View Poll Results: What gas do you put into your 2RX?
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Regular Unleaded
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Do you need Premium Gas in the 2RX (merged discussion threads)
04-10-13, 04:49 PM
#571
This thread provided an itch of curiosity. I mentioned before what the difference in price would be between 93+ and 87. I've quoted it below to refresh your memory.
I had to drive to St. Louis a few days ago and I took the RX. I started on empty and filled up with 87 at my local Shell station. I put in 14.8 gallons at $3.399. This was a total of $50.31 price paid. On the trip there, there was a small crosswind over I-70, blowing at about 5 kn to from southwest to northeast. I was traveling West. The total trip was 268 miles. I used 14.1 gallons, averaging 19 MPG.
Driving around the city, I used most of the gasoline in the tank. I filled up again, at a Shell, right before I left to head home. This time I put in 93+ fuel. I put in 15 gallons at $3.52. This was a total of $52.80. On the drive home, there was a stiffer crosswind, blowing at roughly at 8 kn North to South. I was heading East. Driving the same route home, the trip was 268 miles. I used 11.55 gallons, averaging 23.2 MPG.
This is where the math gets interesting, so bare with me.
Trip to St. Louis from Indianapolis
Distance: 268 Miles
Fuel: Shell 87 @ $3.399
Fuel Used: 14.1G
MPG: 19
Total Cost: (14.1G @ $3.399) $47.93
Trip from St. Louis back to Indianapolis
Distance: 268 Miles
Fuel: Shell 93+ V-Power @ $3.529
Fuel Used: 11.55G
MPG: 23.2
Total Cost: (11.55G @ $3.529) $40.76
Analysis
Total Cost at Pump
Regular: $50.31
Premium: $52.80
Total Savings Using Regular: $2.49
Total Fuel Costs for Trip
Regular: $47.93
Premium: $40.76
Total Savings Using Premium: $7.17
Total Net Savings Using Premium: $4.68
I think this speaks for itself. Premium fuel runs cleaner, yields higher performance, is recommended for your engine, and saves you money in the long term. Don't pinch pennies at the pump, because you'll spend more in the end.
Though to thoroughly prove this, more testing would need to be done; however, the wind was even in favor of the regular (87 Octane) gasoline. This is proof enough for me. I hope this wasn't a waste of time to read for you.
I had to drive to St. Louis a few days ago and I took the RX. I started on empty and filled up with 87 at my local Shell station. I put in 14.8 gallons at $3.399. This was a total of $50.31 price paid. On the trip there, there was a small crosswind over I-70, blowing at about 5 kn to from southwest to northeast. I was traveling West. The total trip was 268 miles. I used 14.1 gallons, averaging 19 MPG.
Driving around the city, I used most of the gasoline in the tank. I filled up again, at a Shell, right before I left to head home. This time I put in 93+ fuel. I put in 15 gallons at $3.52. This was a total of $52.80. On the drive home, there was a stiffer crosswind, blowing at roughly at 8 kn North to South. I was heading East. Driving the same route home, the trip was 268 miles. I used 11.55 gallons, averaging 23.2 MPG.
This is where the math gets interesting, so bare with me.
Trip to St. Louis from Indianapolis
Distance: 268 Miles
Fuel: Shell 87 @ $3.399
Fuel Used: 14.1G
MPG: 19
Total Cost: (14.1G @ $3.399) $47.93
Trip from St. Louis back to Indianapolis
Distance: 268 Miles
Fuel: Shell 93+ V-Power @ $3.529
Fuel Used: 11.55G
MPG: 23.2
Total Cost: (11.55G @ $3.529) $40.76
Analysis
Total Cost at Pump
Regular: $50.31
Premium: $52.80
Total Savings Using Regular: $2.49
Total Fuel Costs for Trip
Regular: $47.93
Premium: $40.76
Total Savings Using Premium: $7.17
Total Net Savings Using Premium: $4.68
I think this speaks for itself. Premium fuel runs cleaner, yields higher performance, is recommended for your engine, and saves you money in the long term. Don't pinch pennies at the pump, because you'll spend more in the end.
