2026 4Runner TRD Sport Dyno Results (Stock vs Tuned on 86 Octane)

[sstarrx2]

This is basically as nuts as the other reply. 15-20 more hp is going to roll over the 4runner.

This site is super weird.

It my experience folks that tune their vehicles drive em like they stole em...so yeah they are dangerous.

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[HVLA]

It my experience folks that tune their vehicles drive em like they stole em...so yeah they are dangerous.

Using premium gas is tuning? What?

I am beginning to wonder if this forum is filled with octagenarians or something. Maybe this is the wrong forum for me to spend time on.

 

[sstarrx2]

Using premium gas is tuning? What?

I am beginning to wonder if this forum is filled with octagenarians or something. Maybe this is the wrong forum for me to spend time on.

This thread was ultimately about tuning. The gas mileage tangent just creeped in. You should be so lucky to have octagenarians on this theead, they could teach you some things and save you from yourself.

 

[HVLA]

This thread was ultimately about tuning. The gas mileage tangent just creeped in. You should be so lucky to have octagenarians on this theead, they could teach you some things and save you from yourself.

I have been modifying turbo cars, trucks, and suvs for over 2 decades thanks.

 

[sstarrx2]

I have been modifying turbo cars, trucks, and suvs for over 2 decades thanks.

Ok truce....was not implying they could teach you about vehicles, but more important things. No this siteis not dedicated to moders and tunners but plenty folks on here do those things. Two decades is a blink of any eye.

 

[xp0nex]

It my experience folks that tune their vehicles drive em like they stole em...so yeah they are dangerous.

No way... I tuned my 3rd gen Tacoma to improve drivability, and it was a vast improvement over stock. It helped with throttle response as well was reduced gear hunting which the 3rd gen Tacoma was notorious for.

 

[TrdProGirl84]

I'm not saying anybody should run 93 octane in their 4Runner. It was merely a suggestion to anyone who doubts the performance difference between low and high octane fuel in a modern turbocharged engine.

I run premium in mine with no tune. To each his/her own.

 

[FoRunna]

Boy I sure missed the fun on this thread.

Essentially, yes, Camtuning is 100% correct regarding all comments about fuel octane. Also about the lean conditions during peak torque. It's weird how Toyota is targeting such a high AFR in these areas. I can't even predict why they would do this.

The takeaway from tuning is this;

As someone with a tuned 4Runner (has been for MONTHS now) it's 100% worth it. Not only is it optimizing performance (especially with aftermarket components), it's also increasing power a good bit and in a perfectly safe way for the T24 engine.



As far as fuel octane goes;

Toyota rates it for a minimum 87 octane fuel. You should not expect to see peak powertrain performance on lower fuel octane. It will be pinging, the ECU will be pulling timing, and you willbe losing peak efficiency and power. 91-93 octane is where these engines perform best (both untuned AND tuned). In fact, if you're carrying a lot of load, towing, etc you should ONLY be using 91/93 octane fuel.

 

[Joestac]

Boy I sure missed the fun on this thread.

Yes, sadly, this place is turning into Reddit which was one reason I came here instead in the beginning.

As far as fuel octane goes;

Toyota rates it for a minimum 87 octane fuel. You should not expect to see peak powertrain performance on lower fuel octane. It will be pinging, the ECU will be pulling timing, and you willbe losing peak efficiency and power. 91-93 octane is where these engines perform best (both untuned AND tuned). In fact, if you're carrying a lot of load, towing, etc you should ONLY be using 91/93 octane fuel.

This was a reason why I've run premium on all the turbo vehicles I've owned since my 2013 Chevy Cruze, 2015 Ford Edge, 2022 WRX, and 2024 Outback Wilderness. They just seem to drive better with the higher octane gas, it isn't even about HP for me.

 

[watchbuzz]

Team premium also. I just prefer it and the cost diff is like $7-8 a tank here.

 

[Lamuncha]

For the most part only one metric matters in the energy content of gasoline- BTUs. 87, 91, and 93 octane have almost the same stored energy. In fact 87 has 150,000 and 93 has 140,000 BTUs so slightly less energy available in the higher octane.
Octane is not a measure of energy.
In the standard engine each octane will provide just about the same HP.
Tuning, and subsequent HP increase, may include increased dynamic compression ratio which requires higher octane fuel.
But the gain is not directly due to the octane rating.

This is why the Lexus requires higher octane, sort of the same engine but dynamic compression is greater- higher octane needed.

 

[The_Dark_Knight_Forever]

For the most part only one metric matters in the energy content of gasoline- BTUs. 87, 91, and 93 octane have almost the same stored energy. In fact 87 has 150,000 and 93 has 140,000 BTUs so slightly less energy available in the higher octane.
Octane is not a measure of energy.
In the standard engine each octane will provide just about the same HP.
Tuning, and subsequent HP increase, may include increased dynamic compression ratio which requires higher octane fuel.
But the gain is not directly due to the octane rating.

This is why the Lexus requires higher octane, sort of the same engine but dynamic compression is greater- higher octane needed.

Are you saying that in the 4Rs factory engines (without aftermarket tuning) using Regular grade gasoline will provide approximately the same HP as using Mid grade or Premium Grade gasoline?

 

[Lamuncha]

I 'm just the messenger. It's the chemistry that says the energy in a gallon of gas is pretty much the same regardless of the octane grade.
Therefore you cannot get more HP (work) out of gasolines with the same (or just about the same) BTUs available.
The octane differences are due to various additives and a bit more refining which make no contribution to the BTU content.

In fact the additives and additional refining may reduce (although slightly) the BTUs in premium fuel. Which could end up reducing MPG.

 

[HVLA]

Stating that using premium octane in this engine does not increase horsepower is verifiably wrong. It has been shown multiple times.

 

[The_Dark_Knight_Forever]

I 'm just the messenger. It's the chemistry that says the energy in a gallon of gas is pretty much the same regardless of the octane grade.
Therefore you cannot get more HP (work) out of gasolines with the same (or just about the same) BTUs available.
The octane differences are due to various additives and a bit more refining which make no contribution to the BTU content.

In fact the additives and additional refining may reduce (although slightly) the BTUs in premium fuel. Which could end up reducing MPG.

Stating that using premium octane in this engine does not increase horsepower is verifiably wrong. It has been shown multiple times.

If it does than is the minimal HP gain really worth the Premium grade price paid per gallon especially with the cost apporaching record highs?
It's a personal choice really. For my money though I think Regular is fine & if I want to give it a taste of Costco's Premium grade occassionally for the lowest price then I'll do so simply out of curiosity. When I've done it in the past a few times I didn't feel much difference between Regular & Premium grade.
I do however respect others choices & faith that Premium grade increases HP in the stock engine & also that aftermarket tuning makes improvements for those seeking them. I just wonder why Toyota didn't tune the stock engines how aftermarket tuning does. It's likely Toyota engineers know alot about it that we don't know.
I just wish I could find out where the super annoying squeaking/chirping sound perceivably from behind the front seats is coming from when I reach highway and freeway speeds! It makes me very unhappy.

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