View Poll Results: Regular, Mid-Grade, or Premium?
Regular
4
10.00%
Mid-Grade
0
0%
Premium
36
90.00%
Voters: 40. You may not vote on this poll
Gas: Premium vs. Regular advantages, disadvantages (merged threads)
Driver
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Texas
the LS says premium gas only. i would not go against that. i doubt Lexus would put it on the car if there was no reason for it.
a better question is which is better, Chevron supreme or the new Shell V-Power.
a better question is which is better, Chevron supreme or the new Shell V-Power.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 414
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Rookie
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 74
Likes: 1
From: NC
Chevron, Shell, BP- the octane IMHO isnt as critical as the impurities issues. There are differences, but not noticable for everyday driving. I can tell you before I became an impurity beleiver as well, in my LS400 I ran whatever was inexpensive and drove that car for 190,000 miles with no engine related issues.
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 602
Likes: 0
From: Florida
I run regular gas in my GX. No problems in 85K miles. I do only run premium gas in the LS600hL, however.
I read somewhere that if the car says premium gas required, you should use premium only, but if it says Premium gas recommended you can use anything.
I've also heard the MPG argument. Didn't someone on the forum do a prolonged test with both looking at MPG?
I read somewhere that if the car says premium gas required, you should use premium only, but if it says Premium gas recommended you can use anything.
I've also heard the MPG argument. Didn't someone on the forum do a prolonged test with both looking at MPG?
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
Lexus NX 350h: A Fuel-Sipping Secret Hot Hatch???
Michael S. Palmer
5 Best & 5 Worst Lexus Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
Top 5 Hottest Lexus & Toyotas in 2026 (Hardest To Buy)
Brett Foote
2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Review: The Last of Its Kind Still Rocks
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles
Michael S. Palmer
10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4
Joe Kucinski
8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 333
Likes: 11
From: USAF
Today's engine management systems can easily run any grade of gasoline without knock (even towing a 2000 lb. trailer going uphill). You can run regular gasoline without any adverse affects to your engine.
However, you will experience slightly less mpg (although not nearly enough to offset the 20 to 30 cent a gallon savings of regular over high test), and your performance will be slightly less than optimal (although not enough to notice unless you are using a stop watch calibrated in hundredths of a second).
I have a 1995 Infiniti Q45a that has had nothing but regular gas since 1998. The car has 171,000 miles on it and the engine runs like new. Once in a great while I fill it with 94 octane. I can't tell any significant difference in gas mileage nor power.
BTW, while we're at it, I use synthethic oil and change it and the filter religiously every 10,000 miles, whether it needs it or not!
However, you will experience slightly less mpg (although not nearly enough to offset the 20 to 30 cent a gallon savings of regular over high test), and your performance will be slightly less than optimal (although not enough to notice unless you are using a stop watch calibrated in hundredths of a second).
I have a 1995 Infiniti Q45a that has had nothing but regular gas since 1998. The car has 171,000 miles on it and the engine runs like new. Once in a great while I fill it with 94 octane. I can't tell any significant difference in gas mileage nor power.
BTW, while we're at it, I use synthethic oil and change it and the filter religiously every 10,000 miles, whether it needs it or not!
PS
I average 19.8 MPG with my LS600.
CL Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,265
Likes: 482
From: MA
a better question is which is better, Chevron supreme or the new Shell V-Power
I can't say specifically if there is any difference between these two, but for most brands there is absolutely no difference. All gasoline in the US is refined in either Texas or Louisiana (and maybe a little in CA and a couple other states). Once its refined by any refiner, its fed into a pipeline for transport to various fuel terminals around the country. All refiners use the same pipelines. Once it comes out of the pipeline at the other end, no refiner knows it was their gas they put in at the other end.
For example, Chevron puts 500,000 gallons of 89 octane into the pipeline in Louisiana and at the same time Shell puts in 700,000 gallons of 89 octane. When the gas reaches Philadelphia, neither company knows which gas they actually put in. All they know is 500,000 gallons goes to Chevron and 700,000 goes to Shell. And since Shell has too much, they sell off 300,000 gallons to Costco, Al's Discount Gas and any other off brand station who will buy it.
Now what can happen is when Shell claims the gas and puts it in their storage tanks in Phil., then may put their own additives in. If they do though, its also in Costco's and Al's brands as well. Now of course if Al decides to add water to his gas, its not going to run as well in your car!
I can't say specifically if there is any difference between these two, but for most brands there is absolutely no difference. All gasoline in the US is refined in either Texas or Louisiana (and maybe a little in CA and a couple other states). Once its refined by any refiner, its fed into a pipeline for transport to various fuel terminals around the country. All refiners use the same pipelines. Once it comes out of the pipeline at the other end, no refiner knows it was their gas they put in at the other end.
For example, Chevron puts 500,000 gallons of 89 octane into the pipeline in Louisiana and at the same time Shell puts in 700,000 gallons of 89 octane. When the gas reaches Philadelphia, neither company knows which gas they actually put in. All they know is 500,000 gallons goes to Chevron and 700,000 goes to Shell. And since Shell has too much, they sell off 300,000 gallons to Costco, Al's Discount Gas and any other off brand station who will buy it.
Now what can happen is when Shell claims the gas and puts it in their storage tanks in Phil., then may put their own additives in. If they do though, its also in Costco's and Al's brands as well. Now of course if Al decides to add water to his gas, its not going to run as well in your car!
Last edited by Nospinzone; Sep 28, 2009 at 07:44 PM.
I don't own a ls400, but i always run 93 in my es300, and i know for a fact the engine performs differently even though the owners manual suggests only 87, my gas mileage has also gone up 2 mpg, this is without question. All i know is that my car runs very badly on bj's and sam's club gas i don't know why. I have been using sunoco gas lately and it is a 2001 with 120k averaging 25 mpg
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,730
Likes: 26
From: Sakon Nakhon
Same here; Costco Poco sells 91 RON, and I recall the Bellingham Costco sells 92. But 91 is just fine, no knocks whatsoever. I've run 87 regular on a few occasions, and didn't really notice a difference, so it must be subtler than I can detect anyway...
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: NC
I would never run regular on an LS460. It has never made sense to me why one would spend over $50K to buy a fine automobile, only to run it on regular so as to save approx 20 cents a gallon.
Here's my logic:
For the sake of argument, let's say it takes about 18 gallons to fill up your tank when close to empty.
In most locations, difference between premium and regular is 20 cents a gallon. Thus, if you fill it up using regular gas, you will be saving (18 X $.20) which is $3.60 per fill up.
OK, let's say you fill up about once per week, that's $3.60/week, which equates to $14.40/month, which equates to about $172.80 per year.
Now comes the million dollar question, is it worth ruining the finesse of a LS460 in order to save approx. $200/year?
Surely, the engineers at Toyota did not just sit one day and decide to invonvenience us by requiring premium grade fuel....Or, did they?
Here's my logic:
For the sake of argument, let's say it takes about 18 gallons to fill up your tank when close to empty.
In most locations, difference between premium and regular is 20 cents a gallon. Thus, if you fill it up using regular gas, you will be saving (18 X $.20) which is $3.60 per fill up.
OK, let's say you fill up about once per week, that's $3.60/week, which equates to $14.40/month, which equates to about $172.80 per year.
Now comes the million dollar question, is it worth ruining the finesse of a LS460 in order to save approx. $200/year?
Surely, the engineers at Toyota did not just sit one day and decide to invonvenience us by requiring premium grade fuel....Or, did they?