I just found on page 679 of the manual, toyota says "Toyota strongly recommends the use of Top Tier Detergent Gasoline. " Kroger gas is not on top tier list, so is it good enough for rav4 hybrid?
Is Kroger gas good enough for RAV4 Hybrid?
harbin
21 - 40 of 109 Posts
Just a general comment. For what its worth, I have witnessed a worker at Costco pouring top tier additives into the underground tanks when they get deliveries. I don't know the ratios but Costco states they put 5 times the EPA detergent requirements.
NC '19 Rav4 Hybrid Limited, Entune 3.0, Adaptive Headlights, Advanced Technology Package
Joined
·
3,262 Posts
Been a member for probably 20+ years, back to when it was Price Club. Never used their gas. Never see the price advantage. Need anything special beyond a Costco card and a Visa card?
95% of my fuel-ups are Murphy Mart.
Joined
·
686 Posts
The carbon buildup occurs because the gasoline is not sprayed on the back of the valve in GDI engines, therefore there is no chance for the detergent to clean anything off the back of the valves.
Top Tier is 20% science 80% marketing.
Yeah, I know. Thats why Toyota is attempting using port injection within so many injector cycles to get backside valve wash.
People can put whatever they want in. But when you have a top tier on one corner and something else on the others...why mess with it?
The reason the question is asked is that often times I have dollar off points that I can use at kroger pump. Higher concentrations of detergent found in Top Tier gas may only bring minimal effect on engine life, and I could always add in my own cleaner bought from online.
Having studied this for many years, I agree 100%. I have one of Toyota's first GDI engines in my 2006 IS250 and been concerned about carbon build up shortly after I bought it.
The key thing people forget is your point that the fuel quality has very little (if anything) to do with carbon build on the back sides of the valves. The detergent has no chance to wash the valves because it doesn't flow over them. So the comments here about this being GDI, have really no impact on the type of fuel.
Kudos to Toyota for moving to both DI and Port Injection.
Joined
·
881 Posts
You'll bought ( or Leased )
a $30-$40K car.
Now your going to put cheap, dollar store gas in it
Not me, thanks. I like Sunoco ( fuel of Nascar ) or Mobile....
With the great MPG it gets, we are talking about a few extra $ dollars $$
I'll go with Top - Tier
( I paid cash for my Limited, Blizzard pearl, I will keep it for 10-15 years)
a $30-$40K car.
Now your going to put cheap, dollar store gas in it
Not me, thanks. I like Sunoco ( fuel of Nascar ) or Mobile....
With the great MPG it gets, we are talking about a few extra $ dollars $$
I'll go with Top - Tier
( I paid cash for my Limited, Blizzard pearl, I will keep it for 10-15 years
)
NC '19 Rav4 Hybrid Limited, Entune 3.0, Adaptive Headlights, Advanced Technology Package
Joined
·
3,262 Posts
Your dealer may insist on putting the equivalent of Techron at some service visits. Which doesn't mean you can't insist right back they not use the additives.
I haven't use additives in my last few cars other than Stabil for a car I stored over the winter.
I haven't use additives in my last few cars other than Stabil for a car I stored over the winter.
Joined
·
686 Posts
I also can not think of a car I have ever owned that had the engine as the weak link. By the time the engine was ready to give up the ghost everything else had given up 2 or 3 times already.
Everyone fears engine problems, I don't. I fear transmission problems.
well, I just refilled my first tank of gas at kroger, I still have a DTE of 98 miles, the dealer filled it up before I drove it out last week.
I used the fastest flow and clicked off at 8.987 gallon. The gauge needle is at the F and a little bit above. My calculation pointed at 47.29mpg. Is this possible? I am kind of scared, it doesn't feel right...the car MID tells of a 41.7mpg.
I used the fastest flow and clicked off at 8.987 gallon. The gauge needle is at the F and a little bit above. My calculation pointed at 47.29mpg. Is this possible? I am kind of scared, it doesn't feel right...the car MID tells of a 41.7mpg.
Joined
·
1,302 Posts
Top tier study by AAA / posted by consumer reports:
www.consumerreports.org
Top Tier Gasoline Is Worth the Extra Price, Study Shows - Consumer Reports
Top Tier gas is worth the extra cost, per a study by AAA. CR lists car brands that recommend Top Tier gasoline and gas stations where you can buy Top Tier gas.
Joined
·
2,364 Posts
It's all BS with top tier... been using cheapest gas i could find or whatever is convenient for all my 15 cars in over 20 years and never had issues that would result in using cheap gas.
Joined
·
772 Posts
When you picked up the car from the dealer, was the fuel gauge needle well past the Full mark? Your first refuel of 8.987 gallons probably didn’t get it as full as the dealer’s first fueling. So your hand-calculated MPG is a little off. The car’s computed 41.7 MPG is probably accurate, based on the amount of fuel you actually used, which is more than the amount of fuel you added at the refuel.
I think you are right, although I remember that the needle was a tiny bit above F line when I picked up, just like tonight, definitely not "well above". The DTE was 515 miles last time. Today after filling it up, the DTE is 507 miles. So 14.5-(507/41.6)=2.3 gallon, it looks that this number matches the stated reserve capacity very well.
Another thought, I don't have the refill/tank issue???
Joined
·
109 Posts
Meh...
Joined
·
2,275 Posts
Same tank farm...yes. It is what goes in the tanker truck's tank that is different The point is that Top Tier fuel has more detergent additives that are added to the tanker based on the particular brand of gasoline. I believe that AAA and consumer reports also recommend Top Tier gas. I always use Top Tier in my cars and motorcycles.
Top Tier Gasoline Is Worth the Extra Price, Study Shows - Consumer Reports
Top Tier gas is worth the extra cost, per a study by AAA. CR lists car brands that recommend Top Tier gasoline and gas stations where you can buy Top Tier gas.
Joined
·
1,739 Posts
Do not assume that the gas “mix” is exactly the same just because the base gas is from the same tank. Additives are often mixed in when filling the tanker trucks. Truck driver swipes a specific card at the pump and the “recipe” is mixed in as it goes into the truck.
21 - 40 of 109 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
