Just got my '08 WDP TL-S (ebony/silver interior) last weekend at a local Acura dealer. Got it CPO and was able to avoid the hassle of purchasing from out of state, which was the original plan. (Thanks to all who responded to my posts the last 3 months, while I deliberated and agonized). I've been thrilled with the car thus far and am enjoying learning a few new features about my baby each day.

I came across an item in the owner's manual that I know virtually nothing about. It is recommended to avoid gasoline that contains manganese-based additives, such as MMT. Is this really important? I would hate to be causing slow damage to the car over time, as I would like to keep it in tip-top shape for many, many years.

If it is important, does anyone know of an updated list of gas stations in the U.S. and whether their gas contains MMT? After much searching, I have only been able to find a list at www.toptiergas.com, which is incomplete.

Thanks again for any advice.

 

Minimum 91 octane, just make sure you go to a brand name, mobil, shell, sunoco, bp

 

i live in your area, and i have been using nothing but quick trip premium fuel....i experimented with 89 octane a few times, and didnt feel any differences in performance, but mpg went down....i would average 340 miles a fill up, usually around 14 gallons on 93 octane, and when i used 89 it was right around 300....i get around 24mpg with 93 so i would use that....never had any issues with quick trip and they are everwhere in the metroplex....

 

Premium cost more and it evens out in the better mileage. So, why not put the best

 

Just make sure you go Premium (Minimum 91 Octane). Texas has a 93 Octane on all/most gas pumps. Just make sure you don't go to "low quality" fuel such as Citgo. Though every gas station shouldn't have a problem, because of the inspection/standards, we just don't trust them (all in our heads maybe). Anyways Shell, to me, is the best gasoline you can buy because of the additives that cleans your engine and the increase of gas mileage when I use there gas.

 

Good advice from you and others for the premium fuel. I am definitely using it.

My question is about the MMT, and if anyone even cares about that. Go to your owner's manual (page 236), and it states, " . . . we strongly recommend the use of gasoline that does not contain manganese-based fuel additives, such as MMT. Use of gasoline with these additives may adversely affect performance, and cause the malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument panel to come on . . . "

If you go to www.toptiergas.com, you'll see a list of gas stations that do not use MMT. I was specifically looking for 7-11 because I have noticed that they consistently have the cheapest premium gas in our area, often ~ 10 cents lower than even QT, which usually has some of the lowest-cost gas around (incidentally, QT gas does not contain MMT, as it is on the above safe list ). Unfortunately, 7-11 is not on the list. Just wondering if anyone knows anyone who knows anything about this . . .

 

Good advice, greco, except Mobil is not a Top Tier gasoline. Here are the Top Tier gasoline retailers:

QuikTrip
Chevron
Texaco
MFA Oil Co.
Conoco
Phillips 66
76
Entec Stations
Shell
The Somerset Refinery, Inc.
Kwik Trip / Kwik Star
Aloha Petroleum
Tri-Par Oil Co.
Turkey Hill Minit Markets
Mileage Stations
Chevron Canada
Shell Canada
Petro-Canada
Sunoco Canada

http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

 

^Why isn't Exxon listed on there? Exxon is the biggest company of all oil/gas companies, nonetheless, has more money than all of them.

 

It's because the top tier website is a marketing website and doesn't mean anything.

 

that toptier gasoline website is full of BS. BP, Mobil/Exxon is fine. I use BP all the time and the car seems to run smooth. However i did notice when using BP i get less mpg vs Mobil/Exxon.

 

^^^Agree, they pay to be put on it...chevron? LOL...

 

I think Mobil or Shell is good

 

Info on MMT-

http://www.epa.gov/oms/regs/fuels/additive/mmt_cmts.htm

I had no real idea. I suspect that the long term concern is catalytic converter performance reduction. The car manufacturer will specifically recommend against anything that could even potentially cause that, because emissions control stuff has a much longer warranty than the rest of the car.

EDIT- I've used Costco gas since 2001 in my '02 TL-S with no apparent effects (we have emissions testing here). The '06 TL gets the same thing.