Fuel for 2025 LC 250

[PDPete]

In Europe the cheap oil is 95 octane and the Premium is 98... there's no 87...

That's why you can run 1L Engines and get 200,000 miles out of them.

The question is why we have 87 in US and Canada ?

For my LC I used the so-called super premium and premium. No difference although it seems that I get better mileage from the Shell premium.

Manual also states that Gas with Ethanol is OK... but personally I prefer to avoid it as much as I can.

Europe and other places use a different standard for octane rating measurement (RON) than the US (R+M/2), that's why the numbers are different, it's not because Europe provides higher octane fuel. (i.e. 87 in the US = ~91 in Europe)

Most fuel sold in the US these days has ~10% ethanol...depending on where you live, it's close to impossible to find ethanol-free gasoline...vehicles sold here have to be able to use it... but there's also "high ethanol fuel", which can be as high 85% ethanol...many, if not most, car engines do NOT recommend using that.

 

[Captain Trips]

The internet says:

"EU ratings are 95/98, which are equivalent to US ratings of 91/93. EU 95 octane = US 91 octane and EU 98 octane = US 93 octane."

So I think Europe in general has better quality gas. If higher octane level = better gas and less ethanol content vs US/CAN and perhaps better additives.

Europeans tend to buy very very economical cars with 1L or 1.2L engines and those cars usually can achieve 300,000 klm. I think the fuel quality plays a major role.

The gas is not a higher octane. They just use a different formula to come up with the final number.

 

[Jozzef]

Europe and other places use a different standard for octane rating measurement (RON) than the US (R+M/2), that's why the numbers are different, it's not because Europe provides higher octane fuel. (i.e. 87 in the US = ~91 in Europe)

Most fuel sold in the US these days has ~10% ethanol...depending on where you live, it's close to impossible to find ethanol-free gasoline...vehicles sold here have to be able to use it... but there's also "high ethanol fuel", which can be as high 85% ethanol...many, if not most, car engines do NOT recommend using that.

The lowest in Europe is usually 95 so if that's equal 91 US it is still superior to the US 87 Regular. Thus Europe has a higher quality fuel without the Ethanol and better additives.

 

[Jozzef]

The gas is not a higher octane. They just use a different formula to come up with the final number.

It is better fuel. Otherwise how your 1.2L VW Polo engine can make it up to 200,000 miles. Fuel plays a major role. You will also find a lot of high mileage BMW, Mercedes and Audi which is not really the case in North America since most people lease these cars and put regular 87 Octane...

 

[Jozzef]

In Europe, you will also have Octane 100 readily available... that would translate to US 96.

What's the highest Octane rating you ever saw in the USA or Canada?

 

[Captain Trips]

The internet says:

"EU ratings are 95/98, which are equivalent to US ratings of 91/93. EU 95 octane = US 91 octane and EU 98 octane = US 93 octane."

So I think Europe in general has better quality gas. If higher octane level = better gas and less ethanol content vs US/CAN and perhaps better additives.

Europeans tend to buy very very economical cars with 1L or 1.2L engines and those cars usually can achieve 300,000 klm. I think the fuel quality plays a major role.

I didn’t realize 95 RON was the lowest in Europe.

 

[t3lcfe]

Hi, for 9 months have only used regular octane getting 27 mpg consistently

Down hill only with side mirrors folded ?

 

[Mookie242]

Anecdotally, but it seems somehow that the people using regular gas are the ones saying they are getting better fuel efficiency. Has to be coincidence but still is interesting to note. I'm using regular gas as well and have consistently gotten around 23mpg even in winter - which is also better than 95% of posters on here it seems.

I did a little online research and there are studies that have said premium fuel, while increasing performance, can also increase an engine's "aggressiveness" and actually hurt mpg. Things that make you go hmmm...

 

[PDPete]

Anecdotally, but it seems somehow that the people using regular gas are the ones saying they are getting better fuel efficiency. Has to be coincidence but still is interesting to note. I'm using regular gas as well and have consistently gotten around 23mpg even in winter - which is also better than 95% of posters on here it seems.

