotten slightly better mileage and performance from the increased octane. Well, the Goat had 10:1 compression, so without premium, I had to retard the timing quite a bit to avoid pre-detonation, but...

    So I fully understand the concepts of higher octane and how it effects engine function.

    Just wondering if this is something unique to the engine management system of the 4Runner, or if I just got a bad batch of $4 gas?
     
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  2. Dec 2, 2019 at 4:18 PM
    #2
    Jynarik

    Jynarik I like boobies

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    There’s a reason why it called for 87 octane...
     
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  3. Dec 2, 2019 at 4:24 PM
    #3
    SR5 Limited

    SR5 Limited New Member

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    Sounds like you got a tank of E85. I wouldn’t go back to that station. They tried to pull that crap on me so I go all the way across town to fuel up.....
     
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  4. Dec 2, 2019 at 4:39 PM
    #4
    flexmagli

    flexmagli New Member

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    Sounds like you don’t fully understand the concepts of higher octane and how it effects engine function or you wouldn’t be asking this question.
     
  5. Dec 2, 2019 at 4:43 PM
    #5
    MountainMan

    MountainMan [OP] New Member

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    No need to be that way, we could all be a little nicer this time of year, you know...

    On every other vehicle I've owned, the computer would compensate for the higher octane by advancing timing and the result would be a slight increase in fuel mileage. The 4Runner got worse gas mileage, which I figured would be due to either the gas being bad or the 4Runner having a funky engine management system, which is why I posted the question here.

    Sorry for wasting your precious time, geez.
     
  6. Dec 2, 2019 at 4:49 PM
    #6
    MountainMan

    MountainMan [OP] New Member

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    BTW, I searched Google and found a thread on it on the "other" 4Runner forum and members reported increased mileage in their 5th gens, but not enough to compensate for the extra cost.

    So I was correct in my assumption that it was probably just crappy fuel.
     
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  7. Dec 2, 2019 at 4:56 PM
    #7
    SR5 Limited

    SR5 Limited New Member

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    I notice a difference when fueling up at a “hot” gas station within five miles.....
     
  8. Dec 2, 2019 at 4:57 PM
    #8
    4x Old Guy

    4x Old Guy New Member

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    Maybe it’s something similar to the placebo effect. You’re brain thinks the higher octane should give it better performance so your foot subconsciously makes it feel that way in seat of your pants by actually pushing it harder than you normally would. I know my Runner always runs better right after it’s been through the car wash. I attributed it to the lack of dirt causing less wind resistance (but I may be wrong).
     
  9. Dec 2, 2019 at 5:11 PM
    #9
    4x Old Guy

    4x Old Guy New Member

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    One thing to consider. If you fuel up late in the day (especially if the station’s storage tanks are above ground), the fuel will have less energy per gallon because thermal expansion makes the fuel less dense (read the dispensing disclaimer fine print on the pump). Then, when the fuel in your tank cools off, there will actually be a smaller volume of fuel in the tank. There is about a 1% change in volume for every 19°F change in temperature.

    http://datagenetics.com/blog/april32015/index.html

     
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  10. Dec 2, 2019 at 5:25 PM
    #10
    4x Old Guy

    4x Old Guy New Member

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    Sorry, but warmer, less dense air has less oxygen in it per volume, so less of the fuel gets burned thereby less power generated (pilots need to factor ambient air temperature in their aircraft performance calculations to make sure they have enough oomph to get off the ground with a given load, the cooler the air, the more hp can be created).

    What you may be experiencing is cooler fuel in underground tanks expanding in your tank to actually give you more fuel to burn so the 20.0 gallons of cool fuel you bought expands to 20.2 or 20.3 gallons. More fuel = more miles.
     
    oldtimer and 4Runner fun like this.
  11. Dec 2, 2019 at 5:31 PM
    #11
    xyzzy

    xyzzy New Member

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    Some vehicle ECU management software "learns" your driving style and fuel and also uses that to adjust your outcomes.
    I know my 2010 Audi S5 had a specific "reset" (with vehicle off, turn key on, but not start, press pedal to the floor for x seconds, release pedal, turn key off for y seconds, then start car, or something like that) to tell the ECU to forget what it "learned" and start from scratch - quicker than running a few tanks of new fuel octane through it.

    https://www.google.com/search?safe=...hUKEwiJrc2Pq5jmAhUDGTQIHZ1HC7AQ1QIoAHoECAsQAQ

    Which is why after a fill up your "miles remaining" may change from previous fill ups.
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2019
  12. Dec 2, 2019 at 5:34 PM
    #12
    Dillusion

    Dillusion New Member

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    Pretty sure its the other way around.
     
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  13. Dec 2, 2019 at 6:03 PM
    #13
    Dillusion

    Dillusion New Member

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    I mean less dense less MPG. Better in winter than summer.

    Its already known vehicles perform better in colder air.
     
  14. Dec 2, 2019 at 6:16 PM
    #14
    Dillusion

    Dillusion New Member

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  15. Dec 2, 2019 at 6:21 PM
    #15
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    Same.

    Not mine. Both my Tacoma and 4runner seem to prefer warmer weather.

    Aside from that, it is a fact that cars get better fuel economy in the summer than the winter. I've observed it, and there are articles about it.

