hgiljr

So here is a question, which Octane grade do I use on my brand new TL-S? 87, 89 or 93? I was told to use 89 by a couple of Honda/Acura owners but not sure since my previous car had to have min 93 as told in the manual. Thanks

FLAcuraTLS

Use premium only..it's 91 octane and up..Don't use 87 or 89.

SpoonPower78

You should always use 91 and up.

I always use Sunoco Ultra 94.

T Ho

The engine is 10.5:1 compression. In order to run optimally, it needs premium (91 min, preferably 93).

Yes, it will run on lower octane, but over the long term, you can harm the engine. Besides, what business do one have buying a $30K car, if one can't afford the gas for it?

samkws

91 shell

gohawks63

I'm not sure if you'll necessarily harm the engine, the engine is equipped with knock sensors to protect the engine from damage. Once knocking is sensed, the igntion system will retard the timing. This will result in reduced performance and gas mileage. As for the mileage part, whatever money you're saving by pumping a lower octane, will just be offset by the decreased fuel mileage.

Lastly you bought a $30K+ TL-S for it's performance right? Why are you gonna skimp on the gas?

Ruski

If you are we todd did, use the lowest octane and cheapest gas you can find. Once you find it you might as well stock up on it too.

yahtzee

huh?

1SICKLEX

I must have seen this same dumba$$, cheap question on 3 boards this week. If your gonna buy a "premium" car, use "premium" gas:wow: :wow:

Bitium

You are correct but that is there so if you accidentally fill your engine with less than the required octane. Our engine is not meant to be used with lower than required octane. The knock sensors are there for engine safety.

Please use 91 octane or better.

edgalang

Don't listen to any of them knocking you about using lower grade gas. Just because you bought a 30+K car doesn't mean you HAVE to use the best gas.

But...this is MY reasoning. READ THE D*MN MANUAL. It's so cut and dry and layed out for you (In case you are lazy...it does say 91 is the minimum). I wouldn't use anything lower than 89...but personally, I've NEVER filled up the tank that's lower than 91 octane. Easy coast people got it made by having 93...but in CA, you are limited to 91.

bug230

the only gas offered in AZ is 91 and lower. Unless you want to pay a whole lot for 100, which is offered only at a couple stations.

Wampum

91 or higher is required for our cars. so it will do just fine

samkws

91 and 94 won't make differnces...the manual says....

just waste money

Ruski

daryl.com, repeat aloud after me:

I am we todd did

I am we todd did

I am we todd did

NsX Pilot

i personally will only use the highest octane available (sunoco ultra 94 ) and besides that i use a fuel injection cleaner ever other tankful ....for those who want to use something alittle better then reg injection cleaner in my nsx i use CHEVRON TECHRON CONCENTRATE which is a patented fuel detergent and the same stuff they add to there premium fuel b4 it goes to your local gas station. Its about 6 to 10 dollars a bottle and good for one tankful.

tdoh

What if the highest octane available is 100+--would you only use that instead?

Unless Chevron is lying to us consumers, they're using Techron in all their gasolines, not just premium--at least such is the case here on the left coast...

Bitium

Sure. , but remove the + because octane can't go higher than 100 since 100 octane would be pure octane.

BTW 89 octane means 89 octane and 11 hepatane. 91 octane means 91 octane and 9 hepatane...so on. So 100 octane would be 100 octane, no way you could get 100+.

The 100+ you see or octane boosters usually have other addictives like methanol...etc.

T Ho

The knock sensors are limited (by the programming) as to how much they can pull back the timing. Under load, and using below-octane requirements, the engine will knock regardless.
Not true. There are several companies (76 being the most notable) that producing racing gas up to 116 octane. I can buy 114 at the local drag strip (they call it Super Blue racing gasoline). I can get 102 octane at the local Speedway gas station (for $3.49/gal). Back during the leaded gas era (pre-1975), you could find 106 octane "Hi-Test" at virtually any station.

HOWEVER- there's always a catch- in order to get above 100, you must add tetraethyl Lead. Lead destroys catalytic converters very quickly, and as such, should never be used in our cars.

On top of that, there is no benefit (and actually some detriment) to using higher octane than required. Higher octane fuels ignite more slowly, and will actually cause a power loss in your typical street engine.

Bottom line- use what the manual recommends. 91 or better, but beyond 94 is a waste. I use 93, because that's what we get here, and I've never experienced any knock.

Todd

JasonT

I use 93, & only 93. The manual says 91 or higher, that's what I use. Seems to be great, I got 33-34MPG on my road trip to NYC.

Ruski

I have AvGas available at some gas stations near me - for those people with swamp air boats. That's very high octane, right?

RAdams

I get so excited when people's posts are technically accurate!

To further expand on your notes: Honda's PGM-FI system will not [can not] take advantage of octane ratings higher than those specified (read: ignition timing will not be advanced to take advantage of the additional octane rating, only retarded when the knock sensor senses detonation).

Unless you're using an aftermarket engine management system, use what the manufacturer suggests.

tdoh

So, I guess if you drove to Cali you're screwed since we only have 91-octane gas here...

yahtzee

Thanks for the quaint trip back to 6th grade, dork.

slyborg

I get just as excited by technically accurate replies!!!! :p

To expand yet further, what is commonly called "octane" is technically referred to as the "antiknock index", which is the average of the "Research" octane number (usually higher), and the "Motor" octane number (RON+MON)/2. Motor octane measures ignition resistance at WOT type conditions of most interest to most of the psychos on this site

Note that aviation gasolines are rated differently from automotive blends, they are rated using the Motor octane test procedure plus a conversion table, so for example the old 115/145 avgas has a MON of about 109.
All avgas rated 100+ is leaded and will destroy your cat converter. There is unleaded avgas rated 80/87, which is roughly equivalent to regular unleaded auto gas.

Using a lower rated gas in the TL will probably only lower fuel economy somewhat, as the ECU will retard timing to eliminate knock, thus using the available fuel-air charge less efficiently. It might also increase HC emissions a little. However, running constantly on 87 rated gas is probably not a good thing, since the knock sensor has to hear knock to react to it, so you will consistently be getting some low level of preignition intermittently as the engine operates. You will probably be best able to get away with it in winter/cold climates as the tendency to knock increases with the temperature of the fuel-air charge (hence the need for the intercooler in turbocharged engines).

Ironically, having a heavy foot also will decrease knocking, as higher engine speed reduces the time for pre-flame reactions with the exhaust residue in the cylinder to occur.....

NsX Pilot

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tdoh
[B]
What if the highest octane available is 100+--would you only use that instead?


SINCE SOMEONE ALREADY SAID THIS ...100 OCTANE + FUELS ARE USALLY LEADED AND I LEARNED THAT THE HARD WAY WITH MY MUSTANG GT ,,,,,I SHOULD HAVE KNOW WHEN THE NOZZEL DIDNT FIT THE DAMM HOLE,,,,,,,,BUT I WAS YOUNG AND THE SIGN THAT SAID RACING FUEL JUST DREW ME IN .......THAT HALF A TANKFUL OF THAT 119 OCTANE FUEL CHANGED MY CAR FOREVER BUT THE END RESULTS DESTROYED MY CAR. IF THEY MADE A HIGHER OCTANE FUEL THAT WAS COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE WELL YES ID PROLLY USE IT.

Ruski

hey, you asked me to explain.

Anyway it was not meant for you, it was meant for whoever runs 87 all the time.

JasonT

Not really. I only use 93, cause you can't get 91 in FL

Ruski

fuzzy, try some Citgo stations. They carry 91.

feliz

Try using vodka, it's cheaper.