Olin said:
@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.
Modern engines can adjust for this with the ECU.
Here in Europe, I get better range with premium gas, and I like treating my Lexus well!
Sounds like you’ve got champagne taste on a beer budget.
I’ve got a 2005 RX that runs on regular, but my 2022 NX says premium only. If they recommend it, it’s probably for a good reason.
If the extra $5 per tank bothers you that much, maybe you shouldn’t be buying a luxury car.
DolphGabbana said:
If the extra $5 per tank bothers you that much, maybe you shouldn’t be buying a luxury car.
That’s a misconception. Wealthy people don’t waste money where they don’t have to. Saving on gas is just one of many ways to manage costs.
It’s all in the tuning. Even though the engines are similar, they’re tuned differently. Turbo engines should always use premium, even if regular is acceptable.
Which models or years does this apply to? It would be interesting to see a detailed comparison.
Clarke said:
Which models or years does this apply to? It would be interesting to see a detailed comparison.
A good example would be the 2024 TX350 and the Grand Highlander. They have almost identical engines, but the Lexus has slightly more horsepower.
It’s all about the engine computer being tuned differently for ignition timing and compression.
Hey all! I’m not really a car expert, but I just bought a 2000 Lexus ES300 with 150k miles. Should I be using regular or premium gas? I’m on a tight budget and would prefer to use regular if possible. Any advice would be appreciated!
@Aeron
I drove a ‘98 LS400 for 25 years and always used regular, even though it said premium was required. Never had a problem. You should be fine using regular in your ES.