Fuel additive Yes or No

[ALAW]

2 hours ago, Vadim said:

I would definitely do wheel alignment every 10-20k miles, given how many road humps snd pads we have these days in towns.

Ive just done 12K and they said alignment slightly out so had them do it. Our town is riddled with speed humps and tables. I agree there Vadim good call.

[ALAW]

Thanks for your contributions very interesting. I'm still in the what to do mode for the best so I still haven't decided.

[wharfhouse]

6 hours ago, ALAW said:

Thanks for your contributions very interesting. I'm still in the what to do mode for the best so I still haven't decided.

I have a service plan that covers the scheduled services (as per the Lexus service schedule) and which I pay for monthly. When a service comes around this means the cost of that has been prepaid and I then pay for any additional things on the day (like the things you mention) should they be required as most of those aren't particular time or mileage based so building them into a plan IMHO may well mean doing then unnecessarily. 

[Roger Bill]

6 hours ago, ALAW said:

I always remember Honest John swearing by V power.

I don't remember this. But was it Honest John who said that supermarket petrol, although produced in the same refineries, had fewer additives than branded petrol like Shell, BP, etc. One type of additive is for cleaning fuel injection systems.

Modern engines use better materials and are made to closer manufacturing tolerances plus oils and petrol are much better. Back in the late 60s and through the 70s I used to find every 20,000 miles it was necessary to strip the cylinder head off my cars (Ford Anglias, Cortinas, etc). Removing the carbon build up in the head, lapping in the valves and cleaning the inlet and outlet ports was easy to do and improved smooth running, fuel consumption and acceleration. You could get cans of stuff which, by chucking down it the carburettor, claimed could achieve similar results, but I wasn't convinced when I tried it once.

[NemesisUK]

10 hours ago, Vadim said:

I would definitely do wheel alignment every 10-20k miles, given how many road humps snd pads we have these days in towns.

Suspension geometry check is included as part of the major service, on my RC at least. Haven't checked if the same with the RX. If any adjustment required it would be an extra cost item.

[wharfhouse]

55 minutes ago, NemesisUK said:

Suspension geometry check is included as part of the major service, on my RC at least. Haven't checked if the same with the RX. If any adjustment required it would be an extra cost item.

Same on my IS too though I always wonder if they just do a visual check of tyre wear or actually check it on a machine? 

Every service on mine (8 years old now and 122k miles) has come back saying alignment is OK - and to be fair no undue tyre wear - and so I've never had it adjusted. I did ask a couple of services ago if they could do an alignment as it has not been done before but they reported all was OK and so no need to do one (I would have happily paid had it been needed). 

[NemesisUK]

21 minutes ago, wharfhouse said:

Same on my IS too though I always wonder if they just do a visual check of tyre wear or actually check it on a machine? 

I actually got a printout after one service,on my first RC but not since, just a confirmatory tick, all ok ...

[wharfhouse]

4 hours ago, NemesisUK said:

I actually got a printout after one service,on my first RC but not since, just a confirmatory tick, all ok ...

Yes I have only ever had a tick on the sheet. 

[ColinBarber]

5 hours ago, wharfhouse said:

Same on my IS too though I always wonder if they just do a visual check of tyre wear or actually check it on a machine? 

This depends on the dealership. I think in theory they should use a machine and some people get a print out of the results but Lexus Reading for example (and Guildford I believe) just look at your tyres for uneven wear (as they don't have a machine). Personally I don't really find this acceptable, and dealers that aren't properly checking alignment should be giving a discount against the fixed price service.

[LenT]

15 hours ago, ALAW said:

Yes Phil when the service advisor rung me she said it was a Toyota/lexus approved product i reckon it could have been this.

Toyota may well be confident that the additive package that they buy in will be safe to use in their engines.  A more interesting question might be what the fuel blenders and refiners think about it being added to their products.

Fuels and oils are developed to have specific performance capabilities and this involves buying in additive packages from chemical specialists.  These may be standard, ‘off-the-shelf’ products or the result of an individual development programme specific to that blender.

You can imagine that if you were the industrial chemist responsible for that finely tuned product, you might not exactly welcome the casual introduction of a bunch of other chemicals!

