Well it made a difference in my GTI for sure. I would never run premium gas in my 4 runner...its an SUV not a sportscar. If you drive it like a sportscar a roll over accident is in your future.
Which is exactly what every turbocharged engine made the last 15 years is - a high performance engine. They all have knock sensors, learning capabilities and intelligence to run on multiple octanes. So much so, that sanctioning bodies for auto racing that use STOCK turbo engines dictate the maximum octane fuel that can be used. Octane makes all the difference. You say you've done your own tests. You may not have access to these fuels with your Trailhunter, but try this. Run a tank of 87 or 88 octane. Then run two tanks of 93 octane. With the 93, you will absolutely notice a difference. Even if you don't notice a difference, a dyno sure will. Your logic really only applies to older, naturally aspirated engines. Kind of like the 5G V-6, which makes about half as much torque at 2500 rpm than the four cylinder that replaced it.
Yeah...but 93 will be 8 dollars a gallon pretty soon. Better to spend that chit somewhere else!!!
I've been following this thread & don't really know if tuning a vehicle is really worth it in the long run or if using a higher octane gasoline than required by the engine manufacturer is worth the extra cost every fill up. Considering that some manufacturers of some daily driving commuter vehicles utilizing turbo equipped engines require 93 octane Premium grade gasoline but other manufacturers of daily driving communter vehicles also utilizing turbo equipped engines only require 87 octane Regular grade gasoline and in addition to studies from reputable automove sources, I tend to believe that using a higher octane gasoline than required is not significantly beneficial for typical commuting even at freeway speeds & is ultimately just giving free money away. It's my understanding that there is not really increased detergents added to Mid grade and Premium grade gasolines as often advertised either...the only justification for the increased cost of using Mid & Premium grade is simply because they have a higher octane rating than Regular grade. I'm personally just using Shell's or Costco's Regular grade gasolines & pouring in a bottle of Chevron's Techron Complete Fuel System Cleaner every oil change interval (3,500-4,500 miles). Occassionally I'll fill with Costco's Premium grade gasoline just because they typically always have the best price for it & I'm curious to see if it increases my average MPG but so far I don't see a significant enough benefit to justify the extra cost in my use case scenario of driving in urban Houston with 45 minutes commutes to & from work reaching 75-95 MPH speeds. I plan to keep my '25 4Runner for the next 15-20 years God willing because I'll never be wealthy & the cost of vehicles is outrageous. I mean I overpaid for my TRD Sport Premium with the expectation & hope that Toyota still produces a highly reliable, dependable vehicle for longevity so why do I need to over pay for gasoline grades that Toyota does not require for this engine?
Based on my own experience in a VW GTI it is a huge performance difference...like driving a different car. I would never waste money on premium in an SUV...they are not meant to be driven fast. They are down right dangerous to do so.
I doubt the performance gains but admittedly I haven't done & won't do extensive testing to prove or disprove claims that using a higher octane gasoline than recommended should be done. It's kind of like claims that ignoring the recommended 0W-20 oil & filling with a heavier weight oil is somehow beneficial or detrimental. Just stick with what the engineers designed & extensively tested the vehicle to use is my opinion & you can't really go wrong.
Agreed. Two different vehicles with two different performance standards produced by two different manufacturers.
Personally I don't care about HP gains. It has plenty for my individual needs. I'd like to have better MPG because as expected I haven't seen the claimed EPA estimated MPG or close to it in real world driving.
I've been running 93 in my TH since day one. Holdover from my WRX and Outback Wilderness. The WRX required premium, the Outback with the same FA24 engine didn't, yet I still did because I felt like the engine ran better with it.
If you paid handsomely to own a TrailHunter then you can certainly afford to run only Premium 93 octane gasoline. For a less financially fortunate guy like me paying more for gasoline for any proven or perceived benefits doesn't make sense when the vehicle does fine without it & it isn't required by Toyota for what is supposed to be proper operation the vehicle. I say this respectfully of course. I'd be interested to read about your personal findings after you've compared the lower octane to the higher octane during your real world driving.
Regardless of being able to afford it, which with today's prices becomes questionable, I am more into what is better for the vehicle in the long run. I don't need or want more power. I am just not sure if that is really worth it with this engine, thus my comments here. I am going to run out this tank of 93 Exxon and probably do a tank of 91, then down to 87 and see how things look MPG wise and how the engine feels. I have never even put the gas pedal all the way to the floor as this is not the vehicle I would own if that were of interest. I had enough fun in the WRX. I just want to know when I walk out to the 4Runner in the morning she is going to start for at least the next 200,000+ miles.
