LC vs LX Engine - How are they different?

[Dan Higgins]

This is more a curiosity than anything else. But we purchased a new 2016 Land Cruiser earlier this week (pics to come later). We learned that we can put "regular" gasoline in it. Yet I also hear that the LX requires/needs higher octane gasoline. But aren't they the "same" engines?

 

[cc1999]

To my knowledge there is no difference in the engines. There might be and Likely is a difference in the computer tuning to optimize the engines to one octane of fuel or the other.

Differences in octane generally require a slightly different timing .

 

[04UZJ100]

LCX may have slightly more aggressive timing. It also has way more plastic cowling.

 

[SWUtah]

I looked into this when I owned my 2011 LX 570 it's just a timing issue if you run regular in the LX 570 the computer will just retard the timing you won't damage anything. It's also about marketing the LX is a high-end vehicle so they want you to run premium fuel

 

[Bloembuild]

From my understanding, they have a different MAP tune. That said though, I'm pretty sure that the computer will adjust to whatever fuel you throw in it...

 

[Dan Higgins]

Thanks. Here in Coloradio, premium is about 10% higher than regular at the moment. (I use Shell.). The the 2014 Land Rover I had before this Land Cruiser had slightly better mpg with its SCV6 engine, it requires premium. The higher cost of the premium just about cancels out the mpg benefit. And with the LC I have much better torque and hp. Now I just need to train myself to select the middle octane fuel at the gas pump. Old habits cost me $3 at my last fill up. :-0

 

[BullElk]

Just curious....why did you switch from a two year old LR to the brand spankin new mighty LC ?

 

[Dan Higgins]

Towing a travel trailer.

 

[damdifino]

Tell us more about your toad. I tow a 7500 GVWR travel trailer and would like to know other's experiences.

 

[linuxgod]

Tell us more about your toad. I tow a 7500 GVWR travel trailer and would like to know other's experiences.

Our trailer is 5200# GVWR and 24' and it tows great

Towing with a 200-series Toyota Land Cruiser

How long is you trailer? 7500# seems like it might push the limit of the LC, especially in mountainous areas, though unless you go to a something with a diesel or a 3/4 ton pickup there aren't too many SUVs are rated to pull >8500#.

 

[Dan Higgins]

I will be towing a 25' travel trailer (Lance). I'll post pics in a month or so when I have some experience. The weight before loading is 4972# (w/ full propane and all the options installed). The GVW (max weight for the 2 axles) is 6,000#. That leaves about 1,000# max for gear, etc. We are no higher than 500# with our gear. The Lance has a somewhat lower profile and rides somewhat lower than other trailers we have seen and according to the CanAm RV folks (highly regarded Airstream dealer) the Lance is second only to the Airstreams in how it pulls.

The problem with the Land Rover was the max tongue weight stated in their owners manual. Though they claim to be able to tow a 7,716# trailer (this was the rating for the models prior to 2014 which used a V8 similar to the LC200 with torque ~400 but this rating was not change when the switch to the SCV6 in 2014, my model, which had a torque rating of 340.). My problem wasn't so much with the fact that the SCV6 may have been a less powerful engine, it was that they didn't change anything. That, combined with such a low max tongue weight, combined with questions surrounding how well a weight distribution hitch does/does not work with the air suspension in the Land Rover, gave me enough doubts that I didn't want to worry about. (BTW, most already know this but best practices in towing are that you have between 10 and 15% of the overall, loaded traile weight for your tongue weight. The trailer behaves much better then. I couldn't do that without exceeding the stated maximum tongue weight for the LR4.)

For the 2016 LC200, not only is the tow rating SAE certified (something that was introduced just a couple years back because manufacturers were being rather vague about how they came up with their tow rating numbers) and 8100#, it's stated tongue weight in the owners manual is 850#. That is the important number for me. LR4=550, LC200=850. Furthermore, Toyota recommends the use of a weight distribution hitch so their is no ambiguity about how well it will work with an air suspension. (Note that the tow rating on the LX570 is a 1,000# lower.)

Many argue that a diesel truck with a longer wheelbase would tow much better. Certainly. But we kept to a somewhat smaller, lighter trailer so that we could stay with an SUV class tow vehicle. If we need to get in the truck lane going up mountains and keep our speed under 70mph, we are OK with that.

 

[linuxgod]

I will be towing a 25' travel trailer (Lance). I'll post pics in a month or so when I have some experience. The weight before loading is 4972# (w/ full propane and all the options installed). The GVW (max weight for the 2 axles) is 6,000#. That leaves about 1,000# max for gear, etc. We are no higher than 500# with our gear. The Lance has a somewhat lower profile and rides somewhat lower than other trailers we have seen and according to the CanAm RV folks (highly regarded Airstream dealer) the Lance is second only to the Airstreams in how it pulls.

...

For the 2016 LC200, not only is the tow rating SAE certified (something that was introduced just a couple years back because manufacturers were being rather vague about how they came up with their tow rating numbers) and 8100#, it's stated tongue weight in the owners manual is 850#. That is the important number for me. LR4=550, LC200=850. Furthermore, Toyota recommends the use of a weight distribution hitch so their is no ambiguity about how well it will work with an air suspension. (Note that the tow rating on the LX570 is a 1,000# lower.)

My Surveyor is very low as well - about 12.5" from the bottom of the frame to the road. I actually had to purchase a separate 12" drop wedight distribution shank in order to get the trailer level. Mine was at 5030# at the weigh station (600# tongue) last year loaded with bikes and gear (but no water except for the 6 gallons the hot water heater holds). With the anti-sway and WD setup, towing at 70-75mph I can hardly tell it's there when crusing.

I do highly recommend the firestone air bags along with the WD if your tongue weight is >500#. My big issue with WD is that you're shifting tongue weight to the outer axles, which hurts stability on the highway. IMO you want to use the WD so that you can run right at 500# of tongue weight, maybe a little more. At 500# the rear end sinks a few inches and the squatting hurts stability on the highway considerably in my experience.

 

[Dan Higgins]

Thanks for the tip on the air bags. I definitely plan to look into that.

 

[linuxgod]

For reference, the photo on the left is with my trailer attached, and the one on the right is after I inflated the air bags to 35 psi.

The left should actually be lower but I leave the air bags with 5psi in them at all times to act as bump stops, and once you add 550-600 lbs to the hitch it actually increases to closer to 10psi. If I fully deflate them (or if you didn't have them), the photo on the left would squat another ~1" in the rear

 

[rkmd]

New guy here - just bought a 2016 LC. My dad has an LX570 and comparing the two, I do notice that the Lexus has a more aggressive throttle and generally feels a little torquier at the lower end. Of course my truck has only 11 miles and I suspect it will loosen up and the ECU will adjust - so that may change.

So I agree with others that the Lexus may be tuned for high octane.