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Who Else Has Switched to Premium Fuel 92 OCTANE?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Prius Five Guy, Dec 13, 2014.

  1. Tony D

    Tony D Active Member

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    I think that ftl may have spotted my sarcastic Irish humour!
     
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  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Sadly neither sarcasm or irony translate to text, so later folks will be quoting him as facts.
     
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  3. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Interesting.
    I have also previously posted that the Bentley Publishers book "Toyota Prius Repair and Maintenance 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008" makes the same comment about Premium may cause hard starting.

    The $64000 Question is: who says so, and why?
    I don't think we've heard Toyota say this. Is it still true? or is that based on older fuels years ago, or what?

    >>Meanwhile, AFAIK there is no benefit for Premium in CA as long as you are using TopTierGas.com fuels. The OP can read on Chevron.com home page a rather lengthy (and good) technical discussion of gasoline, and it mentions in RFG areas there is no energy content difference between grades. If going to a no-name station non-TopTier CA station, I suppose it's possible they do not add enough detergent to Regular, but maybe their Premium is better. But that's a stretch.

    For those outside of U.S. RFG zones, it's a little more complex story.
    In the U.S.A. nobody is misleading anyone: Oil cos., Consumer Reports, EPA all say to only use Regular unless your vehicle calls for Premium.

    In Canada some feel there is misleading advertising, but that's a different situation.
     
    #43 wjtracy, Dec 20, 2014
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2014
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    When the gas station has all the octane pumps, in a row, equally billed, with terms like "supreme" and "super" describing the higher octanes, that's misleading.
     
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  5. ftl

    ftl Explicator

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    Goes well with my sardonic English humour!

    Tony just needs to edit his post and add <irony>irony</irony> hashtags.:D
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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  7. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

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    I have used Top Tier gas almost exclusively for several years. I didn't usually buy Costco gas, even though it is cheaper, because they suggested buying Techron in the warehouse to add to the tank occasionally, which would negate the savings. But then a while back Costco switched to Top Tier for all their stores, and still have the lowest price in town, and you don't need any additives. So it's a win-win, plus I get a 4% rebate using my Costco/Amex card! :p
    If you're not familiar with Top Tier, Google that name for an explanation.

    My '91 Miata sports a Jackson Racing cold air induction kit under the hood, but I have no proof as to how much difference it makes in the output. All I can tell you is that the little bugger goes like a bat out of hell (and no, I have no empirical evidence as to just how fast that is, either.) :D the guys who did the work specialized in making Miatas go fast, and thought the JR engineers had a good thing going. Maybe the whole thing was a clever marketing job. :confused::eek::rolleyes:
     
    #47 rogerv, Dec 20, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 20, 2014
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  8. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    But your Miata has an Otto cycle engine, and we have a hundred year of experience how to make power with an Otto cycle engine. Some of that will transfer to an Atkinson cycle engine, but not all of it. Hot intake air seems inherent in an Atkinson cycle engine.
     
  9. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

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    I bow to you and others here with far more knowledge and expertise in these matters. I would never know if hot or cold induction added to the power of my PiP, as I don't drive it that way. In nearly three years and 29k miles, I have rarely found the need to put the "pedal to the metal," and in fact have never had the switch in anything other than "ECO." :p The Miata OTOH, is a different story!:p:p Thanks for the input, Jimbo!
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah I think it's the difference between a fully charged battery and a drained battery.

    Hmm, is there a greater loss for the Gen 3? I thought the Gen 2 only dyno'd at 92 to 100hp and was rated at 110hp. The Gen 3 is rated at 134hp but only dynos at 103-113hp?
     
  11. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    I believe in you!
     
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  12. massstealth

    massstealth Junior Member

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    The higher the octane rating the lower the flamabilty. The lower octane number gasolines are less able to resist preignition. The only cars requiring the premium fuels are high compression, turbo charged, supercharged and older vehicles.
     
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  13. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    It's got to be your imagination. There's absolutely no reason to use Premium fuel unless your car is designed for it.
    Pump Fiction - Marketplace - CBC News
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That's hands-down the best first post I've ever read. You nailed it!
     
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  15. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    According to an automotive expert in the video I posted, you never need to use Premium fuel. His car calls for it, but he burns only regular because he claims that the computer compensates for it completely.
     
  16. massstealth

    massstealth Junior Member

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    Thanks
     
  17. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    well, higher octane does not change flammability in air with a flame...rather it increases the autoignition temperature in the absence of a spark, so that it waits around for the spark before igniting.