What grade fuel - 87/91?
#1
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What grade fuel - 87/91?
Folks,
Lexus 04 RX330 manual recommends using 87 octane rating fuel and above.
I have always used 91. I want to re-think that with the rising gas prices.
Are there any obvious differences to mpg by using 87 instead of 91? any drops in mpg etc?
Furthermore, has anybody used 85 in the RX330?
bbeam
Lexus 04 RX330 manual recommends using 87 octane rating fuel and above.
I have always used 91. I want to re-think that with the rising gas prices.
Are there any obvious differences to mpg by using 87 instead of 91? any drops in mpg etc?
Furthermore, has anybody used 85 in the RX330?
bbeam
#2
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Hey Blazer,
There have been a few threads regarding gasoline and the RX. Most people use 87 and don't suffer any problems.
I wouldn't use 85 octane beceause that is lower than the recommened level of 87. (I didn't even know they sold 85...)
There have been a few threads regarding gasoline and the RX. Most people use 87 and don't suffer any problems.
I wouldn't use 85 octane beceause that is lower than the recommened level of 87. (I didn't even know they sold 85...)
#3
Originally Posted by blazerbeam
Folks,
Lexus 04 RX330 manual recommends using 87 octane rating fuel and above.
I have always used 91. I want to re-think that with the rising gas prices.
Are there any obvious differences to mpg by using 87 instead of 91? any drops in mpg etc?
Furthermore, has anybody used 85 in the RX330?
bbeam
Lexus 04 RX330 manual recommends using 87 octane rating fuel and above.
I have always used 91. I want to re-think that with the rising gas prices.
Are there any obvious differences to mpg by using 87 instead of 91? any drops in mpg etc?
Furthermore, has anybody used 85 in the RX330?
bbeam
#5
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After filling up w/ 89 octane since Aug '03, I put in 87 today; I'll give it a try for a while... With all this BS about jerky shifts, clunks and what not, does this vehicle deserve anything higher?!?
#6
We are not tuning these cars for max power. The only variable to look for is air intake temps.
If 87 works for you all winter then thats fine. Pay more attention when it gets hot outside and if you have no problems in the peak of summer you are good to go.
These cars, like many, have a safety margin factored in. If Lexus says 87 is good, then not with-standing a bad tank of gas, you should have no problems in any conditions using that octane rating.
If anyone wants the long version of this issue I'll post it. Octane and detonation is an on going discussion in the performance world.
Octane is a stabilizer which gives a more controlled burn. Thus you can tune for more power based on it's prediictability. By just adding a higher octane, it will NOT give you more power, but will resist detonation better.
One issue to consider is whether the fuel companies add better detergents to their high octane fuels. The high octanes might also be cleaner with less contamiants. But, this is all hear-say.
Who really knows.
If 87 works for you all winter then thats fine. Pay more attention when it gets hot outside and if you have no problems in the peak of summer you are good to go.
These cars, like many, have a safety margin factored in. If Lexus says 87 is good, then not with-standing a bad tank of gas, you should have no problems in any conditions using that octane rating.
If anyone wants the long version of this issue I'll post it. Octane and detonation is an on going discussion in the performance world.
Octane is a stabilizer which gives a more controlled burn. Thus you can tune for more power based on it's prediictability. By just adding a higher octane, it will NOT give you more power, but will resist detonation better.
One issue to consider is whether the fuel companies add better detergents to their high octane fuels. The high octanes might also be cleaner with less contamiants. But, this is all hear-say.
Who really knows.
#7
I agree with Campell, higher octane does NOT equal to better gas for our cars. This topic has been discussed many times here and at the maintenance forum. Search button is a wonderful tool.
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#8
Lexus Champion
Originally Posted by blazerbeam
Folks,
Are there any obvious differences to mpg by using 87 instead of 91? any drops in mpg etc?
Furthermore, has anybody used 85 in the RX330?
Are there any obvious differences to mpg by using 87 instead of 91? any drops in mpg etc?
Furthermore, has anybody used 85 in the RX330?
To: bizzy928 - In high altitude area like Colorado and Wyoming, the regular gas is 85 octane. It supposes to work like 87 due to thin air.
#14
Higher octane means higher resistance to explosion, if your engine can not take advanage of the lower volitality nature of higher octane gas, you basically send gas unburned down your exhaust system. Incomplete mixture burn causes HP lost and clogging of your cat.
That is why "premium" does not equal to performance. You have to dyno the HP gain, not just "butt dyno" - feeling HP gained because you just spend extra $ per gallon.
I will stick with 87 since it is recommended by Lexus for RX's 1MZFE engine.
That is why "premium" does not equal to performance. You have to dyno the HP gain, not just "butt dyno" - feeling HP gained because you just spend extra $ per gallon.
I will stick with 87 since it is recommended by Lexus for RX's 1MZFE engine.
Last edited by TunedRX300; 04-27-05 at 11:16 PM.