lizz2500 Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 I purchased a 2003 Lexus ES300 6 months ago and since my purchase I have been using regular unleaded gasoline. I hear from a lot of people that I should use premium gas, but some people tell me it is okay to use regular. I haven't noticed any problems with the car, it seems to run smooth to me. But I have noticed that I get less gas mileage on the car in the last couple of weeks. Usually when I would fill my car up, it would give me a range of about 310 miles, now it gives me a range of 295 miles, does anyone know what could be causing me to get 15 miles less? I get the oil changed regularly, I might need to get the transmissions serviced. Any advice would be helpful, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnstarz Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 look in your manual and see what it says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwest Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 I purchased a 2003 Lexus ES300 6 months ago and since my purchase I have been using regular unleaded gasoline. I hear from a lot of people that I should use premium gas, but some people tell me it is okay to use regular. I haven't noticed any problems with the car, it seems to run smooth to me. But I have noticed that I get less gas mileage on the car in the last couple of weeks. Usually when I would fill my car up, it would give me a range of about 310 miles, now it gives me a range of 295 miles, does anyone know what could be causing me to get 15 miles less? I get the oil changed regularly, I might need to get the transmissions serviced. Any advice would be helpful, thanks. Atlanta, HOT Atlanta, summertime....more use of the A/C...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FA22ChevelleSS Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Maybe you hit a few more stop lights than on your last tank, some more stop and goes? A fluctuation of 15 miles isn't a big problem. And yeah, its summertime so check your tire pressure to make sure its perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Hinds Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 The Car Talk guys Click and Clack on NPR say that it is a joke for manufactures to tell you to use higher octane gas. They do admit that you will not get as good a gas mileage with just regular gas. That could account for your less range. I have been alternating between regular and middle grade gas for years because if I use all regular I can tell there is a slight hesitation in acceleration. The hardest part about that method is remembering what you last put in the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizz2500 Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 The Car Talk guys Click and Clack on NPR say that it is a joke for manufactures to tell you to use higher octane gas. They do admit that you will not get as good a gas mileage with just regular gas. That could account for your less range. I have been alternating between regular and middle grade gas for years because if I use all regular I can tell there is a slight hesitation in acceleration. The hardest part about that method is remembering what you last put in the tank. Okay that is what I was thinking. Thanks so much for your response. I will more than likely continue to use regular since it isn't such a big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizz2500 Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 I purchased a 2003 Lexus ES300 6 months ago and since my purchase I have been using regular unleaded gasoline. I hear from a lot of people that I should use premium gas, but some people tell me it is okay to use regular. I haven't noticed any problems with the car, it seems to run smooth to me. But I have noticed that I get less gas mileage on the car in the last couple of weeks. Usually when I would fill my car up, it would give me a range of about 310 miles, now it gives me a range of 295 miles, does anyone know what could be causing me to get 15 miles less? I get the oil changed regularly, I might need to get the transmissions serviced. Any advice would be helpful, thanks. Atlanta, HOT Atlanta, summertime....more use of the A/C...? I guess that could also be it, but I am talking about how you can see the range on the dashboard when you first fill up the tank...it wouldn't know before hand that I am going to make more stops or that I am going to use A/C would it? I figured that when you first fill up the tank it gives you the range that you should get and then once you start to use it and if you use A/C or are in more stop and go traffic that would cause the mileage to drop more quickly versus it just showing less mileage right off the bat. I don't know, but I guess it isn't such a big deal...I was just wondering. My main thing was that I wanted to make sure that I could use regular gasoline and it would not cause problems down the line with my car. Thanks for your response. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviej Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 you will be fine. The 2003 ES engine is not a high compression engine and does not require premium. The manual says is will run fine on regular unleaded, "however for better performance then 91 or better can be used". steviej Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12three45 Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 I've been told that higher octane gas is not that much better unless your engine requires a higher temperature during combustion. So if you use regular which burns at a lower temperature, your engine might misfire. i do not know how often this happens in the ES, just what someone told me in another forum. andy you will be fine. The 2003 ES engine is not a high compression engine and does not require premium. The manual says is will run fine on regular unleaded, "however for better performance then 91 or better can be used". steviej Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Zaria Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 My '99 ES300 has burned 89 octane (regular unleaded) Acro, Shell, and Chevron gas (pretty much in that order) for over 65k miles without noticeable pinging ever. I've put a few tanks of premium (91-92 octane) through it just to see, and I can't detect a performance difference, though the idle does seem a teeny bit smoother. Just my $0.02 Peace, Pete Zaria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juno_reaction Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 My ES is a 92 and for over 15 years its been using regular unleaded. No problems here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leert12 Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 I have used Premium 99.999% of the time but have 2-3 times used regular and didn't noticed a difference but does the Octane has anything to do with the injectors life? Or any long term performance issues that can be of concern? All of my cars' manuals have recommended Minimum 91. Anyone... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busoptr Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I have used Premium 99.999% of the time but have 2-3 times used regular and didn't noticed a difference but does the Octane has anything to do with the injectors life? Or any long term performance issues that can be of concern? All of my cars' manuals have recommended Minimum 91. Anyone... I use premium all the time and I do not believe those engineers saying premium does not help because the car runs better on premium, smoother acceleration, more oomph, when i put regular, the car runs just like that, regular. So how can they say premium is unnecessary? Just a personal opinion and experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camlex Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Gas is still cheap, So why not to use premium? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mburnickas Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Gas is still cheap, So why not to use premium? Why? since my oil testing house since it is a waste of money... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zockslexus Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 just look in your manual and it will tell you what your car should run on...It may even be on the inside of your fuel door. If it is important, your car will tell you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tnorman2 Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 ONE WORD ANSWER - "ETHANOL"... Ethanol is killing gas mileage http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbth...;Number=1212736 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexus114 Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I have used Premium 99.999% of the time but have 2-3 times used regular and didn't noticed a difference but does the Octane has anything to do with the injectors life? Or any long term performance issues that can be of concern? All of my cars' manuals have recommended Minimum 91. Anyone... I use premium all the time and I do not believe those engineers saying premium does not help because the car runs better on premium, smoother acceleration, more oomph, when i put regular, the car runs just like that, regular. So how can they say premium is unnecessary? Just a personal opinion and experience. Brother,I agree with you big time! I can certainly tell the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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