Just curious and not intending to reignite the premium vs. regular debate. Apparently, the newly plentiful crude oil coming from North America is more expensive to refine into premium gas. The price differential in my area is about 40 cents per gallon higher ($2.85 reg, $3.25 premium) and is expected to remain in that range. The previous discussions have all been based on a 20 or 25 cent price difference. Question is whether the current higher price difference changes your mind on the issue of using premium or regular gas.

 

not me... difference here is 28 cents for now

 

.40-.65 in my area with 87 around $2.67.

 

Lexus recommends the use of premium gas so I use premium gas in a premium car. Simple as that. A difference of a few dollars for a fill is not going to make me rethink anything.

 

Nope, doesn't change a thing for me. I've always used regular since the car was new. I don't hotrod it and it runs perfectly on regular. Highway cruiser.

 

I do PR for a propane/gas company and I hear price debates all the time when people call into the office. (for comparison of course). Restaurant's who use about two thousand plus gallons a year constantly call in complaining for .1-.2 cents price differences. So putting that in car gas prices, If you use a full tank of gas (17 gallons) per week every week out of the year , your using on average about 880 gallons per year. When you think about price difference, if average price gap is .40 cents between premium and regular, then your spending about $353.60 more for premium gas per year.

$353 is a lot for some people, but not much for the average Lexus car owner. (not all but but a good amount). Its always money that could be saved and used somewhere else

Does it change my mind about what fuel I use? YES as a matter of fact. It leaves me to gas station shop for stations with cheaper gas prices, or taking alternate routes for cheaper gas prices. (which does not always mean quality fuel at gas stations) I feel like I am knowledgeable in engines enough to make an educated decision of when to use a lower octane and how long to use it for with my car but obviously do what ever you feel most comfortable with. I have a boat load of resources to fix my car with out taking it to a dealer if there is ever damage so I feel a lot more comfortable making the switch in a pinch if needed be

I will say, Ive had several cars before when i was younger and less knowledgeable that required premium and I used regular in its life time and the only difference I saw was MPG. Lexus recommends premium for optimal performance but with todays car technology, car's can automatically adjust ECU settings to support lower octanes.

 

I can't tell you the difference in regular/premium price, because I always use premium and don't even look at the regular price. Never give it a thought.

 

If you have a smart phone download an app called GasBuddy. It will provide you with a real time sorted list of gas stations by distance and gas type (Reg/Prem) of lowest cost gas stations near your location. Most of the time in my area the local QuikTrip, RaceTrac, along with Costco and Sams have lowest gas prices but Tom Thumb, Kroger,Murphys (grocery store affiliated) also are competitive. Lowest price for premium this am is 2.69 at TomThumb and Kroger. Regular is 2.39 and 2.41 respectively at same place.

 

I have been going to Fleet Farm once and a while as they have 89 octane no ethanol for 10-15 cents more than regular. They are the only non ethanol mid grade I have found in Wisco.. Otherwise paying the 40 cents or more premium for premium.

 

I always run premium as well. When you factor in increased mpg and performance its a no brainer. Running 87 with ethanol is really like running 85 and that is not good for the exhaust system. Especially, the cats and o2 sensors. The engine can retard timing to prevent knock but there is a reason why Lexus says uses higher octane.

 

Your knock sensors are working overtime to retard timing when using lower octane. Eventually they will fail and are not cheap or easy to replace. I always get premium at Sams club (cheapest) and the car runs great.

 

I think the general consensus over the years is that the money saved using regular gas instead of premium is at partially or mostly lost due to slightly lower gas mileage when running regular gas. Not sure if anyone has run a rigorous well controlled test of this premise but that is why I use premium in the LS.

Just to add to the fog and confusion on fuel types, we also have a 07 Toyota Highlander which runs regular per the manual while the same exact engine in the 07 RX350 is supposed to run premium per the owners manual.

 

The 07 RX has a 3.5 with 270 hp. The 07 Highlander V6 has a 3.3 with 215 hp.

 

My bad, we've owned 06 and 07 HLs, I meant to compare the 2006 Highlander (regular gas) with 2006 RX330 (premium gas).

They share exact same engine (3MZ-FE V6) and transmission but the RX specs slightly higher torque and HP from the motor. Likely different tune in the ECM and other minor changes.
-----------------------------------------06 RX---------------------------------------06 HL
Engine Type--------------------------Gas V6------------------------------------Gas V6
SAE Net Torque @ RPM--------------242 @ 3600----------------------------222 @ 4400
Displacement--------------------------3.3L/202--------------------------------3.3L/202
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM-------230 @ 5600----------------------------215 @ 5800

 

I think when the difference was 20 cents it was a no brainer. Now 3.50 compared to 3.oo is more than 15 percent doubt you get 15 percent better MPG's. I was told by my Lexus dealer, who I do not patronize often, they see no mechanical failures from running low octane gas. I still run mostly Premo.