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Old 02-04-2023, 07:20 PM   #1
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2008 4Runner: what octane gas is best?

I tow a Scamp 13 with a 2008 Toyota 4Runner with about 240,000 miles on it. The 4Runner runs pretty well, but I do notice a lack of power, acceleration and maybe some "missing" going up hill. I wonder what sort of advice I could get here regarding the best fuel to use. At a Shell station I often go to there is a choice of regular, premium, or V-power 91 octane. Is there any benefit to paying extra for the higher octane gasoline?
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Old 02-04-2023, 08:30 PM   #2
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Check your owner's manual.
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Old 02-04-2023, 10:21 PM   #3
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The owners manual is a good place to start, but probably not the whole story. It might say 87 octane minimum, 91 octane recommended, for instance. If you are driving at high altitude, 87 might work just as good as 91. And in some areas, 85 octane is offered. So, if your engine is a relatively high performance engine, and you are working it hard, especially at lower altitudes, 91 is a good idea. Since you already notice it missing going up hill, the best thing is to try a higher grade of fuel and see if that fixes it. Higher octane fuel cqn give you more power or better mileage, if the fuel you are using is too low octane. This is because the engine detunes to protect itself if the fuel you are using is too low octane, and therefore is less efficient. Older engines start pinging on low octane, and lose power. Newer engines detune to prevent pinging, and lose power. It is not because high octane fuel has more energy in it. So, again, try a higher octane fuel and test it for yourself while towing uphill. Your engine has a lot of miles on it. Does it need a tuneup?
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Old 02-05-2023, 07:40 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zack sc View Post
I tow a Scamp 13 with a 2008 Toyota 4Runner with about 240,000 miles on it. The 4Runner runs pretty well, but I do notice a lack of power, acceleration and maybe some "missing" going up hill. I wonder what sort of advice I could get here regarding the best fuel to use. At a Shell station I often go to there is a choice of regular, premium, or V-power 91 octane. Is there any benefit to paying extra for the higher octane gasoline?
No advantage to higher octane. Make certain your spark plug wires, spark plugs, e.t.c. are in good shape. Use some good fuel injector cleaner. If nothing improves do a compression test to see if everything is up to specs. Missing while climbing hills is an indication that you may need a valve job which can be detected with the compression test. If all checks out then accept that your vehicle is just getting old.
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Old 02-05-2023, 10:40 AM   #5
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As Bill says working a motor will show it's problems, especially plugs and wires.
I'd play with octane to get an idea then look into the rest, when was the last plug change?
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Old 02-11-2023, 12:32 PM   #6
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Recreational Gas AKA Rec Gas AKA Non Ethonal

Unless your running a high compression ,high reving engine (motors are electric) you do not need to worry about octane. If you have pinging think tuning. Rec Gas is best but expensive. Should be run in generators and lawn equipment at least. Ethonal Rob's power potential from gas at almost the same % it is added to the fuel.
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Old 02-11-2023, 01:39 PM   #7
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I pulled a 13’ Scamp for years with a 2006 4Runner V6. Never used anything but 87 rating, never felt any lack of power, even driving through and over the Rockies many times. If you are experiencing problems, I doubt octane rating is the issue.
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Old 02-12-2023, 09:44 AM   #8
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2008 Fourunner

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Originally Posted by zack sc View Post
I tow a Scamp 13 with a 2008 Toyota 4Runner with about 240,000 miles on it. The 4Runner runs pretty well, but I do notice a lack of power, acceleration and maybe some "missing" going up hill. I wonder what sort of advice I could get here regarding the best fuel to use. At a Shell station I often go to there is a choice of regular, premium, or V-power 91 octane. Is there any benefit to paying extra for the higher octane gasoline?
Hello we have a 2006 Fourunner and Prerunner with the 4 liter V6. If you have the same engine ,your spark plugs need to be replaced every 30,000 miles. Are you will experience power loss and poor fuel economy. Also check with Toyota there was a bulletin out about the fuel pump not providing proper pressure . This happen to my 06 Prerunner. Hopes this helps .
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Old 02-12-2023, 09:49 AM   #9
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Thanks very much. I get the 4Runner serviced regularly; I am going to ask when they last changed the spark plugs and also about the fuel part pressure issue. I really appreciate all the feedback and information here. Some of the roads I travel a lot are pretty dusty and dirty.
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Old 02-12-2023, 12:59 PM   #10
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Toyota

