What is the right octane rating for the V6 SLE?

[njexpress]

Hi,
I picked mine up on Dec 3rd. Blizzard white, HID headlamps (QI), Traction Control (VS), Special color (PC), Wheel Locks and floor mats.
This is one great car and it is replacing my S2000 - 180 degrees opposite of my S. While that was all visceral and fun, this is all comfort and soft and luxury!
The sales person swore it takes regular.I know it has the same engine as the RX 330's which need Premium. Even the manual says to use Octane 87 (research octane 91). I called 1-800-GO-TOYOTA and all they keep repeating is:
It will run ob 87 but needs 91 for better performance. They wouldn't confirm if 87 would be detrimental for the engine. I am confused. Please help.
I drove 300 miles yesterday on regular and since it is still in break in, I didn't push it, consistently staying around 2200 RPM at all conditions. I averaged 24.8 MPG, all highway, in snowy weather.
Cheers!!
--njexpress

[brettboy]

I've had a 99' SE V6 automatic since it was new and all I've ever put in it is 87. The car has 165,000 and still runs like a champ.

[njexpress]

Originally Posted by brettboy

I've had a 99' SE V6 automatic since it was new and all I've ever put in it is 87. The car has 165,000 and still runs like a champ.

Thank you, Brettboy! I called toyota customer experience and they confirmed this too. It can run on 87 or 91 without any issues, but with better performance against 91 apparently. I am just going to stick with 87. Thanks again.
Cheers!!
--njexpress

[Gadgetjq]

NJ,

Most modern auto engines have knock sensors installed. Those sensors can hear (feel actually) any pre-ignition and if it occurs will order the ecu to dial back the timing advance. The result can be lost performance and fuel mileage burning regular vs premium. BUT if there's no pre-ignition the electronics will advance the timing giving you a combination of better performance and possibly even better fuel mileage on regular than you'd get with premium. It's all about how you drive (easy or pedal to the metal), outside air temperature, condition of your engine and other factors.

The reason. Regular (87 octane ron/mon) ignites more quickly than higher octane fuel so, in effect advances timing and burns cleaner (fewer deposits left in the combustion chamber) than premium.

Unless you can get hold of an instrument that will allow you to 'see' the advance curve as your driving the only way to tell which fuel will give you the best performance/mileage is to try a couple of tanks of premium then a couple of tanks of regular under the same driving conditions and compare the two.

BTW running your engine at a steady rpm during break in is the worst thing you can do. While there are different thoughts about whether an engine should actually be run fairly hard or whether easy break in is better you'll always find engine builders telling you to vary your speed. Acceleration helps bed your rings against the cylinder walls. Steady speed cruising, like idling, puts very little pressure on parts that need to be bedded in.

Cheers

[njexpress]

Many thanks, Gadgetjq!
The valve timing part makes sense, with 87.
For now, I am on my third fill up with regular and the averages have been 25.5 MPG (All Highway in bad weather) and 21 MPG (mixed, in bad weather again!) and in similiar driving styles. As of the next refill, I am going to test out with premium and see how it goes. If the difference is significant enough to offset the cost of premium, I will just stick with it. If not, I am going back to 87!
Thanks again.
Cheers!!
--njexpress

[Haoest]

I just drove all the way across the country, from Maryland to California. I took the opportunity to test out the best and worst MPG.

From what I remember, the best MPG is if you drive at 90+ MPH with cruise control. I went ~480 miles with a tank of 15 gallons. Not that I recommend driving fast, but using cruise control always helps.


I live in Orange County now, where stop lights are placed at every damn cross section. This is the perfect settings for draining gas. The worst time I went only ~260 miles with 15 gallons.

[Gadgetjq]

32 mpg with a 6 cylinder Solara at 90 mph? Hooray for tail winds!

[littlebookworm]

I've got an 05 Solara SLE coupe with the V6 with 62k miles on it. I use only 87 octane. My worst mileage was 18-20mpg in bumper to bumper Long Island Expressway (NY) traffic. The best was 32 mpg on the New York Thruway using cruise control. You'll never get the the extra mileage that will offset the additional cost of premium gas, averaging 40 cents a gallon additional here. Stick with 87. Enjoy your car. Mine's been a blast to drive now that the hesitation on takeoff has been corrected with a computer reprogramming and the air intake modified.