When I first got the car, I started with 87 octane, then switched to 89, and eventually moved up to premium. Now, I won’t use anything but 93 octane, and the difference in performance and fuel efficiency has been incredible.
I use what’s recommended as well. Premium.
oddah said:
I use what’s recommended as well. Premium.
What does the sticker in the gas door say to use? Yep it’s what Lexus recommends.
oddah said:
I use what’s recommended as well. Premium.
Yeah assuming the cars maintained the premium is always better imo but I definitely feel a difference in 92 vs 93.
oddah said:
I use what’s recommended as well. Premium.
Yeah assuming the cars maintained the premium is always better imo but I definitely feel a difference in 92 vs 93.
You feel a difference between 92 and 93?
42 year Toyota/Lexus shop here. Using a lower octane will not hurt the car, the computer will just detune it. That said, here is a real life experience. I’ve had my wife in Lexus LSs for 20+ years. Her 2011 LS460 didn’t care if it had non-premium. Her 2014 LS460 would surge going up a hill with non-premium. With premium it was just fine.
@Flint
Where is said shop? Hard out here finding a trustworthy mechanic and shop to do what’s right by our Lexus / Toyota products.
Sarah said:
@Flint
Where is said shop? Hard out here finding a trustworthy mechanic and shop to do what’s right by our Lexus / Toyota products.
Northern suburb of Minneapolis. However, 42 years was enough. I sold and retired last year.
@Flint
God bless, I don’t blame you. I’m ready to retire already and I’m only 32 
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Sarah said:
@Flint
God bless, I don’t blame you. I’m ready to retire already and I’m only 32
50 to 60 hour weeks at auctions, and wrenching on cars, has taken a toll on my body. I’m bored, and I miss it.
@Flint
I can actually agree, I worked outside manual labor since I was 13, recently moved into an office position not even a full year ago, and I miss being outside working with my hands. Don’t get me wrong, when it’s below freezing or hot as can be, I’m thankful to be in climate control, but I absolutely miss it.
My wife primarily put 87 in her 06 RX 330 - hardly a performance vehicle - but has continued to run just fine and we’re at 300k miles with consistent routine maintenance. I will say mileage has been slightly improved with premium when we’ve tested, but not enough to override the price difference.
@Teegan
One of my cousins used to do the same on their 2012 RX and whenever I was in that vehicle, it felt a little louder and not smooth. Just an observation.
87 in my LS400. It’s a shitbox but I tested a tank of 87 vs 91 back to back and didn’t see much change in MPG nor power.
AlexToyotaEnthusiast said:
87 in my LS400. It’s a shitbox but I tested a tank of 87 vs 91 back to back and didn’t see much change in MPG nor power.
Higher octane is to keep the engine cooler and prevent detonation.
@Arlo
Octane just resists knock; it has zero to do with ‘cooling’ an engine. Ethanol is what cools your motor. If 87 doesn’t knock, 93 won’t do anything for a vehicle.
@Arlo
Well it doesn’t get hot here and for what it’s worth, no signs of pre-detonation 
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AlexToyotaEnthusiast said:
@Arlo
Well it doesn’t get hot here and for what it’s worth, no signs of pre-detonation
Internal cylinder temp not outside ambient temperature. Check your plugs.
@Arlo
I’ll check them in 50,000km when it needs new ones.
AlexToyotaEnthusiast said:
@Arlo
I’ll check them in 50,000km when it needs new ones.
Might want to check them before that.