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My first Prius - 2013 III with 131k miles for $6800. Question about premium gas

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Yerbluez, Mar 8, 2020.

  1. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Also the prius was made to save on spending on gas so Toyota made it to run perfectly on 87 without the need to spend on higher octane prices.
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  4. jburg

    jburg Member

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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    FWIW I've tried a few tanks of Chevron's highest octane. Mainly because it claims to be ethanol-free. If they offered ethanol-free regular I'd be all over it. Couldn't tell any difference in feel, albeit just one tank, once in a while.
     
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  6. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Several stations do, here. The mark up is 35 cents more than E10, so you get 3% better MPG for 15% more cost. I will pass.
     
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Have you tried it? Not much difference in mpg?
     
  8. jburg

    jburg Member

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    I have tried it on my GenIII, it is only a 2 to 3% gain in efficiency. The difference on my '99 Jeep is 10% or so and I run it exclusively (I also don't use it everyday and only fill it up once a month), but that is because the ignition coil isn't 'hot enough' to deal with the ethanol in the fuel even though it will run fine, the MPG suffers.
     
  9. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    I did in my Gen 2. but not in my v. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
     
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Too bad o/p left thinking premium was a lock
     
  11. Yerbluez

    Yerbluez Junior Member

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    Much appreciated Mendel, I will look through these videos. Based on watching the first one, I think I may have to have a shop do it, as I don't have a great work space. I have tinkered around with vintage motorcycles here and there, but obviously the Prius is a far more sophisticated vehicle to work on! Thanks for the repair manuals as well, these will be useful.

    Does anyone have any idea of what it would cost approximately to have the EGR work done at a shop, not the dealer?


     
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  12. Yerbluez

    Yerbluez Junior Member

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    Thanks! I will still be using costco gas, but yeah if it's not going to be much difference then I will switch to 87. I think my main concern was whether switching to a lower octane fuel all of the sudden after it's only run on premium would be an issue. Sounds like it shouldn't be though.
     
  13. Yerbluez

    Yerbluez Junior Member

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    Attached are the service records provided by dealer.

    IMG_20200311_141716.jpg IMG_20200311_141731.jpg IMG_20200311_141802.jpg
     
    #33 Yerbluez, Mar 11, 2020
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 11, 2020
  14. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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  15. Yerbluez

    Yerbluez Junior Member

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    @jburg - So I took the car to the local reputable toyota mechanic, and asked about the EGR circuit, valve and pipe assembly. He said that if there were any issues with that, then a check engine light would come on. So he suggested that I didn't need to get into having all that work done.

    Are you aware if that is the case?
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    With most of the blown head gaskets here, the first codes to come up are P0300 and P0301. Which indicates head gasket failure, more often than not.

    If at all possible, I would DIY. And with your miles, it's very timely.
     
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  17. jburg

    jburg Member

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    So my check engine light for a P0401 (insufficient flow to EGR valve) didn't come on until January this year (This is the code Toyota designated in their ZF3 Warranty Enhancement program. There are also around 5 or 6 TSB's in regards to this issue). When I took the EGR circuit off of my car 2 weeks ago, it was clogged solid (the EGR cooler/pipe subassembly). The car had a knock at start-up only twice ever and also I only ever noted rattle under low load or in heavy traffic. Once the accelerator was depressed more heavily the rattle, which was the EGR system, would go away.

    I am sorry, but this guy doesn't know what he is talking about. The clogging of the system is due to a poor design and there are multiple threads on this forum and elsewhere about it. The exhaust pipe that feeds the EGR circuit on the GenIII comes directly off of the exhaust manifold before passing over the pre-cat on the exhaust manifold. The problem is also confounded by the tendency of the 2010 - 2014 GenIII Prii to burn oil due to poorly designed oil rings and grooves. Toyota changed the design of the EGR circuit with the GenIV and moved the exhaust pipe feed to post-cat; however, there are trickled reports of the system getting fouled even on the GenIV's.

    The system needs to be removed and cleaned (or replaced), period - prior to CEL illumination... If not addressed it could lead to premature head gasket failure as stated above.
     
    #37 jburg, Mar 12, 2020
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2020
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  18. jburg

    jburg Member

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    Here is a picture of the tube that feeds the intake manifold, after the EGR valve on my car. My vehicle had 150000 miles on it, give or take, mostly highway.
     

    Attached Files:

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  19. Coots

    Coots Junior Member

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    Premium is not necessary. The Prius is designed to run on 87 octane gas. Save your money.
     
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  20. bettergolf

    bettergolf Active Member

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    So he thinks you don't need the ERG cleaned? Is that what you asked him or did you ask what the charge would be? Did he give you a price?