Type of Gasoline?
10-08-21, 07:14 AM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Type of Gasoline?
Just wondering what type of gasoline these NX requires. I assume the NX250, NX350h, NX450h+ will be regular and the NX350 will require premium. Anybody have any insights?
10-08-21, 10:01 AM
#2
Driver School Candidate
From Cars.com I recall, all but the 250 need 91. Since the hybrid borrows from the RX450h which runs on 91.
From another site, "Both hybrids and the turbo recommend 91 octane or higher."
"Less thrilling is that the 350h now has a minimum gasoline octane requirement of 91 like the NX 350 and 450h Plus rather than 87 octane in the previous hybrid and new NX 250."
Last edited by bottlepop; 10-08-21 at 10:15 AM.
10-08-21, 02:23 PM
#3
Racer
Thread Starter
octane rating 87 or research octane number 91? It gets confusing... 
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10-10-21, 07:32 AM
#4
Does a 2021 NX350h use US medium grade gas? And is it correct that the 2022 NX350h will use premium grade gas? With premium being 50 cents per gallon higher than medium grade gas, this is for me a difference to consider.
10-10-21, 01:34 PM
#5
Racer
Thread Starter
Looking at the US pre-order manual
https://www.lexus.com/content/dam/le...reBrochure.pdf
In the performance figures on page 2, there is fine print numbers 4 and 5 for the NX350, NX350h, NX450h+. For NX250 there is only #5 for its' performance.
"4. Ratings achieved using the required premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 or higher. If premium fuel is not used, performance will decrease. 5. Performance figures are for comparison only and were obtained with prototype vehicles by professional drivers"
So based on that, it does look like the NX350, NX350h and NX450h+ will require premium fuel of octane rating of 91 or higher. However, they did say if premium fuel is not used, performance will decrease... so maybe if you want you could use lower octane rating fuel?
Only the NX250 will require regular fuel.
However, I'm curious because the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime only requires regular fuel and gets the same horsepower and 0-60 times
https://www.lexus.com/content/dam/le...reBrochure.pdf
In the performance figures on page 2, there is fine print numbers 4 and 5 for the NX350, NX350h, NX450h+. For NX250 there is only #5 for its' performance.
"4. Ratings achieved using the required premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 or higher. If premium fuel is not used, performance will decrease. 5. Performance figures are for comparison only and were obtained with prototype vehicles by professional drivers"
So based on that, it does look like the NX350, NX350h and NX450h+ will require premium fuel of octane rating of 91 or higher. However, they did say if premium fuel is not used, performance will decrease... so maybe if you want you could use lower octane rating fuel?
Only the NX250 will require regular fuel.
However, I'm curious because the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime only requires regular fuel and gets the same horsepower and 0-60 times
10-10-21, 07:44 PM
#6
Driver School Candidate
It seems extremely weird that the Highlander and Sienna use the same system as the NX350h yet make a few more HP and still recommend regular vs premium in the Lexus version of the drivetrain.
10-11-21, 04:05 AM
#7
Pole Position
Have used 87 octane in our 2015 RX450h and currently 2017 which both premium is recommended. Experimenting with the other two levels, I have noticed zero difference in gas mileage or performance. I have used 87 in cars that have required premium for over a million miles and have not had one problem.
I always revert back to two MIT graduates that are car mechanics who had a syndicated radio show called Car Talk for 35 years.
http://www.cartalk.com/content/premi...egular-0#myth4
From the USA Today:
The only modern engines that should really need premium are those with superchargers, which force-feed fuel into the cylinders. "You're driving along and just tramp the gas and the knock sensor cannot sense the knock fast enough in some cases," because the supercharger boosts pressure so fast, says Bob Furey, chemist and fuels specialist at General Motors.
Burning regular when the owner's manual specifies premium won't void the warranty, nor damage the engine, even the most finicky automakers say. "You're giving up perhaps just a little bit of performance that a customer wouldn't really even notice, it's so slight," says Furey.
I always revert back to two MIT graduates that are car mechanics who had a syndicated radio show called Car Talk for 35 years.
http://www.cartalk.com/content/premi...egular-0#myth4
From the USA Today:
The only modern engines that should really need premium are those with superchargers, which force-feed fuel into the cylinders. "You're driving along and just tramp the gas and the knock sensor cannot sense the knock fast enough in some cases," because the supercharger boosts pressure so fast, says Bob Furey, chemist and fuels specialist at General Motors.
Burning regular when the owner's manual specifies premium won't void the warranty, nor damage the engine, even the most finicky automakers say. "You're giving up perhaps just a little bit of performance that a customer wouldn't really even notice, it's so slight," says Furey.
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10-11-21, 08:05 AM
#8
Intermediate
Looking at the US pre-order manual
https://www.lexus.com/content/dam/le...reBrochure.pdf
In the performance figures on page 2, there is fine print numbers 4 and 5 for the NX350, NX350h, NX450h+. For NX250 there is only #5 for its' performance.
