- #173 of 260
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Re: 2010 RX [rparis]
by wwest
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Apr 15, 2009 (8:45 am)
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Replying to: rparis (Apr 15, 2009 5:30 am)
HP....SELLS...!!
Especially to the "boy-racer", 0-60MPH mentality "set".
As a general rule the advertised HP rating is only with the recommended premium fuel.
"...waste of money.."
Depends on the price spread and mpg attainable between the two octane levels.
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- #174 of 260
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Re: 2010 RX [rparis]
by mickey34
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Apr 15, 2009 (2:03 pm)
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Replying to: rparis (Apr 14, 2009 5:00 pm)
I was told by my friend who is a great mechanic that I could use the 89 octane and be ok. I may try that after the car has a few thousand miles. I only have arround 700 miles and already notice more pickup. I really love the new RX. Mike
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- #175 of 260
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Re: 2010 RX [mickey34]
by rparis
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Apr 15, 2009 (3:00 pm)
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Replying to: mickey34 (Apr 15, 2009 2:03 pm)
According to a sales person at Lexus, next year Lexus will recommend 89 octane as a result of 3 years of research.
Did you ask your mechanic his thoughts on 87 octane-does he think mpg would not be as good which is what I was told by a mile or so per gallon?
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- #176 of 260
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Re: 2010 RX [mickey34]
by maximafan
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Apr 15, 2009 (9:11 pm)
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Replying to: mickey34 (Apr 15, 2009 2:03 pm)
Mickey, my service department guy told me from the very beginning when I got my '07 RX350 back in August of 2006 that running regular unleaded would be perfectly fine with this vehicle. I would imagine since the 2010 RX has the same 3.5 liter engine with a little horsepower increase that it should be no different as far as handling the regular unleaded gas.
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- #177 of 260
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Re: 2010 RX [rparis]
by mickey34
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Apr 15, 2009 (10:02 pm)
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Replying to: rparis (Apr 15, 2009 3:00 pm)
I will be bringing my car in for the 1000 mile checkup next monday. I know the service person for a long time, I will ask him about the gas question. I will post sometime next week. Mike
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- #178 of 260
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Re: 2010 RX [mickey34]
by wwest
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Apr 16, 2009 (8:24 am)
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Replying to: mickey34 (Apr 15, 2009 10:02 pm)
When we picked up our '01 911 C4 at the factory in Gernany I was told that I would not always be able to find the recommended premium fuel during our suceeding travels throughout europe and fueling with regular would be fine. I was cautioned that I should NEVER use leaded fuel since they would then have to replace the catalysts ($1000) prior to shipment to the US.
When I inquired of the details I was told that the engine used the more sensitive new non-resonant knock sensors and if even any small level of knock/ping was detected for which timing adjustment could not be done EFI would be used to enrich the mixture.
Apparently with EFI and the new knock sensors a high compression engine that would normally require premium only can run safely on regular provided the mixture is enriched beyond the point of dieseling due to compression.
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- #179 of 260
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Re: 2010 RX [rparis]
by md_outback
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Apr 16, 2009 (9:23 am)
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Replying to: rparis (Apr 15, 2009 3:00 pm)
A better question to ask is why does Lexus recommend premium fuel when Toyota recommends regular fuel for what is basically the same engine. The only difference I can see is that the Lexus RX350 (prior to 2010 model) was rated at 270 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque using premium, whereas most of the Toyota applications of the same engine in Venza, Camry, Avalon and RAV4 are rated at 268 hp and 248 lb-ft using regular (actually RAV4 has 269 hp). Maybe the Lexus has better airflow or some other improved technological advantage. OR, maybe the premium fuel designation allows Lexus to claim the extra few hp and maybe even inches it into one more mpg based on the EPA rules to give it a competitive edge. All I can personally report is that based upon 34,000 miles and 1700 gallons and about 120 fill-ups, I did not see any real difference, so I continue to use regular grade in my '07 RX350. These days that works out to about $4.50 a week, or $234 per year - and that's like getting several free rounds of golf!
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- #180 of 260
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Re: 2010 RX [md_outback]
by wwest
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Apr 16, 2009 (9:59 am)
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Replying to: md_outback (Apr 16, 2009 9:23 am)
Lexus, UPSCALE, can recommend premium with impunity, pretty much. Whereas Toyota....
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- #181 of 260
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Regular Fuel is OK...
by sideways3
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Apr 18, 2009 (11:58 am)
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Just picked up my new 2010 RX...was told regular is perfectly ok and will have no impact on performance.
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- #182 of 260
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Re: Regular Fuel is OK... [sideways3]
by rparis
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Apr 18, 2009 (1:31 pm)
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Replying to: sideways3 (Apr 18, 2009 11:58 am)
Thanks -let us know and let us know your thoughts on the vehicle in a few days. I am planning on buying one after driving a 2001 with over 100k miles.
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