Hi
I wonder what is the best fuel to use for best gas mileage. I've a 2008 Corolla CE and 2008 Camry LE and have been using Penzoil 5W-30 + gasoline from Sam's Club. I read in some other forum that Chevron with Techron additive had the ability to clean up engine deposits. In the last oil change 2 weeks ago, I switched to Mobile 1 Synthetic 0W-30. I then tried with a tank of Chevron regular gas and Techron fuel system cleaner on my Camry and it is making a difference in terms of smoother acceleration and gear shift. My Corolla is getting 29-30 miles/gal in day-to-day driving. The regular gas from Sam's and Chevron (and in fact most brands) is rated at octane 86, but the Corolla owner's manual recommends 87. Is there a course of concern? For those of you who manage 48 miles/gal, what gasoline and engine oil do you use?
Kelvin
I believe Corolla is using 5w-30w, even the oil cap saids 5w-30w; 0w should be too thin if you driving in summer. keep your air filter clean is one way to increase mileage, simple take it out and blow off the dust in regular basis, and if you want little more power increase, can use K&N air Filter, you don't need the CAI, even the drop in style will give little power increase, you can feel it on low gear , high grade gas is totally up to you. just my 2 cents
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2011 RAV4 I4 LTD with leather package. Used have 9th Gen Corolla with 2nd Gen Altis Tail, 2nd Gen Halo Projector, 17" Enkei RS Evolution, NEXEN N5000, AEM SRI, Vibrant Performance Muffler,Tein H-Tech
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I have been using 0w-30 since my last oil change and not problems so far. I went to peoria and back and at the 299.7 mile mark on my odometer i filled up, it took 7.494 gals. Been using 87 octane non ethanol blend. Mine is a 07 rolla auto
0w-30 is just fine, even 0w-20 would be fine. its the last number that matters more. toyota suggests 5w-xx since 0w oils are not available everywhere easily.
Although gas milage isn't really my concern or the 2ZZ-GE's strength. I'm getting approx 10L/100km (23MPG) in the city on 94 Octane from Chevron (XRS rated at 25MPG city). Which I think is great considering I'm not driving the car anywhere near it's fullest economic potential.
My XRS
Engine Oil: Don't know, havn't changed it yet, I think OEM 5w30 synthetic.
Transmission Fluid: Redline MT-90 (GL-4 synthetic)
Wheel/Tire: OEM XRS rims with 195-55-16 Nokian WR's @ 32PSI
Air Filter: OEM Replaced 2000km's ago; like new still!
I wouldn't obsess over oils, especially when it comes to gas mileage. Low viscosity oils like 0W and 5W are being speced in cars because it can gain 1-2 MPG or so on the sticker for new car manufacturers. It's significant for car manufacturers because they have MPG goals to meet in government efficiency standards. For the typical Corolla owner it means 10-15 more miles out of a tank. Better than nothing, but still insignificant next to other factors, like driving speed and the choice of tire when replacing tires.
As far as Octane, 85 or 86 Octane is sufficient when operating a car at elevations over 3000 feet or so. It's sold in counties over 4000 feet in altitude as regular grade. I've never found the exact technical reason, but the Octane rating required for an engine decreases one point for every 1000 feet in elevation.
I've never found the exact technical reason, but the Octane rating required for an engine decreases one point for every 1000 feet in elevation.
It is because the higher you go up the less atmospheric pressure there is and I am assuming easier for a fuel to ignite????
We have a winner!
From wikipedia (makes sense if you stop and think about it):
"In the Rocky Mountain (high altitude) states, 85 AKI is the minimum octane, and 91 AKI is the maximum octane available in fuel. The reason for this is that in higher-altitude areas, a typical combustion engine draws in less air per cycle due to the reduced density of the atmosphere. This directly translates to reduced absolute compression in the cylinder, therefore deterring knock."
A 0W-30 is absolutely not too thin for summer use. The engine is designed to run on a viscosity of somewhere between 10-12 cSt, which is the general hot viscosity of a 30 weight engine oil.
Take, for instance, Mobil 1's new 0W-30. Look at the viscosity of that oil at even 40*C (which is still over 100*F): 63.1 cSt. The hot viscosity, at 100*F, is 11.0 cSt, right where it should be.
