2005 XRS...Safe to put in 87 Octane? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

otamywy · 03-13-2005, 10:15 PM

Just got my XRS yesterday and so far so good. The manual says for optimal engine performance, 91 octane or higher. Is it safe to put in regular 87 octane? Also, the 170HP is rated at 7600 RPM (i think), my previous cars were a 5.0 Mustang and BMW 3-Series and I'm just a little skittish hitting the engine that hard, can this engine handle it? The tachometer goes red a 9000, but it's a mental thing I guess. I'm not a ricer or anything, but I want to be able to hold my ground. Any driving tips? Thanks.

One more thing, when I was test driving the car, there was a smell, like the engine burning, nothing serious but noticeable, and the salesman said this is normal. It's the clearcoat burning off the engine and headers. Is this true?

***silver04rollas*** · 03-13-2005, 10:27 PM

If you wanted to put regular gas then you got the wrong car my friend. 87 Octane is out of the question since the Octane level just too low, but this topic will focus even if you want to put Octane 89. Aside from the performance loss on a lower Octane level, this car unlike your BMW or 5.0 Mustang, runs a very high compression ratio., which is 11:5:1. That implies the engine compresses a lot higher ratio of air with fuel in the cylinders. Thererfore, this car requires a minimum of 91 Octane to run properly. You can see by the fact that it puts out almost 100 HP per liter of displacement. There will be a significant performance loss. Putting gas below the recommended Octane level can cause predetonation or in simple words, the motor can blow up and warranty will do nothing to rebuild the motor. I personally use Octane 94 and used Octane 91 for the first 4 months and now using 94 since the 5th month begining. It runs even more smoothly than with Octane 91.

coogarxrs · 03-13-2005, 10:49 PM

i dont think the engine will explode but its prolly best to use min. of 91. i put in middle sometimes and nothing happens. my old lexus had the same thing of octane level of 91 in it, i put in 89 nearly 90 percent, the engine was fine. but do not put in 87. yes, the engine is meant to handle the high RPMs. think of it this way, the engine was designed by yamaha, and those crotch rockets are meant for high rpms.

***silver04rollas*** · 03-13-2005, 10:55 PM

That is what my Toyota tech told me about 'predetonation', but in the end I just thought I would let him know what I found out.

Dr Tweak · 03-14-2005, 04:04 AM

It may not blow up, but the knock sensor will tell the computer that there's trace knock and then the computer will pull timing, which will throw your performance and economy out the window. Just fill it up with 91 or better.

Also, it's preignition and detonation, there's no such thing as "predetonation".

Pineapple · 03-14-2005, 08:35 AM

If you don't think the engine can handle the stock rated power, why do you buy the car

otamywy · 03-14-2005, 08:35 AM

I just got the car, so I'm still on my dealer's tank of gas. I don't know what they put in it, but I just wanted to know. I'll definitely put 93 Octane in. I bought the Corolla mainly b/c of reuptation and gas mileage. I bought the XRS b/c I can't live with 130 Hp. So putting 87 octane in would be pretty much shooting myself in the foot, so 93 it is. Around here it's about $.20 more a gallon, so about $2.60 more per fill up, $5 more a month, well worth it. Thanks for the info.

About the HP max being at 7600 RPM, the red line is pretty close to that, what'll happen if I red line it, say just briefly. My BMW had some sort of automatic protection if you red lined it. Just curious.

What about clear coat burning of the engine and headers when the car is new and stinking up the car, is that normal like the dealer said?

Thanks

otamywy · 03-14-2005, 08:40 AM

It's not that I don't think the car can't handle it, I just didn't realize the HP was so high end. I'm not used to going that high in RPMs and the redline is so close to the max HP point. Just makes me nervous. I just have to learn how to drive it, get used to it, I've only had it for 2 days.

seymour44 · 03-14-2005, 09:11 AM

around 8400-8500 the 2ZZ is rev limited...

***silver04rollas*** · 03-14-2005, 09:55 AM

It is safe to go up to 8400 rpm where the computer revlimiter will start cutting fuel off. I guess since you are very new to the 2ZZ-GE engine, you are not aware of lift either. Is that correct?? Here is what lift is (First break in your car before you attempt hitting lift):

If you decide to really do some spirited driving and go all the way up to 8400 rpm, at 6600 rpm lift will kick in (the high performance cam takes over from the economy cam increasing the duration of cam lift for both exhaust and intake), which is a sudden frantic burst of power that will carry the car all the way up to 8400 rpm. The sound of the car will change to an F1 racing car/sports motorbike sound. Due to the lightweight of the car, lift will make the car leap forward. With practice and quick shifting, eventually you will be able to keep the revs high between 6000 rpm - 8400 rpm.

Below 6000 rpm it will run just like any normal car and after 5000 miles, you will start getting very good gas mileage (ofcourse, if you do normal city driving since lift consumes a lot of gas).

otamywy · 03-14-2005, 10:58 AM

No, not familiar with lift, very interesting. I've never had a new car before, what is the normal break-in period and max RPMs during that period? For example, for the first 1000 miles don't go above 6000 RPMs, something like that?

That's what it was on my BMW, rev limited. Couldn't think of the term. Ok, this is all good info, thanks very much.

***silver04rollas*** · 03-14-2005, 11:13 AM

Yes keep it under 6000 rpm for the first 1600 miles. I will break in very nicely. Lift is like a turbo charger kick in after 6000 rpm that goes up to 8400 rpm. This engine has been taken from the Celica GT-S as well as the 6 speed transmission. Simply put, once you experience lift, you will have a big smile on your face and the adrenaline rush will make you want to hit lift all the time so stay way from it till you break in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by otamywy

No, not familiar with lift, very interesting. I've never had a new car before, what is the normal break-in period and max RPMs during that period? For example, for the first 1000 miles don't go above 6000 RPMs, something like that?

That's what it was on my BMW, rev limited. Couldn't think of the term. Ok, this is all good info, thanks very much.

dcdude68 · 03-14-2005, 04:38 PM

It's kind of like the Honda S-2000...all the power is way up where you rarely go in normal commute traffic, etc. It will be way different than your 5.0, which had all the torque available immediately, although at least that kicks in @4,400 on the XRS.

Is anyone getting near the 26/34 MPG that TMS claims on their XRS?

***silver04rollas*** · 03-14-2005, 05:47 PM

Yeah, the gas mileage is pretty good for a high revving engine. If I always drive under 6000 rpm, I average around 28-29 mpg in the city. However, hitting lift very often makes the gas mileage go down the drain. Although, my XRS still has 5000 KMs on it so it will take another 1500 KM before it shows the true mileage. I use Octane 94, which is more combustile than Octane 91, but my XRS runs smoother with Octane 94 so I rather take the poorer gas mileage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcdude68

It's kind of like the Honda S-2000...all the power is way up where you rarely go in normal commute traffic, etc. It will be way different than your 5.0, which had all the torque available immediately, although at least that kicks in @4,400 on the XRS.

Is anyone getting near the 26/34 MPG that TMS claims on their XRS?

***REN69*** · 03-14-2005, 06:44 PM

I've over-redlined my AE92 before and it still runs.. almost 350,000km on the motor.. that's what rev-limiters are for. I think you'll be safe as long as you've already done your break in period.. don't redline too much if you haven't done your break in yet.