What fuel grade is everyone using on their 2012-2015 RX?
01-08-14, 10:00 AM
#166
Pole Position
I am into 123 big time for work but I got to admit, "maybe" not as much as you!
How did we do anything before spreadsheets!
How did we do anything before spreadsheets!
01-08-14, 10:12 AM
#167
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: IL
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That is a screen from an Apple Numbers spreadsheet I pulled together. Any Apple Numbers users want a copy of the template just PM your email address to me and I'll send it to you. Here are some other screens.
So ok, I probably am **** retentive about tracking this stuff but I enjoy it.
MPG Graph
% Hwy vs. MPG Graph
Data Screen
Maintenance Data Screen
So ok, I probably am **** retentive about tracking this stuff but I enjoy it.
MPG Graph
% Hwy vs. MPG Graph
Data Screen
Maintenance Data Screen
OH, so THAT's what a car with no salt/snow/ice looks like!!!
I bought mine of 12-31, and have only driven it 3 times so far, in the Artic Tundra known as the Suburbs of Chicago..
01-08-14, 10:14 AM
#168
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No cool graphs jfelbab! ggebhardt it's finally 14 degrees today! Windchill of 14. That's around a 30 degrees swing. Has not been this warm in days. I'm going to BBQ some chicken on the Weber Performer tonight. Ribs tomorrow on the Weber Smokey Mountain. Going to be a heat wave of around twenty. 
short sleeve on the shirt time
short sleeve on the shirt time
01-08-14, 10:20 AM
#169
Lexus Champion
We use regular in our '13 RX350. I've burned a couple of tanks of premium, but haven't realized any real benefit, in either performance or mpg.
01-08-14, 10:25 AM
#170
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I typically do local 89 grade instead of regular 87 if I do not fuel up at my regular local Mobile station I trust.
mostly just to protect car from overly diluted donkey **** some stations sell instead of a normal regular gas. a diluted 89 still does not detonate as much as diluted regular gas does.
on a premium 93 car runs a bit quicker than on regular but difference is not that big, those engines are not pretuned for high octane and do not self-adjust as much as Porsche motor does.
mostly just to protect car from overly diluted donkey **** some stations sell instead of a normal regular gas. a diluted 89 still does not detonate as much as diluted regular gas does.
on a premium 93 car runs a bit quicker than on regular but difference is not that big, those engines are not pretuned for high octane and do not self-adjust as much as Porsche motor does.
01-08-14, 12:49 PM
#172
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No cool graphs jfelbab! ggebhardt it's finally 14 degrees today! Windchill of 14. That's around a 30 degrees swing. Has not been this warm in days. I'm going to BBQ some chicken on the Weber Performer tonight. Ribs tomorrow on the Weber Smokey Mountain. Going to be a heat wave of around twenty. short sleeve on the shirt time
short sleeve on the shirt time 
01-08-14, 01:13 PM
#173
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I have found that when your driving the in-town routes, the fuel grade is not as important as when you are distance driving. Everyone indicates that there seems no difference in engine performance over all, but I have found that doing a run from home to Portland or Salt Lake City, my need for solid power on the hills and Mtn. passes increases and the higher premiumn grade delivers. Our 2008 RX performance noticiably improved with a couple of premium fill-ups, under those conditions. Our new RX 2014 has yet to be out much since we brought it down the gorge from Portland - so I can not report on the lastest model at this time. (The weather gets crappy and the gravel and sanding stuff doesn't go well with the new paint job so it is presently on limited use status).
01-09-14, 03:50 AM
#174
Pole Position
01-09-14, 12:30 PM
#175
I find it interesting that the manual doesn't specifically indicate a particular fuel grade as our other cars do. Both our BMW and our Mini Cooper both require a minimum 91 octane per the factory spec. I chose 87 octane for my first fill up in the RX 350 F sport and plan to continue with that grade changing only if I notice any signs of complaint from the engine. Perhaps on long drives with mountain passes I'll consider fueling with 91 as others here have suggested!
