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No joke where I live regular is $3.09-3.19 and Premium is $4.19-4.29.
That’s they typical spread we’ve always had - Washington state.
Originally Posted by SW17LS
I felt no difference in power or feel at all personally. It’s an ES…
Agree w/what @Striker223 said - something amiss. Weather the 02 ES we still have or the 2024, I feel a difference - though not as much as with ethanol vs. non-polluted gasoline.
A caveat was that in 2020, I did a big roadtrip around WA, ID, MT, WY, OR loop, 3,100 miles in a Camry with the same I-4 as in the current ES300h. Impressive mpgs and performance IMO and the difference between grades and ethanol vs non was a lot narrower than in older cars. Still existed, but narrower than in the earlier generation engines I am much more familiar with.
Higher ethanol content thus cheaper due to tax reasons, doesn't help since it has lower energy density so it's a wash on cost.
So what is the point/benefit of using it? Does it help or hurt cars with more ethanol? I understand E85 and the ability to tune for flex fuel but for non tuned cars why would one want to use 8& octane?
friend's 2019 es isn't low mileage (about 150k) but he just got a split in the drive seat bottom cushion. i suspect from looking at what's under the split and feeling the 'material' that that isn't in fact leather. i know these days so many cars say 'leather trimmed' which is code for maybe the side bosters are leather but the main seat cushion and back are not, sound about right?
Originally Posted by RofH
I don't remember seeing this big of a price difference EVER -- this is crazy !!
Gas prices today at Costco:
even bigger %age spread here...
but then again, i don't care.
Last edited by bitkahuna; Jul 25, 2025 at 01:37 PM.
That’s the typical spread we’ve always had - Washington state.
Agree w/what @Striker223 said - something amiss. Weather the 02 ES we still have or the 2024, I feel a difference - though not as much as with ethanol vs. non-polluted gasoline.
A caveat was that in 2020, I did a big roadtrip around WA, ID, MT, WY, OR loop, 3,100 miles in a Camry with the same I-4 as in the current ES300h. Impressive mpgs and performance IMO and the difference between grades and ethanol vs non was a lot narrower than in older cars. Still existed, but narrower than in the earlier generation engines I am much more familiar with.
I have never driven the 03 ES on regular gas. I was talking about my 2010 ES350. Your 2024 ES is a 300h? No idea there. Does that specify premium? The 2024 ES350 doesn’t. The tune in the 03 ES is tuned for premium for sure, I just doubt it’s that much different than the same engines tune in the Camry. For my ES350 they changed the requirement to regular in 2011 and it just lost 20 HP, that’s when I started running regular and felt no difference.
It’s a low compression naturally aspirated V6, they will run fine on regular.
Originally Posted by AJT123
Oh I meant to tell everyone, I used the car wash at Bucees, it's the best auto wash job I've ever seen....
It got all of my rims sparkling, 100% of them.
It’s an amazing wash. It’s so long lol. I washed the rental car in the one I went to in Alabama!
It’s an amazing wash. It’s so long lol. I washed the rental car in the one I went to in Alabama!
"Who washes a rental car?"
Get the reference?
Not the forum for this but we realllly need a show that good to come out again. Nothing has come close to BB since it ended. Lots of good miniseries but I’m talking shows with 5+ seasons.
That’s the out of spec guy I believe right? That’s a lot of trailer!! If I had a triple axle trailer I would definitely use a 3/4 ton truck to haul it. You have guys on tundra forum that tow 30ft campers. I would guess from tongue to end of the box I’m at least 30ft. I opted for the extended tongue to help with sharp/jack knife turns.
Ideally I would like a gooseneck trailer. I think they are an easier tow than bumper pulls. But my trailer started pretty bare like one in the video. Thanks for the video!!
I think I’ve added a little more weight since I’ve had it. I actually never towed with it like the pics above.
Below the TV there’s a microwave and mini fridge. Everything I need is far as camping stays inside the trailer. I just add the gas jugs (that’s minimum I take, sometimes 35 gallons if it’s track far away), generator, and my scooter. Hard to see but 2 trailer spares mounted on left wall up front. My wife suggested buy whatever I need for track days and leave it in the trailer so only thing to load up are 1-2 items and the car when it’s time to go.
….Your 2024 ES is a 300h? No idea there. Does that specify premium? The 2024 ES350 doesn’t. The tune in the 03 ES is tuned for premium for sure, I just doubt it’s that much different than the same engines tune in the Camry. For my ES350 they changed the requirement to regular in 2011 and it just lost 20 HP, that’s when I started running regular and felt no difference.
It’s a low compression naturally aspirated V6, they will run fine on
Same as the 02, the ‘24 is just “recommended” to use premium because that is what they do the EPA tests with in order to boost the numbers. They try to scare you into that, but nothing ever makes it “required.” Both run fine on 87 (knock sensors work). The 02/03 ES300 is not tuned any differently than a Camry, just different gas used for EPA test. If you look at head-to-head Camry vs Es300 numbers for that period, they look different in specs. But that’s because they don’t have the same engine. Camry got VVTi, 5 speed, etc., on a rolling basis behind the ES. That way they kept the ES more premium by holding the new tech back vs. Camry.
Same as the 02, the ‘24 is just “recommended” to use premium because that is what they do the EPA tests with in order to boost the numbers. They try to scare you into that, but nothing ever makes it “required.” Both run fine on 87 (knock sensors work). The 02/03 ES300 is not tuned any differently than a Camry, just different gas used for EPA test. If you look at head-to-head Camry vs Es300 numbers for that period, they look different in specs. But that’s because they don’t have the same engine. Camry got VVTi, 5 speed, etc., on a rolling basis behind the ES. That way they kept the ES more premium by holding the new tech back vs. Camry.
if the knock sensors are engaged, the engine is not running at peak performance.
-- uugghh !!
-- this is crazy !!
