Just wondering.......is anyone using regular gas (87) for your TSX?

Is it ok to use regular gas..........

do you notice any difference from using regular gas compared with using premium gas.....

 

i've always put premium in mine

 

I think it depends on your driving style.

Are you going to pass 3500 rpm or even hit VTEC in general? Use premium gas.

If not, I'd use regular.

I've been using regular gas on my previous Acura RL, and now TSX without an issue. But then again, I accelerate responsibly (in the name of MPG), since gas is over $5.00 a gallon in my part of Canada

 

If the car recommends premium then you should use premium.

Although you may not feel a difference now, the effects could be long term. I know for the 3G TL our cars have higher compression engines which is why we need to use premium or else there could be knocking. Other things that might be affected is your fuel economy. I'd say just use the premium gas.. it's really not that much more than regular gas.

 

A buddy of mine has an '04 TSX with over 425,000km (Canadian) and used regular gas since new. Never had an issue. He uses synthetic oil like me, and changes his spark plugs every 120,000km. I sold my RL with 309,000km and used regular gas from day 1. No issues. Drive the car like a responsible person, and you're fine. I do a lot of highway driving where the car sits at 2200rpm in 5th gear. I average 27 MPG city and 34mpg highway.


But hey, by all means, it's your car, do what you feel is best.


If I drove my car harder, then I'd consider it

 

I can certainly notice the decrease in performance when Regular is used and thats enough for me to use Premium which is recommended anyway.

 

Please search before posting this question. It's been beaten to death.

Can a TSX run on regular, yes.

Should you run a TSX on regular, Acura says no.

Does it hurt your car, perhaps.

 

Interesting responses. I started off using premium for the first few years and then the last 2 or 3 years I've been using regular. For the most part I drive slow and rarely accelerate hard. I would prefer to use premium but it's costing a lot more than regular now.

I do oil changes regularly around 3500 miles. My car is a 2006 and has around 51,400 miles on it now.

Is there anything else I can do besides oil changes?

I've changed the filters several times but have not changed the spark plugs yet.

Recently just got new tires, brakes, rotors and a battery. The stock battery actually lasted 6 years.

Car drives well overall.

 

OP, I guess the choice is up to you then.

Personally, I've seen Honda K series motors being subjected to MUCH worse abuse (even high compression versions of the K20/24), so I'd rather put my money elsewhere like home reno, stock market, food, etc lol!

The price difference between regular and premium gas in Canada works out to almost $9.00 a tank. No thanks! After a year of driving, that works out to a few hundred extra out of my pocket. I just replaced the starter and 2 upper control arms. I'm sure those gas savings can be re allocated towards those maintenance expenses.

Of course, this is a TSX forum where enthusiasts hang out. I'm an enthusiast who wrenches each car I own, and I even believe in synthetic oil - but no premium fuel for me, unless I'm running a turbo or supercharged motor that calls for it, OR I decide I want to play around with VTEC/ the upper RPM range).

And let's face it, if you don't see yourself keeping the car for at least another 8 years, I doubt there will be any difference to you. Even if you pour liquid gold in your tank (), the car will still depreciate based on its miles, condition of the interior/exterior. (Flame suit is on, go ahead)

 

I believe it's a matter of if the gas has ethanol or not. So 87 does and 93 doesn't, but 91 supreme doesn't either which is what I use. 89 "Ultra" or whatever they call it has ethanol still so I'd skip that. Either use 87 or 91. I don't see the point in paying more for 93 if your car isn't tuned on 93 octane... and in Canada, 91 vs 93 is quite the price difference.

Just my .02 and how I look at it.

 

Um first of all in the US, pumps dont offer both 87, 89, 91, 93. It's based on location. Here in the S.E. I've never seen 91 octane. I have however out West in California. Why everywhere doesn't get 93 octane I wouldn't know but when you fill your tank with 93 vs. 87, the difference is enough just for a value meal at McDonald's. Putting shitty gas in a car that wants premium wehile getting a lot less power because the ECU pulls timing, it's not worth it. Why buy a car that takes premium in the first place if money is that tight that your cant afford to drive it? This is something i'll NEVER understand. These folks should buy a loaded accord. You basically get the same car with the same engine that burns 87 but while being 11-15hp less ans 9ft/lbs tq less while also saving money on the purchase.

