What octane gas do u use?
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,124
Likes: 40
From: California
Originally posted by SDSC300
wouldn't that be considered race gas? ... I didn't say that wasn't available ...
wouldn't that be considered race gas? ... I didn't say that wasn't available ...
It's offered as a "Super Premium" grade from the three grades they provide:
Super Premium - 100 Octane
Premium - 92 Octane
Regular - 87 Octane
Last edited by EmeraldLexuSC3; Aug 7, 2003 at 11:13 AM.
Originally posted by Ebanks
116.
116.
But he needs it!Use what ever premium gas is available. Its 93 here in Florida. The car is designed (ignition and timing) for premium unleaded...just read the sticker on the gas door. Using lower octane gas won't hurt the car, but you will lose meilage and performance, and emissions aren't guaranteed........same is true putting premium in a car designed for regular. Always add what the car is designed for....as long as its stock or close to.
Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
I went through this dilemma with my 95 400 when first I bought it. Read all the threads on this that I could find on CL and elsewhere. Bottom line is I started with 93 and decided to try 89 to see if it would ping and it didn’t. Since my GS300 ran well on 87 with no mileage or performance drop, I decided to try 87 just for one tank to see the effects. Bottom line is that it ran just as well as 93. I drive 70 miles a day and occasionally get on it to play. Haven’t had it ping yet and haven’t noticed any performance changes. You may want to try a modest grade change to see what happen. If you feel comfortable with the performance, pocket the cost difference and eventually buy a toy for your SC or put it toward your insurance.
Research the threads that have been posted here at CL and then make up your mind. Be prepared for different opinions. For me, until I notice any difference, 87 works well. Just my $.02.
Research the threads that have been posted here at CL and then make up your mind. Be prepared for different opinions. For me, until I notice any difference, 87 works well. Just my $.02.
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,124
Likes: 40
From: California
Originally posted by hansjl
I went through this dilemma with my 95 400 when first I bought it. Read all the threads on this that I could find on CL and elsewhere. Bottom line is I started with 93 and decided to try 89 to see if it would ping and it didn’t. Since my GS300 ran well on 87 with no mileage or performance drop, I decided to try 87 just for one tank to see the effects. Bottom line is that it ran just as well as 93. I drive 70 miles a day and occasionally get on it to play. Haven’t had it ping yet and haven’t noticed any performance changes. You may want to try a modest grade change to see what happen. If you feel comfortable with the performance, pocket the cost difference and eventually buy a toy for your SC or put it toward your insurance.
Research the threads that have been posted here at CL and then make up your mind. Be prepared for different opinions. For me, until I notice any difference, 87 works well. Just my $.02.
I went through this dilemma with my 95 400 when first I bought it. Read all the threads on this that I could find on CL and elsewhere. Bottom line is I started with 93 and decided to try 89 to see if it would ping and it didn’t. Since my GS300 ran well on 87 with no mileage or performance drop, I decided to try 87 just for one tank to see the effects. Bottom line is that it ran just as well as 93. I drive 70 miles a day and occasionally get on it to play. Haven’t had it ping yet and haven’t noticed any performance changes. You may want to try a modest grade change to see what happen. If you feel comfortable with the performance, pocket the cost difference and eventually buy a toy for your SC or put it toward your insurance.
Research the threads that have been posted here at CL and then make up your mind. Be prepared for different opinions. For me, until I notice any difference, 87 works well. Just my $.02.
Last edited by EmeraldLexuSC3; Aug 8, 2003 at 09:49 AM.
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
The octane rating is really a knock rating. You can use 87 octane and it wont knock.
The only downside is slight power loss which you wont be able to tell.The car
companys tell you to use premium because, thats what they get the advertised horsepower with.
The only downside is slight power loss which you wont be able to tell.The car
companys tell you to use premium because, thats what they get the advertised horsepower with.
Driver
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: Florida
I use premium in both my LS400 and SC300 but the following article makes me think twice about it.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...emiumgas_x.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...emiumgas_x.htm
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,124
Likes: 40
From: California
Originally posted by stock300
I use premium in both my LS400 and SC300 but the following article makes me think twice about it.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...emiumgas_x.htm
I use premium in both my LS400 and SC300 but the following article makes me think twice about it.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...emiumgas_x.htm
I will have to hit this article up with my Father-in law who recently retired from Chevron-Texaco down in Bakersfield.
Last edited by EmeraldLexuSC3; Aug 8, 2003 at 03:48 PM.
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Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,056
Likes: 0
From: Washington
Tend to stick with premium, but in the article, he was saying how his wife's turbo car ran just as well on 89 as it did on 91. Now, i know that for forced induction cars when the fuel/air mixture is heated up by compressed air, higher octane is necessary to stop the knocking. Maybe the car she has has a small turbo and low compression, but if I had forced induction, I wouldn't think twice about using anything BUT the highest grade possible. Am I missing something there?
James
James
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Forced Induction necessarily mean that you need to go to a higher octane unless needed, for example grand prix GTPs run on 87 (regular) unless they change the pulley. I've used 87, 89, 91, 93 in my car. It always runs smooth on 93 but it used to run rough on anything else and didnt seem to like to by driven below 2k rpms much, so I kept using 93. Went to a gas station when my car was running on fumes and all they had was 87 and it ran rough under 2k for a lil but then it smoothed out after a few miles but holy **** the thing ran really strong when I was flooring it so I tried to run another 1/4 tank of 87 at another gas station but it never felt that strong like that again. My car seems more picky on where I get the regular gas when I put, sometimes it runs smooth with it, sometimes it idles rough. I just stick to premium for now to be safe.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 607
Likes: 0
From: California
im in cali, and i use 91 ($1.79) on my sc400.
race gas is octang 100 and up :P
their's gas station everywhere near me that have these gas, but their's no reason to run it on a stock built car.
the compression wont make good use of the extra octang, and leaded gas is bad for stock injectors
gas isnt that bad now, i remember a few months back when i paid $2.25 for 91.
damn you gray davis
race gas is octang 100 and up :P
their's gas station everywhere near me that have these gas, but their's no reason to run it on a stock built car.
the compression wont make good use of the extra octang, and leaded gas is bad for stock injectors
gas isnt that bad now, i remember a few months back when i paid $2.25 for 91.
damn you gray davis
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
From: California
Is there a knock sensor?
Well, around here (SF Bay Area) 87 octane is starting to clear $2, with 91 pushing $2.20. Is there a knock sensor in the SC400 that will retard timing (or is it advance for early detonation?) if the fuel causes the engine to knock? Otherwise, won't engine damage occur?
This is actually factoring into my decision to buy an SC400 vs something like a supra turbo or a 300ZX or (gasp) subaru SVX.
This is actually factoring into my decision to buy an SC400 vs something like a supra turbo or a 300ZX or (gasp) subaru SVX.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,525
Likes: 1
From: Pennsylvania
why the gasp? i love the SVX's personally....
from what i've read you can safely use 87 in the engine and it will adjust its self to the change in octane, creating a SLIGHT drop in power.
from what i've read you can safely use 87 in the engine and it will adjust its self to the change in octane, creating a SLIGHT drop in power.