2008 RX-350 Fuel Octane Rating
#16
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http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/288841
I suspect the Ethanol lobby will soon win over the state legislature though so real gasoline will probably not be available for long here.
#17
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We have E10 here in Florida. Actually came into being in my area soon after I got here in mid-April. Already have some idle issues with it and the mileage has already tapered off about 2 mpg.
#20
Lexus Champion
#21
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http://www.energyjustice.net/ethanol/factsheet.html
Or view these video news reports:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPFE_IWlFNk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9QQcP_Y1II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYxD9VIH4L8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeVT7jMYZlo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpf3C2EReVo
After review, I think you will conclude that Ethanol is a farce that is neither economical, good for the environment nor a sustainable source of fuel. It's good for tree-huggers who don't take the time to educate themselves as it gives them a cause. It's good for the large farmers. It's good for the oil companies as they get a federal subsidy to add it to their gasoline. You might also conclude that it is bad for us. It does next to nothing to wean us off of foreign oil and is polluting our environment more than real gasoline would. You might also notice it is using water from our rivers and aquifers at an unsustainable rate.
All that aside, it is easily demonstrable that since ethanol has 34% less energy per volume than gasoline you will get less mileage when you add it to your tank. For most people E10 will deliver 1-2 MPG less. E85 yields a 30% drop in miles per gallon.
#22
Lexus Test Driver
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When it comes to ethanol, the effects are immediate and apparent. Not like octane where you may or may not notice a difference, you may or may not experience knocking. When you switch to E10 from non ethanol gas, the difference is night and day (Not so much the power but in your gas mileage) immediately.
#23
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After review, I think you will conclude that Ethanol is a farce that is neither economical, good for the environment nor a sustainable source of fuel. It's good for tree-huggers who don't take the time to educate themselves as it gives them a cause. It's good for the large farmers.
#24
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Using real gas (non Ethanol) and mostly premium I have averaged 22.1 MPG over 40,000 miles of combined 40/60 (city/highway) driving in my RX.
MIN MPG 17.2
MAX MPG 27.2
AVG MPG 22.1
What you choose to burn in your RX is your choice. I've made my decision on what to burn and these were the reasons for my choice.
#26
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When it comes to ethanol, the effects are immediate and apparent. Not like octane where you may or may not notice a difference, you may or may not experience knocking. When you switch to E10 from non ethanol gas, the difference is night and day (Not so much the power but in your gas mileage) immediately.
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#27
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Not just the RX but any car. I believe it was April 2006 that our state started using E10. Up until that point we had no E10 anywhere. Over night I watched all my cars drop in mileage by about 2 MPG. I mean, one week I'm getting my usual 20-22 MPG on the RX with a cruising range of about 385 as indicated on the info screen (Usually fill up when I get around 330 miles on the trip meter), then all of a sudden the next fill up with E10 and each week thereafter I dropped to about 18 MPG and my info screen cruising range peaked at about 340 miles, and I would have to fill up at around 285 miles on the trip meter.
#28
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Heck, some people save money by putting in the cheaper gas which is just fine with me as that is their car, but then still are willing to pay $75 at the dealer for an oil change
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#29
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Heck, some people save money by putting in the cheaper gas which is just fine with me as that is their car, but then still are willing to pay $75 at the dealer for an oil change
I buy the OEM filter from the dealer for $10, buy some synthetic Mobile 1 for $25 at Walmart, change the oil myself and that alone saves more money within a year than you save in gas.
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#30
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Thats depends on how much you think your time is worth. By the time you buy the oil and the filter and do the work. You are looking at about an hour worth of work to save about $35. Do you make more than $35 an hour at work? Not everybody enjoy doing work on their car. As far as the gas debate, if regular doesnt harm the car and they dont mind the lower horsepower, then it money in the pocket.
Honestly, I personally feel it will take more time to actually drive to the dealer, wait for the service writer, sit down with them, have the dealership do the service, then take 30 minutes to change the oil yourself. Even if the dealership drops you off or gives you a loaner it still takes longer or at least the same amount of wasted time. The only difference is one you are wasting time doing the work yourself at home, and the other you are wasting time taking your car to the dealer and going through the service department.
As for how long it mat actually take to change the oil? Well, I personally usually buy the oil a head of time whenever I make a trip to Walmart or wherever. I generally already have a case or two waiting. I also generally buy oil filters when I happen to be at the dealership since I know I'll be changing it sometime in the future. That is zero down time for that since I collected the parts while on other business. Then the actual oil change time should take no more than 30 minutes. I usually take that long from start to finish including getting my tools out and putting it away.