Can someone help me clear the controversial debate of Regular gasoline vs Premium being used in the TLs?

Does using regular gas really mess up the engine?

 

If you know it has been debated to Death then you must already know the outcome:
> Using Regular Gas doesn't Save you a Dime in the Long Run <

It doesn't mess up your engine, It mess with your MPG from the loss of HP which is Ironic because you want to save money using Regular in the First Place.


Just use Premium.. You will have the Horses and the MPGs.

 

Yeah, premium fuel is recommended and worth the few extra bucks for better overall performance, gas mileage and cleaner internal components which will help your TL run longer.

 

the engine is actually designed for 94 octane, a rare find in most states
So the ECU is already compensating ignition timing and other settings for it to use 91 !

Yes it will run on 87- say you are stuck outside of Nowhere Nv. and all they sell is 87, use it, but stay off the throttle- no vtec!
and back to 91 soon as you find real gas
no its not going to hurt anything that fast, many have used 87 with long term savings goals- just doesn't save you any money in the long run

in Ca. its 20 cents a gal more, currently 3.97 for premium, over 87, If you drive a full tank a week/300-400 miles, that's about 2 dollars more in fuel cost per fillup, 100 dollars a year to have your TL run right. Compared to many expenses in life- that's not such a bad deal

 

I just bought my 1999 3.2 TL and it runs much better on mid-grade or better fuel which is what the Honda dealer wasn't putting in it. It also runs smoother and faster with the R/H engine mount repaired which I did soon after I discovered it was apart. The bolt had stripped the threads of the upper mount so I replaced both bolt and bracket. It is a fun car indeed!

 

when you open the gas cap door there is a placard saying what gas to use:
example 91/Premium or Higher required

a used car on the lot gets a gallon or 2 of 87 to keep it running during test drives
they often have a storage tank onsite or a deal with nearby gas station, many Hondas most other cars and maybe some newer acura(?) use the 87

 

was the timing belt replaced before you bought the car? that would explain missing bolt on mount. Have you ckd the front and rear motor mounts- front often fails!
every 70kmiles not uncommon, bad side mount puts strain on rear mount