There is a lot of confusion surrounding the topic of premium fuel and whether or not it is necessary for certain vehicles. In this blog post, we will explore the topic of premium fuel and answer the question of whether Lexus requires premium gas.
Whether or not you should use premium gasoline in your Lexus depends on which model you own. The vast majority of Lexus models will run just fine on regular unleaded gasoline, but there are a handful of models that require premium fuel.
What Is Premium Gas?
Premium gas is a type of gasoline that has a higher octane rating than regular unleaded gasoline. Premium gas has an octane value of 91 or higher. The higher octane rating means that the fuel mixture ignites too early.
Hence, the engine knocking noise that you sometimes hear when using premium gas. The higher octane rating also means that the fuel burns cleaner and more efficiently. This can lead to longer engine life and improved performance.
Lexus Models That Require Premium Gas
While not all Lexus models require premium gas, there are a handful of models that recommend or require it. They include:
- NX – 91 Octane (Premium Fuel)
- RC – 91 Octane (Premium Fuel)
- RC F – 91 Octane (Premium Fuel)
- GS F – 91 Octane (Premium Fuel)
- LC- 91 Octane (Premium Fuel)
- RX Hybrid- 91 Octane (Premium Fuel)
- GX- 91 Octane (Premium Fuel)
Using premium gas in these models is recommended in order to achieve optimal performance. However, you can still use regular unleaded gasoline without damaging the engine.
Lexus Models That Do Not Require Premium Gas
The majority of Lexus models do not require premium gas and can run just fine on regular unleaded gasoline. These models include:
- IS – 87 Octane (Regular Unleaded)
- ES – 87 Octane (Regular Unleaded)
- LS – 87 Octane (Regular Unleaded)
- CT – 87 Octane (Regular Unleaded)
- NX – 87 Octane (Regular Unleaded)
- GX – 87 Octane (Regular Unleaded)
- LX – 87 Octane (Regular Unleaded)
By using regular unleaded gasoline in these models, you will not damage the engine or experience any decrease in performance.
Reasons Why These Lexus Require Premium Gasoline
Lexus recommends or requires premium gasoline for a few different reasons. One is that premium gasoline has a higher octane rating than regular unleaded gas, which can help to improve performance.
Additionally, premium fuel can help to extend the life of your engine by reducing wear and tear.
Another reason why Lexus recommends premium gasoline for some of its models is that the engine is designed to run on it. In these cases, using regular unleaded gas will not damage the engine but you may notice a decrease in performance.
Advantages of Using Premium Gas
Using premium gasoline in your Lexus comes with a few advantages. These include:
1. Improved Performance
Using premium gas on your engine improves performance by reducing knocking and pinging. Knocking is caused by the air-fuel mixture detonating prematurely in the engine, which can lead to engine damage. Pinging is a similar phenomenon that occurs when the air-fuel mixture ignites too early.
2. Better Fuel Economy
Contrary to popular belief, using premium gasoline can actually improve your fuel economy. This is because premium gas has a higher octane rating, which means it burns cleaner and more efficiently.
3. Longer Engine Life
Another advantage of using premium gasoline is that it can help to extend the life of your engine. This is because premium fuel burns cleaner than regular unleaded gas, which reduces wear and tears on the engine.
Disadvantages of Using Premium Gas
While there are some advantages to using premium gasoline, there are also a few disadvantages. These include:
1. Higher Cost
One of the biggest disadvantages of premium gasoline is that it costs more than regular unleaded gas. This means that you will have to spend more money to fill up your tank.
2. Lower Availability
Another disadvantage of premium gasoline is that it is not as widely available as regular unleaded gas. This means that you may have to drive out of your way to find a gas station that sells it.
What Happens If You Fail to Use Premium Gas
Sometimes you may not be able to find premium gasoline or you may forget to fill up your tank with it. If this happens, don’t worry using the regular gas once on a long trip will not damage your car.
However, for the best performance, it is still recommended that you use premium gasoline whenever possible. Other consequences include your check engine light coming on, decreased performance, and voiding your warranty.
Effects of Using Premium Gas on Regular Gas Engine
Using premium gasoline on a regular gas engine will not have any negative effects. The only difference you’ll notice is slightly lower performance as the higher octane rating of premium gasoline is not being used.
However, sometimes the lower octane rating of regular gasoline can cause problems in engines that require premium gasoline. These problems include engine knocking, pinging, and decreased performance.
Additionally, using regular gasoline in an engine designed for premium gas can void your warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is premium gas really worth it?
As you’ve undoubtedly noticed, the price of low and high-octane gasoline varies considerably. If you’re filling a larger automobile’s or SUV’s fuel tank, the difference per gallon might add up significantly.
This can frequently mean paying $20 to $30 more for gasoline that has an octane rating of 91 or higher.
Don’t put premium gasoline in your tank if your automobile doesn’t require it. It won’t improve your fuel efficiency or extend the life of your vehicle. This kind of petrol should only be used by those who have vehicles with engines that require it.
How much does premium gas cost?
The price of premium gasoline varies depending on the location, but it typically costs about 20 to 30 cents more per gallon than regular unleaded gasoline.
How do I know the type of gas my Lexus uses?
The type of gasoline your Lexus uses depends on the model and year. 1998 and newer Lexus models use what is called “regular unleaded” gas with an octane rating of 87.
Some 1997 and older models require “premium unleaded” gas with an octane rating of 90 or higher. You can find the recommended type of gasoline for your Lexus in the owner’s manual or on the gas cap.
Alternatively, you can bring your car to a Lexus dealership and they will be able to tell you what type of gasoline your car requires.
Should you use a higher octane than recommended?
Using higher octane gas than the recommended would lead to overspending on gas with no benefits to your car. In some cases, it might even damage your car’s engine.
The benefits of the premium gas only apply if your car’s engine is designed to use it. Otherwise, you’re just much more on your fuel for no benefit.
Conclusion
Lexus models require different types of gasoline depending on the model and year. Newer models require “regular unleaded” gas with an octane rating of 87, while older models may require “premium unleaded” gas with an octane rating of 90 or higher.
You can find the recommended type of gasoline for your Lexus in the owner’s manual or on the gas cap. If you are unsure about which octane rating to use, it is always best to consult your Lexus owner’s manual or dealer.
Don’t worry – using the wrong type of gasoline in your Lexus won’t void your warranty. However, if you’re using lower octane gas than what is recommended, it can cause engine knocking and damage to your car over time.