MellonC00

I did something stupid today!!!

The lexus gas guage is super conservative - meaning that it will throw off a warning light even when I have more than 3 gallons in the tank. For my car, I ignore the warning light and always get gas right when the trip odo hits about 350miles (I reset every time I fill up).

Well, today, I was measuring some driving distances between two points using my odo and lost track of my mileage. And, what do you know, my car stalled about 1 mile from the gas station. Then, here is what happened. I huff and puff into the gas station in 100 degreee weather and asked for a portable 1 gallon size gas container. The attendant says that it's 18.99 for the damn thing. I guess I shouldn't have told him that I ran out of gas. Obiviously, I am pissed at his attempt to price gouge and walk out pf the place saying some nasty words. Nandeep (the attendant at the station) says his manager won't put price tags on containers. He doesn't know why.

As I walked back to my car and losing serious water in my body in the 100 degree weather, I get this brilliant idea to use a bottle of Techron in the trunk as my emergecy fuel during this time of need. I was already late to a meeting and couldn't wait for the AAA truck (in So. Cal they take about 30 minutes). I figure it can't be bad since It was designed to be used with gasoline anyway.

Down goes the 12 oz bottle of Techron into my gas tank and I start the car. What do you know, it works!!! But after another 1/2 miles or so, my car is barely going forward, folowed by knocking noise. Not good. I put the car in neutral and shut the engine off then coast all the way to the gas pump. I fill up with 93 gas real quick and was on my way.

Question:

I heard knocking even after I filled up for about 1 minute. Is this bad? There hasn't been any since.
do you think there is damage in my engine because I used Techron with no gas?

rl9905

I live in California Too, but here in California, We only have 91 Octane as the highest.

scottsRX

Not to be a jerk, but you should have 1st not ran out of gas and 2nd $19.00 would have been better then the possible damage to the car. Why not just get gas soon after the light comes on?

But, I would have done the same thing as you tried, so I am not busting on you.

It should be alright. The computer must have been going nuts.

JFlo

91 Octane is the highest you have? I love living in Middle America more and more every day. I just filled up with Sunoco 94 yesterday, and it was only $1.90 per gallon. Cali may be up on all the trends and all that jazz, but Ohio sure is affordable.

HarrierAWD

You could've called Lexus roadside assistance the moment you ran out of gas. It's free (so is the gas.) You didn't have to walk a mile in 100F weather.

Techron detonates faster than gas. With extensive heavy knocking, you might have some bent rods in the engine. Drive it for a few days to see if you feel anything wrong with the engine. Hopefully it's nothing.

MellonC00

I meant 91 octane. I used to live in MD and get confused sometimes.

I haven't heard any knocking since....

mailrail

Yeah...you could've just SAT in your car in the 100 degree heat and sweat like hell!

BTW...has anyone ever used the 24 hour hotline and if so, how long does it take them to show up?

HarrierAWD

Roll down the windows. At least you'd be in the shade. Better than walking under the scorching sun.

I had to call Lexus once in the middle of nowhere, the service came within 20 minutes. Remarkable considering I was in the wilderness. Got stuck in deep mud (with dry surface, sure had me fooled.)

FWIW, the Lexus roadside assistance is just AAA. Lexus calls AAA and pays for it. AAA does the dispatch.

rl9905

Here in the West Coast, I've never heard of Sunoco . But here we got Chevron with Techron, and it works good . I always fill up with 91 octane and I dont mind the price of gas over here. Just for your information if you dont know what is techron you can go to this link http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/fuel...dvantage.shtml

MellonC00

no kidding!!! that's why I use Techron every 5K miles as a separate detergent.

nthach

Techron is wholly Stoddard Solvent, which is a analogue of naptha. Naptha doesn't have a high octane reading as xylene or toulene.

HarrierAWD

Sunoco is big east of Mississippi. Haven't seen one in Colorado.

IMHO, Techron is over-rated. I had a car with serious carbon deposit problem. Three bottles of Techron didn't solve the problem. After trying many different things, only Chemtool B-12 worked.

I have not used any gas additive in my Lexus. It runs great, so I don't need to use anything.

Cobra V

while on topic, can you use 87 in the rx 330? will the cars computer automatically adjust timing? and yes, i know you will lose performance, but with these prices, i don't care- i just wanna know if its safe.

jcg

Last October I went to a "new owners" meeting - although it is my second RX - and the service manager gave a little spiel and one of the things he said about road service was this.

When you call Lexus they in turn call AAA. However, unlike you calling AAA yourself to eliminate the middle man and getting put on the bottom of the list, when Lexus calls, you go to the top of the list.

If there is any truth to this, I don't know.