I just checked the 2016 USA Manual - it's got 3 pages of reading starting with: (your page number will be different)
87 Octane. Now, some would argue that there are gasolines that are better than others. Just my humble opinion, but I avoid all the "no-name" brands. All the big companies are "Top Tier" gas. Cant go wrong with them. I personally use Chevron, because it has Techron cleaning additives. It's only a few cents more. But any top tier gas is good. Edit: Thanks Alan. You posted that as I was posting. Good info.
87 Octane, but with so many people on this forum dealing with intake deposits, I make sure to only buy brands that have been licensed and certified as Top Tier. You will usually pay a few extra cents, but I feel the extra protection is well-worth the price. See Top Tier Detergent Gasoline - Wikipedia
Another plug for Chevron....... I also pour in a separate bottle of Techron, two or three times a year. Yeah, I know, I'm making it too complicated. Just drive it....
Prius are designed to save money on gas... That also means they are designed to run on the cheapest gas... Pretty sure that's on the page in your owner's manual titled "What type of gas should I use?"
I'm a Marathon guy, but that's because our local Shell & BP stores are notoriously bad in this town. I will not hesitate however to hit Wal-Mart if their gas is cheaper. Lately, been buying 15% ethanol - it's about 7-9 cents cheaper per gallon and hasn't seemed to affect my mileage much at all. Apparently Marathon is a Top Tier brand.. hmm
Costco $3.31 Chevron $3.89 I've been paying 58 cents more per gallon? Didn't realize Costco was that much lower, as I'm not a member. So that's a savings of $5.22 on 9 gallons by going to Costco. Five bucks would buy me breakfast at McDonald's. When I drive by the Costco gas station, it's always packed! But not a Prius in sight... I honk and wave... and then duck.
I was noticing a fall-off in mpg, looked for Techron, and apparently it's not available up here. Someone was even speculating it was due to french/english labelling hassles, lol. Anyway, I tried a Canadian Tire Fuel Injector cleaner that was on sale, and it seemed to cause a modest uptick in mpg. The bottle suggests every 3rd or 4th tank, says it has PEA (PolyEtherAmine IIRC). I got it for half-price (($7 CDN), and it's good for about 5~6 doses: MotoMaster F1 Extra-Strength Fuel Injector Cleaner, 473-mL | Canadian Tire That's what we do too, drive on by, and we ARE members. The discount at our Costco is trivial, 4~5 cents a litre, I don't wan't to sit in some gas station zoo for 20 minutes, and I'm brand loyal to Chevron. Like the colour. That's sensible init?
Yes, I don't have the patience for those big crowds at the Costco gas station. I'd rather just pay a few cents more at a less busy station. I just drove by my favorite Chevron. I can't believe how much the prices jumped up. About $.30 per gallon.
Mendel, I'm finding it a little more hard to find the Techron fuel additive, too. I usually get it at Walmart, but I haven't seen it in there in quite a while. But I'm sure there's plenty available online somewhere.
There's some other good names, if you google. Again, look for PEA as an ingredient? I've heard that is very effective, and google never lies, lol. When I shop most anything, I try to go with what's readily available, thinking "the market has spoken". The flip-side: I think good products do occasionally "die on the vine", due to poor distrbution, mismanagement, whatever. I'd really like to get a bottle of the original Old Spice, there's actually a bottle now (finally) saying that, but somehow it doesn't smell the same. Maybe I just can't remember, do not know. Hopefully this isn't another thread derailment....
Notice that this poster does not claim better mileage. In a world were all the mainline suppliers produce the exact same mileage, all of them can make the very same claim. That just means you are visiting the Costco gas station at the wrong time.
I also never shop there. I'm a single man, I don't need that much "stuff." That place is a zoo! I don't want to pay the $60 membership annual fee. But I do occasionally go there and grab some of their pizza, and the $1.50 hot dog special. I'm headed to the Mobil station and buy the synergy gasoline. I just noticed my DTE is down to 62 miles! I forgot to get gas today.
Being single is a perfectly good reason, as the membership fee and item quantities just don't fit your situation. But "zoo" just means one is going at the wrong times. My nearby location is certainly a zoo inside and outside during high demand times, but not full time.
Arco is top tier gas and cheaper. My mileage same with Chevron or Arco. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
