Premium vs. Regular?
#3
Re: Premium vs. Regular?
There is slightly more energy content in regular gasoline, and the Prius is not designed (from what I've read) to take advantage of higher octane fuels, so generally it's best to stick with regular.
Most cars will get improved torque so you can get up hills a little easier or dart off the line a bit faster, but the Prius provides most of that torque from the large electric motor that is unaffected by the octane of the fuel.
Most cars will get improved torque so you can get up hills a little easier or dart off the line a bit faster, but the Prius provides most of that torque from the large electric motor that is unaffected by the octane of the fuel.
#4
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Re: Premium vs. Regular?
I would use what is recommended. The engines are already tuned and set up for economy rather than performance. High octane is not needed for computer controled cars except in cases where maximum performance (max hp) is required.
#5
Re: Premium vs. Regular?
Originally Posted by PackerlandPrius
Does anyone use more (or only) premium than regular gasoline? Do you notice better performance or gas mileage? I drive mostly highway (65% or more).
good luck
#8
Re: Premium vs. Regular?
***Follow Up:***
I filled up this last tank with Premium. I drive almost exactly the same route and amout every week. I found that I LOST nearly 2 miles mpg. I went from an average of 52.3 mpg the last 3 weeks to 50.1 this last time. The driving conditions were the same and were similar highway and city as with the regular gas.
I'll be sticking with regular.
I filled up this last tank with Premium. I drive almost exactly the same route and amout every week. I found that I LOST nearly 2 miles mpg. I went from an average of 52.3 mpg the last 3 weeks to 50.1 this last time. The driving conditions were the same and were similar highway and city as with the regular gas.
I'll be sticking with regular.
#9
Re: Premium vs. Regular?
As someone previously noted, when a car's engine fuel management system is designed to run on regular, premium will not help. The computer will actually retard the spark to cancel out the faster combustion of the higher octane fuel.
#10
Re: Premium vs. Regular?
Originally Posted by PackerlandPrius
. . .
I filled up this last tank with Premium. I drive almost exactly the same route and amout every week. I found that I LOST nearly 2 miles mpg. I went from an average of 52.3 mpg the last 3 weeks to 50.1 this last time. The driving conditions were the same and were similar highway and city as with the regular gas.
I'll be sticking with regular.
I filled up this last tank with Premium. I drive almost exactly the same route and amout every week. I found that I LOST nearly 2 miles mpg. I went from an average of 52.3 mpg the last 3 weeks to 50.1 this last time. The driving conditions were the same and were similar highway and city as with the regular gas.
I'll be sticking with regular.
The Atkinson cycle keeps the intake valve open during part of the compression cycle. This reduces the 'charge' and the compression ratio to 8-to-1. Reducing the compression saves the energy needed to compress the fuel-air mixture as well as reducing the fuel octane requirement. After the fuel-air mixture burns, the hot gases have a 13-to-1 expansion ratio. This provides the power stroke energy.
Bob Wilson