 

[wharfhouse]

56 minutes ago, LenT said:

Toyota may well be confident that the additive package that they buy in will be safe to use in their engines.  A more interesting question might be what the fuel blenders and refiners think about it being added to their products.

Fuels and oils are developed to have specific performance capabilities and this involves buying in additive packages from chemical specialists.  These may be standard, ‘off-the-shelf’ products or the result of an individual development programme specific to that blender.

You can imagine that if you were the industrial chemist responsible for that finely tuned product, you might not exactly welcome the casual introduction of a bunch of other chemicals!

 

The Toyota additive says "Created and approved by Texaco Ltd" 

[ALAW]

6 hours ago, LenT said:

Toyota may well be confident that the additive package that they buy in will be safe to use in their engines.  A more interesting question might be what the fuel blenders and refiners think about it being added to their products.

Fuels and oils are developed to have specific performance capabilities and this involves buying in additive packages from chemical specialists.  These may be standard, ‘off-the-shelf’ products or the result of an individual development programme specific to that blender.

You can imagine that if you were the industrial chemist responsible for that finely tuned product, you might not exactly welcome the casual introduction of a bunch of other chemicals!

 

That is an interesting point to the debate Len. 

[ALAW]

Im eering on the side of the petrol produced nowadays is a better product so maybe no need for an additive but i think occasionally will fill up with E5 or the super stuff or half a fill now and again.

[LenT]

8 hours ago, wharfhouse said:

The Toyota additive says "Created and approved by Texaco Ltd" 

That’s an interesting point, Phil.

if it’s a detergent cleaner from Texaco then I suspect it’s a repackaged version of their Techron product, developed about 1981, and introduced into Texaco and Chevron fuels.

You can read more about it here:

https://www.texacolubricants.com/en_uk/home/learning/about-our-brands/techron.html

And the FAQs page is also quite informative:

https://www.chevronlubricants.com/en_us/home/learning/about-our-brands/techron/faqs.html

But what it means is that if you’re using their fuels - eg Texaco and Chevron - then you’re probably already getting that detergent package in your Lexus.  A little bit more in a tankful is not going to do any harm.  But whether it will actually do significantly better is a moot point!

And if you add it to other fuel brands that have their own tailored additive and detergent packages, then benefits may be even more problematic.  But then that pretty much applies if you mix different fuel brands - with their different additive packages - in your tank!

My own feeling is that if you consistently use Premium brand fuels, then you’re probably already getting the benefits of the most advanced performance additive and detergent packages.

But if anyone really wants to tip the annual bottle of a Lexus-labelled version into the tank, then I can’t see it doing any harm.

[ALAW]

21 hours ago, LenT said:

That’s an interesting point, Phil.

if it’s a detergent cleaner from Texaco then I suspect it’s a repackaged version of their Techron product, developed about 1981, and introduced into Texaco and Chevron fuels.

You can read more about it here:

https://www.texacolubricants.com/en_uk/home/learning/about-our-brands/techron.html

And the FAQs page is also quite informative:

https://www.chevronlubricants.com/en_us/home/learning/about-our-brands/techron/faqs.html

But what it means is that if you’re using their fuels - eg Texaco and Chevron - then you’re probably already getting that detergent package in your Lexus.  A little bit more in a tankful is not going to do any harm.  But whether it will actually do significantly better is a moot point!

And if you add it to other fuel brands that have their own tailored additive and detergent packages, then benefits may be even more problematic.  But then that pretty much applies if you mix different fuel brands - with their different additive packages - in your tank!

My own feeling is that if you consistently use Premium brand fuels, then you’re probably already getting the benefits of the most advanced performance additive and detergent packages.

But if anyone really wants to tip the annual bottle of a Lexus-labelled version into the tank, then I can’t see it doing any harm.

Thanks Len excellent contribution and knowledge.

[Mincey]

Betsy went in for a service today. Passed with flying colours except she apparently needed a four wheel alignment. Unfortunately they couldn't do it today but I could take it back tomorrow to have it done at roughly £100. I shall consult with the local tyre emporium which I have been using for the past 25+ years first.

[UX250h]

ALAW, I've also looked at this, having looked at several articles and the car care nut & The Fuel Reviewer (YouTube) petrol cleaner/additives is not needed, instead, use premium fuel whenever you can with as little ethanol in as possible. My preferences are as follows...

