Not to beat a dead horse here but I've found something interesting that maybe someone can explain to me. (and tell me if I'm correct in my explanation).

When I got my 225HP '02 TL I just accepted the fact that it required "super" grade gasoline. Since my 190HP '97 Maxima required the same.

I was also not surprised to see that the 260HP TL-S also requires it.

Here's where it gets interesting. The 240HP MDX requires it as well. I figured "yeah I'm not surprised". Now the kicker....Honda claims that the required gas (according to the manual) of the 240HP Odyssey (which has the same engine/trans as the MDX) only needs "regular" gasoline. (yeah I'm looking at the Odyssey, got a kid now )

So I think to myself "self, how can this be?". Everyone on odyclub.com loves to cut on the MDX because their van only needs regular. I think that Honda just tells Ody owners that their car needs regular because people that have 2.5 kids and who buy Honda's don't want to hear about buying super grade gasoline. I think the Ody owners are selling themselves short on power. What do you guys think?

Maybe I'll post this on odyclub after I get some opinions here. I wonder if anyone ever did the dyno test on the Ody.

 

Your TL will run fine on regular gas as I have experienced, although I use premium, I have used regular the first time by accident...didn't notice anything wrong, but there may be a loss of power from not using premium.

 

That's a really good question.

I checked out both vehicles myself... Both are 3.5L, 10:1 compression ratio, and put out 240 hp. Sounds pretty much identical to me. Are you sure the Odyssey recommends regular unleaded? (I saw 91 recommended for the MDX on the Acura site.)

My only experience in putting 87 octane in the TL-S was a little less power, and lower mileage. It's pretty much a wash if I pay less at the pump, but have to fill up more often. Therefore I use 93 in it.

 

really?
same engine for sure but different requirement? hmmm
maybe it is true that family-haulers' potential buyers don't want to be scared about needing to pay extra for gas

 

Let me see 10:1 ratio that uses 89 octane, humm don't sound true. Like you said, maybe they are selling themselves short on power....I couldn't find anything on the site, but I would love to see the manual, could it be a typo.

 

I have never seen 93 octane gas here in my area. I think it's that damn California MTBE or whatever it is that makes the gas burn cleaner. The highest I can get is 91.

 

THe TL manual clearly states that 91 is the minimum. Here in Virginia (Sunoco), you can buy 94 octane. I have noticed an improvement using the highest possible but maybe I am just trying to justify the higher cose that I paid

I also own the 2001 Odyssey. I think it is an OK car. I am a little disappointed in the "plain-ness" of the interior though...there is not even an outside temperature guage

I have tried all of the grades of gas in this car and have found that the 87 sux in the Ody and the 93 is overkill, so 89 is just right.

Just a thought seeing is how I own both of these cars. BTW, I would probably not buy an Ody again...defintely go for the MDX is you can

 

I have had a '99 Ody that said regular for 200 hp and 210 if hi test was used. I now have an '02 Ody that states 87 octane for 240 hp. and 91 not necessary.
I asked the dealer why the MDX required hi test with the Ody engine and only got a smile!

 

I guess the logic is if you can afford an MDX, then you can afford premium gas.

Is that Northern VA? We don't have Sunoco stations down here in Hampton Roads...