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Lexus ES 350 Real World MPG

64 messages,  Last post on Feb 05, 2009 at 7:41 PM

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What is this discussion about? Lexus ES 350, Fuel System, Sedan

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#35 of 64 Re: First trip mileage [sammys] by ray_h1 Oct 09, 2006 (12:52 pm)
Replying to: sammys (Jul 06, 2006 3:16 pm) )) "Are people saying that even using 87 (regular) is ok and there is no experience of knocking or other problems? ... I had always thought, perhaps incorrectly, that even if you could use the lower grade fuels you would burn more of it and hence need more frequent fuel stops." ((   The 3.5L V6 engine used in the '07 Camry is exactly the same engine used in the '06 ES 350. Both "versions" use knock sensor transducers (piezo-electric microphones which pick up the first hints of "knocking/pinging" before human hearing can distinguish such) screwed into the cylinder banks to feed the information to the engine control computer to tailor the ignition advance tuning on the fly. But the EX 350's engine is rated to 4 hp more. Why the difference? The EX 350's recommendation to use 91 pump octane vs. the Camry's recommendation to use 87 pump octane. Next time you're due for a fill-up, pump half a tank of 87 octane regular grade gasoline in. You'll know within several miles whether your engine has any increased tendency to "ping" - it probably won't. But, if your engine does ping (and a few miles will NOT cause engine damage), then pump the remaining tank volume with 91 octane premium gasoline - the combo will net you a tankful of your customarily used 89 octane. No harm, no foul. If, as I suspect, your engine remains as characteristically quiet as previously with mid-grade 89 octane gasoline, it's doubtfull you'll ever miss the extra two horsepower that the mid-grade fuel delivers. Whatever fuel economy difference you note will A) be more theoretical than real, B) be more because of the route you choose than the octane rating you selected, and C) certainly be insufficient to justify the extra dime per gallon at the pump.
#36 of 64 Re: First trip mileage [sammys] by dreyfus Oct 10, 2006 (9:48 am)
Replying to: sammys (Jul 06, 2006 3:16 pm) Yes, that's exactly what we're saying.   I've noticed no difference whatsoever between 87 & 93 octane fuel after thousands of miles of driving on both. Same power. Same engine sounds. Same gas mileage.
#41 of 64 Some posts have been moved by pat HOST Oct 11, 2006 (4:57 am)
to the more appropriate general ES 350 discussion.
#42 of 64 87 vs 91 octane rating by es350sf Oct 30, 2006 (1:25 pm)
If you look in your owner's manual, it tells you that 91 octane rated unleaded gas is recommneded. However, that same paragraph also tells you that you can use 87 octane gas if 91 is not available. This should give all of us a hint that it can run on either type of gas without any limitations or warranty issues. Replies to this message: ray_h1 (Oct 30, 2006 11:47 pm)
#43 of 64 Re: 87 vs 91 octane rating [es350sf] by ray_h1 Oct 30, 2006 (11:47 pm)
Replying to: es350sf (Oct 30, 2006 1:25 pm) )) "...you can use 87 octane gas if 91 is not available. ... ...it can run on either type of gas without any limitations or warranty issues." ((   Good information - thanks for sharing. The same displacement engine used in the 2007 Camry V6 models is rated at 4 hp. less on its recommended 87 octane unleaded regular. It follows that operating an ES 350 on 87 octane would likely result in similar hp. to that of the Camry. Realistically, how important is an additional 4 hp when the Camry is already rated at 268 hp.? Or to rephrase, is an additional 4 hp. really worth 20 cents/gallon extra at the pump? That drop from using regular unleaded is only a 1.47% reduction from the 272 hp rating of the ES 350. The detergent additives in gasoline are federally regulated at the same minimum level regardless of octane rating. "Top Tier" gasolines carry a higher minimum level - again equally spec'd per "Top Tier" standards across all octane grades among gasoline brands agrreing to adhere to the "Top Tier" standards and who pay the price of certification for bragging rights.
#44 of 64 ES 350 from San Francisco to Las Vegas by colorfulyears Dec 30, 2006 (8:27 pm)
Two adults and two children under 11 and a lot of food, water and heavy luggage from San Francisco to Las Vegas: 100% freeway; heat has been on to maintain interior temperature to 65; The car's read out mileage is 30.2 mpg.   Currently, my 90% city (short stop and go avenues) and 10% highway mileage is 24.6 mpg.

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