The Types Of Gas A Toyota Sienna Uses (Explained)

In this blog, we do a lot of research on your questions about any specific car. To find the answer, we’ve gone through the history of the Toyota Sienna produced since late 1997. Today we take a look at Toyota Sienna and answer what kind of fuel it requires. Although here’s a quick answer to give you a brief idea of what gas a Toyota Sienna takes:

All generations of the Toyota Sienna, from 1997 to present, are designed to run optimally on regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87. Although higher octane gasoline won’t harm the engines, it offers no additional benefits.

This isn’t the entire story of what gas the Toyota Sienna consumes. Further, we will see what Toyota Sienna’s gasoline requirements, mileage, and tank capacity, among other things, are in this text. Continue reading to learn more about Sienna’s gas intake. Let’s take a look at the Toyota Sienna’s fuel requirements per engine type:

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Fuel Requirements Based On Engine Type

Before diving into the specifics of the Toyota Sienna’s gasoline kinds, it’s helpful to know that there’s an easy way to find out, as this information is also displayed near the car’s fuel cap.

It also shouldn’t be a surprise to find out that like most other Toyota vehicles, from the Prius to the Highlander 87 octane is typically the best fuel type for all generations.

2021 – Present (Hybrid)

The 2021 – Present-day Toyota Sienna comes with a 2.5L hybrid gasoline engine designed to use high-quality unleaded regular gasoline with an octane rating of 87 – 90. The present Sienna’s engine is also optimized for gasoline with octane ratings 91 – 92.

2010 – 2020

The Toyota Sienna 2010 – 2019 came with a 3.5L V6 gasoline engine optimized for the use of high-quality unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87. Premium gasoline is not recommended for this vehicle as it would do no additional benefit over regular gasoline.

However, the Sienna is also compatible with premium gasoline that has an octane rating of 91. 

2003 – 2010

The Toyota Sienna was equipped with a 3.3L V6 gasoline engine designed to run on high-quality unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 from 2003 to 2010 models.

This car does not benefit from premium gasoline; hence it is not advised. The Sienna, on the other hand, can run on premium gasoline with an octane rating of 91.

 1997 – 2003

The Toyota Sienna 1997 – 2003 came with a 3.0L V6 gasoline engine optimized for the usage of high-quality unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87. Premium gasoline is not recommended for this vehicle as it would do no additional benefit over regular gasoline.

What Type Of Gas Does The Sienna Hybrid Use?

The Toyota Sienna Hybrid is designed to run on regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87. Even as a hybrid, it does not require special fuel types like premium or diesel. Its fuel-efficient design optimizes performance with standard gasoline, which is part of what makes this vehicle so popular.

Does The Toyota Sienna Require Premium Fuel?

No, the Toyota Sienna does not require premium fuel. It’s designed to run efficiently on regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87. Using premium fuel won’t necessarily enhance the Sienna’s performance, making it an unnecessary expense for most drivers. It could prevent knocking but there’s no value beyond that and typically not required.

This is typical for Toyota vehicles, which are made with the typical consumer in mind. From larger vehicles like the Toyota Sequoia to smaller vehicles like the Corolla most Toyotas do best with 87 octane.

What Types Of Gasoline Can And Can’t Be Used?

Oxygenated Gasoline Or E85

Only the usage of unleaded gasoline blended with alcohol or MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether), commonly referred to as oxygenated fuels, if the blended mixture fits in the given criteria:

Blends of gasoline and methanol (wood alcohol or methyl alcohol):

• The Anti-Knock Index (AKI) must be 87 or higher.
• The Blend shouldn’t contain more than 3% methanol.
• The Blend should contain more than 2% co-solvents.

Blends of gasoline and ethanol (grain alcohol or ethyl alcohol):

• The Anti-Knock Index (AKI) must be 87 or higher.
• The Blend must contain no more than 15% ethanol.

Blends of gasoline and MTBE:

• The Anti-Knock Index (AKI) must be 87 or higher.
• The Blend must contain no more than 15% MTBE.

Gasoline With Additives

The quality of fuel impacts the performance, efficiency, and the service life of the engine. Therefore, using quality gasoline that the fuel supplier already blends with suitable gasoline additives that do not contain metal.

The additives provide corrosion protection, clean the fuel system, and prevent deposits on the engine. Toyota Recommends TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.

