What grade of gasoline should a Lexus ES use?
4 Answers
Lexus ES uses 92-octane gasoline. Gasoline is a volatile, flammable hydrocarbon mixture liquid distilled or cracked from petroleum, used as fuel, appearing as a transparent liquid. Precautions for refueling include: 1. Choose to refuel when the temperature is relatively low; 2. If the car is not used for a long time or used infrequently, maintain a small amount of fuel; 3. Do not refuel when a tanker truck is unloading; 4. Turn off the engine when refueling a gasoline vehicle. Taking the 2020 Lexus ES as an example, it belongs to the mid-to-large-sized car category, with body dimensions of: length 4975mm, width 1866mm, height 1447mm, a wheelbase of 2870mm, a fuel tank capacity of 49.3 liters, and a curb weight of 1720kg.
Actually, what kind of gasoline to add to a Lexus ES mainly depends on your engine model. For the most common ES200 and ES260 models in China, the manufacturer recommends starting with 92-octane fuel, as indicated on the fuel cap. I drive an ES300h hybrid myself and have been using 92-octane without any issues for years. Remember, 95-octane isn't cleaner or more powerful—it just has different anti-knock properties. Toyota engines are tuned to perform optimally with 92-octane. However, if the check engine light comes on due to poor-quality gasoline, you should immediately go to a 4S shop to clean the fuel system. Long-term use of low-quality fuel can also clog the fuel injectors. The safest bet when refueling is to stick to reputable gas stations like Sinopec or PetroChina.
Just helped a friend pick up an ES260, and the salesperson specifically reminded that 92-octane fuel is sufficient. This 2.5L naturally aspirated engine only has a compression ratio of 13:1, so there's absolutely no need for 95-octane. I've seen some owners superstitiously using higher-octane gasoline, only to end up spending more money without any noticeable difference. A special reminder for northern owners: using 92-octane in winter actually makes cold starts smoother. What you should really avoid is mixing fuel grades, like using 92 this time and 95 next time, as it can confuse the vehicle's fuel adaptation program and potentially trigger the engine warning light. The yellow label inside the fuel filler cap clearly states the requirement—taking a quick look there is more reliable than asking anyone.
The Lexus ES can use either 92 or 95 octane fuel, but the manufacturer recommends '92 octane or above.' I've come across maintenance cases where ES300h owners who consistently used 95 octane reported fuel consumption 0.5 liters higher than those using 92 octane. The key is to avoid gasoline with manganese additives from small gas stations, as it severely damages the catalytic converter. Last year, I handled a case of an ES250 with a clogged catalytic converter due to long-term use of low-quality fuel, costing over 20,000 yuan in repairs. If you're in a remote area and can only get lower-octane fuel, temporarily using 87 octane for a few hundred kilometers is fine, but remember to add a bottle of fuel system cleaner after returning to the city.