I did a little online research and there are studies that have said premium fuel, while increasing performance, can also increase an engine's "aggressiveness" and actually hurt mpg. Things that make you go hmmm...

Posts from some of the folks that have done long-term comparisons seem to suggest otherwise, but even when the fuel economy is better with premium fuel, it doesn't seem to be enough of a difference to compensate for the higher cost of premium gasoline... but of course, the argument/discussion about whether or not premium fuel should be used is about more than just MPG.

I've been running only 93 octane in mine, I prefer to err on the side of caution and follow the recommendation...I didn't spend this much on a new vehicle only to quibble about a few dollars at the pump at the risk of shortening the lifespan of the truck or its engine. (Though I have become more astute as to which gas stations in my area have the best prices for premium fuel in particular, was a bit shocked to notice that there's sometimes as much as a 60¢ difference between stations only a few miles apart).

Through the winter, I was pretty much getting the advertised fuel economy, averaging about 21-22 mpg...but I've noticed as it's gotten warmer that those numbers are improving, and I'm often seeing anywhere from 24-26 mpg on highway trips

 

[Mookie242]

I don't buy the "regular gas affects longevity" argument. Toyota's lead engineer also said regular gas won't affect engine longevity. But, even if it somehow does, I'm not sure paying premium even makes mathematical sense:

93 gas could cost you more than $1,000/yr over 87 gas. Now, say, it takes 5-15 years to hit 100-200k miles. This means you will have spent $5,000-$15,000 extra in premium gas over the lifetime of the vehicle to potentially get a few extra miles out of an engine that only costs $4,000-$8,000 for a brand new replacement.

In order for the premium gas argument to hold up numbers wise, you would have to assume some huge and expensive degradation to the vehicle to outweigh the added fuel costs over the vehicle's lifetime. I'm very skeptical of this.

 

[Jozzef]

I don't buy the "regular gas affects longevity" argument. Toyota's lead engineer also said regular gas won't affect engine longevity. But, even if it somehow does, I'm not sure paying premium even makes mathematical sense:

93 gas could cost you more than $1,000/yr over 87 gas. Now, say, it takes 5-15 years to hit 100-200k miles. This means you will have spent $5,000-$15,000 extra in premium gas over the lifetime of the vehicle to potentially get a few extra miles out of an engine that only costs $4,000-$8,000 for a brand new replacement.

In order for the premium gas argument to hold up numbers wise, you would have to assume some huge and expensive degradation to the vehicle to outweigh the added fuel costs over the vehicle's lifetime. I'm very skeptical of this.

Wait an engine replacement would could max 8k ?

 

[SD_Driver]

I find these threads on fuel type and fuel economy to be entertaining. We’re talking about a vehicle that cost us $60k - $75k, yet people are concerned about the cost of recommended fuel or their poor fuel economy.

I think the price difference between premium and regular fuel for me is about $0.50/gallon. Driving 10,000 miles a year getting 20 MPG means I’d use 500 gallons. So my cost would be $250/year to use premium fuel. If I can afford a LC, I can afford premium fuel. Or I can get one less Starbucks each week and I have the cost covered.

The LC is a large truck. If fuel economy or type of fuel were concerns, then we need to buy something else.

 

[Mookie242]

If the difference between 87 gas and 93 gas is only 50 cents in your area, you should consider yourself the luckiest American alive. Here in Michigan it's usually $1-1.20 difference per gallon. I've seen differences as much as almost $2 per gallon for "ultra premium 93" served at some gas stations like Sunoco.

 

[PDPete]

If the difference between 87 gas and 93 gas is only 50 cents in your area, you should consider yourself the luckiest American alive. Here in Michigan it's usually $1-1.20 difference per gallon. I've seen differences as much as almost $2 per gallon for "ultra premium 93" served at some gas stations like Sunoco.