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Originally Posted by zack sc View Post
I tow a Scamp 13 with a 2008 Toyota 4Runner with about 240,000 miles on it. The 4Runner runs pretty well, but I do notice a lack of power, acceleration and maybe some "missing" going up hill. I wonder what sort of advice I could get here regarding the best fuel to use. At a Shell station I often go to there is a choice of regular, premium, or V-power 91 octane. Is there any benefit to paying extra for the higher octane gasoline?
I would not buy premium.Your vehicle is design for Regular fuel 87 octane. I tell you something that I just recently learned about gas. We ride Motorcycles Triumphs and BMW's. They told us not to run Premium ,reason being is that the premium fuel sets in the tank at the gas pumps for a longer amount of time due to the fact that there aren't a lot of vehicles that use premium ,but they have to make it available for those that do. The regular gas gets renewed frequent because that is what most vehicles call for.I also Found ny Toyotas prefer Shell gas they run better and get better fuel economy .The spark plug replacement is a big deal on our 4 liter V6.I dont like having to replace them at 30,000 miles but we been doing it for years. On each one of our Toyotas my Tacoma Prerunner has almost 200,000 miles on it I run Mobil 1 synthetic in it.I pull our 17ft Casita Spirit all in the mountains just got back from Yellowstone but before we went my Toyota mechanic told me about the gas pump issue I left it with him overnight he checked it out and found that it was pumping 20 psi should be around 40 psi. When he replace the fuel pump my gas milage went up and performance. You asked what cause me to have it checked? I was leaving the grocery store buying our groceries for the Casita to head to Yellowstone ,the check engine light came on so I took it to auto zone they said it was a sensors .So I took it to the Toyota mech he confirmed that as well then he told me about the fuel pump bulletin .Im saying all this to let you know I did not set out o replace the pump but dod not want to break down on our roadtrip. Good luck. PS my wife's 2006 fourunner has nearly 175000 miles .
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Old 02-12-2023, 03:14 PM   #11
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if the octane is too low for the engine, you'll most likely experience pinging (crackling) at upper mid RPMs at heavy throttle in hot weather. The 4.0L Toyota V6 used in a 2008 Tacoma, at least, was perfectly happy with regular gas under all conditions, but those same engines in certain lexus configurations had higher compression, higher output, and required premium
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Old 02-16-2023, 08:47 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
if the octane is too low for the engine, you'll most likely experience pinging (crackling) at upper mid RPMs at heavy throttle in hot weather. The 4.0L Toyota V6 used in a 2008 Tacoma, at least, was perfectly happy with regular gas under all conditions, but those same engines in certain lexus configurations had higher compression, higher output, and required premium
Thanks John.
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Old 02-16-2023, 08:48 AM   #13
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Name: zack
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Originally Posted by rdteeler View Post
I would not buy premium.Your vehicle is design for Regular fuel 87 octane. I tell you something that I just recently learned about gas. We ride Motorcycles Triumphs and BMW's. They told us not to run Premium ,reason being is that the premium fuel sets in the tank at the gas pumps for a longer amount of time due to the fact that there aren't a lot of vehicles that use premium ,but they have to make it available for those that do. The regular gas gets renewed frequent because that is what most vehicles call for.I also Found ny Toyotas prefer Shell gas they run better and get better fuel economy .The spark plug replacement is a big deal on our 4 liter V6.I dont like having to replace them at 30,000 miles but we been doing it for years. On each one of our Toyotas my Tacoma Prerunner has almost 200,000 miles on it I run Mobil 1 synthetic in it.I pull our 17ft Casita Spirit all in the mountains just got back from Yellowstone but before we went my Toyota mechanic told me about the gas pump issue I left it with him overnight he checked it out and found that it was pumping 20 psi should be around 40 psi. When he replace the fuel pump my gas milage went up and performance. You asked what cause me to have it checked? I was leaving the grocery store buying our groceries for the Casita to head to Yellowstone ,the check engine light came on so I took it to auto zone they said it was a sensors .So I took it to the Toyota mech he confirmed that as well then he told me about the fuel pump bulletin .Im saying all this to let you know I did not set out o replace the pump but dod not want to break down on our roadtrip. Good luck. PS my wife's 2006 fourunner has nearly 175000 miles .
Thanks Levi.
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