Gas Mileage - V6

[GaryPSU]

WIth the recent decline in fuel prices I decided to start using premium in my SLE. No scientific measurement, but it appears that I'm getting at least a 10% increase in mpg. This covers the price differential between regular and premium - giving me a free power boost, and possibly other engine benefits. Can anyone else support this claim?

[Somedude]

The V6 model requires Premium gas, I don't know why some people put regular in them.

[GaryPSU]

The V6 model requires Premium gas, I don't know why some people put regular in them.

The owner's manual indicates that regular is fine, but performance will increase with premium. The computer will properly adjust the timing based on the fuel being used.

[Sebas007]

Again...higher octane will not give you any kind of boost...it is made to prevent...I don't know how you call it in english but something like "before it has to explode". The compression on the gaz mixture is so big, incresing the temp, it may explode before it has too....so high octane if for high compression engine like us....but doesnt give boost...

[made in china]

WIth the recent decline in fuel prices I decided to start using premium in my SLE. No scientific measurement, but it appears that I'm getting at least a 10% increase in mpg. This covers the price differential between regular and premium - giving me a free power boost, and possibly other engine benefits. Can anyone else support this claim?

We have a discussion in Gen 1/1.5 about this. With the 1MZ (V6, 3.0 or 3.3 family) I see a considerable increase in MPG. Enough so that it is actually cheaper to run premium over regular. And like you said, you get some performance benefits. http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php?t=28085

[MCOjerry]

Again...higher octane will not give you any kind of boost...it is made to prevent...I don't know how you call it in english but something like "before it has to explode". The compression on the gaz mixture is so big, incresing the temp, it may explode before it has too....so high octane if for high compression engine like us....but doesnt give boost...

Actually, I have been using premium since the last post started. FYI, I looked, and premium here is 93 octane (i wasn't sure before, 93 or 94).

Last week, I accidentally put 87 in, I just wasn't paying attention. I definitely noticed a difference in power from the engine and I DO get slightly better gas mileage.

Is the mileage difference huge? No, but it's enough to cover (or if not almost cover) the difference in cost. Plus, if the premium gas allows your car to run more efficiently, then it's worth it.

Maybe I have been brainwashed, like those people in the jesus movie (LOL just kidding)

[theprodigy79]

The word Sebas is looking for is detonation.

My '04 manual states that 91 Octane is recommended, so I've been using 93 Octane since the day I got the car (it's that or 89 Octane in my area)... Also, I believe that in the TSB for the gear hunting fix it states that 91 Octane is REQUIRED...

By using premium, you are ensuring that you're getting the full power and efficiency out of your 3MZ... On engines that don't recommend or require premium to run at maximum efficiency you will experience no advantages by using it... But on engines that recommend or require it, you may actually experience loss in performance or efficiency by not using it...

So basically, just do what your car manual recommends / requires and you will get the most out of your engine...

All of you who think you can't afford around $.20 per gallon more to start with (adding up to a 'whopping' $3-$4 extra a tank), so you "cheap out" and use regular may actually be losing $$ in the long run due to having to fill up more often... I'm sorry, but if you can't afford $3 extra per tank, then you shouldn't be driving a $20-$30K+ car...

Just my $.02 (whoa, that's 1/10th of the difference right there!)

-James

[MCOjerry]

^^LOL But pretty accurate.

[Sentinel]

I have tried using premium on my gen1 1mz and never got any noticeable difference in mileage.

But: Everyone's engine has had a slightly different life, and has different operating characteristics. so it does not surprise me that some get a mileage boost.

I'd like to see the same stock motor dyno'd with regular and then hi-test to see exactly how many h.p. you get. I'm guessing 2 or 3?

[CosmicGrooves]

Every car I've owned (only three now), I could tell a difference in 93 octane vs. 85 octane.

I had a 280zx that loved hight octane fuel. Even my 1996 Paseo was more responsive on higher octane.

The Solara is new and I haven't run high octane fuel in it much to be sure of it. I put regular gas in. From my past experiences, the mileage increase in high octane was not enough to justify cost differences.

[TW85]

The mileage increase using premium (93) covers the additional cost. Engine also seems to perform better using premium, though it could be in my head. Too bad the tranny and throttle programming still suck.

[PXLpainter]

The mileage increase using premium (93) covers the additional cost. Engine also seems to perform better using premium, though it could be in my head. Too bad the tranny and throttle programming still suck.

Amen Bruddah!!

AMEN!!

[Jon11582]

It will definitly perform better on the V6. But mileage increase probably won't cover the cost difference.

I havent seen one thing that actually tests out mileage on a V6 Solara on premium vs regular. Here, regular was 2.499 eariler this week, and premium was 2.799. That means it needs to increase 12.4% to make up the difference. Retarded timing should not decrease mileage that much.

Lets see it. Someone who has a Solara V6, works monday through friday, has a long commute, and burns through at least half a tank Monday-friday should test this out. Just run to the half a tank mark on a typical work week and see how many miles that got you, with fill up on regular, and premium.

[PXLpainter]

It will definitly perform better on the V6. But mileage increase probably won't cover the cost difference.

I havent seen one thing that actually tests out mileage on a V6 Solara on premium vs regular. Here, regular was 2.499 eariler this week, and premium was 2.799. That means it needs to increase 12.4% to make up the difference. Retarded timing should not decrease mileage that much.

Lets see it. Someone who has a Solara V6, works monday through friday, has a long commute, and burns through at least half a tank Monday-friday should test this out. Just run to the half a tank mark on a typical work week and see how many miles that got you, with fill up on regular, and premium.

If you mix 1/2 tanks like that you're not really comparing anything...

I'd say to do it right, you need to run it 'til you get the gas light and fill up with Regular - then do the 1/2 tank test on another fill-up and mark down the mileage.

Do the same thing with running it nearly dry and fill twice with Premium.

Really would help having a regular commuter test this with both City/Hwy miles tho'.

[made in china]

It will definitly perform better on the V6. But mileage increase probably won't cover the cost difference.

I havent seen one thing that actually tests out mileage on a V6 Solara on premium vs regular. Here, regular was 2.499 eariler this week, and premium was 2.799. That means it needs to increase 12.4% to make up the difference. Retarded timing should not decrease mileage that much.

Lets see it. Someone who has a Solara V6, works monday through friday, has a long commute, and burns through at least half a tank Monday-friday should test this out. Just run to the half a tank mark on a typical work week and see how many miles that got you, with fill up on regular, and premium.

I basically only drive my Solara for the M-F work week. So, I generally get between 420-450 miles on one tank of Premium, and my average speed is probably about 15-20 MPH over the course of an hour and 15 minutes to get to work. If I run regular, I get something like 300-350 a tank.

BTW, in WA State, we average about $2.75 a gallon for regular and we are always at +0.10 per gallon to upgrade to each next grade. So, if gas prices are high, running Premium makes perfect sense.