At most places I get gas, it's usually ~60¢ difference... but since getting the LC, I've become a lot more aware of how there's a lot more variance in the price of "premium" fuel compared to "regular" in my area...

Going between 2 gas stations only a few miles away, the difference between their advertised price for regular gas may only be 25¢/gal, but the difference between their prices for premium may be as much as $1 (or more!) ... and most gas stations near me do NOT have the price of premium displayed on their road-side signage, so it's tougher to know what to expect until you pull up to the pump.

So yeah, in the past I may have made mental notes on which stations have better prices as I'd be driving around town, but now I've also become a lot more aware of which stations are the biggest rip-offs when it comes to getting 93 octane

 

[TakaraLC]

If the difference between 87 gas and 93 gas is only 50 cents in your area, you should consider yourself the luckiest American alive. Here in Michigan it's usually $1-1.20 difference per gallon. I've seen differences as much as almost $2 per gallon for "ultra premium 93" served at some gas stations like Sunoco.

US average is $0.8 higher for premium compared to regular.

 

[t3lcfe]

I find these threads on fuel type and fuel economy to be entertaining. We’re talking about a vehicle that cost us $60k - $75k, yet people are concerned about the cost of recommended fuel or their poor fuel economy.

I think the price difference between premium and regular fuel for me is about $0.50/gallon. Driving 10,000 miles a year getting 20 MPG means I’d use 500 gallons. So my cost would be $250/year to use premium fuel. If I can afford a LC, I can afford premium fuel. Or I can get one less Starbucks each week and I have the cost covered.

The LC is a large truck. If fuel economy or type of fuel were concerns, then we need to buy something else.

totally agreed

 

[TakaraLC]

Does Toyota offer hybrid-max platform outside of NA market? People are saying premium requirement is due to the global footprint of LC, but as far as I can see almost every market outside of NA gets the diesel platform.

 

[t3lcfe]

Does Toyota offer hybrid-max platform outside of NA market? People are saying premium requirement is due to the global footprint of LC, but as far as I can see almost every market outside of NA gets the diesel platform.

“I” only listen to Toyota corporate “Premium Fuel ONLY”….who has 100s billions assets for liability and responsibility for their products to consumers
“I” am not listening to random “people”, and even “engineers working for Toyota had video in YouTube” Why? Simple is none of them take responsibility for anything wrong for their “recommendation”/arguments

“You” as LC owners have the “rights” to do whatever you want and take full responsibility for what “you do”. Don’t blame on Toyota if you choose doing things different from what they clearly said. “You” are free to interpret what “premium fuel ONLY” means to you and go from there. However, in law, “premium fuel ONLY” means clearly “ONLY”
Smile and peace to all
Happy LC, guys and gals

 

[SD_Driver]

If the difference between 87 gas and 93 gas is only 50 cents in your area, you should consider yourself the luckiest American alive. Here in Michigan it's usually $1-1.20 difference per gallon. I've seen differences as much as almost $2 per gallon for "ultra premium 93" served at some gas stations like Sunoco.

I live in CA so fuel prices here are high for any octane. And it’s very hard to find 93 octane on the west coast. Our premium is typically 91. I always fill up at Costco. Last time I looked 87 was $4.19/gallon and 91 was $4.49/gallon.

Even at $1/gallon difference, in my example it would cost me $500/year more to buy premium. Compared to the cost of these vehicles, that’s nothing.

Whenever I’m buying a vehicle, I look at all costs including the ongoing costs for things like insurance, maintenance, registration, etc. If I can’t afford those costs, or don’t think those costs are worth it for the vehicle, then I don’t buy it.

I’ve just begun looking into the LC. I had the last generation Sequoia and loved it. Very different engines now though.

 

[vonjeezy]

Hi Ed1, I sold my 2000 long time ago. I picked up J 250 in July 2024. Never used premium gas so far. My average mpg is 27.9

I live rural and cant get past 19.5