I just talked with my mechanic and I mentioned how there were some problems with our Cats going bad (When you get that sulphur smell) he said that that was because of people putting in low octane gas. So before you think it doesnt matter and you can cheap out on the gas, you might regret it if this prematurely fries your cats. $$$ > whatever you saved on gas.

 

If your to cheap to buy the gas don't by the car. That's what I think.

 

No idea about the cats. However, I believe engines are 11:1 CR which warrants the higher octane gas. I agree, if you don't want to pay for the slightly more expensive gas, then this is the wrong car.

 

^11:1
its even higher than what you were thinking.

 

Thanks! I tried to Google it but I came up with a bunch of pages that had disparate information on them about different engine codes, revisions, and CRs.

edit: I have no idea what you're talking about, 11:1 is exactly what I said!

 

Do NOT Google Image "Fried Cats".


Just use 91/93 octane and leave it at that.

Trust me.

 

^

 

LOL!!! i googled it just for laughs

 

I use Shell 99% of the time, 93 octane. When prices get this high, when I get around 1/2 tank on the guage, I will fill up with 89 octane Shell ($.12 p/gal less) and the next time fill up with 93. Not much difference, just makes me feel better!!

 

Sam's club 91 gas for me and literally from 87 to 91 ur only saving like 2-3 bucks kuz its usually a 20 cents difference between the two

 

Yeah people seem to make a big deal "Oh you have to use Super in your car??" And they come out of the woodwork as the gas prices go up.

In fact, when gas is $2 for regular and $2.20 for Super you're paying 10% extra for Super.

When gas is $3.30 for regular and $3.50 for Super you're paying only 6% extra for Super!

I always tell them... it really doesn't matter... the base price of gas is going up. The extra 20 cents per gallon is almost meaningless.

 

Exactly. Your not paying anything more when gas gets more expensive. My wife keeps making a big deal about having to pay extra for premium fuel. I keep telling her it more than makes up for the extra cost with the extra power/economy. My worst mpg is 28. My typical is 29-31...

Yet her Pilot barely manages 20mpg on regular...

 

for some reason i've always used 93 on the the cars i've owned because i always thought was better lol

 

I'd like to hear his full explanation. I'm guessing he's thinking:

lower octane=retarded timing=increased EGT=damaged O2 sensor and/or pre-cat=damaged pre-cat??

 

I resisted.

 

i recently drove from CT to buffalo and on the way up put 93 as i always do, and was right around 26mpg. On the way home filled up with 91 and was around 29mpg. Just thought that was weird, drove the same speed for the most part around 78.

 

Even if you buy the cheap gas if you do the math you're only saving $2. So not worth it.

 

Maybe when you are driving from CT to Buffalo is more of a uphill drive. More of downhill when you are returning to CT. We find that on many of the trips we are on.

 

Even then the ECU retards the timing, so you get less MPG with regular gas.

 

Also it depends on the driving you do-lead foot, etc. From reading what MPG other tsx owners are getting I think I will stick with regular. Yes I did try using premium when I first owned the car. If you were to drive my car and did not know what gas I used you would find out it has more than enough power. I average over 30MPG. Last fill up was 33.2MPG. (old fashion way of calculating it)

 

^you also have a different car with a lower engine compression rate.

 

good call. never thought of that

 

ditto

 

+1

 

Seriously, chunk up the extra change...its a TL

 

up to $4.00 a gallon for premium in Seattle, WA these days :/

 

also figuring something along those lines


but given enough time, it could very well kill the cat sooner then necessary (it might be 200k miles though, vs 250k, or whatever they last on the 3g TL)
but i have seen an ORIGIONAL cat last 295k miles (1993 Toyota Camry V6 btw), then sold to a new owner, WHICH had to run it through a IM240 emissions test, and it actually fsatpassed the test (which means it blew good enough numbers, that it did not have to do the full 240 seconds)





but i also think this is what it might come down to though, especially on some cars, is that the people who are WILLING to pay for the premium gas, are also willing to pay for maintenance, and keeping their car running at peak efficiency, which helps to maximize the cat's life