wadek

I bought a ES350 about a year ago. He told me he used regular gas instead of premium and said it didn't seem to hurt it. I've always used premium since i bought it. I have just replaced the catalytic converter and wonder if regular gas had to do with it going bad? Thanks.

Johnhav430

that's curious.....any issues with 02 sensors? or a faulty knock sensor? I bought my '98 Maxima new, and ran it on regular for over 18 years, when premium is recommended, and nothing went bad as far as the CAT. Its entire life it would knock upon taking off, but I figured the knock sensor took care of it. Not an encouraging sound, but it is what it is. I didn't feel premium was justified, and it was only 20 cents/gal back then. %-wise, huge when regular was as low as 76 cents...

wadek

I haven't had any other issues. Using different gas crossed my mind and thought i would ask. The VSC , check engine, and the traction message came on. I took it to the dealer to diagnose. They replaced the O2 and cat.

SW17LS

Regular is fine in the ES. 2011+ they actually changed the recommendation to regular and reduced the HP down to what it is in the Camry. Same engine as the Camry.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

^^ right. Went down from 275hp to 270hp on the RX and ES.

As to which Lexus's are currently tuned on what:

Premium 91: IS, GS, GSh, GS F, LS, RC, RC F, LC, LCh, NX, RXh, GX, LX
Regular 87: ES, ESh, CT, NXh, RX

jwong77

Weird, so the RX is regular but the RXh is premium. Wonder why they did that? You would think the buyers of the hybrid would want to spend less on gas.

Johnhav430

It's all a game, I remember years ago Mercedes Benz made a statement we sell vehicles in every country in this world, many of which do not have high octane gasoline available. The motor compensates and therefore all of our cars can be run on regular. I wonder if that is still true, since turbocharging was not prevalent when they said that...then again look at the 2016 VW GTI, regular. When the 2015 said premium. The cars are absolutely 100% indentical. It's all about being politically correct, and having more HP is not while burning more expensive fuel is not.

Kira X

iTrader: (24)

I didnt know the NX hybrid and CT used regular gas. Nobody buys either one at our dealership. Same with the hybrid ES.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

They sure do. A nice selling point.

Kira X

iTrader: (24)

it certainly is a good selling point. Nobody buys hybrids around here now unless it's an RX. The RX hybrid uses premium though.