"4. Ratings achieved using the required premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 or higher. If premium fuel is not used, performance will decrease. 5. Performance figures are for comparison only and were obtained with prototype vehicles by professional drivers"
So based on that, it does look like the NX350, NX350h and NX450h+ will require premium fuel of octane rating of 91 or higher. However, they did say if premium fuel is not used, performance will decrease
https://www.lexus.com/content/dam/le...reBrochure.pdf
In the performance figures on page 2, there is fine print numbers 4 and 5 for the NX350, NX350h, NX450h+. For NX250 there is only #5 for its' performance.
"4. Ratings achieved using the required premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 or higher. If premium fuel is not used, performance will decrease. 5. Performance figures are for comparison only and were obtained with prototype vehicles by professional drivers"
So based on that, it does look like the NX350, NX350h and NX450h+ will require premium fuel of octane rating of 91 or higher. However, they did say if premium fuel is not used, performance will decrease
I'm guessing that about 1% of Lexus owners "use" all that horsepower/torque ever.
I'd be perfectly comfortable with using regular gas, especially at the price premium (no pun intended) that Premium currently commands.
10-11-21, 09:11 AM
#9
Racer
Thread Starter
Will just need to wait to see more details on Premium recommended or Premium required. I assume during warranty period you may want to stay with Premium, but they saying if premium is not used, performance will decrease which means you can use regular gas.
However, if you are looking at the NX450h+, you may not be filling up that frequent and charging more. If that is the case, then maybe premium may not be that much more per fills.
However, if you are looking at the NX450h+, you may not be filling up that frequent and charging more. If that is the case, then maybe premium may not be that much more per fills.
10-28-21, 01:00 PM
#10
Driver School Candidate
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Here is what the RX 450h owner's manual says:
"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. If 91 octane cannot be obtained, you may use unleaded gasoline with an octane rating as low as 87 (Research Octane Number 91). Use of unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 91 may result in engine knocking and significantly reduced performance. Persistent knocking can lead to engine damage and should be corrected by refueling with higher octane unleaded gasoline."
We will know whether premium gas is required or recommended for NX 350h and NX 450h+ when the owner's manual becomes available.
RX 450h, however, is not on the 'Premium Required' but on the 'Premium Recommended' list that Edmunds.com published:
https://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy...g-premium.html
The article says that modern engines won't be damaged from using regular gas because engine control systems can compensate for low octane by adjusting ignition timing to avoid knocking.
"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. If 91 octane cannot be obtained, you may use unleaded gasoline with an octane rating as low as 87 (Research Octane Number 91). Use of unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 91 may result in engine knocking and significantly reduced performance. Persistent knocking can lead to engine damage and should be corrected by refueling with higher octane unleaded gasoline."
We will know whether premium gas is required or recommended for NX 350h and NX 450h+ when the owner's manual becomes available.
RX 450h, however, is not on the 'Premium Required' but on the 'Premium Recommended' list that Edmunds.com published:
https://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy...g-premium.html
The article says that modern engines won't be damaged from using regular gas because engine control systems can compensate for low octane by adjusting ignition timing to avoid knocking.
Last edited by ocotillo; 10-28-21 at 01:13 PM. Reason: Added info from Edmunds.com
10-28-21, 04:20 PM
#11
Driver School Candidate
I think 'lsft' posted a link to the 2022 NX350H owner's manual in the thread about turn signals.
The section about fuel states the following:
"You must only use unleaded gasoline in your vehicle.
Recommended to use premium unleaded gasoline with octane rating of 91 (Re-search Octane Number of 96) or higher for optimum engine performance. You may use unleaded gasoline with octane rating as low as 87 (Research Octane Number of 91). In this case, engine performance may be decreased
Use of octane rating unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 87 may result in engine knocking. Persistent knocking can lead to engine damage.."
Looks like they removed the warning about potential knocking issues for 87 Octane but referred to anything under 87 instead. This is in line with what was said about modern engines being able to adjust timing to avoid knocking with lower octane fuels.
\n this case, engine performance may be decreased
The section about fuel states the following:
"You must only use unleaded gasoline in your vehicle.
Recommended to use premium unleaded gasoline with octane rating of 91 (Re-search Octane Number of 96) or higher for optimum engine performance. You may use unleaded gasoline with octane rating as low as 87 (Research Octane Number of 91). In this case, engine performance may be decreased
Use of octane rating unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 87 may result in engine knocking. Persistent knocking can lead to engine damage.."
Looks like they removed the warning about potential knocking issues for 87 Octane but referred to anything under 87 instead. This is in line with what was said about modern engines being able to adjust timing to avoid knocking with lower octane fuels.
\n this case, engine performance may be decreased
10-28-21, 05:00 PM
#12
The new NX will have the current powertrains from the RAV4. So its the same powertrain for the NX250 and NX450h. With the 350 the all new Turbo engine.
What do the RAV4 and Prime use?
What do the RAV4 and Prime use?
Last edited by RXWes; 10-28-21 at 06:06 PM.
10-29-21, 12:37 PM
#13
Pole Position
Good article and You Tube clip on gasoline grades.
https://www.consumerreports.org/car-...h-extra-price/
https://www.consumerreports.org/car-...h-extra-price/
10-29-21, 01:35 PM
#14
My wife's NX, and my RCF, both state "Premium Fuel Only". So not recommended, but required! So.... that's why I use Premium. Hoping to buy a 2022 NX hybrid, and also hoping it will state "Premium Fuel Recommended"!!!!
