What I have read from the "experts" lately:
1. There is no point in using higher octane gasoline than the owner's manual specifies.
2. Fuel injector cleaners are of questionable value.
3. Motor oil brand is generally not important. The ratings are.
4. Oil and gas additives are of questionable value.
5. Tranny fluid--see item 3.
This is basically what I have done for years with all my vehicles and have had no problems. For oil and tranny fluid, I use the least expensive major brand, with the owner's manual's specified ratings.
Book calls for 87 use 87. I used 93 for a couple tanks and gas mileage went down. Brother was using 93 in his 4runner. He went to 87 and mileage went up.
I wouldn't recommend synthetic oil on a new vehicle for at least 30000 miles after that go for it if it makes u feel better. Otherwise oil is a matter of preference, use reccomended rating. I use mobile delo on my diesel and valvoline on my new truck.
Injector cleaner. Doesn’t really do the job but it helps. I've had good mileage boost on older vehicles with Lucas oil diesel/gas fuel additive. I put gumout injector cleaner just before an oil change
I'm not sure what prolong does to gas engines put in diesels after 20000 miles a film similar to that stuff used to stick credit cards to the envelope builds up on the piston walls so I've never touched it since. of course don't even worry about using these kind of "performance boost" till after at least 100K miles
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4x4 v6 04 tacoma
Your Driving?Were we going?
Old vehicles definitely use systhetic oil. I know for one thing it helps with the noise of the motor and seems to lube everything better. Plus when it comes out it doesn't look or smell as bad.
Fuel injectors don't usually go bad. They might need to be cleaned, which means taking them out. (Isn't hard) A cheap way to do it is some Cleaner into the gas. I have used it and it has worked for me.
As far as tranny or clutch fluid I would recommend Redline Racing. It is more expensive and all my buddies who race swear by it. They even put it in their daily drivers and it works great.
Basically you can save $$ by doing some shopping looking for the stuff at Walmart, Sam's, Costco, Target, K-mart. It is a lot cheaper than going to Kragen, PepBoy, AutoZone. All it takes is some time and effort and you will be suprised what $$ you can save.
Try Seafoam...you can find it at Napa's and Carparts....it cleans a lot of stuff...crankcase, injectors, and other stuff too...put it in my mom's minivan and the idle is smoother now...
As for gas octane, if you're not boosted (supercharged or turbocharged) there's absolutely no need to run a higher octane than recommended...unless u like throwing away money...
Originally posted by snobdrblinkchik As for gas octane, if you're not boosted (supercharged or turbocharged) there's absolutely no need to run a higher octane than recommended...unless u like throwing away money...
Someone running N/A with higher compression would need better gas also. Toyota makes an additive that is a lot stronger than the sh*t you buy at local mini-marts. It runs about $13. My mom has an 84 celica that was cutting out (after sitting for 6 years) and it made it run strong again
Originally posted by jdougall Someone running N/A with higher compression would need better gas also.
This is true...but anyone who had a higher compresssion ratio would also know that they need higher octane...plus it's not that common a mod. Since the original poster had to ask, I assumed he was running stock compression...
use the gas your car calls for, or your wasting money!
read all you want to know about oil @ http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/oil/oil.html
(another Toyota site)
If you wanna get fancy get Amsoil (but running it 25, 000 miles w/ filter change is another question).
Tranny fluid maker doesn't matter much, as most off-brand (Parts America, Advance -Havoline) are made by one of the bigger companies. More importantly change it at specified intervals. It's cheap compared to tranny service.
Fuel additives, most are bogus, I use them myself, not sure if they work or not, but I don't think they hurt for $.89
oil additives I know are bogus, or every major oil company would be scrambling to put it in their oil
If you wanna get fancy get Amsoil (but running it 25, 000 miles w/ filter change is another question).
Synthetic is great if your car doesn't loose or burn oil.
just what I know from what I've read, and I read about this stuff all the time, hope it helped
There is no benefit to higher octane gasoline in a low compression engine. If one is experiencing engine "pinging" with regular low octane gasoline, then a proper check over of the engine is needed to ensure that the engine is operating at factory specs WITH FACTORY PARTS. A new or rebuilt engine may have "hot-spot" created by a carbon build-up, ultra-lean mixture (clogged injector), or hot plug.
I have learned he hard way. For a Toyota, run as many factotry parts as possible...the SAME THING applies to a Ford or Nissan or WHATEVER. The same could said to an extent with autotranny fluids. I would recommend the specific ATF that the manufacturer recommends in the case of Chrysler, as well as old ass 1960's Fords. Avoid all oil additives. As far as gas additives, I always cross my fingers and add a bottle Techroline every two years for the CalNazi smog test.
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1984 4x4 Xcab...and...Stock 1990 Camry Sedan. 3sfe. A/T. A/C. P/S.P/B. Work car...I install TOYOTA PARTS 90% of the time, even when it hurt$.
Depending on the quality of gas in your area, fuel injector/system cleaners may be a good idea. I used to own a '99 Passat and the owner's manual actually recommended using a cleaner periodically.
After about a year of owning it, I used Valvoline Synpower Fuel System Cleaner and noticed a definite improvement in "peppiness." However, the next time I used it at the recommended interval, I didn't notice a difference. I guess not enough gunk had accumiliated yet.
I've heard people say good things about adding a bottle of Chevron Techron periodically.
Oil additives are definite junk.
Synthetic or Dino oil? Lots of debate, but what it boils down to is that if you maintain your engine properly and do regular oil changes dino oil will do you fine. There's no need to spend extra on the synth unless you plan on abusing your engine. Brands can make a difference because while most conform to all the same basic standards, some specialty brands conform to stricter standards.
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for the CalNazi smog test.
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