Hey everyone,

I'm considering purchasing a 1997 Acura 3.2TL. The vehicle has 250000 kms (I'm Canadian) and, apart from semi-standard repairs that'll be needed within a year (front tires, back pads and rotors, an alignment, a new headlight and a rust spot), it's in great shape, drives wonderfully and seems to be quite reliable.

I have some questions, though...and if anyone could answer them, I'd really appreciate it.

First off, I just wanted to make sure that I could use regular, unleaded gasoline (with an octane level of 89) in the car, without any problems. Is this true?

Also, the previous owner installed a new stereo system in the car. I noticed (and I may just be missing something) that while the back and front (dashboard) speakers worked, the speakers on both front doors were not sounding. I fiddled with the fader settings on the new stereo, but no luck. The owner of the car says he didn't think there were any problems with the two door speakers. Any thoughts on this?

Speaking of the audio system, I want to eventually replace that system with a 6.5-inch navigation/stereo setup. Could this be a problem, especially since the current stereo doesn't seem to be supporting all the speakers?

Lastly (thanks for your patience), there was a smell of gasoline in the cabin as the car started up driving both times we tested the vehicle. I'm guessing that's just the climate controls/AC being turned on too soon, or is this another issue?

Thanks so much for your time, and if you have any answers to my inquiries, please reply.

 

I can't say for certain about 3.2 TL but the 2.5TL does fine on a diet of 87 no-lead gas.

Speakers likely reflect a poor radio installation or adapter wiring. Most of these are installed by disinterested 19 yr olds.

I would inspect the injectors and fuel pressure regulator for leaks. May not cause any problems, but could increase fuel consumption.

good luck

 

3.2s require premium unleaded gasoline of 91 octane or higher.

 

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

I bought the 97 3.2TL today at a good price and I am quite happy with the vehicle.

However, I am still noticing a fuel smell in the cabin sometimes when the accelerator is being pressed. I have checked for leaks under the vehicle, but aside from a tiny oil leak from what looks like the oil pan, there is no fuel anywhere. The car is nearly out of gas, would this contribute to the smell? Where else should I look for leaks? And if it turns out to be the fuel tank, lines or injector, what would an estimated cost be for repairs?

Also, desired_speeds, I noticed in the owners manual that the the car's engine will compensate for regular unleaded gas if necessary. I'm hoping this is the case, because gas prices are crazy enough, and I probably shouldn't spend the extra money on premium gas all the time. Hope this'll be okay.

Thanks again and if anyone has any more thoughts, please add them

 

If you start using regular than MPG will go down. You will need to fill more ofter. I did that for a little while but then I started using premium and Chevron only.. Don't speed, stay in the limit and don't punch on the start ups. You will be fine and get above 20 MPG's..

And you won't find fuel leaks under the car if it is a minor leak because it evaporates quickly. Try looking around the fuel line, injectors, fuel rail etc..

 

id check the fuel injectors and rails for leaks.

 

I just recently purchased a 96 5 banger, and the owners manual and gas tank explicitly say to use premium fuel only. Im from the US so filling up with 93 octane over 87 octane is less than a $5 difference per tank, so personally I think the cost of using premium is worth the peformance gains (not to mention I probably save that extra $5 by the miles per gallon I get, which happens to be 24-26 driving "normal" and 22-24 beating the piss out of it at a dragstrip. This was with oil blacker than a moonless sky... I just changed the oil less than an hour ago so MPG will probably go up even more.)

If you have to run 87 octane, at least go get yourself an octane booster treatment... which on second thought costs nearly as much as just using premium gas in the first place...


As far as the gas smell, I had the same problem for the first few days, but then it went away. The TL I bought was sitting in a garage for over a year so I just attributed the smell to stale gas being burned up somewhere.

 

and sorry for double post, but compensating for 87 octane gas means the car will run quite a bit worse. I think running with 93 octane, the car is a pig enough... no need to make it worse to save a few dollars every tank.

Also, AFAIK the computer will adjust to your driving style and how the car is handled, using 87 grade one tank, then switching to premium and back to 87 again will probably make the vehicle run even worse than just using 87 all the time. Start with one and stick with it. Just remember that, while I can't speak for Canada's gas prices, the money you save by using lower grade gas is a few dollars at most, and you will end up paying for it at the next fill up due to worse gas milage anyways.

 

gas smell should go away but you should use only premium gas your engine will last more long. by the way where in canada do you live.

 

The 3.2 should use premium only. You'll actually SAVE money by using the more expensive octane because your fuel economy will be that much better.

 

Ken,
This has not been my experience. I started using 87 octane about 8 years ago on my '96 3.2TL - my fuel economy did not change. I've been consistently getting 25 MPG for the past 3 years. Before that I only got 22 MPG, but my mileage improved when I replaced the front calipers in 2007 - they must have been seizing.

My experience is that higher octain fuel helps your 0 to 60 mph performance, but not your miles-per-gallon performance.