Spend extra cash on premium gas?
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,524
Likes: 265
From: Illinois
There's been a lot discussion about this among ES350 owners. In the ES premium is recommended, IMO, to achieve the advertised 272 hp.
The same engine is used in Camry, Avalon, RAV4, Highlander, Sienna and Venza with 268-270 hp with regular recommended. In this case I think it's up to the owner. In high performance (DI, etc.) engines premium is a must.
The same engine is used in Camry, Avalon, RAV4, Highlander, Sienna and Venza with 268-270 hp with regular recommended. In this case I think it's up to the owner. In high performance (DI, etc.) engines premium is a must.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 3
From: IL
I've read that the mid-grade is actually just a mix of the regular and premium... so sometimes it could be mainly regular grade, or sometimes mainly premium. Bottom line - it's not consistant.
I was using mid-grade on my '99 LS for a while since the previous owner did but after I read that information (more than one source) I stick to premium (which is recommended by Lexus for this model). I think since I've done the change, the mileage has increased a little, which makes the price difference a wash.
I was using mid-grade on my '99 LS for a while since the previous owner did but after I read that information (more than one source) I stick to premium (which is recommended by Lexus for this model). I think since I've done the change, the mileage has increased a little, which makes the price difference a wash.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,005
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From: CA
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,192
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From: none
Interesting. You're premium fuel is 93 octane? That's strange. I use regular unleaded fuel here in the ES which is at Shell rated 95 octane if I remember correctly. At Caltex, the regular unleaded is rated at 92 I believe. If you use premium, that is 98 octane fuel which is usually about 20 cents a litre more expensive than the regular 95. For a while, Shell here, was also offering a ultra-premium fuel at the local gas station which was rated at 100 octane. I never tested it, but I wonder how much difference it would have made.
So I stick to regular on the ES (it's not a race car by all means), and regular is well, by the looks of it premium to you guys?
So I stick to regular on the ES (it's not a race car by all means), and regular is well, by the looks of it premium to you guys?
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,524
Likes: 265
From: Illinois
Interesting. You're premium fuel is 93 octane? That's strange. I use regular unleaded fuel here in the ES which is at Shell rated 95 octane if I remember correctly. At Caltex, the regular unleaded is rated at 92 I believe. If you use premium, that is 98 octane fuel which is usually about 20 cents a litre more expensive than the regular 95. For a while, Shell here, was also offering a ultra-premium fuel at the local gas station which was rated at 100 octane. I never tested it, but I wonder how much difference it would have made.
So I stick to regular on the ES (it's not a race car by all means), and regular is well, by the looks of it premium to you guys?
So I stick to regular on the ES (it's not a race car by all means), and regular is well, by the looks of it premium to you guys?
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