Premium, middle grade or regular? (merged threads)
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 212
Likes: 1
From: Montana
No.. just stock intake, it is a black car tho... I'm guessing all of the extra heat must have built up while sitting in traffic. I'm going to start logging data for IT and timing to see where the threshold is and compare it to the weather. But 220 deg to get it to ping is impressive! Keep in mind that I am at 3,200 ft. I can see the need to use at least 89 at sea level in the summer but up here 87 seems to be fine. My wife is going to take a trip to Vegas soon, I'll set up data logging and see how it goes.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: OH
Octane 1MZFE ES300
I am not willing to risk banging up my wrist pins and main bearings to save the cost of two soft drinks on a tank of fuel.
The last car I owned was a '94 camry with the 1MZFE, always ran 91 octane and mobil one with a wix (napa gold). I sold it to a friend with 317,000 miles and he's still driving it (327 now) The Engine never touched except timing belts and a rear seal)
In a pinch, I'll blend some lower octane in, but with all the penny wise pound foolish car drivers out there, 91 or higher is always aplenty.
By the way, never let it get below 1/4 tank - the fuel cools the fuel pump in the tank.
2 cents worth.
The last car I owned was a '94 camry with the 1MZFE, always ran 91 octane and mobil one with a wix (napa gold). I sold it to a friend with 317,000 miles and he's still driving it (327 now) The Engine never touched except timing belts and a rear seal)
In a pinch, I'll blend some lower octane in, but with all the penny wise pound foolish car drivers out there, 91 or higher is always aplenty.
By the way, never let it get below 1/4 tank - the fuel cools the fuel pump in the tank.
2 cents worth.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 49
Likes: 1
From: MN
I have been running 87 octane since I acquired my 2002 last year with no issues. (18K miles put on so far)
With knock sensors and adaptive ignition algorithms, I am not worried about pre-detonation like the old days, the computer listens to the knock sensors input and pulls more timing out of the equation to adapt if needed.
Premium fuel allows for a more aggressive timing curve for performance and slightly better fuel economy.
With knock sensors and adaptive ignition algorithms, I am not worried about pre-detonation like the old days, the computer listens to the knock sensors input and pulls more timing out of the equation to adapt if needed.
Premium fuel allows for a more aggressive timing curve for performance and slightly better fuel economy.
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 201
Likes: 2
From: Alabama
You are confusing two concepts, normal Gasoline gets better mileage than Alcohol blended Gas because Alcohol is less energy dense. Octane rating is actually resistance to combustion, a measure of stability if you will. It plays into ignition timing, if an engine control is programmed to take advantage of it. Energy density is a different concept.
There is basis that you can get better mileage through higher octane, advanced timing can be more efficient, therefore more energy to moving the car and less wasted as heat. 285exp showed us this with his informal experiment, and also he showed us the economics don't really work out when you figure the increased price of the higher octane gas. If he would have changed from a pure Gas product to an E10 say, that would not have worked out the same way.
There is basis that you can get better mileage through higher octane, advanced timing can be more efficient, therefore more energy to moving the car and less wasted as heat. 285exp showed us this with his informal experiment, and also he showed us the economics don't really work out when you figure the increased price of the higher octane gas. If he would have changed from a pure Gas product to an E10 say, that would not have worked out the same way.
Last edited by 285exp; Sep 11, 2014 at 02:03 PM. Reason: additional info
Driver
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 133
Likes: 1
From: Australia
Sorry guys, Just did the conversion..
98RON in Australia turns out to be 93 in the US for your rating system.
If I am correct, in the US a gallon is equal to 3.78 litres ( metric )
So in Australia where it costs $1.78 / litre (98RON), it costs almost $7 per gallon..
98RON in Australia turns out to be 93 in the US for your rating system.
If I am correct, in the US a gallon is equal to 3.78 litres ( metric )
So in Australia where it costs $1.78 / litre (98RON), it costs almost $7 per gallon..
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
What gas octane is recommend for 1993 Lexus ES 390
I notice my car start shaking on idle and doesn't wanna accelerate fast on the start of green at a traffic light. A friend of mines ask what kind of gas I put in my tank. I told him I always put 87 regular ever since I got this car which was two weeks ago. So I notice slight changes that my car start to get worst to the point it won't start up no more. So he told me that most older model lexus's take 91 and higher. Is it true what costing theses problems because I'm using 87 regular ?
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26,053
Likes: 4,328
From: Alberta
Your engine does not require premium in fact the 3VZ-FE will run on all but the poorest fuel and not ping/knock. Whatever is causing your performance issues are not because of regular fuel.