A USA Today article on using Regular gas
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Instructor
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From: Vancouver, BC
A USA Today article on using Regular gas
I came across an old USA Today article on using Regular gas.
(Sorry if this has been mentioned already. I couldn't find any reference to it in my quick search. If it has been, please lock or delete this thread.)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...emiumgas_x.htm
It quotes a principal chemist at Honda Research and Development Americas driving an Acura. And he says he doesn't feel any difference between Regular and Premium.
The gist of the article is that it is fine to use Regular on cars like ours (NA with moderately high compression ratio) even though the price difference per annum is insignificant (maybe $120 for our cars?).
As long as the 87 gas you pump is clean and pure, therefore, you should be able to get by with about 5% loss of power.
Just so that those feeling guilty for pumping 87 would ease their mind.
(But at least buy the Tier 1 87 gas.)
BTW, I find it amusing that people in 2003 were calling murder for $1.83/gallon. Now it's $3.50/gallon.
(Sorry if this has been mentioned already. I couldn't find any reference to it in my quick search. If it has been, please lock or delete this thread.)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...emiumgas_x.htm
It quotes a principal chemist at Honda Research and Development Americas driving an Acura. And he says he doesn't feel any difference between Regular and Premium.
The gist of the article is that it is fine to use Regular on cars like ours (NA with moderately high compression ratio) even though the price difference per annum is insignificant (maybe $120 for our cars?).
As long as the 87 gas you pump is clean and pure, therefore, you should be able to get by with about 5% loss of power.
Just so that those feeling guilty for pumping 87 would ease their mind.
(But at least buy the Tier 1 87 gas.)
BTW, I find it amusing that people in 2003 were calling murder for $1.83/gallon. Now it's $3.50/gallon.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 1
First of all, the article is nearly 5 years old, well before they ever knew what a ULEV vehicle was.
The quality of gasoline in general was higher 5 years ago.
The compression ratio was lower, and the engine design was different 5 years ago.
I'm glad you made a frivolous point to all those that choose to use regular fuel against the manufacturers requirements in todays modern engines, and stir up another useless thread.
Back to the library 'ya go
The quality of gasoline in general was higher 5 years ago.
The compression ratio was lower, and the engine design was different 5 years ago.
I'm glad you made a frivolous point to all those that choose to use regular fuel against the manufacturers requirements in todays modern engines, and stir up another useless thread.
Back to the library 'ya go
bringin lead
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,779
Likes: 11
From: Georgia
Originally Posted by S PAW 1
I'm glad you made a frivolous point to all those that choose to use regular fuel against the manufacturers requirements in todays modern engines, and stir up another useless thread.
Back to the library 'ya go
Back to the library 'ya go
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 184
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver, BC
Originally Posted by S PAW 1
First of all, the article is nearly 5 years old, well before they ever knew what a ULEV vehicle was.
The quality of gasoline in general was higher 5 years ago.
The compression ratio was lower, and the engine design was different 5 years ago.
I'm glad you made a frivolous point to all those that choose to use regular fuel against the manufacturers requirements in todays modern engines, and stir up another useless thread.
Back to the library 'ya go
The quality of gasoline in general was higher 5 years ago.
The compression ratio was lower, and the engine design was different 5 years ago.
I'm glad you made a frivolous point to all those that choose to use regular fuel against the manufacturers requirements in todays modern engines, and stir up another useless thread.
Back to the library 'ya go
You seem to have forgotten that our car, the 2G TL, was current between 1999-2003.
This article was written 3 years AFTER I bought my car, lol.
Are you suggesting that J32A1 is not a "modern engine"?
Ah well, jokes aside, I didn't want to stir up another emotional bickering with no substance. All Regular vs Premium threads eventually degenerate into a clash of butt dynos. I simply felt that the principal chemist at Honda probably knew more about the gasoline he was putting into his Acura than I did.
While I personally recommend abiding by the manufacturer's guideline and use Premium, I don't want to condemn the Regular users either.
A final note: You seem to make a grave error of over-generalization in that I recommend using Regular in ALL types of modern engine, which couldn't be farther from the truth. Back to the library you go.
6G TLX-S
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,227
Likes: 1,181
From: YVR
Originally Posted by red00tl
You seem to have forgotten that our car, the 2G TL, was current between 1999-2003.
This article was written 3 years AFTER I bought my car, lol.
Are you suggesting that J32A1 is not a "modern engine"?
Ah well, jokes aside, I didn't want to stir up another emotional bickering with no substance. All Regular vs Premium threads eventually degenerate into a clash of butt dynos. I simply felt that the principal chemist at Honda probably knew more about the gasoline he was putting into his Acura than I did.
While I personally recommend abiding by the manufacturer's guideline and use Premium, I don't want to condemn the Regular users either.
A final note: You seem to make a grave error of over-generalization in that I recommend using Regular in ALL types of modern engine, which couldn't be farther from the truth. Back to the library you go.
This article was written 3 years AFTER I bought my car, lol.
Are you suggesting that J32A1 is not a "modern engine"?
Ah well, jokes aside, I didn't want to stir up another emotional bickering with no substance. All Regular vs Premium threads eventually degenerate into a clash of butt dynos. I simply felt that the principal chemist at Honda probably knew more about the gasoline he was putting into his Acura than I did.
While I personally recommend abiding by the manufacturer's guideline and use Premium, I don't want to condemn the Regular users either.
A final note: You seem to make a grave error of over-generalization in that I recommend using Regular in ALL types of modern engine, which couldn't be farther from the truth. Back to the library you go.
