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What kind of gas do you put in your PriusC

Discussion in 'Prius c Fuel Economy' started by alimoeeny, Apr 2, 2012.

  1. alimoeeny

    alimoeeny Junior Member

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    I am a new PriucC 2012 owner and this is my first Prius ever.
    I wonder if anyone has any observations, recommendations for the type of gas one should put in PriusC? The official line is Anything about Octan 87 and with less than 10% ethanol.
     
  2. PriusofDoom

    PriusofDoom New Member

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    I use regular. Chevron.
     
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  3. p00kienrayray

    p00kienrayray Active Member

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    There's a few threads on here that I'm too lazy to dig up regarding fuel type for the Prius liftback. 87 octane is the recommended, and anything higher is unnecessary and can even harm your engine due to premature combustion or something like that. Should be the same for the C.
     
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  4. priusCpilot

    priusCpilot Active Member

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    Make sure you buy your gas from these retailers below and 87 is fine for this engine since that was what it is deigned for.

    Top Tier Gasoline
     
  5. priusCpilot

    priusCpilot Active Member

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    Higher octane would do the opposite of preignite. The higher the octane the more it resists preignition. Very important for motors that needed it like forced induction or higher compression engines that make high power.
     
  6. justlurkin

    justlurkin Señor Member

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    Use 87 octane. Don't bother with anything higher.

    The important thing to remember with the Prius is that its ICE runs on the Atkinson cycle-- The valves are open longer than a normal Otto-cycle ICE. That means an Atkinson cycle ICE has lower compression (making predetonation very unlikely).
     
  7. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    I choose to buy regular unleaded gas from busy stations, I want it in their tank for as short a time as is possible.
     
  8. p00kienrayray

    p00kienrayray Active Member

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    Correct, I knew it was either one or the other. Thx for the correction ;)
     
  9. SquallLHeart

    SquallLHeart The Techie Guy

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    use regular 87. chevron, 76, or shell
     
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  10. fgp

    fgp Active Member

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    i always use regular. try to avoid that stupid government induced and enforced ethanol if possible. if not, never use over 10percent ( per manual) my feeling is that whether you are driving a benz, porsche, yugo (ooops maybe an exception) or a prius. always do the factory recommended fuel. its your warranty and they actually might know what they are requesting:cool:
     
  11. ufourya

    ufourya We the People

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    Yes, you want fresh gas, but not right after the station's tanks have been filled. Avoid the sediment that this stirs up. Yes, there are filters, but why take a chance?
     
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  12. fgp

    fgp Active Member

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    thats an interesting view. i never thought about it. does make sense, though. there used to be (not sure if there still are) factory gas pumps that had filters on them to prevent that. but still in all i think ill heed your advice:)
     
  13. Oldwolf

    Oldwolf Prius Enthusiast

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    Yes, all dispensers have filters. But the real problem is not sediment that might get stirred up but water that is always in the bottom of underground storage tanks. The water level is measured, the pump suction is usually somewhere around 6 inches off the bottom of the tank. When the water level gets to a certain point it must be suctioned out. Right after a product drop, the water can be agitated a little bit. So that is why you hear that you should wait a little while after a fuel load is dropped until you should use it. That being said, I have never had a problems, even when fuel is being unloaded and I am filling. Tanks owners do a good job at keeping excessive water from accumulating at the bottom of their tanks.
     
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  14. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    I use Arco and treat it to Chevron whenever the car is good to me. I'm not raising my Prius to be spoiled rotten.
     
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  15. Booyah

    Booyah Junior Member

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    Pemex Magna (Mexico) 87.

    Don't tell anybody, but it is actually exported gas from the US. I pay about $3/gal and the difference is Mexican gov't subsidy! Finally, I am on the right side of corruption!
     
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  16. NorthDakota

    NorthDakota Junior Member

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    Different parts of the country/states have different requirements for labeling and required ethanol content. In North Dakota there is no requirement that the station label the pump if it has 10% ethanol or not. You have to either do a jar test with a measured amount of water in it to see if it contains ethanol and at what percent it is, or know the owner well enough that he will tell you the truth.
    One local station has 3 grades (87, 89, 92 octane) 89 is the cheapest price by 5-20 cents over the 87 percent that does not contain any ethanol. 92 is 20-30 cents over the cheapest grade and also does not contain any ethanol.
    92 octane is what I burn in my Mercury Verado.
    87 octane with no ethanol vs 89 octane w/ethanol makes no noticeable difference in my Silverado that gets an average of 14.5 MPG.
    In the Prius there is a definite difference in fuel economy with 87 no ethanol vs 89 w/ethanol. My average went from 42.3 down to 37.3 mpg. This was on three consecutive tanks. Filled up the last tank with 87 octane and the mpg immediately went up to 44 on the readout on the dash (about 2 mpg over real world numbers so about 42 mpg again). Bottom line is, know what your putting in your Prius.
    I keep hearing that 92 octane wont help your MPG on a Prius but I do plan on testing it on a few tanks just to see what happens!
     
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  17. managerman

    managerman Prius v Nerd

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    Been reading a little about top tier gas vs. "regular" gas....My first two tanks were Getgo Gas (from Giant Eagle Grocery store...) My average over 1000 miles has been 56 MPG...Today I filled up with Shell Gas to experiment to see if there is any MPG effect....No Chevron or Exxon in my area....My guess is there will be no difference, but we'll see...

    -M
     
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  18. maverickf

    maverickf New Member

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    I've been filling up with Costco gas over 2000 miles and average 55 MPG (highest tank 59 MPG). Definitely would like to know if "Top Tier" gas makes any different. :rolleyes:
     
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  19. priusCpilot

    priusCpilot Active Member

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    The difference will be in the deposit control with top tier. Hybrids don't warm up fast so carbon can be higher with the motor cycling on off so much.
     
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  20. MpgMiser

    MpgMiser New Member

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    Definitely will concur on the carbon deposit concern,
    As to Costco gas up here in Nordwest, found from repeated fuelings, a 1997 Honda Civic HX this past yr avg about 2mi per gal more than a similar fillups at an area Arco station
    Mpg went from 38mpg(Arco) to about 41mpg avg combined(Costco)
    Shell Gas most part similar to Costco, purchased at high traffic stations

    General rule, especially in Summer fill tank early morning, before rush hour
    Usually I try to do this on the wknd if possible
    2-3% avg bang for the buck savings because of much less fuel expansion
    Supposedly proven fact, everytime
     
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