RicardoEdwards

I just purchased a certified preowned 2003 Acura TLS. The dealer told me that I can use 89 octane, but the manual states premium. Which octane level do most TLS drivers use and how does that affect perfomance and the engine?
Thanks.

o3TLson19s

i've always put the highest !! and it deserves it listen to the book !!! almost always

aaronnn

manual always says 91 and higher. so ive always given it premium. but you can go one lower if you want.. say plus (89 octane).. its up to you, but preferably premium

MikeekiM

91 here... It's the highest you can get in California... At least at the places I frequent...

There are octane boosters, but I don't go there...too much money... Don't know if it makes a difference...

Anyone try octane boosters here?

ou sig

you need to stay with 91+. people have complained that their engines have knocked with lower octaine gas.

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

93 here and nothing lower.

Yeah, the PCM is smart enough to compensate for the lower octane grade gasoline, but the timing will be constantly advanced. Why put unnecessary stress on the engine to save a buck at the pump?

shawn744

premium grade @ shell....

and it's not the grade that puts a strain on your wallet, it's a car's MPG....

Jaadu

I Dont get why people buy a 30k car and then bitch about 1 buck or 2 at the pump. I know that your not saying you do, just clearing a discrepancy between your manual and the dealer, but there are many like that on this board. I just dont get it.

bkzjimmy

93!!!open the gas cover and it says premium only!

MikeekiM

Unfortunately, we in California typically get three grades... 87, 89 and 91...

bkzjimmy

when i visit the paconos...sunoco carries 87, 89, 93 and 94

samkws

91 is more than enough, i don't see difference with 94

however if you drive a Sti or EVO, then you might need 94 for maximum performance

PDX3.2TL

I run 91 and have run 89 before. There is a huge difference in how your car runs for the amount of money that you save. Definatly spend the few extra dollars and ease up on the gas if you are concerned about MPG.

PhxAcura

only use what the "manufacturer" recommends - not the dealer.

crazym0nkey

I heard something like if EVO's use 100+ Octane thats 30 HP already. Well they get more power for using higher octane. My brother has an EVO and is always looking for higher octane gas, but stupid california only has 91. Although I heard 76 has "cool blue"? gas which is 100 octane. But you have to ask for it specially

O, And use 91 Octane as the manual says Treat our cars good and give 'em what they want

samkws

100+ are only for racing purpose only, which contains some alcohol stuff

30 hp is not realistic, but i believe 15 hp if you choose 98 thou

because in Japan and other asian countries they offer 97 as regular and 98 for the premium

i believe those cars will perform better with higher octane, but for our TL, it doesn't matter as long as it's 91

whoopidoo

Found the information below AT THIS LINK. I take no responsibility for inaccurate information.

Why do I need premium gas? Can't I use regular? Will premium gas make my car go faster?


When the spark plug in the cylinder of a gasoline engine fires, a tiny ball of flame begins to expand in the combustion chamber. If all goes well this expanding flame front will continue to burn evenly until all the gasoline vapor in the chamber has been burned. If the gasoline is of the wrong kind however, or if the spark plug has fired too soon, or the compression ratio is too high, instead of burning evenly the gasoline explodes, combusting all at once with damaging force. Sometimes this undesirable detonation can be heard as a "ping" or "knock" in the engine, but it can occur without being heard. The octane rating of gasoline is an indication of its ability to resist detonation. The higher the octane number, the less tendency to knock, and of course the higher the price.

Engine knock is bad news. If it happens often it can literally put holes in your pistons. I bought a Jaguar XK-E in Denver once, for half what it should have sold for because some fool had advanced the ignition in a deluded attempt to recover the power lost because of the Mile High City's thinner air. Three pistons had holes in them the size of 50 cent pieces!

In many newer cars, the effects of running on regular gas when you should be using premium are less serious because modern ECUs have knock sensors that can detect detonation and which can retard the engine timing until the knock goes away. The price you pay for this is considerably less power from the engine.

Until recently this article in this FAQ read as follows--

"So the bottom line is, use the grade of gas your owner's manual recommends.If your car only needs regular, it won't produce any more power with premium gas. If it needs premium, use premium, because regular will cost you power and maybe an engine overhaul. "

But lately Honda seems to be engaging in a marketing ploy. Premium fuel is expensive, and people aren't inclined to buy cars that need it, so trusting to the efficiency of its engine knock sensors Honda has recently been recommending regular gas for some of its products that could really use premium! In those cars, the owner's manual says use regular, but premium really will get you another ten HP or so! How do you tell? Well short of a dyno test, check your compression ratio. As a rough rule of thumb (there are a lot of variables) a 9.2 to 1 compression ratio Integra 1.8 litre engine only needs 86 octane, while a 10 to 1 VTEC engine needs 91 octane to produce full power.

