Gas: Premium vs. Regular advantages, disadvantages
I have been shopping for a new Lexus LS460 or LS460L at three different dealers in Dallas this week and two of them have told me it is O.K. to use regular gas in a Lexus because this maker has a different way of introducing the fuel so that regular gas does not ping or knock.
They also said it is not harmful to the engine altho regular may not get as good mileage as premium.
I have been looking over all the threads here and do not see anything about this. I would be interested in anyone's experience.
Thanks!
It's made to run on premium. If you can't or don't want to afford premium, look for something else. You don't want to skimp on a $70K+ vehicle. I run the best fuel I can purchase in mine. BP 93 octane. I'm sure a salesman will tell you anything to sell a car.
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!
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!
I concur. I used premium on my earlier cars that "required" it. In my experience, there is no adavantage in using premium for my driving. In fact petroleum engineers have stated besides a little (10HP or less for this vehicle), it is all marketing. Wish I had the link to the article, sorry.
PS
I average 19.8 MPG with my LS600.
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2008 LS600h L all the bells and whistles but no executive seating.
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!
Owners for some reason think they are protecing their car with 93+ but that doesnt seem to be the case in many articles I have read
This has been a discussion in autoweek, motortrend, edmunds and many other mags. Most of them say if its not knocking or pinging, then go the low octane route. I do agree somewhat on your performance point. I have a Twin Turbo corvette and i dont dare go less than 93 in fear of detonation. But I dont treat my LS like a performance car. Only once in a while do i go WOT
In my prevuous LS460 I did not see any gas mileage difference when i went to 87 octane. No knocking or pinging either and thats the the key. BMW's Supposedly states in the manual that premium is absolutely required. And my friends 328i starts knocking in a few days if he tries the low octane
Oh yes, pure synthetic oil all the way is the way to go. I change oil and filter at 10K miles
I use premium only. Some times I feel that I am more particular on what gas and oil I feed the car than what I feed myself!!
+1. All our vehicle get premium except my wife's RX, because when we got it the sales lady told her that regular would be okay. She hasn't had any problems with 50,000+ miles, and I seriously doubt if she ever felt the lack of "the gusto". LOL, she is a professional bean counter, and it would have been a suicide mission just to even to get her to consider otherwise.
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.
I run 91 all the time now, we used to have 94 easily available, but not anymore.
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...
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?
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1994 LS400, 2002 LS430UL -Gone, but not forgotten. Great cars.
2004 GX470 - 6000lbs just for the IRS.
2004 Lamborghini Murcielago.
2008 Black Opal/Cashmere LS600hL
2009 Toyota Prius - Gotta make up for the Murci's mileage.
No, the LS600hL isn't the fastest 0-120 - even off a cliff.
Gas: Premium vs. Regular advantages, disadvantages
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