calijapan

Hi all,

So, I found from the forums that it is best to use regular 87 octane gas for the ES350 6th Gen and that using premium grade 91 octane gas provides no fuel economy benefits.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...6-es350-2.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...r-regular.html

However, where should I buy my gas?
I know that Chevron and Shell are the most expensive, followed by 76.
Costco and lesser known/no-name gas retailers are the cheapest.

Can I use Costco and the lesser known gas retailers without risking damaging my car?


Another question is how often should I use a fuel system cleaner? Someone had linked to the below product:

wdlugitch

I have used Costco gasoline in all my Lexus (now 5) since they started offering gasoline, with no problem. Save your money and do not buy a "fuel system cleaner" for your Lexus.

Mike728

Gas in the US is pretty much regulated. You should be able to use gas from anywhere that sells it. I would also pass on any fuel system cleaner.

BradTank

I've used Costco on like the last 5 Lexus I've owned without any issues. Their pumps say "top tier" which is supposed to be a detergent rating.

The other gas stations near me are quite a bit higher in price, so over the year it's a pretty decent cost savings.

dchar

Just get top-tier rated gas. Costco is one of them and the significant price difference will also be good on your wallet.

zes

Gasoline in the US is routed from refineries to fuel blending terminals. The gasoline truck pulls up at these terminals and the driver swipes his card (can be Shell, Costco, whatever). And the blender pump puts in several thousand gallons of straight gas into tank in the truck. Then adds 10% ethanol to the tank. Then a few gallons of proprietary fufu liquid which makes Costco gas different from Shell or whatever brand you are buying. It is all made in the same refinery, travels up the same pipeline and is the same stuff. Most of it is just marketing for retail differentiation. The more "premium" brands have more additives, and they may or may not help. The concentration of these additives is almost negligible. This is a highly regulated business and the product is essentially the same. Now the gasoline in the summer and winter is different, of course, and there can be differences across PADDS, but inside a city it likely came from the same blending terminal.

Freds430

List of the top tier gasoline.

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-...h-extra-price/

Mike728

Which is just a marketing "club".

Maikerusan

In my neck of the woods, the closest Costco is too far away. Plus, even if you are in the area and you want to buy gas, there's often a 20 plus minute wait at the pumps and a ridiculously long line up.

I find it funny that people who can afford a so called Luxury vehicle are willing to waste 1/2 an hour to save 3 to 5 bucks on a fill up. To me, time is money and not worth getting excited about saving a few bucks that way.

calijapan

Thank you for the replies everyone!!

I plan to buy top tier gas moving forward! This will definitely save me money