HustleLikeM0FO

Great info whoopti.. Here is something similar

http://www.petro-canada.ca/eng/prodserv/fuels/6823.htm

99TLKID

I run 93 Octane Gas
and Mobil 1 full syn oil

ndawood

100+ is similar to leaded gas.. if we try running that on our cars the cat and the o2 sensor will not last very long, they will simply burn up. An EVO or an STI does not automatically get better performance out of a higher octane gas. If the ecu has been flashed and their maps are set for a specific octane they must run that otherwise they will have issues.

I always use 94 octane and dont notice much of a difference in mpg but the car does feel smoother and its probably not but its only 1 or 2 bucks more so its not a big deal.

samkws

you are right, not on ur TL, but some cars do have exceptions....esp turbo cars

the turbo cars are very strict on these, you will never want to put lower than 91 on these cars

my frd has a volvo S70 and he said once he tried a lower grade the car couldn't move LOL
maybe his computer is trying to play safe and detuned the power when a lower octane detected

i do believe the EVO or Sti can get a few more hp with higher octane, similiar to the new Accord V6

they have 240hp with 87 octane, but in asia it has 250hp with 97 octane

reloaded

shieeet...i usually put 89

Teej

Hey there...my first post around here. Have owned a '99 TL for several years and just added an '02 TL-S to the stable.

The 97/98 octane numbers are measured on a different scale than what we use here. Here in the US we use "(R+M)/2" (the average of "R" ('research' octane number) and "M" (an octane # evaluated by testing the fuel in a special testing "Motor").

(R+M)/2 usually gives the 87-93 range. Using the "R" only gives the ~ 97-100ish scale seen in some countries. They're not getting "better gas" (except for the "reformulated" crap that many of us are forced to drive with here). I'm all for saving the environment, but auto emissions (especially of cars less than 20 years old) is such a trivial part of the problem, it's like stomping out mice at the zoo because the zoo is generating too much feces.

100 Octane in the US doesn't necessarily mean it has "alcohol", FWIW. There are unleaded racing fuels well in excess of 100 without alcohol.

The real kicker is that you want to use whatever octane number lets your car run at peak efficiency and not one point more. Running too-high octane will decrease performance and mileage just as much as too low octane.

If your car can tune itself up to (or you have tuned it to require) 94...then by all means, run 94. The TL-S is made to run at 90-91, so running (US spec) 94 is worse, not better, than 91.

alleyesonmeee

I only use 93. The few times I did put 89, the car ran like crap.

dchondasport

I've used the Octane booster on 92/93. You notice a little difference. Get the booster with injector cleaner. It's $5-$6 at Amoco. Orange bottle.

NOVA peeps - Get it at the Amoco on Woodbridge: 123 and rt 1 intersection near taco bell.

My 1992 GSR swears by it. VERY noticable there.

Not as discinct in the TL, but there is a difference.

$5 for a 330ish miles of extra "giddy-up" ain't bad.

TL_Fo_Life

Premium, Premium, Premium....... I live in Cali and Id gladly continue to pay out my butt to drive my car hard and not worry about engine knock. Besides I gotta worry about uninsured drivers in L.A.

rozslvk

Run my tl-s on a mixture , run the tank down then put 93 octane in. When the tank gets to the 1/2 point I put 89 octane in. In Ohio I use sunoco, Sam's club, or Shell. The amazing thing is that sam's club runs perfectly., and shell is some times like water. Wish Mobil was back in my area , when I go to visit family in Flint Michigan (what's left) with the side trip to Frankenmuth ( Good german food ). I always tank up mobil.

dchondasport

You're a brave dude. I'm not trying 89 in my $20k car, Even at a mixture.

Remember that 1/2 tank is actually a lil more than 1/2 b/c of the reserve.

rozslvk

It was odd that the dealer when he filled the tank for the first time used sunoco 89 full tank no difference. If you have 93(1/2 tank), and 89 (1/2 tank) do the math. The car needs 91 octane so, 89/93 =91 . Plus the car has the knock sensor which will retard the timing. Have a relative with the same car that uses 97 (regular) in California with no apparent problems. Would not go that far (scary). Most of my driving is on the third world freeway (I-480) into town (cleveland). if the car is tricked out motorwise 93 is it but if it is a bare bones tl-s it is ok. another factor is that my car has mobil one oil which helps...