Hi, I just picked up an 07 Acura RDX about a 2 month ago and for some stupid reason, i didn't bother to check that the manual recommends premium gas only!

I purchased it with 34 000km and i've noticed its starting to lag on performance compaired to how it was when i first purchased it. Would this be due to me putting in regular fuel instead of premium?

I've put about 5 000km on it since i've purchased it and was wondering if i may have caused any damage to my engine or turbo at all by making this mistake?

From now on, I plan on putting in nothing but premium. So will my engine and turbo perform like how its meant to or am i looking at damage that's irreversible?

Also, is there certain gas station that provides better gas that anybody would recommend.

Thanks

 

I would think there is a reminder sticker when you open the cover lol.

I don't think it will cause damage, just won't be getting full power. on that tank.

 

Not to worry. The engines ECM will account for the 'bad' gas by retarding the engine timing to compensate for any knock that the engine may see. As a result the vehicle will seem sluggish in performance! If you want you can throw in a bottle of octane boost until the next fill up of Premium, that may bring back some of the performance lost.

 

Even if I put in premium gas from now on?

 

No worries mate!!

 

Thanks buddy.. I was starting to get worried..

I'm going to go pick up a bottle of that octane boost stuff first thing in the morning. Is there a certain one that you would recommend?

 

look for something that raises octane numbers, not points.

10 points = 1 Number.

 

"...retarding the engine timing.."

No, NOT...!!

When I picked up my '01 Porsche C4 at the factory it was explained to me that I would not always find premium fuel in my travels in europe but not to worry the engine ECU would adjust the fuel mixture via EFI to compensate for lower octane fuel.

Timing retardation technique goes back to the days of carburation when A/F mixture was not under "real-time" control.

Besides which it is counter-intuitive to retard the timing to prevent knock/ping due to mixture heating from compression. The mixture is typcially self-igniting PRIOR to ignition.

 

Well, you are wrong. Modern ECU's control ignition timing when knock is sensed (i.e. from using lower octane fuel). Knock retard is one of the first things almost any tuner adjusts.

They may have some fuel control under knock as well, but retarding timing is what lowers cylinder pressure and thus reduces the likelyhood of knock.

 

From the Import Tuner Hondata Test:

 

There are, as all should well be aware, multiple sources/causes for engine ping/knock.

Yes, if the octane rating is too low for the compression ratio and the knock/ping occurs AFTER the ignition spark then retarding the spark will be of help. But if the knock/ping occurs prior to ignition then the only viable solution is to "throw more fuel on the fire".

 

Reducing cylinder pressures will stop it as well. Knock retard is immediate once detonation occurs.

 

Detonation...........vs IGNITION...!!

"...Knock retard is immediate once detonation occurs.."

NOT..!!

"Detonation" implies self/spontaneous ignition.

If the A/F is "detonating" due to the heat of compression then retarding of the ignition will be of NO help, whereas using EFI to enrich the A/F mixture most definitely will.

 

You've been a fool on this site for years and you still are. You are 100% wrong and lack complete knowledge of how ECU's and knock sensors work.

You retard the ingition, cylinder pressures drop right away and detonation stops. It's not rocket science and they all control knock this way. Seriously, before you open your mouth, at least watch a car getting tuned once in your life.

Shit, even the old school guys would advance timing until they saw knock, then back off a degree or two.

 

http://www.misterfixit.com/deton.htm