Does the 2024 Lexus RX 350 Require Premium Gas?

The Lexus RX is a premium SUV that offers you an unparalleled level of luxury. Given its status, you’ll want to do the right thing to maximize its performance and longevity. But does the Lexus RX require premium gas? Here to answer all your questions is Eskridge Lexus. Keep on reading to learn more about this luxury SUV.

The Lexus RX’s Gas Requirements

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Whether your Lexus RX needs premium gas depends on its age. Most 2024 and 2023 models require premium unleaded gas with an octane rating of 91 or higher. Models released between 2012 and 2022 use unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 or higher. That means that while you can use premium gasoline in older RX models, it isn’t required. However, most models released before 2012 also use premium gas. As gas requirements vary, it’s advisable to consult your owner’s manual to ensure you’re using the correct fuel.

Lexus recommends not to use gasoline with more than 15% ethanol — sometimes called flex-fuel — in any RX, regardless of its trim or model year. You should also avoid gasoline containing methanol or MMT (methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl), which is a gasoline octane enhancer.

What Is Premium Gas?

Premium gas is a high-octane fuel. Its octane rating of 91 or higher helps it resist pre-ignition better than regular unleaded gasoline. Many high-end vehicles require premium gas, including sports cars and luxury SUVs such as the recent Lexus RX models. Some older vehicles also require premium gas, including those with high-compression motors and carburetors.

Expected Miles per Gallon

Putting the recommended unleaded gasoline in your RX SUV can make it fuel-efficient. The Environmental Protection Agency says the base model 2024 RX 350 with standard front-wheel drive should get 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Opt for all-wheel drive, and fuel economy falls slightly to 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Benefits of Premium Gasoline

New RX vehicles and some older models need premium gasoline to optimize their performance and extend their lifespans. However, premium gasoline may boost your RX’s performance and mileage, even if you have a model that doesn’t require it. It could also reduce CO2 emissions when you work your RX hard carrying a full trunk or towing loads, especially during hot Oklahoma City summers.

Under normal driving conditions, the benefits for vehicles that don’t require premium gasoline are less noticeable and may not be worth the extra expense. If your RX doesn’t require premium gas, monitoring its fuel consumption using standard and premium unleaded fuel can help you decide whether you want to make the switch.

Tips for Using Premium Gas

If you use premium gas in your Lexus RX, there are a few ways you can maximize its benefits. Avoid topping off your tank when you fill it up. This practice can cause a vapor lock — a partial or total interruption of the gas flowing through your engine. When your vehicle experiences a vapor lock, its performance suffers.

Lexus equips every RX with a high-quality fuel filter that keeps your car’s gas clean and free from contaminants. In many cases, the fuel filter remains effective for the life of your motor vehicle. However, that’s not always the case. If your RX has many miles on the clock, consider asking your service technician to assess your fuel filter and see whether it needs changing.

If you use your RX infrequently or want to put it into storage, consider adding a fuel stabilizer to your tank. This product can help to prevent your car’s gas from degrading over time, ensuring you can start your vehicle when you want to. To use a stabilizer, add it directly to a partially full tank, then top up the tank with gas. Start your engine and let it run for around 10 minutes to mix the stabilizer with the fuel.

What Happens if You Put the Wrong Gasoline in Your RX?

It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the recommended gasoline in your RX. Putting the wrong fuel in your car’s tank could void your vehicle warranty and leave you vulnerable to expensive repair costs. You may notice various issues if you accidentally use the wrong fuel, depending on the gas you choose.

Gas With a Low Octane Rating

If you use unleaded gasoline with a lower octane rating than Lexus recommends, you may notice a knocking noise in your engine from premature ignition of the fuel and air mix. The knocking sound is caused by the engine’s components vibrating and not working as efficiently as they should. If you regularly choose lower-grade gas, the vibrations could damage the motor’s parts and lead to engine failure.

Gas With Too Much Ethanol

Ethanol is an alcoholic fuel. In higher than recommended concentrations, alcohol can impact your vehicle because it’s corrosive and eats away at your engine components and fuel injection systems. Ethanol fuel also absorbs more water from the air than regular gasoline, and this water can trigger rusting. Water can also block the free flow of fuel to your vehicle’s motor. While gas that’s rich in ethanol is often affordable, it’s less fuel-efficient than unleaded gas, so you could end up spending more at the pump.

Gas With Methanol

Methanol is an alternative biofuel that is an alcohol made mostly from natural gas that’s even more corrosive than ethanol. Lexus advises that any amount of methanol can cause undue wear and tear on an engine’s components, so avoid gas with this additive when you’re filling up.

Diesel

Diesel is much thicker and denser than unleaded gasoline, so there can be major problems if you put it into your Lexus RX. Diesel fuel will struggle to move through the vehicle’s system and pass through its fuel filter. It can clog the fuel filter, gum up the fuel injectors, and jam the motor.

See the Team at Eskridge Lexus for All Your Lexus Advice

Now you understand the gas requirements for your Lexus RX. However, you may have more questions about your RX or other vehicles in the Lexus fleet. The team at Eskridge Lexus is always happy to provide the answers you need to care for your Lexus vehicle. Come and visit our Oklahoma City dealership, give us a call, or contact us online. Our team is here for you throughout the life of your vehicle.