It's safe to assume that the LS460's engine ages with usage. How does the aging process occur? Does the lower-grade fuel accelerate the aging process? Or does the premium gas decelerate it?

I just don't understand the mechanics of it, and I think in the end it boils down to the question of how a particular grade of fuel, if at all, affects the engine's health.

While I won't criticize anyone's choice of gasoline to use in their vehicle, I think your math is WAY off here. Heck, I just filled up my Sienna this morning and Supreme was 40 cents higher per gallon. Just on my one fill up today, the cost difference would have been almost $10.00. Now, if I only filled my tank once every three months, your math might be remotely logical!

John

using regular gas will kill or destroy the engine. It will cause the ECU to retard timing and put the engine into safe mode. This will result in a loss of power. I am stinking to the premium but if I ever needed to put the regular stuff I wouldnt sweat it

A lot of you guys are way off on this. The reality is that higher octane gas has a higher flash point. The engine was designed with optimal performance to be had at premium fuel. Now, with that said, it seems to run exceptionally well with regular unleaded fuel. I've tested more than a few tank fulls of each, and I see little to no improvement in mileage. I really can't feel any difference in performance either. These cars use direct injection, and that helps to keep the cars from knocking or predetonating. The computer also pulls some of the advance out of the timing if it senses any issues with ping, and as a result, you could expect lower HP/TQ figures. Once again, my real world testing over the last few months shows no problems on regular octane. I have yet to run this car in the heat of the summer, but my guess is that the hotter external temperatures of central Texas will probably make it harder on the car regards to a dispensation to want to ping on regular gas. I will certainly test it though, and see what happens.

One of the more ridiculous statements that I've ever seen anywhere in my life! Good luck finding a single person at Lexus to ever make this statement!

John

Hi, I don't have an LS460 yet but I'm definitely in the market for buying one. One interesting statement I was told by a luxury car dealer is that at higher elevations the type of gas (oct) used doesn't really matter (something to do with less oxygen at higher altitudes). He mentioned that at sea level it definitely matters but as you go up in elevations, there really isn't a difference.

I live in Denver so I'm curious to know if anyone else has been able to vouch for this.

I gues we can sum this thread up to..... it's your car so fill up with whatever you want to put in your 460. To each their own.

My experience with my '95 Q45a mirrors your experience. I don't remember exactly when I started using regular gas, but probably at least 120,000 of its 188,000 miles were on regular gas. Occasionally I would put in a tank of premium, but I could never see any noticeable performance enhancement and no better gas mileage. Certainly none worth the extra 20 to 30 cents extra per gallon.

The engine runs like it did when it was new. It did get better gas mileage when it was newer, but any engine is going to lose a little as it ages. I've only changed the plugs once at around 100,000 miles and they looked fine. As an aside, the other amazing thing is not only have I not had to change the transmission fluid, but I've never had to add any fluid.

It is sad that people will spend the money for a premium luxury car, and then are too cheap to buy the gas required for optimum performance in their expensive car. I consider you to be a cheapskate and concur with the individual above who said, maybe you should look for something else. Sounds like you are more of an Avalon person than a Lexus person.

< Mikey falls backwards, in TOTAL AMAZEMENT !!!! > -

Nvbanker, your comment isn't appropriate for this conversation or our community as its clearly meant to be insulting.

Please exit this thread.

NVBanker, I too consider myself to be a cheapskate. Obviously I'm smart enough to know where to spend my money, and maybe even more importantly, where NOT to spend my money.

I don't know how you can surmise what I should be driving, but I can tell you that I've driven a wide variety of vehicles. I'm thankful that I don't have people like you making my decisions for me. I appreciate the suggestions, however. I was only providing my own experiences, if you feel inclined to run super unleaded, go for it. Hell, if you want to run 104 octane race fuel in your LS460, then by all means, it's your car.

Once you get your LS ..we will really need your help on a major issue for us who have lowered our cars since you live in Denver..you will get a PM from me shortly to explain

there's a really good article about this in this month's (april 2012) issue of road and track. it's the one with the line of corvettes on the front