 

Desmond, with all due respect, I don't think we should start jumping to any conclusions on the affordability aspect. My car is nearly 9 years old, has 150K miles on it, and was priced the same as an EX-L 4 cylinder Accord sedan (if not cheaper) at $5300. The 03-05 Accord sedan was so ugly to my eyes and the interior felt so cheap that I wouldn't be caught dead in it. I'm not the kind of guy that spends a great deal of money on a deppreciable asset, like a car (although I am a huge enthusiast). Infact, I sold my last 3 cars for a profit after owning each of them for 2-3 years. Ha!

Understand that my previous car was an '01 3.5RL that was run on regular for 3 years without any issues. I made a choice and decided I wanted something a little more youthful and fun to drive that was somewhat economical on fuel (the TSX fit the bill perfectly). The RL averaged 15-16mpg (mostly city driving). I could have bought another 6 cylinder car, but I was tired of the power thing (although it was nice having max torque at just 2800rpm). Because you played the 'affordability card', know that I have zero debt, and have payed for all my cars in cash. I have no mortgage (house is fully paid for, and am looking to upgrade soon) and am quite pleased with my investment portfolio. Point is, it is not a question of affordability. I can WELL afford premium gas. However, it's a choice that I have made, as the owner of my 8 and a half year old Acura that's worth about $5,000 on the used market. My driving style and the driving conditions that my car encounters regularly also make me feel confident in my choice. I'm driving more these days, and gas is well over $5.00 a gallon in Canada if you do the math. It's ridiculous, really. Assuming I fill up 3 times a month, every month, I'm saving roughly $325 per year. And it's likely closer to $500 in savings per year by using regular fuel, since I do a few more road trips from June to August.

You don't have to agree with me. I will sleep easy tonight and know that my car is doing well. I'm pretty sure the previous owner of my car used premium fuel as he purchased the car new and only serviced it at Acura. If anything, putting synthetic oil in one's engine is more important up here in Canada, as we face frigid temperatures 4 to 5 months of the year. Heck, I don't even need the synthetic, I just got it at a good price and stocked up on the stuff.

 

From what I have witnessed working with Kpro on my hatchback is the Honda ECU is EXCELLENT at detecting knock and pulling timing.

BUT what if your knock sensor goes out? what is telling the ECU to pull the necessary timing? nothing. And there is no such thing as Long term timing trim like there is for fuel. Will you hear the knock considering how quiet the car is in stock trim (the main reason why I removed the intake resonator in my 6MT was to hear it so i could shift).

I have a Hondata Reflash... If I hit a gas station with 91, I pull off and try 1 more station hoping for 93

 

+1.

And as Duck dodgers said, this subject has been discussed, expounded upon and analyzed to death, with HP & gas mileage charts, over the last several years. (Do a thread search).

Suffice it to say the majority opinion in these discussions concluded that one can use regular gas -- but the TSX does have more power and get better mileage with premium. (A few people felt regular was fine for them and had no problems after many years of using it.) --I have personally tried full tanks of both and have seen a distinct difference in power and gas mileage, though the former is more important to me.

From 2006 on, the TSX has more HP, (13 more than 2004-05), and having driven several of both engine types, I think the difference is perhaps even more telling with premium.

 

My statements weren't focused on you. I think i implied car owners in general and not a specific owner on AZ.

 

I think the car recommends or requires 91 octane. That mix is not available in TX and many other states, but you can mix half a tank of 93 and half 89 and make your own. It doesn't really save much but I've done it before when I was in a pinch.

 

Guys, this topic has been discussed ad nauseum. If you wish to continue the discussion, please revive one of the many existing threads and continue the discussion there.