2024 Toyota Tacoma engine noise reduction with premium fuel

[SnowmanJPS]

Hy bud you're supposed to running premium in Suby turbo'd engines. I have an STi and an Outback XT. Just being safe and hoping to help.

It’s not required on my 2022, I choose to run premium, especially on a turbo engine

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[hoodouken]

It’s not required on my 2022, I choose to run premium, especially on a turbo engine

I get you - it says you don't have to on the Outback but it's the same engine in the WRX. Been friends with a Suby mechanic for almost 20 years and says if you plan on keeping it, run 91/93.
Cheers!

 

[Goriders]

I run 93. There is a noticeable difference. Oil and Gas same thread. Let the battle of opinions and flexing of knowledge begin!

There’s no lack of that on the internet.

 

[JustDSM]

Hello Tacoma4G!

I almost made a new thread on this topic, but I thought we'd chime in with some data and observations we've made on our newly acquired 2024 Tacoma. When we picked up our truck from the dealer, they were kind enough to top it off with Utah's finest 85 Octane.

The vehicle's initial testing and evaluation took place with fuel provided, and the motor was quite audible. While conducting data for later analysis on a specific mountain route, we could see the ECU registering the knock events as we heard audible pinging.

To run the last 1/4 tank of 85 Octane fuel out of the truck, we scheduled some dyno time for baseline testing. Immediately following our dyno session, we filled the truck up with some quality 91 octane fuel, and the motor instantly became much quieter. It's still a noisy thing (IMO), but it's tolerable on 91 Octane. The long term knock learning trims were more favorable on the 91 Octane fuel too. Fast forward a week or so later, we strapped the truck back down for some further testing and development The results are quite shocking, to say the least. 85 Octane vs. 91 Octane on the stock calibration:

 

[CuriousTaco]

Here I was being happy to finally not have a vehicle requiring premium fuel.. now I have to go try a tank of it for shits and giggles.

 

[Deleted User 1813921]

Is it possible for a stubborn old dog to learn new tricks?

 

[Rocko]

Hello Tacoma4G!

I almost made a new thread on this topic, but I thought we'd chime in with some data and observations we've made on our newly acquired 2024 Tacoma. When we picked up our truck from the dealer, they were kind enough to top it off with Utah's finest 85 Octane.

The vehicle's initial testing and evaluation took place with fuel provided, and the motor was quite audible. While conducting data for later analysis on a specific mountain route, we could see the ECU registering the knock events as we heard audible pinging.

To run the last 1/4 tank of 85 Octane fuel out of the truck, we scheduled some dyno time for baseline testing. Immediately following our dyno session, we filled the truck up with some quality 91 octane fuel, and the motor instantly became much quieter. It's still a noisy thing (IMO), but it's tolerable on 91 Octane. The long term knock learning trims were more favorable on the 91 Octane fuel too. Fast forward a week or so later, we strapped the truck back down for some further testing and development The results are quite shocking, to say the least. 85 Octane vs. 91 Octane on the stock calibration:

Omg, that is nuts. thanks guys for posting that for us.

 

[Baltimore]

Omg, that is nuts. thanks guys for posting that for us.

For those of us without as many gas options, and for clarity of the data; are these octnes on 10% ethanol blend? Or pure?

It's damn near impossible for me to find unblended in Maryland these days

Would love to see these tests - performance and sound/knock on 87 vs 91; 10% ethanol and pure. I'm suspecting no difference in mpg though for the ~75c/gal price difference

 

[JustDSM]

The above tests were done with pump gas from the same Shell station, which has the common "Fuel contains up to 10% Ethanol content" label.

 

[Cabby30]

I’ve been running 89 the entire 7500 miles I have on my truck and I’m glad to see that there is some marginal benefit…

 

[MT-Taco]

Hello Tacoma4G!

I almost made a new thread on this topic, but I thought we'd chime in with some data and observations we've made on our newly acquired 2024 Tacoma. When we picked up our truck from the dealer, they were kind enough to top it off with Utah's finest 85 Octane.

The vehicle's initial testing and evaluation took place with fuel provided, and the motor was quite audible. While conducting data for later analysis on a specific mountain route, we could see the ECU registering the knock events as we heard audible pinging.

To run the last 1/4 tank of 85 Octane fuel out of the truck, we scheduled some dyno time for baseline testing. Immediately following our dyno session, we filled the truck up with some quality 91 octane fuel, and the motor instantly became much quieter. It's still a noisy thing (IMO), but it's tolerable on 91 Octane. The long term knock learning trims were more favorable on the 91 Octane fuel too. Fast forward a week or so later, we strapped the truck back down for some further testing and development The results are quite shocking, to say the least. 85 Octane vs. 91 Octane on the stock calibration:

Proof is in the pudding! Thanks OTT! Since day 1 I’ve been using premium, and ethanol free whenever possible.

Edit: Every tank hand calculated has been above 20mpg except when towing. I’m guessing the higher octane may help mpg as well?

 

[Baltimore]

I've very curious if the higher octane only translates to higher MPG, which could be more justifiable (palatable) than only for engine noise/knocking and a but of a HP/torque increase (for those of us that are not trying to tax the limited on HP or torque on a daily basis)

 

[JustDSM]

I've very curious if the higher octane only translates to higher MPG, which could be more justifiable (palatable) than only for engine noise/knocking and a but of a HP/torque increase (for those of us that are not trying to tax the limited on HP or torque on a daily basis)

*Generally speaking* here, the way Toyota's ignition/knock control strategy aims to keep the engine as advanced as possible on a given fuel, the ECU will generally run more ignition advance and remove any knock based fueling enrichment when using favorable (higher octane) fuels. This will often lead to better economy when using premium fuels.

It's important to keep in mind that the knock control and ignition advance strategy don't necessarily care what the number on the pump indicates. It's going to respond to the actual threshold of knock on that particular fuel blend, 91 ≠ 91 in all cases. Fresh, quality fuel from a high-volume/top-tier station will generally have the best results.

If the juice is worth the squeeze is up to the end user.

 

[UndergroundTaco]

*Generally speaking* here, the way Toyota's ignition/knock control strategy aims to keep the engine as advanced as possible on a given fuel, the ECU will generally run more ignition advance and remove any knock based fueling enrichment when using favorable (higher octane) fuels. This will often lead to better economy when using premium fuels.

It's important to keep in mind that the knock control and ignition advance strategy don't necessarily care what the number on the pump indicates. It's going to respond to the actual threshold of knock on that particular fuel blend, 91 ≠ 91 in all cases. Fresh, quality fuel from a high-volume/top-tier station will generally have the best results.

If the juice is worth the squeeze is up to the end user.

It’s good to know this wasn’t just my imagination. MPG is up around 1 MPG or so. That alone would not be a reason to use premium top tier fuel but the noise and virtually no auditable pinging (I have never read the ECU to see if anything registered) I feel it’s worth it.

 

[TacoFreak]

That is interesting and thanks for the posts @JustDSM. I have always followed minimun manufacturer octane ratings, but it is hard to argue with this solid data.

I understand the potential gains of running higher octane in a turbo engine, but the improvement that you show surprises me. Toyota makes a lot of ICE and hybrids, so I guess they push economy to the limit by running so advanced. It is interesting that we can directly affect how this complex system works just by what we put in our tanks.

Hopefully you are getting paid by big oil, because now I am going to have to try it too.

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