Premium gas for 2016 RX 450h?
#77
I also use mostly Costco or Arco. I've tried Shell, Chevron etc but they're all the same IMHO.
#78
It's not just the monetary cost of the fuel savings. If you do drive 15k miles per year, the number of visits to the gas pump will drop by ~1/4; and that time should be factored into your cost as well.
And if you really want to save more money; you could always try 89 or 87 octane like a lot of people on here, and see if you notice the difference. 91 is only 'recommended' if you want the best performance. 87 is the actual minimum required (according to some versions of the manual), and the ECM can adjust for it.
#79
I was drawn to Lexus for replacement of my 2008 Highlander Limited because I wanted a more luxurious vehicle which would get somewhat better gas mileage and help the environment at the same time. So I have been exploring the RX 450h (or RX 450hl). In fact, my wife has a 2020 Toyota RAV4 Limited Hybrid that she is happy with (40+ mpg), albeit the number of recalls that the car has had.
However, I’m very confused about the actual fuel savings between the RX 350 and RX 450h. Because the RX 450 requires premium gasoline, it would cost somewhat more at the pump.
Assuming that I drive a RX 450 15,000 miles per year, at an average of 30 mpg, and at $2.97 per gallon (for 93 octane at Exxon), the fuel cost would be $1,485. But for the same distance on the RX 350, which can run on 87 octane ($2.19 per gallon), at an average of 23 mpg, the annual cost would actually be lower, at $1,428.
I thought I was missing something. So I asked the dealer and the response was: 1. You can try 87 octane in the hybrid and see if you lose MPG after getting a baseline from a few tanks of premium. 2. Look at the other 3 benefits of the hybrid (less pollution, quieter, front brakes last longer). If in the end your math doesn’t make sense for the hybrid, please take advantage of an RX350 that uses 87 octane.
Thoughts, anyone? Please don't flame me if I appear to committing sacrilege.
However, I’m very confused about the actual fuel savings between the RX 350 and RX 450h. Because the RX 450 requires premium gasoline, it would cost somewhat more at the pump.
Assuming that I drive a RX 450 15,000 miles per year, at an average of 30 mpg, and at $2.97 per gallon (for 93 octane at Exxon), the fuel cost would be $1,485. But for the same distance on the RX 350, which can run on 87 octane ($2.19 per gallon), at an average of 23 mpg, the annual cost would actually be lower, at $1,428.
I thought I was missing something. So I asked the dealer and the response was: 1. You can try 87 octane in the hybrid and see if you lose MPG after getting a baseline from a few tanks of premium. 2. Look at the other 3 benefits of the hybrid (less pollution, quieter, front brakes last longer). If in the end your math doesn’t make sense for the hybrid, please take advantage of an RX350 that uses 87 octane.
Thoughts, anyone? Please don't flame me if I appear to committing sacrilege.
During the summer I can average a solid 30-32 mpg in my 450h. Drops to 28-29 in the winter, mostly due to winter gas.
#80
Adding to what 1louder just stated, I live in Texas & in my area, it doesn’t get cold enough, so we don’t have winter fuel. However, my mpg will go down in the summer due to the high heat load from running the A/C. In other words, the engine doesn’t shut down as often in order to keep the A/C cold. I have never ever seen 30 mpg from the dealer driving it or my wife or myself driving.
#81
Adding to what 1louder just stated, I live in Texas & in my area, it doesn’t get cold enough, so we don’t have winter fuel. However, my mpg will go down in the summer due to the high heat load from running the A/C. In other words, the engine doesn’t shut down as often in order to keep the A/C cold. I have never ever seen 30 mpg from the dealer driving it or my wife or myself driving.
#82
Pretty sure I read somewhere that the A/C is driven by electric (not belt). So your engine may be running more due to having to run the alternator, not the A/C. I know that when I charge my 12V battery, the engine will shut off more often. You could try charging your battery to see if that helps.
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ericsan13 (12-22-20)
#83
Gas octane
I'm thinking of getting a 2022 RX hybrid. Dealer says it requires premium gas. Does anyone have experience using regular gas. I had a 2008 RX hybrid that ran fine on regular.
#85
https://ownersman.com/manuals/2022-L...-owners-manual
Page 454 says, "91 (Research Octane Number 96) or higher."
Page 461 goes on to say, "If the octane rating is less than 91, damage to the engine may occur and may void the warranty".
So this is stronger language than I've seen so far. My 2016 450h manual recommends 91, but says using lower is OK if that's all you have available. Many in this thread run regular. But to be honest I don't recall the language being that strong before. Wonder if this is a change with the 2022 model. octane rating is less than 91, damage to the engine may occur and may void the vehicle warranty
#86
Same BS in my manual. I STILL USE REGULAR. Here is the quote from my manual. Lots of "mays" in the statement.
