Notices
LS - 3rd Gen (2001-2006) Discussion topics related to the flagship Lexus LS430
View Poll Results: Fuel Type?
Regular
26
12.32%
Midgrade
25
11.85%
Premium
160
75.83%
Voters: 211. You may not vote on this poll

The Mother of all LS430 Fuel Threads: Regular, Midgrade, or Premium? (merged)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 4, 2004 | 02:34 PM
  #31  
DaveGS4's Avatar
DaveGS4
Administrator Emeritus
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 31,944
Likes: 2,738
From: North Carolina
Default

Originally posted by ranjankhan
ya, tried searching, but mostly debates, no majority conclusions. Mostly accept GS is not a good gas car, and premium grade gas is a waste.

My other question I am trying to research is how the LS430 gets such better mileage than the GS? I also notice that my car won't 'go' in low gears, unless my foot is on the gas, whereas the LS cruises to a stop, mine is almost fighting to go to the next gear, I guess cause the GS takes advantage of higher RPM to be such a fast car.
All the threads I've read are slanted the other way, with one or two people arguing that cheap fuel is OK and everyone else sticking with Lexus' recommendation of premium fuel. GS is not a fuel efficient car... want that, get a Prius .

Are you comparing your GS400 to your parent's LS430 or some other LS? If you're comparing the GS400 to LS430 they are two different engine versions 1uz vs 3uz.

Interesting that GS430 mileage is 18/23 vs LS430 18/25. I'd suspect gearing in the GS might be taller/more aggressive impacting the highway rating.
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2004 | 03:18 PM
  #32  
airahcaz's Avatar
airahcaz
Instructor
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 956
Likes: 3
From: New Jersey
Default

sorry, 1uz vs 3uz, uz?

Comparing what I know, my 98 GS4 vs his '01 LS430, sick 1 tank of gas to Canada.

And by premium, do you mean 89, or 91+?
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2004 | 03:27 PM
  #33  
DaveGS4's Avatar
DaveGS4
Administrator Emeritus
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 31,944
Likes: 2,738
From: North Carolina
Default

Originally posted by ranjankhan
sorry, 1uz vs 3uz, uz?

Comparing what I know, my 98 GS4 vs his '01 LS430, sick 1 tank of gas to Canada.

And by premium, do you mean 89, or 91+?
1uz is the engine in your GS400, a 4.0 liter v8. the 3uz is the engine in the GS430 and Ls430 which is a more refined version 4.3 liter v8. They are related, but are not the same engine. I shortened the full engine description because my memory is faulty and I can never recall them... 1UZFE or something like that.

Premium is 91+ (depends on your geographic area), not mid grade 89
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2004 | 09:26 PM
  #34  
cutecboy's Avatar
cutecboy
Intermediate
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 404
Likes: 8
From: ca
Default SO BASICALLY?

SO BREAK IT DOWN TO ME I CAN USE 87 IN MY LS400? AND IT WONT HARM NOTHING RIGHT? ITS NOT ABOUT BEING CHEAP.. I DONT DRIVE THE CAR MUCH.. SO NO NEED FOR 91 AND PLUS I DONT EVEN TRY TO RACE OR FULLY THROTTLE THE CAR
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2004 | 07:28 PM
  #35  
cutecboy's Avatar
cutecboy
Intermediate
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 404
Likes: 8
From: ca
Default

LIKE HELLO?
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2004 | 08:40 PM
  #36  
airahcaz's Avatar
airahcaz
Instructor
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 956
Likes: 3
From: New Jersey
Default

Yes
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2004 | 09:57 PM
  #37  
cutecboy's Avatar
cutecboy
Intermediate
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 404
Likes: 8
From: ca
Default

Originally posted by ranjankhan
Yes
OK I WILL USE 87 FROM NOW ON HAHAHAHHA GREAT
Reply
Old Dec 25, 2004 | 06:34 PM
  #38  
lspower's Avatar
lspower
Pole Position
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 370
Likes: 1
From: Pennsylvania
Default

no offence man but ur not driving a ford focus here? 87oct/ 89oct???? come on man ur driving a ls430 its what a WHOLE wopping 3 dollars more for a fillup?
i have a 90 ls400 and i NEVER use anything less then 93octane yeah i guess it sucks using premium but i knew that before i bought the car so i dont even notice really.
JUST USE 93 u can afford it if u have a 03 ls430 u can cough up the extra 3$ per fillup
Reply
ClubLexus Stories

Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe

story-0

Toyota and Lexus Join Mille Miglia For The First Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Lexus NX 350h: A Fuel-Sipping Secret Hot Hatch???

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

5 Best & 5 Worst Lexus Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Top 5 Hottest Lexus & Toyotas in 2026 (Hardest To Buy)

 Brett Foote
story-4

2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Review: The Last of Its Kind Still Rocks

 Michael S. Palmer
story-5

Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Dec 25, 2004 | 11:55 PM
  #39  
OneOfOne's Avatar
OneOfOne
Lead Lap
20 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 770
Likes: 2
From: Massachusetts
Default

this is pretty stupid. where I live the difference between 91 and 93 octane is usually 2 cents. most often i am putting around 16 or 18 gallons in my tank, 2 times a month. there is no reason to put less than 91 octane in the car. you bought a 60 thousand dollar car and are trying to save 2 dollars per fill up you arent just cheap. youre not very smart. 87 octane is insane and the 14 cents a gallon difference between 89 and 91 octane is about 1.40 the way you fill up. jeez.
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2004 | 02:43 AM
  #40  
GRAND_LS 4's Avatar
GRAND_LS 4
3UZ-FEEEE
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,253
Likes: 20
From: Northern VA
Default