01-09-14, 12:41 PM
#176
Pole Position
I find it interesting that the manual doesn't specifically indicate a particular fuel grade as our other cars do. Both our BMW and our Mini Cooper both require a minimum 91 octane per the factory spec. I chose 87 octane for my first fill up in the RX 350 F sport and plan to continue with that grade changing only if I notice any signs of complaint from the engine. Perhaps on long drives with mountain passes I'll consider fueling with 91 as others here have suggested!
01-09-14, 12:51 PM
#177
Lexus Champion
Octane requirements are called out on page 142 of my 2013 owner's manual:
Fuel types
RX350
Unleaded gasoline (Octane rating 87 [Research Octane Number 91] or higher)
RX450h
Unleaded gasoline (Octane rating 91 [Research Octane Number 96] or higher)
■Use of ethanol blended gasoline in a gasoline engine
●Make sure that the ethanol blended gasoline to be used has a suitable Research
Octane Number as outlined in “Fuel types”.
●Use only gasoline containing a maximum
of 10% ethanol.
DO NOT use any flex-fuel or gasoline that
could contain more than 10% ethanol,
including from any pump labeled E15, E30,
E50, E85 (which are only some examples
of fuel containing more than 10% ethanol).
01-09-14, 05:42 PM
#178
01-09-14, 06:50 PM
#179
What year is your RX?
Octane requirements are called out on page 142 of my 2013 owner's manual:
Fuel types
RX350
Unleaded gasoline (Octane rating 87 [Research Octane Number 91] or higher)
RX450h
Unleaded gasoline (Octane rating 91 [Research Octane Number 96] or higher)
■Use of ethanol blended gasoline in a gasoline engine
●Make sure that the ethanol blended gasoline to be used has a suitable Research
Octane Number as outlined in “Fuel types”.
●Use only gasoline containing a maximum
of 10% ethanol.
DO NOT use any flex-fuel or gasoline that
could contain more than 10% ethanol,
including from any pump labeled E15, E30,
E50, E85 (which are only some examples
of fuel containing more than 10% ethanol).
Octane requirements are called out on page 142 of my 2013 owner's manual:
Fuel types
RX350
Unleaded gasoline (Octane rating 87 [Research Octane Number 91] or higher)
RX450h
Unleaded gasoline (Octane rating 91 [Research Octane Number 96] or higher)
■Use of ethanol blended gasoline in a gasoline engine
●Make sure that the ethanol blended gasoline to be used has a suitable Research
Octane Number as outlined in “Fuel types”.
●Use only gasoline containing a maximum
of 10% ethanol.
DO NOT use any flex-fuel or gasoline that
could contain more than 10% ethanol,
including from any pump labeled E15, E30,
E50, E85 (which are only some examples
of fuel containing more than 10% ethanol).
I read what Lexus had to say in the manual (I'm assuming the info is the same for the 2014). I suppose I was looking for more of a cut and dry 87 or 91 or higher octane choice! With two of our other cars (2011 BMW 335I) and (05 Mini Cooper S) it states 91 or higher. With my "Late" (as of today) 03 Tacoma, the manual stated to use 87 octane. One of the buying features of the RX was that it took regular unleaded instead of premium. So, Seeing that there is a choice, I'll continue to choose 87 octane and if needed, I'll switch to the good stuff!
01-09-14, 10:38 PM
#180
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We own a 2014 RX 350 F sport!
I read what Lexus had to say in the manual (I'm assuming the info is the same for the 2014). I suppose I was looking for more of a cut and dry 87 or 91 or higher octane choice! With two of our other cars (2011 BMW 335I) and (05 Mini Cooper S) it states 91 or higher. With my "Late" (as of today) 03 Tacoma, the manual stated to use 87 octane. One of the buying features of the RX was that it took regular unleaded instead of premium. So, Seeing that there is a choice, I'll continue to choose 87 octane and if needed, I'll switch to the good stuff!
I read what Lexus had to say in the manual (I'm assuming the info is the same for the 2014). I suppose I was looking for more of a cut and dry 87 or 91 or higher octane choice! With two of our other cars (2011 BMW 335I) and (05 Mini Cooper S) it states 91 or higher. With my "Late" (as of today) 03 Tacoma, the manual stated to use 87 octane. One of the buying features of the RX was that it took regular unleaded instead of premium. So, Seeing that there is a choice, I'll continue to choose 87 octane and if needed, I'll switch to the good stuff!