What Octane Fuel are you using?

[ultane]

I recently put the first tank of fuel in our '25 LC with Chevron 94 (no ethanol). Time will tell how that impacts fuel economy. I have no idea what the selling dealer put in prior to delivery beyond telling me it was "premium."

Before the world went crazy back in 2020 and gas prices rose, I used to use the same Chevron 94 in my Jeep JK. It wasn't because the Jeep required higher octane fuel, but because with ethanol blends in the lower grades fuel economy went way down as did power felt from the engine via a highly calibrated "butt dyno." When gas prices crept up, I settled on using the cheaper mid-grade 89 octane with ethanol and simply got used to the reduced power and responsiveness, and being able to watch the fuel gauge physically creep down while stuck in traffic. My guess is the reduced performance came from the ethanol content rather than lower octane.

My JK at its best would do 17L/100km (13.8 mpg) around town with 89 ethanol blend, though I did see as low as 11.9L/100km (19.7 mpg) on a 17 1/2 hour highway run up to northern BC. I did that trip straight through at the speed limit, only stopping for fuel and coffee and was never to see fuel economy like that again in the following five years.

As you can probably guess, after having that JK for nine years the fuel economy isn't a deal breaker for me, so the Land Cruiser should be a decent improvement in that area that simply comes with the deal. I won't sweat the Land Cruiser's L/100km and will play around with which top tier fuel it will run best on, and which cleaning agent keeps things happiest. I have trusted the Techron in Chevron's fuel since the late 80's, though Shell 93 octane without ethanol can be had a few cents cheaper.

The Motor Oil Geek has said in a video (about engine oil analysis) that Shell 93 is the best gasoline that he has ever seen, based on engine oil analysis.

If I could get Shell 93, I would definitely switch from BP 93 ethanol free, which is locally available out here in ‘Mayberry’.

Years ago, in 2008 IIRC, when E10 was first mandated, my MPG dropped from 21.5 mpg to 19 mpg in my 2006 Avalanche. I’ve seen that many times since when switching from E0 to E10, and visa versa.

If one is going to tow any sort of trailer, I would without fail use at least 91 octane fuel, or higher if available.

 

[Insanoflexathf]

Not sure we will ever know the answer to this. My brother purchased a 2023 Tundra TRD PRO with the I-Force Max Hybrid engine and his takes regular gas, no premium requirements. What makes the cheaper (cost compared to the TRD PRO TUNDRA) Land Cruiser require premium? We may never know.

 

[ultane]

The Toyota plant in buffalo builds the T24A-FTS. It’s a great engine.

Gosh… I hope so.

 

[ultane]

The fact that people would willfully ignore the octane recommendation printed on their actual car because Toyota put a different recommendation on a different car…is the most 2025 internet thing I can think of.

X

 

[basicxj]

The Motor Oil Geek has said in a video (about engine oil analysis) that Shell 93 is the best gasoline that he has ever seen, based on engine oil analysis.

If I could get Shell 93, I would definitely switch from BP 93 ethanol free, which is locally available out here in ‘Mayberry’.

Years ago, in 2008 IIRC, when E10 was first mandated, my MPG dropped from 21.5 mpg to 19 mpg in my 2006 Avalanche. I’ve seen that many times since when switching from E0 to E10, and visa versa.

If one is going to tow any sort of trailer, I would without fail use at least 91 octane fuel, or higher if available.

I will certainly be trying a tank. The Land Cruiser seems to be working with the ethanol free 94 so far.

 

[DoMoCruiser24]

I run E15 and 93 I’ve used an OBDII scanner and watched live data. I have noticed no difference in either. Should get decent MPG if you stay out of boost. If I recall correctly oem recommended is 91.

91 + 2 gallons of e85?

Which AP device did you use to track knock sensor? JB4?

 

[TakaraLC]

We have 100 octane near one of the state parks I ran a little over half a tank in it. Going up to Hawks Nest and New River Gorge. The LC250 loved it. The Toyota plant in buffalo builds the T24A-FTS. It’s a great engine.

Engine in LC is probably manufactured in Japan, there are multiple sites T24A-FTS is manufactured.

 

[ultane]

I will certainly be trying a tank. The Land Cruiser seems to be working with the ethanol free 94 so far.

You will want to run the tank as empty as possible, somewhere below the ‘0’ miles to empty, before adding E0 to the tank.

Later this year my GF and I will be traveling out west from NC. Seeing how it can be difficult finding E0 fuel on the road, I may finally switch over to Shell 93 octane E10. I fully expect to take a 2+ mpg hit on Miss Daisy’s fuel economy, as has happened in the past.

 

[Justaron123]

91 + 2 gallons of e85?

Which AP device did you use to track knock sensor? JB4?

No we have E85 and E15 in Charleston. Sorry I can see where that sounded confusing. I have ran full tanks of both E15 and 93+ octane. Both according to carista, and snap on scaner allows you to see live data. You can see fuel trim timing etc. engine response was the same with both. No advancing or slowing down or timing due to fuel. Air fuel trims, boost etc is the same max is 15 but seems to live around 9 with normal driving. Even with my intake I haven’t noticed.

Even running ecu scans only stored code was from when I first purchased it. The code was for the hybrid system but, it was due to the Land Cruiser being completely dead. I Baja it on and off the road like I stole it and it does great.

