Yeah, except for the Toyota Century in Japan, which is an ultra-premium model.
Yeah, except for the Toyota Century in Japan, which is an ultra-premium model.
Wait, isn’t the Century a V12? Or did they switch to a V8?
@Kellan
Not true for all Toyota/Lexus models. For example, Lexus said the RX400h needed premium back in the day, but the Toyota Highlander with the same engine was fine with regular.
They share some components, but fuel trims and ECU settings are different.
My dad’s 2013 ES hybrid calls for regular gas, and we’ve used regular gas in our 2006 Acura for years without any problems, even though it says premium only.
Zariah said:
My dad’s 2013 ES hybrid calls for regular gas, and we’ve used regular gas in our 2006 Acura for years without any problems, even though it says premium only.
Same with my 2024 ES hybrid.
Zariah said:
My dad’s 2013 ES hybrid calls for regular gas, and we’ve used regular gas in our 2006 Acura for years without any problems, even though it says premium only.
Same here with my 2015 GS350. Over 200k miles, and no issues.
@Harmon
You’re losing some horsepower, though. The engine detunes itself when you use lower-octane fuel. It won’t knock, but you’ll definitely lose performance.
CarLoverDave1 said:
@Harmon
You’re losing some horsepower, though. The engine detunes itself when you use lower-octane fuel. It won’t knock, but you’ll definitely lose performance.
Yeah, I know I’m losing a little power, but it’s more than enough for me, and the cost savings make it worth it.
@Harmon
We’ve put regular gas in our 2006 BMW X3 with no noticeable difference. We only do it occasionally, though, since we prefer to stick with premium.
Even though the engines are similar, Lexus models usually have higher compression ratios, which is why they recommend premium.
Frances said:
Even though the engines are similar, Lexus models usually have higher compression ratios, which is why they recommend premium.
I’d agree. BMW engines are similar across models, but compression can vary. My car has the lowest compression because it runs at 24 psi boost.
@esleystanley
Turbo engines usually need premium fuel.
Fallon said:
@esleystanley
Turbo engines usually need premium fuel.
Not always. The new turbo Tundras run fine on regular gas, though my friend still uses premium.
I love these discussions. Lexus recommends premium for a reason. Yes, you can probably get by with regular, but it’s not what the engine is designed for. Think of it like eating fast food—it’s cheaper, but do you really want to put that in your body all the time?
It depends on the engine. My NX350h shares the same powertrain as the Toyota Highlander and Sienna. You can use either 87 or 91 octane.
Brianna said:
It depends on the engine. My NX350h shares the same powertrain as the Toyota Highlander and Sienna. You can use either 87 or 91 octane.
What happens if you use 93?
Brianna said:
It depends on the engine. My NX350h shares the same powertrain as the Toyota Highlander and Sienna. You can use either 87 or 91 octane.
What happens if you use 93?
Nothing, really, except spending more money. It’s all about the fuel’s ability to handle compression.
I just got my NX450h+ and asked about this. The dealership said that if the fuel door says premium only, then you should use it. The manual also says you won’t get optimal performance with regular fuel.
@Zya
Higher octane burns slower, which is why you shouldn’t use regular in an engine that calls for premium. It could cause knocking over time.