General Car Conversation 2024 - part 2
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,087
Likes: 514
From: Knoxville, TN
The Merc I'm just extra extra careful with everything. It would be fine to run the tank low or fuel it running. I'd just like to avoid a possible CEL on a Mercedes. Even if it's just evap which is nothing.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 13,260
Likes: 1,884
From: WA
@AJT123 @Striker223 I’m towing this weekend. Truck needs gas. I’m tempted to give 93 a shot. @JDR76 will attest the majority guys run 87 even when towing on Tundra site. However I have seen posts guys saying timing is pulled running 87. We will see.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,693
Likes: 3,766
From: California
Oh let's be clear I agree with that, it makes no difference. It's just a habit of mine.... I run the cars down. Has nothing to do with money or saving fuel, not one bit.
The Merc I'm just extra extra careful with everything. It would be fine to run the tank low or fuel it running. I'd just like to avoid a possible CEL on a Mercedes. Even if it's just evap which is nothing.
The Merc I'm just extra extra careful with everything. It would be fine to run the tank low or fuel it running. I'd just like to avoid a possible CEL on a Mercedes. Even if it's just evap which is nothing.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,087
Likes: 514
From: Knoxville, TN
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,225
Likes: 1,773
From: Ohio
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,387
Likes: 355
From: Las Vegas
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 409
But in my case the 10k OCIs didn't work for me, because I had clogged oil separators that caused a valve cover gasket leak at 50k miles. My MB specialist mechanic told me doing 5K OCIs would have kept that from happening. Mechanics don't make any money from oil changes, they aren't telling me to do more frequent oil changes to make money. They would rather do the $9k repair caused by the longer OCIs.
In the case of the video that was discussed in that other thread this is a Toyota/Lexus specialist mechanic who is saying that 10K OCIs are too long for that engine. My own Lexus specialist mechanic said the same thing for the same reason...at some point you have to take the advice of professionals into account...
Not every engine is the same, and as they get more complex manufacturers are also under more pressure to reduce the required maintenance to make their vehicles seem less maintenance intensive. So like you said you have to make your own judgements and its clearly not as simple as just saying "the manufacturer says 10k so the car will last 300k as long as I do that".
This is the same situation. You have mechanics and vehicle engineers who say "don't run your fuel tank all the way empty because it can cause issues with the fuel pump, it can cause clogged fuel filters, it can cause air to be sucked into high pressure fuel lines etc"...its pretty easy to just fuel up at 1/4 or 1/8th tank to avoid even the possibility of that happening.
In the case of the video that was discussed in that other thread this is a Toyota/Lexus specialist mechanic who is saying that 10K OCIs are too long for that engine. My own Lexus specialist mechanic said the same thing for the same reason...at some point you have to take the advice of professionals into account...
Not every engine is the same, and as they get more complex manufacturers are also under more pressure to reduce the required maintenance to make their vehicles seem less maintenance intensive. So like you said you have to make your own judgements and its clearly not as simple as just saying "the manufacturer says 10k so the car will last 300k as long as I do that".
This is the same situation. You have mechanics and vehicle engineers who say "don't run your fuel tank all the way empty because it can cause issues with the fuel pump, it can cause clogged fuel filters, it can cause air to be sucked into high pressure fuel lines etc"...its pretty easy to just fuel up at 1/4 or 1/8th tank to avoid even the possibility of that happening.
I'm running 93 in the Tundra right now. Was doing a bunch of towing at the end of summer so I figured I'd try it out to see if there was any difference while towing. While gas is expensive here, premium is only 30 cents a gallon more than regular, so I gave it a try. I have gotten slightly better gas mileage (1 mpg or so) on the last couple of trips, but it's so variable due to things like traffic, wind, etc. that I am not sure that it was really an improvement.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,446
Likes: 373
From: ON/NY
‘You don’t find any driving difference? I have always felt Toyota’s engines drive just a little sharper with premium. Like it was,truly designed for it. I feel like there is 3-5% more torque. That said, I only put premium in one of my four vehicles.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; Sep 9, 2024 at 07:23 PM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 409
I truly wonder if someone else filled up your vehicle and you had no idea what grade they used could you tell the difference?
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,446
Likes: 373
From: ON/NY
Hmm. I wonder. My V8 specifically says in the manual for optimal engine performance…use premium fuel. My other cars do not. But my 1GR is premium spec outside of North America. And in some markets my 1.8 is premium as well.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,225
Likes: 1,773
From: Ohio