Anyone Pumping 89 instead of 91 gas regularly?
#42
running regular (87) for that last two years in my 2001 TL. No issues, no knock, no perceptual change in performance. Car has a computer that simply adjusts, yours will too. Run what you feel is best, it won't hurt the car.
#43
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Originally Posted by NYZGREATST
i was talking to this kid i know whose dad bought the new porshe truck. he was telling me that the dealership told them not to use 91 and higher. he said that 83 was perfectly fine cus the new engine was able to compensate for the lower grade.
*Pronounced Poor-shuh
#44
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Originally Posted by patrick
Interesting Kris! I got an Ody at home too. Hmm, would you be able to pull up this article? I'd like to read it...I'm currently using Chevron 87 octane as Honda doesn't say I should use premium.
#45
291hp & 245 tq @ 3.5psi
Here is what I think: Put whatever gas octane in your car as you like. After all, it's your car! You might or might not notice the loss of horsepower, the knocking, or the build up of carbon if use low grade octane gas, but why risk it? For me, I only put the best octane gas I can find because I want my car to be in tip top shape; unfortunately here in Cali, I can only put 91 grade octane. I want to get every single bit of horsepower from the TL-S sicne my goal is to make this car stronger and run faster. What's the point if we (who want to make our car to have more horsepower) spend couple of hundred dollars for each mod such as air intake, exhaust, pulleys, and maybe thousand of dollars for header and go cheap on gas just to save $3 per tank or $156 per year if fill once a week? This topic has been bring up too many times already, and it will never settle, so put whatever grade of gas in your car as you like and live up with the consequence if any.
My
My
#47
I guess Honda doesn't know what gas their engines are designed to run on. The engineers are stupid and just slap the label on the tank because they think it looks cool to use premium. Everyone knows better than the people who built the engine.
#48
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Originally Posted by rozslvk
Been doing a "mix" for a while, 93 1/2 tank, and 89 1/2 tank no diffence in performance. Next move I may try is reg(87) and octane booster may work .. I have a 02 tl-s use synthetic oil , will see what happens...
If you wanted to increase the octane rating from 87 to 91 using chemicals (toluene is the most common), it would take about a 20% mixture of toluene in your gas to do so (that's over 3 gallons of toluene in your tank - before topping it off with gasoline).
It's cheaper to just buy higher octane gas.
#49
Originally Posted by stretchb69
[B]Also, if you use cheap for a while then switch back to premo, it is to late. You will loose performance and it is irreversable.
Can you please provide some proof for this statement?
From what I gathered on similiar threads the lower octane retards the timing and will cause the "knock" you hear. People say once they switched back the knock is gone. I have never heard anyone say once you've gone cheap the damage is done and you cant go back. If that is the case and I bought my car used I should just assume the damage is done and use the cheap stuff.
Also if it is deposits from the higher concentration of detergents in the cheap stuff wouldnt that also be able to be moved out with some injection cleaner and cycling through premium gas from Shell or BP where the advertise running the premium cleans the fuel system in normal operating conditions?
Please elaborate.
#50
Originally Posted by alleyesonmeee
Yes you lose hp and it makes the car feel slightly slower, but you will get better gas mileage on 87/89.
I have seen time and time again that you use higher octane and it will result in better gas mileage. I conducted my own test. Hard to replicate exact driving conditions, but for what its worth I ran 2 tankfuls of 87 and 2 of 91 and both times I got better gas mileage with the lower octane. I can feel a difference in the car though, or it could be all in my head
#51
Originally Posted by SLAMMED_WDP_TLS
that is what i Was thinking. Get 87 and dump some octane booster in your car. How does that sound. Idont blame ya for getting cheap on gas sice gas prices are so DAMN high especially here in CALI. IT crazy man. But thinking about 87 and octane boost once I get my car back. My car is in the shop sO i odnt have to worry about filling up right now
Octane boost costs anywhere from 2-5$$$ which is more than the offset between premium and 87. Why go through the hastle?
#52
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Originally Posted by sweetride01
Yes, but the Odyssey 99-01 needed premium. So, if it was any of those model years, then of course the performance will be lost, since the timing will have to be changed.
#53
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Originally Posted by fsttyms1
just like teh TL. it requires PREMIUM!