Though to thoroughly prove this, more testing would need to be done; however, the wind was even in favor of the regular (87 Octane) gasoline. This is proof enough for me. I hope this wasn't a waste of time to read for you.
Your savings is the full $7.17. There is no need to subtract your cost "penalty" for filling-up with premium.
04-11-13, 06:52 AM
#573
The elevation of St. Louis is 465 feet. The elevation of Indianapolis is 715 feet. Just making sure this was not a factor. In fact, it looks like the premium trip was slightly more uphill than the regular unleaded trip.
04-11-13, 01:36 PM
#574
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One trip in two different directions, under different conditions means very little. I tried a tank of 93 vs 87 and my mileage stayed the same at 19.5.
Contact a fleet owner with a few thousand vehicles and see what they have to say.
04-11-13, 05:06 PM
#575
Pole Position
The inside rear cover of my "2006 Lexus Owner's Manual, RX330", says this" FUEL SELECTION: Premium unleaded gasoline with an Octane Rating of 91 (Research Octane Number 96) or higher required for optimum engine performance. However, if such premium type cannot be obtained, you may use unleaded gasoline with an Octane Rating as low as 87 (Research Octane Number 91).
So why are you guys talking like 87 gas is the default mode? It is not; 91 octane gas is. That being said, I generally use 89 and sometimes 87 and at (a mere) 60,000 miles have seen no problem. But the default gas is 91 octane. Or maybe I'm missing something?
So why are you guys talking like 87 gas is the default mode? It is not; 91 octane gas is. That being said, I generally use 89 and sometimes 87 and at (a mere) 60,000 miles have seen no problem. But the default gas is 91 octane. Or maybe I'm missing something?
04-11-13, 05:35 PM
#576
The inside rear cover of my "2006 Lexus Owner's Manual, RX330", says this" FUEL SELECTION: Premium unleaded gasoline with an Octane Rating of 91 (Research Octane Number 96) or higher required for optimum engine performance. However, if such premium type cannot be obtained, you may use unleaded gasoline with an Octane Rating as low as 87 (Research Octane Number 91).
So why are you guys talking like 87 gas is the default mode? It is not; 91 octane gas is. That being said, I generally use 89 and sometimes 87 and at (a mere) 60,000 miles have seen no problem. But the default gas is 91 octane. Or maybe I'm missing something?
So why are you guys talking like 87 gas is the default mode? It is not; 91 octane gas is. That being said, I generally use 89 and sometimes 87 and at (a mere) 60,000 miles have seen no problem. But the default gas is 91 octane. Or maybe I'm missing something?
Octane rating
Select Octane Rating 87 (Research Octane Number 91) or
higher. For improved vehicle performance, the use of
premium unleaded gasoline with an Octane Rating of 91
(Research Octane Number 96) or higher is recommended.
http://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/do...004rx33/62.pdf
Why I have cautioned in the past that what is true for one is not necessarily true for another here at CL when it comes to such matters.
04-11-13, 05:36 PM
#577
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[QUOTE=daryll40;7878860] FUEL SELECTION: Premium unleaded gasoline with an Octane Rating of 91 (Research Octane Number 96) or higher required for optimum engine performance. /QUOTE]
I am using 87 because I drive it like a grandma (it's her car) so I'm not after optimum engine performance. It is my understanding that the engine management will prevent any harm to the engine. It's reasonable to expect performance as in 0-60 times will suffer.
I am using 87 because I drive it like a grandma (it's her car) so I'm not after optimum engine performance. It is my understanding that the engine management will prevent any harm to the engine. It's reasonable to expect performance as in 0-60 times will suffer.
04-11-13, 05:41 PM
#578
Pole Position
Interesting that the instructions changed from '04 to '06. I wonder if there are any actual engines changes or if they found that 87 would cause harm over long periods of use...or if they just are doing CYA. Or if they got complaints of sluggishness and this was a "cheap fix". Or if they got more MPGs (or even fractions of an MPG) by recommending 91 as the default?