 

[DoMoCruiser24]

No we have E85 and E15 in Charleston. Sorry I can see where that sounded confusing. I have ran full tanks of both. Both according to carista, and snap on scan allows you to see live data. You can see fuel trim timing etc. engine response was the same with both. No advancing or slowing down or timing due to fuel. Air fuel trims, boost etc is the same max is 15 but seems to live around 9 with normal driving. Even with my intake I haven’t noticed.

Even running ecu scans only stored code was from when I first purchased it. The code was for the hybrid system but, it was due to the Land Cruiser being completely dead. I Baja it on and off the road like I stole it and it does great.
View attachment 40603

Gotcha. Thanks.

I looked into the OTT website (which I initially misread as OTS, as in off the shelf tune) thinking you found a remote tuner. I’m interested in doing my own testing by monitoring parameters but it looks like OTT software is strictly for flashing the ECU. Guess I’ll just have to keep waiting.

 

[basicxj]

You will want to run the tank as empty as possible, somewhere below the ‘0’ miles to empty, before adding E0 to the tank.

Later this year my GF and I will be traveling out west from NC. Seeing how it can be difficult finding E0 fuel on the road, I may finally switch over to Shell 93 octane E10. I fully expect to take a 2+ mpg hit on Miss Daisy’s fuel economy, as has happened in the past.

If E0 means zero ethanol, I am burning a tank right now.

 

[Justaron123]

Gotcha. Thanks.

I looked into the OTT website (which I initially misread as OTS, as in off the shelf tune) thinking you found a remote tuner. I’m interested in doing my own testing by monitoring parameters but it looks like OTT software is strictly for flashing the ECU. Guess I’ll just have to keep waiting.

Im thinking on this one myself. I like that locally OTT has a shop. Here’s the link to JB4.

JB4 for 2024+ Toyota LandCruiser 2.4L Turbo -26776-2

 

[ultane]

No we have E85 and E15 in Charleston. Sorry I can see where that sounded confusing. I have ran full tanks of both.

I am pretty sure that the Land Cruiser owners manual states to NOT use anything over E15.

 

[Justaron123]

I am pretty sure that the Land Cruiser owners manual states to NOT use anything over E15.

Yes Ive only used E15 which it states is the max recommended. It says E20-E85 do not use. I haven’t used E85 I was just saying that locally we have both. You would need a tune to run the E85.

 

[Bighorn Tremor]

Having participated in motorcycle forums for over 20 years and owning turbocharged vehicles for 40, I've developed a few opinions on gasoline and octane.

Virtually all modern, fuel injected engines have the ability to adjust for gasoline octane. Turbocharged engines all do this because of the variables involved, such as air pressure and temperature.

In general, manufacturers that recommend premium (91+ octane) fuel do so for two reasons: optimal performance and optimal fuel economy. You may run lower octane fuel, but both performance and fuel consumption will suffer. It should not damage the engine because the ECU will adjust the timing and turbo boost to accommodate.

Non-ethanol fuel yields better fuel economy than E10 fuel. Ethanol has fewer BTUs per volume than gasoline. Economy hit is usually around 5% or 1-2 mpg.

All that said, we run 91 octane in our LC because we can. I fill it with non-ethanol. My wife fills it with E10 because she doesn't like the fuel station I like. If I had to fill it with 85 octane E10 because that was what was available, I wouldn't lose any sleep. Also, my F-150 Ecoboost is rated for 87 octane, but it sure loves 91 octane and runs okay on 85.

 

[TakaraLC]

Having participated in motorcycle forums for over 20 years and owning turbocharged vehicles for 40, I've developed a few opinions on gasoline and octane.

Virtually all modern, fuel injected engines have the ability to adjust for gasoline octane. Turbocharged engines all do this because of the variables involved, such as air pressure and temperature.

In general, manufacturers that recommend premium (91+ octane) fuel do so for two reasons: optimal performance and optimal fuel economy. You may run lower octane fuel, but both performance and fuel consumption will suffer. It should not damage the engine because the ECU will adjust the timing and turbo boost to accommodate.

Non-ethanol fuel yields better fuel economy than E10 fuel. Ethanol has fewer BTUs per volume than gasoline. Economy hit is usually around 5% or 1-2 mpg.

All that said, we run 91 octane in our LC because we can. I fill it with non-ethanol. My wife fills it with E10 because she doesn't like the fuel station I like. If I had to fill it with 85 octane E10 because that was what was available, I wouldn't lose any sleep. Also, my F-150 Ecoboost is rated for 87 octane, but it sure loves 91 octane and runs okay on 85.

You cannot adjust timing if there is pre-spark detonation. “ECU can adjust timing” is constantly repeated here but that is only true for post-spark knock resulting from secondary detonations ahead of expanding flame front.

 

[RideWithYanu]

Engine in LC is probably manufactured in Japan, there are multiple sites T24A-FTS is manufactured.

All J250s are manufactured in Japan. “Base” trim typically at the Tahara plant.

 

[ultane]

Yes Ive only used E15 which it states is the max recommended. It says E20-E85 do not use. I haven’t used E85 I was just saying that locally we have both. You would need a tune to run the E85.

I am pretty sure that initially you posted that you have run full tanks of both E15 and E85…. As I quoted your post above..

Don’t gaslight me..

 

[ultane]

If E0 means zero ethanol, I am burning a tank right now.

Yes, E0 is non ethanol fuel..

 

[Bighorn Tremor]

You cannot adjust timing if there is pre-spark detonation. “ECU can adjust timing” is constantly repeated here but that is only true for post-spark knock resulting from secondary detonations ahead of expanding flame front.

That's true, but it's just the simplistic way of describing that the engine control systems will adjust for octane variations.