Hello. I recently for just a 2023 NX350. My previous car was an Audi Q5 2015, and if I used Costco gas, I had problems with the improper mixture alarm. What is your experience using Costco gas in the Lexus NX350 2023? Is it okay and have you had any problems?

 

Costco gas has the "Top Tier" designation, so you should be able to have complete confidence in it.
I've been using it almost exclusively in several cars for quite a few years and have never had a problem.

 

Absolutely correct. Top tier and $.35 a gallon less then other top tier stations.

 

I have been using only Costco gas ever since I got my NX two years ago, been using their 94 till few month ago when the prices went thru the roof, I started using their 87, still no issues, yet

 

Ditto to everything mentioned already. I did a road trip last year and felt like there was a degradation of performance the one time I filled up with non Top Tier gas. Could have been all in my head but I've been using Costco gas for for a couple of decades without issues and a lot of savings relative to other stations. On the rare occasions I do have to fill the tank when on the road, I try to find a station that sells Top Tier gas.

 

My 2022 NX350 runs perfect on Costco gas. If I run BJ's gas I get a hesitation when I first press the gas pedal in hot weather but the Costco gas doesn't do that. You will be fine running Costco gas especially if you live where the temps gets over 90 degrees.

 

The Tank in the NX is about 14.5 Gallons, with the Fuel gauge depicting about 12 gallons with the remaining 2.5 in reserve when it says E. It’s best to fuel your car with at least Four gallons of gas each time to minimize dilution of lower grades when a fuel dispenser has multiple grades of gas especially on cars that have small fuel tank capacities.

https://www.theautopian.com/why-the-...s-of-gasoline/

 

All our gasoline blends in Canada come with seasonal adjusted gasolines, changing up the butane content from a summer to winter grade to aid in better running conditions in the cold and warm climates we see. I believe northern US states do a similar thing too.

"Winter gas contains butane, a relatively cheap additive that helps cars start faster and run better in colder weather. In the summer, butane is left out in favour of alkylates, which burn cleaner but are more expensive to produce." (CBC)

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/costoflivin...tion-1.7218212

Of note going on a road trip that would include large changes in elevation will impact a gasoline engines performance capabilities unless it's turbocharged. Higher elevations decrease total HP. I think as well high elevation locations will provide a different grade of gasoline (85 Octane instead of 87 possibly) as well as there's way less chance for engine knock at higher elevations. So a fill up at a high elevation will provide you with different gas than at a lower elevation, and if you fill up at high elevation you may experience lower horsepower and knocking with that gas once you're back down to lower elevations.

https://fleetrabbit.com/blogs/post/h...ne-performance

 

I think its the opposite, at high elevations you can cheap out and get "85" gas, because the air is less dense there is an innately lower chance of knocking so you can get by with really low octane fuel. The danger is fueling up with 85 at a high el, then heading down to lower els with the low octane fuel.

 

You're right I corrected my post thx! You know I was in Aruba last year and rented a car. Looks like these islands close to the Equator only sell 91 octane. Nothing else was offered anywhere on the island. My thoughts are they just cut their losses and use the higher octane to eliminate any knocking concerns from the high temps and high humidity levels.

 

Aruba is Netherlands. They use RON octane rating, as in Europe and rest of the world. 91 RON is about the same as Regular in the US.

 

Costco is my #1 go-to for 93 Octane gasoline locally (MD/DC/VA). Excellent performance ~4 years in my 2022 NX350. I've had similar good performance with 93 Octane Costco gas in other regions (although some regions top out at 91-92 Octane).

Costco in my region has a single gas pump with buttons to choose either 87 or 93. FWIW, I've read that you may get whatever was left in the hose from the 87 Octane customer who just drove away from the pump before your 93 starts flowing.

 

Yup, that is why it’s best to fuel your car with at least four gallons of gas each time to minimize dilution of lower grades when a fuel dispenser has multiple grades of gas especially on cars that have small fuel tank capacities.

That is why the US EPA recommend you fill with at least four gallons of gas.

https://www.theautopian.com/why-the-...s-of-gasoline/

 

Found this fuel grade video, which is saying it's more like only maximum 30 ounces in a 15 foot hose, of the previous pumped fuel grade, and that's only if the pump only has one hose. Today's modern fuel stations bring all the grades up to the kiosk where you make the selection in separate hoses and the switching happens in the kiosk, just at the users hose you dispense the fuel with. So the only possibility of another grade is what would be contained in the dispensing hose which is depending on the length of that hose, around 12, 18, or 30 ounces with a 8, 12 or 15 foot hose length. Four gallons would provide a flushing of more than four times what the dispensing hose contains. So the first 12-30 ounces is from previous fill, then you get your selection chosen coming down the hose. The four gallon amount is chosen to cover the *sses of the retailer.