#54
I get a good 23-24 mpg out of my TL with mixed city/highway driving..on 87 gas...i'm happy. I haven't really tested out the premium in this car..since i acquired the car in 12/04, gas prices have been somewhat high. I never really noticed a gas mileage/power difference in the Lexus SC400 that I bought or the Nissan Maxima both of which "require premium" gasoline.
#55
u should use what the manufacture says, because if it asks for premium, for u to get the best performance, mileage and so on, you should use what they say, because that is what they designed the engine for and to use. i understand gas is gettin expensive, but if u can, use premium, if it asks for it.
#56
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i always thought the highest octane gas a car could take was best for engine life and performance in general...so i don't put anything but premium, i figure i'm saving money that way by keeping the enigine cleaner thus giving it longer life.
#57
Originally Posted by moahdriven
i always thought the highest octane gas a car could take was best for engine life and performance in general...
2. Putting lower octane gas in a car that needs premium is stupid.
#58
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Originally Posted by moahdriven
i always thought the highest octane gas a car could take was best for engine life and performance in general...
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Originally Posted by alleyesonmeee
Yes you lose hp and it makes the car feel slightly slower, but you will get better gas mileage on 87/89.
#60
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Originally Posted by 99bluetlwtt
Acutally your gas mileage will suck shit. I use 89 once and the gas mileage per tank I got only 200 before the fuel light one. As when I use the 91 I get 240-270miles per tanks before the fuel light one. Yes I have a 99 TL
My TL never goes less than 330 before the fuel light, running 87 or 93. Last tank was 365 before the light, 420 before I refuelled with 15.6 gallons.
My TL gets 21-23 city and 26-32 on highway (dependent on speed).
#61
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Originally Posted by 03CoupeV6
My TL gets 21-23 city and 26-32 on highway (dependent on speed).
#62
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I wonder if it's the engine age difference? The lowest I've ever gotten before the fuel light was 315, that of course being regular. I didn't fill up until 357. The lowest I've gotten with premium is 330, so there is some difference.
But on an all highway trip, running 87, I saw 232 miles at the halfway mark.
Last tank went 420, it was 92 octane.
But on an all highway trip, running 87, I saw 232 miles at the halfway mark.
Last tank went 420, it was 92 octane.
#63
I'm laughing my ass off at this thread.
But I'll chime in with my own 2 cents.
I've never put anything below 93 octane in my car and got about 19-22 mpg on average, with city and highway driving mixed. When I put in 91 while out of state, it was all highway driving and I got about 19 mpg.
Just recently, I filled up with Sunoco 94 octane (I always get Shell 93 V-power) and did 80% highway driving, and a trip to the drag strip, resulting in 26 mpg. And this included 20% of drag strip runs. With all highway driving, it could've probably hit 28 mpg easy.
So yeah, do the math. I do -- at EVERY SINGLE fill-up. First thing I do after I get in my car after a fill-up is calculate the fuel mileage and make a note of it. It's a good indication of whether the car is running alright or not, so I make a habit of doing that at every fill-up.
Bottom line is, you can run below 91 octane and the chances are, you won't notice any big differences. But know that it probably is knocking, and your car IS working extra hard to compensate for the knocking due to the lower octane gas. You will also be sacrificing power, and fuel mileage.
I can honestly claim that nobody on this forum probably comes close to logging fuel mileage as religiously as I do, because I do it at every single fill-up. My driving habits, percentage of highway/city driving and other factors are always noted.
So yeah... I really don't give a flying lawn mower if you decided to run 55 octane in your car. My own little unbiased research of 2 and a half years shows that higher octane gas pays for itself with better fuel mileage.
My friends' cars have much more advanced engine management programs than I do in my car, and their statistics show the same thing... except it's real time on their EMS. I've seen what low and high octane can do on a real-time basis, and on dynos backed with dynographs, and logged fuel mileage. Higher octane fuel pays for itself, is better and safer for your engine. Period.
But I'll chime in with my own 2 cents.
I've never put anything below 93 octane in my car and got about 19-22 mpg on average, with city and highway driving mixed. When I put in 91 while out of state, it was all highway driving and I got about 19 mpg.