Seasonally Adjusted Gasoline

Many fuels are blended, especially for the winter or for the summer conditions. When seasons change, Toyota suggests that you buy fuel at busy stations where the seasonal adjustment is more likely to be made earlier.

What If Engine Makes A Knocking Sound?

If the engine makes a knocking sound occasionally while driving uphill or accelerating, it is totally normal and nothing to be concerned about, but if the knocking continues, you should take it to the dealership. Heavy knocking could also be caused by using gasoline with a lower octane rating than previously recommended. If this is the case, please stop the vehicle immediately and have a garage look at the car. Continuing to drive with faulty fuel can cause serious damage to the car.

Does Toyota Sienna Have A Good Mileage?

Toyota Sienna was first introduced in 1997. Following its introduction in 1997, it went through several redesigns in 2003, 2010, a redesign in 2020 (for the 2021 model) which made the Sienna a Hybrid vehicle for its fourth generation.

We will be discussing all four generations, the type of gas used in them, and the gradual transformation of the Sienna 2021.

The First Generation

The very first generation of Toyota Sienna (XL10) in late 1997 was front-wheel drive (FWD) with a 3.0-liter V6 engine that delivered 194 hp and a fuel economy of 16 miles-per-gallon (mpg) to 22 mpg depending on city or highway driving.

Engine	Transmission	Combined MPG
3.0L	2WD	19

The Second Generation

The second generation of Toyota Sienna (XL20) was launched in early 2003. It was offered in the traditional FWD and an optional All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) with a 3.3-liter V6 engine that delivered an improved power of 210 hp and gave a fuel economy of 16 mpg 23 mpg depending on the city or highway driving.

Engine	Transmission	Combined MPG
3.0L	2WD	19
3.3L	2WD	19
3.3L	4WD	18

The Third Generation

The third generation of Toyota Sienna (XL30) was offered in FWD. It also came with an optional AWD with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that delivered an incredible power of 266 hp and had a fuel economy of 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway for the FWD variant. It varied to 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway for the AWD variant. The third generation Sienna, and specifically the 2013 and 2016 models, are also our favorite years for the Sienna so far.

Engine	Transmission	Combined MPG
3.5L	2WD	21
3.5L	AWD	20

The Fourth Generation

The fourth generation of the Toyota Sienna (XL40) was launched in November as a 2021 model; it came out as a Hybrid car with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces a power of 245 hp giving out a fuel economy of 36 mpg in combined driving. While this generation of Sienna is solid, there are still a handful of common problems.

Engine	Transmission	Combined MPG
2.5L	2WD	36
2.5L	AWD	35

You get some real-world mpg data for the 2022 Sienna in this video if you’re interested in learning more:

What’s The Gas Tank Size Of A Toyota Sienna?

The 1997 – 2003 Toyota Sienna had a 20.9 gallon (79 liters) tank for gasoline, and the Sienna’s from 2004 up until 202 came with a 20 gallon (75 liters) tank. The 2021 – present-day Hybrid Sienna has an 18 gallon (68 liters) tank.

How Much Does It Cost To Fill Up Toyota Sienna To The Full Capacity?

On average, it would have cost $64.4 to fill the Toyota Sienna up until 2020 as it had been coming with a fuel tank capacity of 20 gallons, and then in the 2021 model, the fuel tank capacity was reduced to 18 gallons, so on an average, it would now cost $57.96.

Filling up the Sienna 2021 would be costliest in Hawaii at $73.92 and cheapest in Arkansas at $51.78 

Closing Thoughts

Regardless of the model year or engine size, the Sienna only needs regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87.

We’ve covered the Sienna’s fuel needs, mileage, tank size, and fuel usage but there’s a lot more to learn about this vehicle, and with the right maintenance you can keep this vehicle on the road well over 200,000 miles. Understanding everything from fuel requirements to common transmission issues will keep you on the road longer- and probably keep you safer too.

We hope this information is helpful and aids in your understanding of the Sienna’s fuel intake. As always, it’s best to check your vehicle’s manual for the most accurate information. Drive safely!

Sources

• Gas Mileage of Sienna   
• State Gas Price Average
• 2017 Toyota Sienna Owner’s manual
• 2021 Toyota Sienna Owner’s manual
• 2019 Toyota Sienna Owner’s manual
• http://www.tsienna.net/fuel_information-412.html