My question is regarding gas grades. Is there a problem using 89 or 87 octane in the CL-S? Because prices for the premium is so dam high. Would this effect any of the emmision components or the behavior of the engine? I read some were that decrease in octane would only decrease HP, but what about pinging effects.

 

It will probably ping and then you'll be pissed off at yourself for doing this to the point where you might go off and kill yourself.

Remove some weight to increase the gas mileage...

 

87 would be pushing it. Even with the computer de-tuning your car to accept it you still may have some issues. 89 would be ok, however expect to run bad & get worse MPG. I'd just suck it up & use 93 or just drive less.

 

thanks for the advice

 

Well here is how my car acts. If I put 87 or even 89 in her, she runs a bit sluggish and only get about 320 miles per tank. Maybe because I am always needing to push it harder..

If I run super, she runs much better and I get a tad over 400 miles per tank.

Dollar per mile, it comes out to be about the same. But she runs so much better with 91 oct.

 

Do you get 93 in that part of PA? I thought it was only the western US that got 91 as premium.

 

we get 93 and also 94 at sunoco stations

 

Yep, I stand corrected... It is 93. But you are right, Sunoco does give 94...

 

There is no problem of using regular gas. One time the gas attendant (in NJ we don't pump our gas:P ) put in the regular gas by mistake. The car ran fine without any hiccups. The car loses some power at the top end but how often you drive that way.

 

Mine has run fine on 87 in a pinch but I wouldnt do it under 2 conditions, if either are true; 1)If its hot outside, 2)If you run her hard. Given the mods you list I say you probably run her harder than "normal" (maybe not for this board). I've also noticed slightly lower mpg when I've done this so I just stick with crappy Ca 91 which is all we can get.

 

I have been using 89 octane, no problems, runs fine.

 

I've also always used 89 octane in 60k in my 2001 CL-S with no problems (but I wouldn't go any lower). If it's really hot outside and the engine is at low RPMs and I accelerate, it can ping for a second until it downshifts. And I tend not to get into VTEC more than a few times a week, so I don't need any higher octane. My gas mileage is always pretty good: best of 33MPG at a steady 75mph, and averages around 24-26MPG in mixed driving. Driving nicely is the easiest way to save gas (and wear), and anyway, with the updated ECU along with tranny replacement, the car isn't as responsive and fun as it used to be. Don't get me started! I calculate MPG every tank to stay on top of problems, cuz I'm anal that way....

 

in my rl i just got 19 in the city with ac on. not too bad