Originally Posted by digital_b
this is pretty stupid. where I live the difference between 91 and 93 octane is usually 2 cents. most often i am putting around 16 or 18 gallons in my tank, 2 times a month. there is no reason to put less than 91 octane in the car. you bought a 60 thousand dollar car and are trying to save 2 dollars per fill up you arent just cheap. youre not very smart. 87 octane is insane and the 14 cents a gallon difference between 89 and 91 octane is about 1.40 the way you fill up. jeez.
Then you have people who drive 10 miles to get cheaper gas.... which defeates the whole purpose. I rather pay $10 EXTRA bucs if it meant not driving that 10miles. But to each thier own I guess. I know one guy who would run after 10 cents in a fill up, but wastes hundreds of dollars on crappy video games, and stuff from Ebay he doesnt need. If your reading this message boy, you know who you are!!!!

I dont mean to crack on daryll40, because he was just asking a question.

Last edited by GRAND_LS 4; Dec 26, 2004 at 02:44 AM.
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2004 | 10:59 AM
  #41  
Mandingo's Avatar
Mandingo
Driver
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
From: Washington
Default

Guys, get over yourselves. I used to live in the UK where gas prices now top out at over four pounds a gallon:-

http://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/fuel/

That works out at $8 a gallon. To fill up an LS430 that would be almost $200.

Here's a direct comparison:-

http://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/fuel/motfue001.html

UK pays 90.3 pence per liter, US is 28 pence per liter.

LS430 is $120,000 equivalent there too.

How do you feel now?
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2004 | 02:57 PM
  #42  
RA40's Avatar
RA40
CL Community Team
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 20,927
Likes: 517
From: California
Default

Here are the mileage figures for mine with the different grades in a best case scenario:

91- 28 MPG
89- 24 MPG
87- 21 MPG

This was done on several trips over the same stretch of 5 FWY running the length of CA. The price is relative to what I got in perfomance and mileage. On that 2K trip, the difference adds up. Stopping to get gas at an isolated station where the prices are jacked, it is nice to just keep on driving.
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2004 | 07:21 PM
  #43  
MikeC4w's Avatar
MikeC4w
Driver School Candidate
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: New York
Default

Trade that baby in on an old Yugo................
or just get a grip & fill it up with high test & get on with your life......
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2004 | 01:37 AM
  #44  
rominl's Avatar
rominl
exclusive matchup
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 81,915
Likes: 512
From: Lovely OC
Default

hey guys, easy.... the guy was asking a question, you may disagree with him (i do), but you can put it nicely...

imho, i wouldn't even consider 89. if you do the math, between 89 and 91, maybe you end up paying about 100 to 150 bucks more each year... i think that's insignificant enough, considering that you paid like 60k for the car
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2005 | 10:30 PM
  #45  
stephenkyu's Avatar
stephenkyu
Driver School Candidate
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: California
Default

Personally, I don't want to spend unnecessary money on gasoline, but I still put in premium every single time.

Why? Well, in the unlikely event that the knock sensor fails, I don't want detonation occuring in my engine. Sure, it will retard timing when it is working properly, but what if it doesn't? The cost of the higher grade gasoline is not all that more expensive, and I like to think I am buying a little cheap insurance with each fillup.

Plus, premium gasoline has more detergents, which should help keep the engine cleaner.

On a less serious note, removing the hood and rear doors would probably be detrimental to the fuel economy. It would cause more drag. I suggest replacing the hood with one made of carbon fiber. Then stripping out the passenger seat and the rear seat. Furthermore, I believe that you may want to consider tossing out the door mats, removing the interior panels, stripping out the insulation, and ripping out all of the carpeting. Replacing the driver seat with a race seat might also cut a few pounds.
Reply



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:49 PM.

story-0
Toyota and Lexus Join Mille Miglia For The First Time

Slideshow: A five-car lineup spanning more than five decades of Toyota performance and engineering will tackle one of Italy's most celebrated automotive routes.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-15 16:53:16


VIEW MORE
story-1
Lexus NX 350h: A Fuel-Sipping Secret Hot Hatch???

Slideshow: a quick review of the 2026 Lexus NX 350h F Sport Handling

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-15 15:25:34


VIEW MORE
story-2
5 Best & 5 Worst Lexus Daily Drivers

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Lexus daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 11:14:58


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 5 Hottest Lexus & Toyotas in 2026 (Hardest To Buy)

These five Lexus and Toyota models are the most sought-after on the market right now.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-15 10:47:52


VIEW MORE
story-4
2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Review: The Last of Its Kind Still Rocks

Slideshow: the 2026 IS 350 isn't all that new, and that's why we love it!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-04 14:35:23


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!

Slideshow: 10 most confusing things Lexus has ever done.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-04 09:40:55


VIEW MORE
story-6
2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles

Slideshow: Our First-Drive Review of the 2026 Lexus ES!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-29 20:30:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4

Slideshow: 10 Lexus bargain that are cheaper than a new Toyota.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 10:28:20


VIEW MORE
story-8
8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built

Slideshow: From hoverboards to luxury yachts, these are the strangest projects Lexus has ever attached its badge to.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-16 11:34:36


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Some luxury cars chase trends, but these Lexus models look better now than they did when they first rolled into showrooms.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-06 17:58:29


VIEW MORE