Regular? Midgrade? or Premium? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Corolla Sound · 10-07-2011, 04:48 PM

Hi. I drive a 97 Corolla Sedan DX. I have been burning only regular gas but I am pondering if it would hurt or help my car if I started burning premium or even the super premium gas?

I want to keep my engine as clean and healthy as possible! in addition to my last question, I also ponder about other fuel additives to consider adding to help clean my engine and enhance fuel economy? Let me know yo!?

***PhatRoyale*** · 10-07-2011, 04:51 PM

Stick to 87 regular. Fuel additives are up to you. Maybe some Redline SL-1 every time you get an oil change.

JimBowNut · 10-07-2011, 05:33 PM

Orrrrrr, You could burn an ethanol free fuel ! Go to www.pure-gas.org for locations of stations in N. America that sell ethanol free fuel. !

fj62 · 10-07-2011, 06:31 PM

My 95 Corolla with 80,000 miles runs better and sounds better with the 89 octane. But cheapest gas is acceptable and cheaper.

TheNightWolf · 10-07-2011, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimBowNut

Orrrrrr, You could burn an ethanol free fuel ! Go to www.pure-gas.org for locations of stations in N. America that sell ethanol free fuel. !

Closest one to me is like an hour away xD

Quote:

Originally Posted by fj62

My 95 Corolla with 80,000 miles runs better and sounds better with the 89 octane. But cheapest gas is acceptable and cheaper.

I run 93, mostly cause I got used to it running my Cougar.
That thing would chug and be sluggish as hell on 87.

azcorolla · 10-07-2011, 07:32 PM

The experts will tell you - and prove to you - that all higher octane does is suppress pre-ignition, and serves no purpose if your car doesn't need it.

That said, I ran 91 octane in my Subaru (only required 87) for 16 years and over 200K miles, and when I pulled the heads, it was really, really clean in there, almost no build up. Was it because of the hi-test gas? No way to know for sure, but I've not seen other high mileage Subarus that were that clean inside.

TheNightWolf · 10-07-2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azcorolla

The experts will tell you - and prove to you - that all higher octane does is suppress pre-ignition, and serves no purpose if your car doesn't need it.

That said, I ran 91 octane in my Subaru (only required 87) for 16 years and over 200K miles, and when I pulled the heads, it was really, really clean in there, almost no build up. Was it because of the hi-test gas? No way to know for sure, but I've not seen other high mileage Subarus that were that clean inside.

Taking care of the car, and higher octane gas could help it.

Not sure what my internals look like, the oil came out silver on my first oil change with this car....that being said, I would assume dirty nasty, and nearly ruined.

JimBowNut · 10-07-2011, 07:48 PM

Don't some of those start-up break-in oils have chrome and maybe some other metals suspended in them ?

And i wonder what a top-fuel dragster's heads look like after a few runs w alcohol ?

cipher93 · 10-07-2011, 09:08 PM

The best fuel is 100% gasoline if you can get it. the car will get better MPGs without a doubt. However, given those are hard to find, just stick to regular. Once a month I use Heet in the fuel to remove any moisture left behind and it works pretty well. Lucas Ethanol treatment also works well, but is expensive despite being enough to treat several vehicles.

BoyYota · 10-07-2011, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimBowNut

Orrrrrr, You could burn an ethanol free fuel ! Go to www.pure-gas.org for locations of stations in N. America that sell ethanol free fuel. !

Nice. You know what, I'm gonna check out my local non-Ethanol gas station and see how it goes!

TheNightWolf · 10-08-2011, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoyYota

Nice. You know what, I'm gonna check out my local non-Ethanol gas station and see how it goes!

I found one within 20 miles xD

Maybe on my way to work occasionally I can stop there if my boss doesn't mind me being late.

fourwheeler · 10-08-2011, 06:43 AM

Here in Michigan, State law requires 10% ethanol. I found a website called top tier gas which is a government study found all gasoline is the same when it leaves the refineries, it's the additives each company puts in their gasoline which differentiates it from the others. Shell and Chevron were the only two companies in the top tier last time I looked. Switching to a better brand of gasoline will help your car more than changing octane. If you use a good quality gasoline, fuel additives may be unnecessary.

Bitter · 10-08-2011, 12:18 PM

87 is fine unless you've advanced timing or something.

Hiro Protagonist · 10-08-2011, 06:56 PM

Similar thing has happened here in NSW, 91 is mandated by law to be 10% ethanol (which makes you think how crap it must really be since the original E10 was 95 and ethanol bumps up the RON rating, so the base fuel they use for 91 E10 must be _really_ crap). I only ever use 98 in our cars (preferably BP Ultimate, but Caltex Vortex 98 at a pinch, never Shell), it gives me that extra piece of mind plus the extra cost over 95 is minimal. Also, the Soarer is tuned to run on 98 minimum and has to be babied on anything less.

speedy25 · 10-09-2011, 09:06 PM

While our engines do not need the extra octane, you can benefit using a tank of premium fuel once in a while. It has extra additives that are beneficial to the fuel system, especially injector deposit removal.

-SP