Just recently, I filled up with Sunoco 94 octane (I always get Shell 93 V-power) and did 80% highway driving, and a trip to the drag strip, resulting in 26 mpg. And this included 20% of drag strip runs. With all highway driving, it could've probably hit 28 mpg easy.
So yeah, do the math. I do -- at EVERY SINGLE fill-up. First thing I do after I get in my car after a fill-up is calculate the fuel mileage and make a note of it. It's a good indication of whether the car is running alright or not, so I make a habit of doing that at every fill-up.
Bottom line is, you can run below 91 octane and the chances are, you won't notice any big differences. But know that it probably is knocking, and your car IS working extra hard to compensate for the knocking due to the lower octane gas. You will also be sacrificing power, and fuel mileage.
I can honestly claim that nobody on this forum probably comes close to logging fuel mileage as religiously as I do, because I do it at every single fill-up. My driving habits, percentage of highway/city driving and other factors are always noted.
So yeah... I really don't give a flying lawn mower if you decided to run 55 octane in your car. My own little unbiased research of 2 and a half years shows that higher octane gas pays for itself with better fuel mileage.
My friends' cars have much more advanced engine management programs than I do in my car, and their statistics show the same thing... except it's real time on their EMS. I've seen what low and high octane can do on a real-time basis, and on dynos backed with dynographs, and logged fuel mileage. Higher octane fuel pays for itself, is better and safer for your engine. Period.
#65
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Originally Posted by 03CoupeV6
Are you saying that as a blanket statement or just for cars that require premium? Putting premium in a regular four-cylinder is a waste of money.
#66
Originally Posted by 03CoupeV6
Are you saying that as a blanket statement or just for cars that require premium? Putting premium in a regular four-cylinder is a waste of money.
#67
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Originally Posted by fsttyms1
correct putting regular in cars that dont require it is a waste. some times its needed in older high mileage engines. unless the car is modified its unnedded, UNLESS its called for like in the TL
#68
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Originally Posted by 03CoupeV6
I run premium almost always. I run tanks of regular SOMETIMES just to see if I can feel a difference. I never can.
#69
Originally Posted by sweetride01
Yes, but the Odyssey 99-01 needed premium. So, if it was any of those model years, then of course the performance will be lost, since the timing will have to be changed.
#70
I have a 99TL and I'm getting 22mpg (mostly freeway miles). Is this w/in the average? I'm already using redline injector cleaner (haven't finished the entire bottle yet) and I just recently replaced my plugs to ngk iridium. Does the 5 spd 2nd gen gets more mpg than the 4spd ? BTW...91 Shell on my TL.
#71
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Doing 75 mph from Wyoming to Nevada, I did 33 mpg or better on regular gas on the '03 TL-P.
#72
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Originally Posted by Ken1997TL
Doing 75 mph from Wyoming to Nevada, I did 33 mpg or better on regular gas on the '03 TL-P.
You have also shown to be the exception here on the forum because my mileage Sucks on regular (probably cuse i have a heavier foot) but with the same driving style i get alot less to a tank with regular over premium
#73
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Yeah I seem to be lucky with the '03 TL. The '97 gets much better mileage with premium. On regular it drops by about 3 mpg.
#75
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Originally Posted by progz
I have a 99TL and I'm getting 22mpg (mostly freeway miles). Is this w/in the average? I'm already using redline injector cleaner (haven't finished the entire bottle yet) and I just recently replaced my plugs to ngk iridium. Does the 5 spd 2nd gen gets more mpg than the 4spd ? BTW...91 Shell on my TL.
#76
Originally Posted by slickshoes
I'm in the exact boat as you my friend, I think it is our crappy gas in Cali. with the additives and crap. I get about 19-21mpg, and about 230 miles when my gas light comes on. Sucks hard. I've had the throttle body cleaned at the dealer under warranty, replaced the air filter and just recently put in NGK Iridiums also....
But what's the rated mpg for the 99TL? I got it used so I have no idea.
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According to Edmunds.com city is 19mpg and highway is 27mpg, so I guess I can't complain too much, but you guys getting 400 miles on your tank, what is your secret other than all highway miles???
#79
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Originally Posted by slickshoes
According to Edmunds.com city is 19mpg and highway is 27mpg, so I guess I can't complain too much, but you guys getting 400 miles on your tank, what is your secret other than all highway miles???