ES - 1st to 4th Gen (1990-2006) Forum for all 1990 - 2006 ES300 and ES330 models. ES250 topics go here as well.

Premium, middle grade or regular? (merged threads)

Old 08-12-02, 04:48 AM
  #1  
fallabel
Rookie
Thread Starter
 
fallabel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Premium, middle grade or regular? (merged threads)

I always put Sunoco Ultra 94 in my 1995 es 300. One of my friends who drives an alero said that he did the same, until a mechanic told him its bad for the engine. is this true? he said he get better gas mileage now that he switched to 89 octane. i really don't care what gas costs, i just do whatever's best for the lex. i know that the manual says "at least 87", but is it still ok to put 94 in?
Old 08-12-02, 06:22 AM
  #2  
ShowGSLuVv
Lexus Test Driver
 
ShowGSLuVv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Well from what I've read on here about Octane boosters and whatever, heres the deal, if ur friend is saying that he gets better gas mileage by using 87, he is more than likely just looking at how much he's spending on gas, and of course cheaper gas gonna be cheaper but to say that Higher Octane gas is bad for the car, thats pretty stupid too, I mean it'll only give u so much performance gain, if ur cars engine is only built to go up to say 91 octane, then using 94 octane won't do anything different, it wont hurt but it's not gonna give u any more power, But higher octane gas burns cleaner and more efficent and will , and dont quote me on this, but keep ur engine cleaner inside rather then using cheap gas and getting all the clogged fuel injectors or carbon deposits, if u wanna be on the safe side use some Fuel system cleaners, use the one with TECHRON and use it probably every 3-5 thousand miles, dont use it too much though cuz I read somewhere on here that it could mess up some seals in the engine, not sure which one's but any one won't be good, lol

ShOwGS
Old 08-12-02, 08:59 AM
  #3  
BAWLEX94
Lead Lap
 
BAWLEX94's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

wait.....i thought that the ES required at least 91 Octane fuel.....someone just mentioned that you must have at least 87 octane in it.....so which is it??
Old 08-12-02, 10:45 AM
  #4  
squarehat
Lexus Test Driver
 
squarehat's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Ohio, USA
Posts: 1,472
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

The owner's manual for my '96 says to use 87 or higher. I use 89, and put some Techron in every 3000 miles, and it runs very well.
Old 08-12-02, 11:11 AM
  #5  
mcelligott
Lexus Champion
 
mcelligott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,611
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

My 1992 ES3 manual says to use 91...
Old 08-12-02, 12:53 PM
  #6  
bizarreRide
Driver
 
bizarreRide's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I'm pretty sure my 98 manual says 91 octane as well...

bR
Old 08-12-02, 12:56 PM
  #7  
blux
Pole Position
 
blux's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I thought mine said 87..
Old 08-12-02, 04:20 PM
  #8  
r4z0r3ck
Lead Lap
 
r4z0r3ck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: CA
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Minimum requirement of 89 and for better performance 91. Anything above 91 is a waste of money cuz I dont think it will respond the same as the 91.
Old 08-12-02, 05:19 PM
  #9  
EGainer
Lexus Champion
 
EGainer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

mine says use 91, but here we have 87, 89, and 93 so i use 93
Old 08-13-02, 07:13 PM
  #10  
CPerez100
Lexus Test Driver
 
CPerez100's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Blux: I like your banner

COOL
Old 08-15-02, 12:00 PM
  #11  
blux
Pole Position
 
blux's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

haha, thanks man. just made it up the other day! =)
Old 08-15-02, 02:49 PM
  #12  
SDSC300
Lead Lap
 
SDSC300's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: CA - San Deigo
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

no 94 octane won't hurt your motor .. but it won't get you anymore hp either.

but you can use 87 if you want if won't hurt your motor either ... tons of people with Camry's do it and are good for 250k+ miles easy.

octane has to to do with detonation, the higher the number the more compression it can take before spontaneously igniting.
buying high octane is prob just a waist of money is this case.

does anyone think that Lexus would sell a luxury car that they say doesn't take premium .. I don't think so ... when people buy luxury they expect to buy premium fuel .. otherwise they might thing something is Wrong.
Old 08-15-02, 03:15 PM
  #13  
BAWLEX94
Lead Lap
 
BAWLEX94's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

i saw a special on Good Morning AMerica several months ago and they basically said that buying a higher octane for any car is a complete waste of money....they had all these studies taken.....i would bet that they are right.........and to me, i would by premium gas if it really does matter....but i';d rather save a little money if im not getting anything out of it
Old 08-15-02, 04:11 PM
  #14  
kreativ
Advanced
 
kreativ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: California
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally posted by SDSC300
but you can use 87 if you want if won't hurt your motor either ... tons of people with Camry's do it and are good for 250k+ miles easy.
The V6 Camry owner's manual specifies the use of regular unleaded. Value-oriented buyers don't want to have to buy premium fuel.

The V6 Camry and ES use the same engine, but the ES has VVT-i and is tuned for more power (or, you could say the Camry V6 was detuned). I'm assuming the almost 20HP more is at least partly dependant on the use of 91 octane fuel.

does anyone think that Lexus would sell a luxury car that they say doesn't take premium .. I don't think so ... when people buy luxury they expect to buy premium fuel .. otherwise they might thing something is Wrong.
Good point. Although didn't previous ES owner's manual specify 87 octane?
Old 08-15-02, 04:29 PM
  #15  
blux
Pole Position
 
blux's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

does using a higher octane fuel really boost your power that much? I'm thinking probably not, I mean, its gas...not a turbo.. Just buy whatever you want its probably not going to hurt much unless your engine specifies that you use a higher octane, but if you have an 87 car dont even bother putting the higher stuff in UNLESS you have a performance chip, or possibly a timing advance? (well performance chip advancing the timing) am I right?

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Premium, middle grade or regular? (merged threads)



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:59 PM.