stant_98

You might need to replace a catalytic converter sooner rather than later if you continue using 87 octane. My mother drove a 4-cyl Camry a few years ago and needed to have a brand new cat installed thank God at just before 60K which was still under factory warranty. Why? She had used regular gas - and guess what the manual says regular gas is OK for that car, but not for ES,

285exp

I guess I'll have to stop using regular, even though I have 180k on it now and still have the same cat.

BDSL

Do you have proof it is actually the fuel that caused the cat to go bad? It can be a vehicle running too rich. It can be caused by excessive idling. It can be caused by many other things.

Bk2

In any car manual it will say what is recommended and what can be put in. You technically CAN put 87 octane fuel in almost any car, you CAN save that 20cents per gallon by not getting premium. You CAN also get lower fuel economy and less performance. All of those are possibilities with many more to list. Instead of what CAN happen, look at the facts. Why is premium gas more expensive because its a fact that its cleaner. It is also a fact that premium gas burns hotter than regular. Who cares right? Well no burning gas hotter guarantees better performance. Cleaner fuel causes less restriction in piping also. For some people they see a difference while for others there is no difference; of course that is determined by hundreds of variables. Some drivers don't go past 2.5 rpm while others rip to at least 4 rpm all the time. Some neutralize their vehicles some dont. Bottom line is premium gas costs more at the pump but overall should be the only choice for someone who cares for their vehicle as it is cheaper in the long run, better for mpg and performance. Your not just running any car your running a Lexus treat it as such

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

All fuel grades are equally clean. The octane number is simply a pressure resistance rating. Premium can withstand higher cylinder pressure than Regular, before igniting.

BDSL

And you can still get into trouble if you knock sensor / timing retardation is not good enough.
Usually that happens on forced induction engines.

285exp

The results of the experiment were as follows:

I had been using E10 regular, 87 octane. I filled up with E0 89 octane, and ran through that tank. I am omitting it from the experiment because it was actually E01.5 88.7 octane. By the next fill up it was effectively E0 89. I used the car for my usual commute to work for the next three tanks, and then did a 400+ mile round trip of mixed, but mostly highway driving, at an overall average of just under 60 mph. The first three tanks covered 915.5 miles, burning 42.7 gallons, for an average of 21.4 mpg. For the highway trip, I burned 14.0 gallons to cover 419.5 miles for an average of 30 mpg. All four tanks totaled 1335 miles, burning 56.7 gallons, for an average of 23.5 mpg.

The next three tanks, using E10 regular, covered 896 miles and burned 41.7 gallons for an average of 21.5 mpg. The next highway trip, over the same route and at the same speeds as the previous, totaled 423.4 miles and I burned 14.6 gallons for an average of 29.0 mpg. Total miles covered was 1319.4, burning 56.3 gallons for an average of 23.4 mpg.

Take it for what it's worth.

Maineguy

I am in the process of purchasing a used 2000-2005 Es330 or 300. I've heard that some of these models ran on regular gasoline. Does anyone know what years and models were able to use regular gasoline?

PuReChaos

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...the-es300.html


https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...our-es300.html

acarapella

The 330 handles regular (87) better. Both the 300 1mz and 330 3mz can run on 87, but the knock sensors in the 300 are known to over compensate for the lower octane and retard the timing so much it costs up to 20 hp (according to one source I read).

The 3mz (330) has better knock sensors and doesn't over correct. I am currently going through a tank of 87 with my 300 and can feel the difference I usually use 93.

Per Lexus the 300 recommended premium but is fine on 87. Both the 1mz and 3mz were also put in Camry, Avalon, sienna, highlander. None called for premium.

Lastly, the 10.5:1 compression ratio indicates a benefit with higher octane. As a rule of thumb, the octane should resemble the compression ratio. Like my 1950 Chevrolet is 6.7:1. Go figure, gas was way way lower than 87 back then

285exp

All of the ES's from those years will run on regular. I have a 2000 ES300 and a 2004 ES 330, and have almost always used regular. If you use premium you will have a bit more power available and will get a bit better mileage. In my experience the increase in mileage will not be as great as the increase in fuel cost, so even though your mileage will be better it will cost you more to go the same distance. I'm sure someone will come on and tell you differently, so my advice is to try it yourself and decide, you won't hurt anything using regular.

brucelee1

iTrader: (2)

Tried both, use premium.

joeszemato

I'm a 3X ES owner but new to this board. Manual calls for 93 octane high test gas for my 2006 ES 330. I'll be driving 2,000 miles mostly highway speed and thought that I could save some money buy burning mid-grade 89 octane fuel. Any thoughts on this, especially if there is a mechanic out there.
Thanks.

joeszemato

Got my answer on a different trend.. Thanks

285exp

The answer is yes.