Basic Commandments for Car Care
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,534
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From: MD
My oil change intervals have increased to between 4 and 5,000 miles, adding a quart in between because Subarus seem to burn oil like a SOB. With all of the highway driving I do and the general quality of oil these days I am not too worried about it.
Secondly, in the RX400h sub forum we are a bit vexed. The 2006 RX400h calls for 87 octane. Then in 2007 it calls for 91 or higher. What gives? Its the same 3.3L found in the previous year's RX and of course the RX330, ES330, and Camry V6 which to my understanding all require regular, old fashioned, 87 octane. Anyway, we've been experimenting with 87 and haven't noticed a decrease in fuel economy or performance.
Our RX300 also called for 87 octane.
Secondly, in the RX400h sub forum we are a bit vexed. The 2006 RX400h calls for 87 octane. Then in 2007 it calls for 91 or higher. What gives? Its the same 3.3L found in the previous year's RX and of course the RX330, ES330, and Camry V6 which to my understanding all require regular, old fashioned, 87 octane. Anyway, we've been experimenting with 87 and haven't noticed a decrease in fuel economy or performance.
Our RX300 also called for 87 octane.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,223
Likes: 221
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
My oil change intervals have increased to between 4 and 5,000 miles, adding a quart in between because Subarus seem to burn oil like a SOB. With all of the highway driving I do and the general quality of oil these days I am not too worried about it.
Secondly, in the RX400h sub forum we are a bit vexed. The 2006 RX400h calls for 87 octane. Then in 2007 it calls for 91 or higher. What gives? Its the same 3.3L found in the previous year's RX and of course the RX330, ES330, and Camry V6 which to my understanding all require regular, old fashioned, 87 octane. Anyway, we've been experimenting with 87 and haven't noticed a decrease in fuel economy or performance.
Our RX300 also called for 87 octane.
Secondly, in the RX400h sub forum we are a bit vexed. The 2006 RX400h calls for 87 octane. Then in 2007 it calls for 91 or higher. What gives? Its the same 3.3L found in the previous year's RX and of course the RX330, ES330, and Camry V6 which to my understanding all require regular, old fashioned, 87 octane. Anyway, we've been experimenting with 87 and haven't noticed a decrease in fuel economy or performance.
Our RX300 also called for 87 octane.
I don't have an answer for you on the RX, unless Lexus made some changes to the engine's programming to gvie it some more performance. Lexus hybrids, unlike those of some other manufacturers, are generally performance-oriented rather then economy-oriented.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,534
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From: MD
Then we are not living on the same planet. This is a common complaint among 2.5L owners. Both turbo and non turbo. I'm on my third EJ25, no HG problems to speak of, but they all have consumed alot of oil.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,223
Likes: 221
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
The ones I've seen (including my own) have been OK with oil consumption...no problems, although to be fair, mine doesn't have a lot of miles on it. Oil consumption, after break-in, tends to slowly increase with age as the piston rings and valves wear.
HGs were notorious on the 2.5L for several years, particularly the Phase II 2.5L engines from 1999-2002. Those engines got a special 8/100 warranty with use of Subaru coolant conditioner.
http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/sho...1004#post11004
These engines also sometimes get what is known as piston slap, a slight knocking at cold temperatures, but it is a minor condition that is not harmful to the engine.
Last edited by mmarshall; May 22, 2008 at 05:29 AM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,534
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From: MD
I can't help but wonder if the HG dilemna is exaggerated. I don't want to jinx myself, but I've had a '96 LGT (the first year of the EJ25 and supposedly very prone to HG failure), an '01 Impreza RS, and now a '99 LGT and never had a problem.
I'm skeptical because I took my '96 to be serviced at Subaru in 2003. It had 50k miles at the time and they told me that I needed to have my HGs replaced and that it would cost me $1200. My dad and I were appalled, so we took it to a Subaru specialist. He informed me that Subaru dealer service tends to be a bit over zealous with the HG repairs because they can make money off of them. He told me that my HGs were indeed cracked, but then he said that they all crack.
I sold the car to my a friend. Here were are 5 years later and the car is still on the road with its original HGs.
I'm skeptical because I took my '96 to be serviced at Subaru in 2003. It had 50k miles at the time and they told me that I needed to have my HGs replaced and that it would cost me $1200. My dad and I were appalled, so we took it to a Subaru specialist. He informed me that Subaru dealer service tends to be a bit over zealous with the HG repairs because they can make money off of them. He told me that my HGs were indeed cracked, but then he said that they all crack.
I sold the car to my a friend. Here were are 5 years later and the car is still on the road with its original HGs.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,223
Likes: 221
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I can't help but wonder if the HG dilemna is exaggerated. I don't want to jinx myself, but I've had a '96 LGT (the first year of the EJ25 and supposedly very prone to HG failure), an '01 Impreza RS, and now a '99 LGT and never had a problem.
I'm skeptical because I took my '96 to be serviced at Subaru in 2003. It had 50k miles at the time and they told me that I needed to have my HGs replaced and that it would cost me $1200. My dad and I were appalled, so we took it to a Subaru specialist. He informed me that Subaru dealer service tends to be a bit over zealous with the HG repairs because they can make money off of them. He told me that my HGs were indeed cracked, but then he said that they all crack.
I sold the car to my a friend. Here were are 5 years later and the car is still on the road with its original HGs.
I'm skeptical because I took my '96 to be serviced at Subaru in 2003. It had 50k miles at the time and they told me that I needed to have my HGs replaced and that it would cost me $1200. My dad and I were appalled, so we took it to a Subaru specialist. He informed me that Subaru dealer service tends to be a bit over zealous with the HG repairs because they can make money off of them. He told me that my HGs were indeed cracked, but then he said that they all crack.
I sold the car to my a friend. Here were are 5 years later and the car is still on the road with its original HGs.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,534
Likes: 0
From: MD
Supposedly its like 8% of them.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,854
Likes: 0
From: IL
It's not only a question of using the right octane fuel, but a decent brand as well. If you gas up at a Chevron, Shell, or most other major name-brand stations, you can be pretty sure of getting a good quality detergent package in the fuel. That is not necessarily the case down the street at the El Cheapo Gas-N-Go....use that stuff, and you can save a little up front, but then will have to clean out your fuel system with BG44K to compensate.
Still, I try my best to avoid the el cheapo stuff. Of note however, here is a list of the TOP TIER Gasoline Retailers (some surprising names on there)...
QuikTrip
Chevron
Conoco
Phillips
76
Shell
Entec Stations
MFA Oil Company
Kwik Trip/Kwik Star
The Somerset Refinery, Inc.
Chevron-Canada
Aloha Petroleum
Tri-Par Oil Company
Shell-Canada
Texaco
Petro-Canada
Sunoco-Canada
Source: http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html
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