What octane do you run?

[Wickersham]

So far only used 87. Noticed the book mentions 91 for better performance.

What do most Highlander owners use?

[novs25]

i read that 87 was only required. We have been using that since we got it. Where did u read premium?

[TrailDust]

91 octane only.

[novs25]

is that required or your preference?

[nick1sp]

I've changed it a few time when I first got my HiHy, from 87, 89, 91, 93. but in the end, stick with 87 since didn't see any performance or mileage gain.

[Asystole]

Originally Posted by TrailDust

91 octane only.

You crack me up TrailDust. All the efforts you go through to conserve on gas and then you splurge and pay out for 91 Octane.

BTW, I use 89 octane because the Kwik Trip I go to sells 89 and 87 for the same price. Otherwise I use 87 octane.

I do make it a point to ALWAYS use a Top Tier Gasoline.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by novs25

is that required or your preference?

If you were asking me it's my preference. I base it on 30 years experience experimenting both grades of gas in all the vehicles I've owned, plus "inside" information from chemists who have worked at major L.A. refineries. What I've found regular unleaded is cheaper, but results in poorer mileage. Super unleaded is more expensive, but the mileage is better. When adding up the numbers the mileage achieved for the money spent is almost identical. What I get out of super is the detergents added by the major retailers when loading fuel from the tank farms, plus better burn characteristics under high demand situations. That's just my perspective, but opinions certainly vary.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by Asystole

You crack me up TrailDust. All the efforts you go through to conserve on gas and then you splurge and pay out for 91 Octane.

Like I mentioned in my reply above, the cost evens out for both fuel grades after all the cost versus miles driven calculations are done. That's just my experience.

[Dman1]

Originally Posted by TrailDust

Like I mentioned in my reply above, the cost evens out for both fuel grades after all the cost versus miles driven calculations are done. That's just my experience.

If it works out that you actually save money by using higher octane gas, I think you are the exception and not the rule. Unless the vehicle requires higher octane gas, it typically offers no improvement in mileage or horsepower. If you do a Google search for "better mileage with higher octane gas" there are tons of articles that support this. I have read several articles (not just on the web), discussed with some people in the know, and actually tested higher octane gas to see if I could get an improvement, and actually got worse mileage (not on my Highlander....but a previous vehicle that I owned) and I agree with this and I will stick to my 87. That being said, if it works for you, then keep doing it (as I'm sure you will).

Cheers.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by Dman1

If it works out that you actually save money by using higher octane gas, I think you are the exception and not the rule. Unless the vehicle requires higher octane gas, it typically offers no improvement in mileage or horsepower. If you do a Google search for "better mileage with higher octane gas" there are tons of articles that support this. I have read several articles (not just on the web), discussed with some people in the know, and actually tested higher octane gas to see if I could get an improvement, and actually got worse mileage (not on my Highlander....but a previous vehicle that I owned) and I agree with this and I will stick to my 87. That being said, if it works for you, then keep doing it (as I'm sure you will).

Regarding the highlighted points above, I'm not saying higher octane saves money, but rather the cost of both grades versus miles driven results in approximately the same cost: say, $50 to drive 400 miles. I've read many people such as yourself who have found worse mileage with super unleaded and I don't deny those results. I can only say for the vehicles I've tested over the years I've always come up with the same results of better mileage with super. I'm also not encouraging or advising anyone to use super or switch to it, I'm only offering my observations. More power (pun slightly intended ) to anyone no matter what grade of gasoline they use......use what's best for you.

[Paul3637]

Originally Posted by TrailDust

Regarding the highlighted points above, I'm not saying higher octane saves money, but rather the cost of both grades versus miles driven results in approximately the same cost: say, $50 to drive 400 miles. I've read many people such as yourself who have found worse mileage with super unleaded and I don't deny those results. I can only say for the vehicles I've tested over the years I've always come up with the same results of better mileage with super. I'm also not encouraging or advising anyone to use super or switch to it, I'm only offering my observations. More power (pun slightly intended ) to anyone no matter what grade of gasoline they use......use what's best for you.

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On most cars, there is no benefit to using premium gas in an engine that calls for regular. The 2GR-FE engine is an exception because it is has a high compression ratio (10.8 to 1) and is equiped with a spark advance feature that can sense the octane rating of the fuel and will adjust the ignition timing forward and actually does deliver "enhanced performance" on premium gas ..... although not all that much. [Note: the 2.5L I4 Camry has a 10.4 compression ratio. The Lexus 460 4.6L has an 11.8 compression ratio that demands premium fuel. or you get very poor engine performance when the knock sensors kick in and retard the ignition timing - otherwise you get engine knock that can bust a hole in the pistons ].

Because the 2GR-FE engine is so powerful, the increase of a few extra horsepower is far less noticable than it was in the old 3.0L engines. Note that in Australia, the KW rating on the Aurion is higher for premium than regular gas. [Further, in Australia where the gas mileage tests are real world rather than EPA lab, the Camry 2.4L I4 (2009 and prior in the USA) has the same gas mileage rating as the Aurion 2GR-FE V6.] The reason the Avalon and Camry USA are given a 268HP rating while the Lexus ES gets 272HP with the same engine is because the recommended fuel in the Lexus ES is premium while the Camry & Avalon require only 87 octane regular.

The 3.5L engines for the USA Highlander assembled in Indiana and the Lexus RX350 assembled in Canada are manufactured in the same plant in Buffalo, West Virginia - and have the same specs.

My 09 Camry 3.5L V6 gets about 5% better gas mileage with 89 or 91 octane than 87. (36mpg highway if kept in the 65-70mph range 33mpg at 75 or 80. Consumer reports got real world 34 mpg highway in the 2010 Avalon with regular gas despite only 28 MPG EPA highway rating). My old Avalon 3.0L got 10% better highway mileage with premium pushing the top mileage highway from 27 on regular up to 30 on premium.

Wife's 1991 LS400 got easy 28mpg highway with 92 Octane premium. Her newer 2002 ES only got 25mpg highway ....... on regular; 29 mpg using BP 92 Octane premium. She bought it on her own (below invioce 08/02) and the sales lady told her "don't worry, it'will run fine on regular gas" ......... I did not have a clue she was dumping in regular gas until she complainged about lousy gas mileage. Owners manual says it reguires premium 91 octane fuel...... which she now uses. It's an 8% increase in gas cost per gallon which pays for itself ....... and ....... probably fair to say when you pay the premium price for a Lexus you should not be shocked that it requires premium fuel.

[We run 5W30 oil, changed at dealer at 5K miles/6 months whichever comes first. Until these recent SUA and VVT-i oil line recalls, never have even had to make a warranty claim on any of the six past & current Toyota/Lexus vehicles.]