premium gasoline?

Question

has anyone had any bad side effects from using regular nolead gasoline in a lexus that requires premium gas?

Answer 1

If you use a lower octane gas occasionally, you will be fine. If it is all that you use, there will be some issues. You will not be getting peak performance out of the motor. And you are also shortening the life of the oxygen sensors. Depending on the year and model, you could have 1 or 2 oxygen sensors, and they can be $100 - $300 to replace. So unless saving $4 each time at the pump beats out a moderately expensive repair and possible down time, I would not recommend it. My father had to replace the sensors at 60k mostly due to putting in the cheapest gasoline possible. I would also recommend using a top tier gasoline. Your car will run better and get better mpg.

http://www.toptiergas.com/

Answer 2

Well it's a very bad idea, if you put 87 octane in a 93 octane engine, you'll get a lot of pinging. You see what happens is the explosion happens before the piston gets to the top of the cylinder so it actually fights against its own energy before the cycle ends. Not only does this damage the engine, but it's also a lot less efficient, you'd waste more not only on engine repair but on gas as well.

Though, if you happen to live in a completely flat area where you wont be doing more than 40 miles an hour and wont have to travel up or down any hills, then you could get away with it, but if you need to accelerate or go up a hill you'll definitely start hearing it, and even going flat and slow you'll still be wasting more energy. It's just not a good idea.

Answer 3

If you did it once don't worry. Octane rating have to do with the stability of the fuel.Your Lexus require high octane gas because it has a high compression ratio. This high octane gas is a little more stable than 87 octane.When your piston is coming up in the cylinder, that volume is compressed at about a 10:1 ratio. If you drive it hard heat quickly builds up, your vehicles cooling is designed to deal with this heat. That heat can't cause detonation with 91 octane but it possibly can with 87. Detonation is fuel com-busting before it is suppose to, this sends vibrations through your motor. You can't feel the vibration, but over time it takes a toll on your motor. You should always put the proper octane gas in you vehicle. If your car does experience detonation that means your car combusted the gas before it was supposed to and this unburned fuel contaminates your exhaust system causing deposits to form on expensive things like O2 sensors. Higher octane gas will burn cleaner in your car and provide over all better performance. High octane gas is not a scam, your car needs it. Do not listen to anyone who tells you different, their are people out there that say its fine. Remember engineers (plural) designed your engine and detrimine it needed high octane.

Answer 4

You're supposed to use premium fuel on a car that requires premium fuel. Putting anything lower would cause pre-detonation, shorten engine life and provide worse fuel economy. If you want a Lexus, you have to pay for it...

Answer 5

You are removing the factory's safe guard against detonation by running a lower octane if you cant afford the gas sell the car.

Answer 6

Octane is added to gasoline to >>slow down<< the explosion which is why it is used as a good pre-detonation preventative.