Anti-knock sensors are there to back off timing a bit if they sense impending knocking.

I think you'd get easier starting with an engine pre-heater v. 3 or 4 points difference in octane. A heated battery blanket wouldn't hurt either.


I doubt marketing has a thing to do with the situation. I doubt anyone spending the money for an LX is doing so because premium fuel is recommended, nor not buying one because regular was not.


First world problem. The LX will run just fine with regular gasoline as it will with premium...unless you can feel 2 hp at wide-open-throttle in the seat of your pants.

If you don't want "to spend more for the fuel than necessary", buy regular.


That's a stretch.


The Land Cruiser shows the same mileage numbers, though it's spec'd at 2 hp and 2 ft-lb less torque than the LX. Significant difference is that the Cruiser is rated to tow up to 8500 lb mgvw, the LX at only 7000.

Steve

 

Has anyone considered the vagaries of the difference in "Premium" from one pump location to the next? In many parts of the world the way they measure Octane is different. Ron or RON/MON etc... Without getting into it, our Regular in some countries is Premium and in others our Premium might be Mid Grade.

 

Funny you mentioned it, in our area there is one gas station that sells premium 91 octane fuel that consistently gets on average 2 miles per gallon better mileage than the rest. It is a privately owned small town gas station. The trouble is, their fuel is about 20 cents per gallon more expensive than the rest. I do not know how to explain any of it. But when I am passing thru' on (nearly) empty, I always stop and fill up. Doing so, I have a feeling that I am "pampering" my truck.

 

I see about a 2 mpg improvement running non-ethanol gas, which is about what I'd expect. It's not because it's 91 octane...it's because there's 10% more gasoline v. normal gasoline with ethanol.

Is your station selling non-ethanol?

Steve

 

They all claim to sell premium non-ethanol, and I make sure that's what I always get. Yet only fuel from that one gas station provides 2 miles per gallon better mileage @ a higher price per gallon. Its also a well known fact in the community.Hence the mystery remains.

 

This^

Non-ethanol (pure gas) is the way to go if you can find it. Never once have I concerned myself with how much premium versus regular costs.

I drive easy (mix of highway/city) and get between 17-19 mpg consistently with 89-octane, plus, pure gas.





273.5 miles/qtr on the gauge (though there are 10 gals in the tank)/17.4 avg mixed driving

 

I would say that it has nothing to do with the engine. The reason is probably the electronically controlled suspension on LX.

 

I get 2 - 3 mpg better in all my vehicles with ethanol free gas. If "all" stations are claiming ethanol free then I suggest you pay the $25 and buy a test kit from the internet and test it yourself. I have, and not all stations claiming ethanol free really not ethanol free.

 

I suspected it all along.

 

no has nothing to do with marketing and everything to do with engine timing and compression. you can run 87 octane but you lose power and the engines internal efficiency gets affected. The timing on L cars vs T is all ECU based. Run the 93.

 

has nothing to do with marketing.

 

illegal in states to be ethanol free in fuel now. You can get 91 that is ethanol free from a distributor but mass sale of straight gasoline outlawed. Gasahol is great. Personally wish this car had been set up to run E85, benefits there are great.

 

Sorry but alcohol lacks the energy of gas and the main reason we have it in our gas is to fatten the coffers of the corn growing states. Even the EPA blew up because of the amount of environmental damage occurring to the streams and rivers near these corn field. But due to a strong "corn lobby", the applied money to the complainers and the public continues to get duped.

There is nothing beneficial about putting alcohol in our fuel. It attracts water and can make a mess of your fuel system. Some want to increase alcohol to 20% soon.

It is not illegal here and if you want to pay for alcohol free gas, it is available at the pump if you look around for it. I use it in the boat and jetski.

 

Maybe illegal in the corn belt, but not in all states. A Sinclair station 5 miles from home has 91 octane ethanol-free, as do a few other local stations.


I use it universally. I have about a dozen small gas powered tools...chain saws, brush cutters, etc. Ethanol gas eventually turns fuel lines in quality tools (Still and Echo) into a black gummy mess. No problems whatsoever with non-ethanol fuel. 20% ally would be a definite issue, as my '16 Cruiser has a "NO-85" warning on the gas cap.

 

Yep just a 1/2 mile from me is a gas station that sells non-ethanol fuel. I use it in everything except the vehicle.

I am sure the 10% ethanol will still be available when the 85 hits the pumps, we will just have to pay a lot more for it.