Adam Thomas

Different oil companys spike there gas with different percentages of ethanol. The more ethanol the less power. In addittion, ethanol content can vary, from the same oil company, and from region to region. I've heard that shell, on a whole, generally has less ethanonl. It may well be that shell stations in your area are low on ethanol and, the other brands are high.

In the performace car world, people hunt down stations with low ethanol content. Even 100 octane race fuel can be spiked so much it's no real improvement. I wounldn't be surprised if ther isnt a web site showing low ethanol stations. Don't know though.

Regards, pK

So is this particular RX especially sensitive to ethanol levels or is it a problem across the platform? She's asked other RX owners at the gas pump and hasn't run into anyone else with this problem, although that's hardly a scientific poll.

If this RX is sensitive, is there some adjustment than can be made or perhaps a sensor that needs to be replaced? Our problem that there isn't a Shell station on every corner.

2005 RX330 with about 55,000 miles. It only runs well with Shell Premium gas. With any other brand (or grade) the vehicle is a little sluggish.

Has anyone else experienced something like this?

Here's a good one. The car's battery (new Interstate) is dead, really dead, the other day without any obvious explanation. So I jump the car and leave it running in the driveway for a while. When I come back the Check Engine and VSC lights are on but now the radio volume works again. After a little driving the Check Engine and VSC lights went out.

2005 RX330 with the "regular" audio system. Yesterday I was suddenly unable to adjust the volume, neither via the knob on the radio nor the buttons on the steering wheel. Kind of a medium low volume (barely audible at highway speeds), certainly not completely muted. Nothing happens on the display when I attempt to change the volume. The same for AM/FM/CD.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Adam