Engine tuning takes more than a chemist's "feel". The engineers are the ones that design, develop, and test auto engines, not chemists.
Try putting regular gas into the TL-S or CL-S, and then put the car under heavy load such as going up a steep hill or carrying 4 passengers. The car will be pinging like crazy. That's the different between regular and premium gas.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 1
Engine tuning takes more than a chemist's "feel". The engineers are the ones that design, develop, and test auto engines, not chemists.
Try putting regular gas into the TL-S or CL-S, and then put the car under heavy load such as going up a steep hill or carrying 4 passengers. The car will be pinging like crazy. That's the different between regular and premium gas.[/QUOTE]
EXACTLY!
Based upon the experience of putting 144,000 miles on my previous '01 CL-S, and putting premium fuel into every one of those miles, as recommended (actually it says required)by the manufacturer says I don't need to go to the library.
It doesn't matter to me FirePwr, but it does matter when someone tries to justify their use of an inferior product, and impose it upon others. Somebody may actually take the advice that is suggested in the OP's article.
The majority of owners will not, thankfully.
Hoist away
Try putting regular gas into the TL-S or CL-S, and then put the car under heavy load such as going up a steep hill or carrying 4 passengers. The car will be pinging like crazy. That's the different between regular and premium gas.[/QUOTE]
EXACTLY!
Based upon the experience of putting 144,000 miles on my previous '01 CL-S, and putting premium fuel into every one of those miles, as recommended (actually it says required)by the manufacturer says I don't need to go to the library.
It doesn't matter to me FirePwr, but it does matter when someone tries to justify their use of an inferior product, and impose it upon others. Somebody may actually take the advice that is suggested in the OP's article.
The majority of owners will not, thankfully.
Hoist away
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 184
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From: Vancouver, BC
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
Strange it may seem. Then why should Honda specified using Premium (91+ octane) gasoline for the 2002-3 TL-S and the 2001-3 CL-S when the so-called Honda chemist didn't "feel" any difference between Regular and Premium gasoline.
Engine tuning takes more than a chemist's "feel". The engineers are the ones that design, develop, and test auto engines, not chemists.
Try putting regular gas into the TL-S or CL-S, and then put the car under heavy load such as going up a steep hill or carrying 4 passengers. The car will be pinging like crazy. That's the different between regular and premium gas.
Engine tuning takes more than a chemist's "feel". The engineers are the ones that design, develop, and test auto engines, not chemists.
Try putting regular gas into the TL-S or CL-S, and then put the car under heavy load such as going up a steep hill or carrying 4 passengers. The car will be pinging like crazy. That's the different between regular and premium gas.
For engines like J32A2 with a higher compression ratio vis-a-vis J32A1, the loss of power should become more apparent using Regular.
We all know that higher HP is more attractive to those who can afford it. If you are selling a premium brand car like Acura, your target demographic can surely afford $120/year extra for Premium fuel. Why detune the engine?
So what Honda is basically saying is that to get the maximum power from your car, use Premium as specified.
Porkchop Sandwiches!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 509
Likes: 3
From: Brooklyn / Stony Brook / Washington DC
Originally Posted by S PAW 1
First of all, the article is nearly 5 years old, well before they ever knew what a ULEV vehicle was.
The quality of gasoline in general was higher 5 years ago.
The compression ratio was lower, and the engine design was different 5 years ago.
I'm glad you made a frivolous point to all those that choose to use regular fuel against the manufacturers requirements in todays modern engines, and stir up another useless thread.
Back to the library 'ya go
The quality of gasoline in general was higher 5 years ago.
The compression ratio was lower, and the engine design was different 5 years ago.
I'm glad you made a frivolous point to all those that choose to use regular fuel against the manufacturers requirements in todays modern engines, and stir up another useless thread.
Back to the library 'ya go
Damn, oops must've opened this thread a while ago and just now had read it...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 184
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver, BC
Originally Posted by S PAW 1
It doesn't matter to me FirePwr, but it does matter when someone tries to justify their use of an inferior product, and impose it upon others. Somebody may actually take the advice that is suggested in the OP's article.
i know gas is high as hell but the difference is cost in reg and prem gas is what 2 more bucks a fill. This sounds better than changing my fuel filter every 3000 miles and listening to my car ping all day.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 449
Likes: 21
Originally Posted by red00tl
Because it looks better on the spec sheet that you have 216bhp, for instance, using Premium rather than 199bhp using Regular.
For engines like J32A2 with a higher compression ratio vis-a-vis J32A1, the loss of power should become more apparent using Regular.
We all know that higher HP is more attractive to those who can afford it. If you are selling a premium brand car like Acura, your target demographic can surely afford $120/year extra for Premium fuel. Why detune the engine?
So what Honda is basically saying is that to get the maximum power from your car, use Premium as specified.
For engines like J32A2 with a higher compression ratio vis-a-vis J32A1, the loss of power should become more apparent using Regular.
We all know that higher HP is more attractive to those who can afford it. If you are selling a premium brand car like Acura, your target demographic can surely afford $120/year extra for Premium fuel. Why detune the engine?
So what Honda is basically saying is that to get the maximum power from your car, use Premium as specified.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,449
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area
All Porsche engines are designed for premium, too, but it's not available everywhere. "Our cars must be able to drive all over the world, and so we are able to run on regular," says Jakob Neusser, director of powertrain development at Porsche's research and development center in Weissach, Germany. "You don't have to feel that a mechanical problem or anything else will happen" using regular gas, even in the highest-performance, regular-production Porsches.
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