Quote:
Originally Posted by Don R
The other part of the equation is the differential in price between regular and premium. When gas was $2, 91-93 octane was typically $0.20 more or a 10% surcharge over 87 octane. With gas closing in on $4 per gallon, premium is still only typically $0.20 more resulting in a reduced 5% surcharge over regular. Thus the percent cost difference between premium and regular is narrowing considerably as fuel prices rise. This may tip the balance for the premium’s extra fuel efficiency paying off. With a typical 28 MPG for the Highlander, you need to improve fuel mileage with premium over regular by 1.4 MPG to break even. When gas was $2/gallon, A 2.8 MPG improvement was needed to break even.
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Thanks Don,
That was a great reply and largely what I was looking for.
After reading your post I tried running with 91 instead of 87.
I saw an almost immediate, meaningful improvement in mileage.
While before I rarely got over 27 MPG, now I can easily get 31.
To me, I saw clear and convincing evidence that the Hybrid Highlander will run much more efficiently on premium gas.
Some numbers:
Cost of regular gas $3.40
premium premium $0.20
With 87 Octane.
Best mixed mileage 27
Cost of 100 miles = 12.59
Distance per tank = 464.4
With 93 Octane
Best mixed mileage 31
Cost of 100 miles = 11.61
Distance per tank = 533.2
Differences:
Running with 93 Octane at a cost of $3.60/gallon vs 87 at 3.40/gallon
Saved me $.98 every hundred miles and adds an calculate extra 68.8 mile range.
As the saying goes, Your Mileage May Vary.
_Am