Switched from Regular to Premium gas. 4Runner runs better (more power & smoother)

[drNick]

Our '25 4Runners are tuned to run on a regular gas. The Land Cruiser, which has the same engine requires premium. I decided to make a comparison. Last week went to Costco and filled up with Premium gas. After driving the car for a few days, noticed two things:

First the engine had more power, and second, it runs slightly smoother. The engine noise is less raspy. Will run Premium until the car gets to 2-3000 miles so I forget the old way, and will go back to regular to see if there is any difference.

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[127.0.0.1]

someone posted somewhere
https://www.4runner6g.com/forum/thr...-real-world-numbers-87-octane.4332/post-55626

that there is actual 20hp gain
since it's turbocharged and it can use higher octane, whereas
if it didn't have a turbo it'd be wasted money

waitin to drain my 87 tank and get 93 to try it myself

"

• Dyno-proven results: A dyno test conducted by the aftermarket company STILLEN on a 2.4L i-FORCE engine—the same one in the 4Runner—showed impressive gains of +20 hp and +14 lb-ft of torque when switching from 87 to 91 octane fuel.

"

 

[HVLA]

Ours has never had regular in it and never will.

 

[Nodak]

20 hp and 14 ft-lbs is marginal at best for most people even care about.

granted the price differential is maybe around $10 a tank of 87 vs 91 around me.

$2.94 vs $3.45 best case pricing.

if i did that on my 2014 4R x 249 fill ups over 12 yrs, thats a lot of money for 20hp and 14 ft-lbs that i will never notice or care about.

ymmv

 

[ModernDay4Runner]

Our '25 4Runners are tuned to run on a regular gas. The Land Cruiser, which has the same engine requires premium.

Is this true, same exact engine and Toyota recommends two different octanes? If so, what about the Land Cruiser makes that make sense, to require premium?

 

[Nodak]

Is this true, same exact engine and Toyota recommends two different octanes? If so, what about the Land Cruiser makes that make sense, to require premium?

yes

4R = 87

LC250 = 91


and it gets worse

mpg :

LC250 22/25

4R 20/26 or 20/24 or 23/24 (hybrid)


engine specs :

LC250 : i-FORCE MAX 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain; 326 net combined hp @ 6000 rpm, 465 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm

4R :

i-FORCE 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine; 278 hp @ 6000 rpm; 317 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm

or

i-FORCE MAX 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain; 326 hp @ 6000 rpm; 465 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm; Trailhunter: 323 hp @ 6000 rpm

 

[bancroftdg]

Would cost me about $50 a month to run Premium. I think I'll stay with regular

 

[Nodak]

if 91 wasnt 30-50 cent more than 87 then its a no brainer (like the old days when it was maybe .10 or .20 cents higher than 87)

 

[Gumpus]

20 hp and 14 ft-lbs is marginal at best for most people even care about.

granted the price differential is maybe around $10 a tank of 87 vs 91 around me.

$2.94 vs $3.45 best case pricing.

if i did that on my 2014 4R x 249 fill ups over 12 yrs, thats a lot of money for 20hp and 14 ft-lbs that i will never notice or care about.

ymmv

Dyno results are at wide open throttle. If you spend a lot of time at WOT 20 hp is a nice benefit. I doubt my 5th Gen has spent 10 minutes total at WOT in 9 years.

 

[Nodak]

Dyno results are at wide open throttle. If you spend a lot of time at WOT 20 hp is a nice benefit. I doubt my 5th Gen has spent 10 minutes total at WOT in 9 years.

lol and i am only at 37 miles on the 4R right now. not like i will be going WoT anytime soon to benefit that 20hp

still need to do my 1000 miles break in plan

then right after 1st oil change before 1200 miles then at 5k then every 5k

 

[ModernDay4Runner]

yes

4R = 87

LC250 = 91


and it gets worse

mpg :

LC250 22/25

4R 20/26 or 20/24 or 23/24 (hybrid)


engine specs :

LC250 : i-FORCE MAX 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain; 326 net combined hp @ 6000 rpm, 465 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm

4R :

i-FORCE 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine; 278 hp @ 6000 rpm; 317 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm

or

i-FORCE MAX 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain; 326 hp @ 6000 rpm; 465 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm; Trailhunter: 323 hp @ 6000 rpm

So they are NOT the same engine????
engine specs :

LC250 : i-FORCE MAX 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain; 326 net combined hp @ 6000 rpm, 465 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm

4R :

i-FORCE 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine; 278 hp @ 6000 rpm; 317 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm

 

[Nodak]

So they are NOT the same engine????
engine specs :

LC250 : i-FORCE MAX 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain; 326 net combined hp @ 6000 rpm, 465 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm

4R :

i-FORCE 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine; 278 hp @ 6000 rpm; 317 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm

the LC250 only comes in hybrid form, so you would have to compare the hybrid version of the 4runner, not the regular gas engine which only has 278 hp

 

[ModernDay4Runner]

the LC250 only comes in hybrid form, so you would have to compare the hybrid version of the 4runner, not the regular gas engine which only has 278 hp

Ok thanks. Why does Toyota recommend two different octanes for the same engine? Is there something else about the LC250 that makes the higher premium required, something other than the engine? Just curious.

LC250 : i-FORCE MAX 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain; 326 net combined hp @ 6000 rpm, 465 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm
i-FORCE MAX 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain; 326 hp @ 6000 rpm; 465 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm; Trailhunter: 323 hp @ 6000 rpm

 

[Nodak]

Ok thanks. Why does Toyota recommend two different octanes for the same engine? Is there something else about the LC250 that makes the higher premium required, something other than the engine? Just curious.

LC250 : i-FORCE MAX 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain; 326 net combined hp @ 6000 rpm, 465 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm
i-FORCE MAX 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain; 326 hp @ 6000 rpm; 465 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm; Trailhunter: 323 hp @ 6000 rpm

i have no idea. outside of asking an engineer why one engine needs 91 and the same engine needs 87, there is no documentation stating the required difference in octane.

i will try my google-fu and see if i can find anything.

 

[Nodak]

the only thing i can find right off the bat is the smaller gas tank of 17.9 vs 19 on the 4R.

using 91 would get you more mpg slightly making up the 1 gal difference which would equate to about same range you would get with a 17.9 vs 19 gal tank

lc250 :

23 (combined) x 18 gal = 414

4R :

23 (combined) x 19 gal = 437


but you go by max mpg its a different outcome

lc250 :

25 x 18 gal = 450

4R :

24 x 19 gal = 456

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