ENGINE
165
FUEL
Fuel type
Your vehicle must use only unleaded gasoline.
To help prevent gas station mixups, your Lexus has a smaller
fuel tank opening. The special nozzle on pumps with unleaded
fuel will fit it, but the larger nozzle on pumps with leaded gas
will not.
NOTICE:
Do not use leaded gasoline. Use of leaded gasoline will
cause the catalytic converter to lose its effectiveness
and the emission control system to function improperly.
Also, this can increase maintenance costs.
Octane rating
Select Research Octane No. 91 (Octane Rating 87) or
higher. For improved vehicle performance, the use of
premium unleaded gasoline with a Research Octane No.
of 96 (Octane Rating 91) or higher is recommended.
Use of unleaded fuel with an octane number or rating lower
than stated above will cause persistent heavy knocking. If
severe, this will lead to engine damage.
If your engine knocks ...
If you detect heavy knocking even when using the
recommended fuel, or if you hear steady knocking while
holding a steady speed on level roads, consult your Lexus
dealer.
However, now and then, you may notice light knocking for a
short time while accelerating or driving up hills. This is no
cause for concern.
Gasolines containing alcohol
Gasohol is a mixture of gasoline and ethanol. If you use
gasohol in your Lexus, be sure that it is unleaded, has an
octane rating no lower than 87 and does not contain more
than 10% ethanol. Lexus does not recommend the use of
gasolines containing methanol.
If you use gasoline containing methanol, use only gasoline
meeting the requirements above and also containing less than
5% methanol with cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors for
methanol.
NOTICE:
D
Do not use gasohol other than stated above. It will
cause fuel system damage or vehicle performance
problems.
D
If driveability problems are encountered (poor hot
starting, vaporizing, engine knock, etc.), discontinue
its use.