Again 0W-30 oil is absolutely not too thin for summer use. It simply doesn't thicken up as much when cold as, say, a 5W-30 or a 10W-30. Typically, this is noted as a good thing in winter, but its benefits are year-round. Ideally, you'd have an oil that would START at 11.0 cSt and remain there even as it heats up. We're just not there yet, in terms of chemical engineering (at least at the practical/affordable level).
I wouldn't obsess over oils, especially when it comes to gas mileage. Low viscosity oils like 0W and 5W are being speced in cars because it can gain 1-2 MPG or so on the sticker for new car manufacturers. It's significant for car manufacturers because they have MPG goals to meet in government efficiency standards. For the typical Corolla owner it means 10-15 more miles out of a tank. Better than nothing, but still insignificant next to other factors, like driving speed and the choice of tire when replacing tires.
I agree. And in most cases, thinner oil didn't even change the expected fuel economy, so I even question that motive. Your driving style, tire inflation, etc, will all have MUCH more of effect than your choice of oil and/or fuel.
How cold does it get in El Paso TX? When I think if Texas, I think hot, so personally, I think you would be fine with 5W30. If you get in the negatives in the winter, then I would say go for a 0W. A good oil pan warmer would probably do just as much good, if not more than a 0W oil if this is the case ...
I switched to fully synthetic oil about 40K miles ago. Mind you, I do longer oil change intervals too. Probably around 10k miles. I am currently just under 60K. Combined I get 31-33 mpg with 87 octane rated, 10% ethanol blended fuel.
With that being said, I have heard that folks get better has mileage with non ethanol blended gas. I just discovered that my local Philips 66 does not use ethanol in their gas. I thought I would give it a whirl and see what it does for me. Otherwise, I am a fan of Chevron ...
Studies have been done (sorry, don't have links) on dirty air filters versus clean air filters. There was not a difference. Modern engines' computers will compensate for the decrease in air. Does that mean you should never replace your air filter - no - but less air means less HP, and air filters wear just like anything else, decreasing its ability to filter allowing debris to pass through which can cause other problems ... you probably just don't have to change it as often as the industry tells you ...
Again, I currently get 31-33 mpg combined. Currently my 2005 is rated at 35 mpg highway using the current standards (the old standards were 38 mpg highway) ... so using that as a gauge, I think my Corolla is running pretty good ...
Yeah, and it confuses the heck out of people sometimes. I wish they wouldn't even use the viscosity grade system. People see that "0W" and think that it's too thin, because my car takes a "10W" or "5W" or whatever.
Again, ideally, you'd want the oil to be as thin at 40*C (and even much colder) as it is at 100*C, which is operating temperature. For that, it'd probably have to be a -20W-30 or something. We're just not there yet in terms of our chemistry. There are rumors of folks coming out with a 00W-30, to represent oils that thicken even LESS than a 0W as they cool down. This would be a good thing. And again, EVERYBODY can benefit from a 0W oil. You can see that even at 40*C (100*F), a 0W-30 is WAY thicker than it is at 100*C. This is not ideal, but it's the best we have right now.
Why did Toyota specify 5W-30 for our cars? At the time (and still today), a 0W-30 really isn't widely available, and certainly not in a conventional oil. But you do see, now, Toyota specifying 0W-20 oils in many of the engines. It's just a better deal for engine wear. More oil faster is always a good thing.
"00W-XX" ... boy, does that sound confusing or what? With that being said, I can hear the oil commercials now ...
James bond music in the back ground ...
Throw in a few shadows of naked girls ...
"Yes ... you need double "O" oil ..."
"Poured ... not shaken ..."
Throw in a few more shadows of naked girls ... more is always better right
End with James bond music in the back ground ...
2005 Automatic Corollas are currently rated 26 city, 29 combined, 35 highway - FYI. The fact that the original poster is getting 29-30 puts you right on the mark.
James bond music in the back ground ...
Throw in a few shadows of naked girls ...
"Yes ... you need double "O" oil ..."
"Poured ... not shaken ..."
Throw in a few more shadows of naked girls ... more is always better right
End with James bond music in the back ground ...
I'd rather watch that commercial than one of a bunch of guys getting whipped with a dipstick by an angry Scot.
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, high grade gas is totally up to you. just my 2 cents
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