You must only use unleaded gasoline.
Select premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 (Research
Octane Number 96) or higher required for optimum engine performance
and fuel economy.
If the octane rating is less than 91, damage to the engine may occur and may
void the vehicle warranty.
At minimum, the gasoline you use should meet the specifications of ASTM
D4814 in the U.S.A.
You must only use unleaded gasoline.
Select premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 (Research
Octane Number 96) or higher required for optimum engine performance
and fuel economy.
If the octane rating is less than 91, damage to the engine may occur and may
void the vehicle warranty.
At minimum, the gasoline you use should meet the specifications of ASTM
D4814 in the U.S.A.
#87
Sounds like the lawyers talking. ANY modern ICE can automatically adjust to the octane. However, the official performance specs were derived with the recommended octane. I'd expect a very slight reduction in power on regular.
Or it could possibly be that if the knock sensor were to fail then the engine timing would be too advanced for regular and you'd get knocking. Over a long period of time that could lead to engine damage. That said, I've never heard of a modern engine destroyed by using regular.
And, yes, I also run Costco regular, as we have in our other cars over the years. No issues.
Or it could possibly be that if the knock sensor were to fail then the engine timing would be too advanced for regular and you'd get knocking. Over a long period of time that could lead to engine damage. That said, I've never heard of a modern engine destroyed by using regular.
And, yes, I also run Costco regular, as we have in our other cars over the years. No issues.
#88
Driver School Candidate
I found what appears to be a 2022 RX owners manual here.
https://ownersman.com/manuals/2022-L...-owners-manual
Page 454 says, "91 (Research Octane Number 96) or higher."
Page 461 goes on to say, "If the octane rating is less than 91, damage to the engine may occur and may void the warranty".
So this is stronger language than I've seen so far. My 2016 450h manual recommends 91, but says using lower is OK if that's all you have available. Many in this thread run regular. But to be honest I don't recall the language being that strong before. Wonder if this is a change with the 2022 model. octane rating is less than 91, damage to the engine may occur and may void the vehicle warranty
https://ownersman.com/manuals/2022-L...-owners-manual
Page 454 says, "91 (Research Octane Number 96) or higher."
Page 461 goes on to say, "If the octane rating is less than 91, damage to the engine may occur and may void the warranty".
So this is stronger language than I've seen so far. My 2016 450h manual recommends 91, but says using lower is OK if that's all you have available. Many in this thread run regular. But to be honest I don't recall the language being that strong before. Wonder if this is a change with the 2022 model. octane rating is less than 91, damage to the engine may occur and may void the vehicle warranty
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jollick (12-01-21)
#90
The article from Car and Driver I've referenced got republished.
https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...dodge-charger/
Here are the results of the four cars they tested. Note what is minimum vs. recommended.
Also a good summary on knocking:
https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...dodge-charger/
Here are the results of the four cars they tested. Note what is minimum vs. recommended.
Also a good summary on knocking:
Your car doesn't know the octane rating of the fuel in its tank. Instead, the engine controller calculates an inferred octane with closed-loop logic that continuously advances the ignition timing until it detects knock, which occurs when a portion of the fuel-air mixture ignites before the spark-plug-initiated flame front reaches it. The further the computer can advance the timing without provoking knock, the higher the octane rating.
During knock, the flame front travels through the combustion chamber up to 10 times quicker than the normal spark-initiated flame front. Left unchecked, these pressure waves can damage the head gasket, pistons, or cylinder head. But the occasional brief knock is a useful tool for checking that the engine is operating efficiently. It's detected with one or more knock sensors bolted to the block to sense the oscillations created by the pressure waves with a typical frequency between 7 and 16 kilohertz. Stephen Russ, senior technical leader for gas engines at Ford, says this normal knock is usually detected and addressed within one or two combustion cycles and poses no threat to the engine.
During knock, the flame front travels through the combustion chamber up to 10 times quicker than the normal spark-initiated flame front. Left unchecked, these pressure waves can damage the head gasket, pistons, or cylinder head. But the occasional brief knock is a useful tool for checking that the engine is operating efficiently. It's detected with one or more knock sensors bolted to the block to sense the oscillations created by the pressure waves with a typical frequency between 7 and 16 kilohertz. Stephen Russ, senior technical leader for gas engines at Ford, says this normal knock is usually detected and addressed within one or two combustion cycles and poses no threat to the engine.