ETH means ethanol 
1 Esso    E10 6%   eth,  E5 0%
2 BP       E10 5%   eth,  E5 0%
3 Shell   E10 7.5% eth,  E5 2.5% eth. 
4 Gulf    E10 2.5% eth,  E5  0% eth

Just use premium fuel as often as you can (every fill-up or maybe once in 3 fillups)

MOT 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Harrier Man]

19 minutes ago, UX250h said:

ALAW, I've also looked at this, having looked at several articles and the car care nut & The Fuel Reviewer (YouTube) petrol cleaner/additives is not needed, instead, use premium fuel whenever you can with as little ethanol in as possible. My preferences are as follows...

ETH means ethanol 
1 Esso    E10 6%   eth,  E5 0%
2 BP       E10 5%   eth,  E5 0%
3 Shell   E10 7.5% eth,  E5 2.5% eth. 
4 Gulf    E10 2.5% eth,  E5  0% eth

Just use premium fuel as often as you can (every fill-up or maybe once in 3 fillups)

MOT 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Gary, do you have a source for this data? In particular the date. I believe the percentages have changed over the years but I have no idea when or from what to to what.

[ALAW]

On 10/26/2022 at 9:08 PM, UX250h said:

ALAW, I've also looked at this, having looked at several articles and the car care nut & The Fuel Reviewer (YouTube) petrol cleaner/additives is not needed, instead, use premium fuel whenever you can with as little ethanol in as possible. My preferences are as follows...

ETH means ethanol 
1 Esso    E10 6%   eth,  E5 0%
2 BP       E10 5%   eth,  E5 0%
3 Shell   E10 7.5% eth,  E5 2.5% eth. 
4 Gulf    E10 2.5% eth,  E5  0% eth

Just use premium fuel as often as you can (every fill-up or maybe once in 3 fillups)

MOT 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is what my mate is doing he also did a bit of reading up about this and he came to same conclusion. Ill give him a ring he was going to see if he got more mpg. he drives a Mitsubishi e cross I think it is says it is quite heavy on juice.

[UX250h]

On 10/26/2022 at 9:08 PM, UX250h said:

ALAW, I've also looked at this, having looked at several articles and the car care nut & The Fuel Reviewer (YouTube) petrol cleaner/additives is not needed, instead, use premium fuel whenever you can with as little ethanol in as possible. My preferences are as follows...

ETH means ethanol 
1 Esso    E10 6%   eth,  E5 0%
2 BP       E10 5%   eth,  E5 0%
3 Shell   E10 7.5% eth,  E5 2.5% eth. 
4 Gulf    E10 2.5% eth,  E5  0% eth

Just use premium fuel as often as you can (every fill-up or maybe once in 3 fillups)

MOT 

 

See the following videos. MOT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ALAW]

Evening Folks my mate got back to me about using v power in his Mitsubishi E cross. He calculated the difference cost wise in respect of using v power as opposed to E10. Using E10 he was getting 33 mpg that worked out at 22.9p per mile. If he used E5 he got 38mpg and that worked out at 21.3p per mile conclusion cheaper to use E5 at 1.6p per mile cheaper. So a few of you recommended using V power and my mate has done this and he thinks this is definitely the way forward. Some of you mention mixing the fills between one and the other. I always remember Honest John saying use v power or BP ultimate. Before I forget my mate has the shell app and you get 3% off. I think he said your allowed to fill with a fixed amount of v power per month he was well within it.

[Illogan]

22 minutes ago, ALAW said:

Evening Folks my mate got back to me about using v power in his Mitsubishi E cross. He calculated the difference cost wise in respect of using v power as opposed to E10. Using E10 he was getting 33 mpg that worked out at 22.9p per mile. If he used E5 he got 38mpg and that worked out at 21.3p per mile conclusion cheaper to use E5 at 1.6p per mile cheaper. So a few of you recommended using V power and my mate has done this and he thinks this is definitely the way forward. Some of you mention mixing the fills between one and the other. I always remember Honest John saying use v power or BP ultimate. Before I forget my mate has the shell app and you get 3% off. I think he said your allowed to fill with a fixed amount of v power per month he was well within it.

It's actually a £3.00 discount off 300 litres - so only about 0.6% discount! (1p per litre!)