    As far as the topic at hand; As @KSJ08. mentioned, I've also heard that it takes awhile for the ECU to adjust to higher octane fuel. I'm guessing that it's still not worth it in the long run.
     
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  16. Dec 2, 2019 at 6:47 PM
    #16
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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  17. Dec 2, 2019 at 6:58 PM
    #17
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    Tailgate closed is better.

    I rarely get better than 17-18 MPG in winter. I regularly get 19-20 in the summer.

    EDIT: my current tank is looking closer to 15.
     
  18. Dec 2, 2019 at 7:01 PM
    #18
    Backwoods

    Backwoods New Member

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    A real brain teaser that will take lots of science and math to figure out...

    I got 18.2-19.5mpg until I lifted the 4runner and put 285s on it... Now I get 16.5-17.2mpg...

    Weird right? We ought to call up Bill Nye, Isaac Newton, Einstein, and the teenage mutant Ninja turtles to figure this out. I bet it has something to do with the equator and the way the toilet flushes... but I'll let the experts figure it out.
     
  19. Dec 2, 2019 at 7:02 PM
    #19
    4x Old Guy

    4x Old Guy New Member

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    Warmer ambient air also means the engine warms up quicker so the air/fuel mixture gets leaned out sooner.
     
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  20. Dec 2, 2019 at 7:05 PM
    #20
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    Not sure what your point is?

    Are you adjusting for the fact that your tires are larger?
     
  21. Dec 2, 2019 at 7:17 PM
    #21
    SR5 Limited

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    I have nine gas stations within eight miles of my house. Don’t get gas from any of them....
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2019
  22. Dec 2, 2019 at 7:19 PM
    #22
    Backwoods

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    I was just being a smartass... The thread went from fuel octane, to ambient temperature, to tailgates... Thought I'd add in the mystery of larger, heavier, tires decreasing fuel economy too...
     
  23. Dec 2, 2019 at 7:21 PM
    #23
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    I should've figured:D

    No good thread ever stay on topic:rolleyes:
     
  24. Dec 2, 2019 at 7:37 PM
    #24
    4x Old Guy

    4x Old Guy New Member

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    The underside of the truck is not very aerodynamic. The higher the ground clearance, the more air that can get tangled up in the hardware. Look at the average new Chevy or Ford 2wd pickup or any NASCAR car. They have air dams in front to redirect the air over or around the vehicle where the sheet metal is smoother in order to increase speed or efficiency.

    Add to your lift those noisy mud terrain tires that you lifted your truck to install. The softer stickier tread compound takes more hp to push down the road (Olympic cyclists use very hard, very skinny tires, not big old fatty, high floatation knobbies).

    Now, add the weight of all your cool off-road accessories (recovery gear, extra fuel cans and the brackets to mount them, rock sliders, the ‘roo guard bumper, winch, baja luggage rack) and you’ve significantly increased the mass of your truck. It takes more energy (fuel) to accelerate it from zero to 70, and even more fuel to overcome the now increased friction of those sweet tires.

    The law of conservation of energy (energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can be converted to another form) states that the energy needed to produce the noise coming from your mudder tires has to come from somewhere. That “somewhere” is the oxidation of the fuel in your engine. Actually, a quieter tire (reviews are the best source of this characteristic) with a harder tread compound (the tread wear number is somewhat an indicator of this) will give you a little bit better MPG).

    So, if you want to get better mileage, lower your truck, add a front air dam (so much for ground clearance), remove all the accessories (so much for the gnarly off-road warrior look), and run 150R75-17 street tires (so much for off-road traction).
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2019
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  25. Dec 2, 2019 at 7:47 PM
    #25
    oldtimer

    oldtimer New Member

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    was it raining? air is less dense when raining because the rain displaces the air. Aircraft have much less lift in the rain. Perhaps you were
    not getting the correct air fuel mix?
     
  26. Dec 4, 2019 at 4:37 PM
    #26
    MountainMan

    MountainMan [OP] New Member

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    I refilled it with premium from a different gas station and it already feels less sluggish and the mileage started going back up. So, just a crappy tank of gas, apparently.
     
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  27. Dec 4, 2019 at 6:34 PM
    #27
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    He's_right_you_know.jpg
     
  28. Dec 5, 2019 at 9:42 AM
    #28
    replica9000

    replica9000 New Member

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    So do you guys believe in winter gas?

    I ran 93 in my Tacoma for a while. (91 isn't common around here) Didn't seem to improve gas mileage. Only noticeable difference was taking off on a hill with a 6spd and heavy 33's. It's like I had that 1 extra hp to get me moving lol.

    My old Northstar Cadillac used premium. If I used regular 87, I'd lose a few HP and the car got worse mileage.
     
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  29. Dec 5, 2019 at 11:17 AM
    #29
    Ramrod88

    Ramrod88 4Runner on Corolla budget

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    oooh aren't you a sassy pants
     
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  30. Dec 5, 2019 at 5:40 PM
    #30
    dmsea1

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    I read the manual on this just last night for my 2020 - It actually calls for a MINIMUM of 87 octane, it doesn't say don't go higher. It is the minimum, a huge difference.
     
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