04-11-13, 05:59 PM
#579
Interesting that the instructions changed from '04 to '06. I wonder if there are any actual engines changes or if they found that 87 would cause harm over long periods of use...or if they just are doing CYA. Or if they got complaints of sluggishness and this was a "cheap fix". Or if they got more MPGs (or even fractions of an MPG) by recommending 91 as the default?
2004:
http://www.edmunds.com/lexus/rx-330/...ml?style=&sub=
2005:
http://www.edmunds.com/lexus/rx-330/...ml?style=&sub=
2006:
http://www.edmunds.com/lexus/rx-330/...ml?style=&sub=
They may have been looking for solutions to make customers happy with the complaints regarding the transmission's slow shifts and other performance issues.
The 2005 Owner's Manual reads the same as the 2004. When I researched the OP's question I made sure to go online at Lexus to check to see what his Owner's Manual stated for his vehicle.
04-11-13, 06:17 PM
#580
Pole Position
My guess is that, based on this, 87 will work fine if you don't care about power. I do wonder what the exact MPG difference is between 91 and 87 under exactly equal conditions. Since our driving is variable, I can't tell for sure. It coudk be that 91 or even 93 is actually cheaper. Or not.
04-11-13, 07:11 PM
#581
My guess is that, based on this, 87 will work fine if you don't care about power. I do wonder what the exact MPG difference is between 91 and 87 under exactly equal conditions. Since our driving is variable, I can't tell for sure. It coudk be that 91 or even 93 is actually cheaper. Or not.
Now, as I have stated previous when I travel to PA and will be up in the mountains with a fully loaded vehicle I am more likely to run 89 or 93 octane. Not unusual for me to put in 3K miles on such a trip and traveling to some of the higher locations in PA (highest east of the Mississippi), up and down the hills on the back roads, pretty much circling the state making stops with friends and family along the way.
04-11-13, 07:18 PM
#582
Pole Position
I still would like to hear from others regarding MPG at 87 and 91 or 93. As an aside, I often will estimate how much of the about 19 gallon tank is empty, then fill about half of that with 93 octane and finish with 87. I end up with 90 octane that's about the same price or even a penny per two gallon less than the "poorest value" 89 octane. A little more work (two transactions) and probably silly. But, hey, that's how I accumulated enough to drive Lexi!
Last edited by daryll40; 04-11-13 at 07:29 PM.
04-11-13, 07:46 PM
#583
I still would like to hear from others regarding MPG at 87 and 91 or 93. As an aside, I often will estimate how much of the about 19 gallon tank is empty, then fillt about half of that with 93 octane and finish with 87. I end up with 90 octane that's about the same price or even a penny per two gallon less than the "poorest value" 89 octane. A little more work (two transactions) and probably silly. But, hey, that's how I accumulated enough to drive Lexi!
Regarding your last statement, I see people driving Lexus vehicles all the time shopping at Walmart. Now, do they drive a Lexus because they shop at Walmart, or do they shop at Walmart because they drive a Lexus?
04-11-13, 08:01 PM
#584
Pole Position
Looking at such data is nonsensical without correlation to additional data on driving habits and location. I would not expect to see anything useful in the data between what I would see here in FL when compared to the OP's situation living in CO no matter the octane fuel used, as an example. You would be better off experimenting on your own to see what results you get.
Regarding your last statement, I see people driving Lexus vehicles all the time shopping at Walmart. Now, do they drive a Lexus because they shop at Walmart, or do they shop at Walmart because they drive a Lexus?
Regarding your last statement, I see people driving Lexus vehicles all the time shopping at Walmart. Now, do they drive a Lexus because they shop at Walmart, or do they shop at Walmart because they drive a Lexus?
04-12-13, 06:18 AM
#585
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No need to stalk. I spent some time at the Academy. Only a few real metros in the state. If you asked someone on the street in any place other than CO to name a city in CO you would more than likely get Denver as your answer and not Vail, Colorado Springs, or Fort Collins. .