Hey guys-

I'm new here and I'll be picking up my white (forgot the abbreviation) 2004 TL tomorrow and I was just wondering what everyone recommends on the type of gas to use. I know Acura recommends premium, but my salesman told me I could use regular. Any advice would be great, as I don't want to hurt the engine but I also don't want to spend the NY price of $2.40/gallon for premium if I don't have to.
Thanks guys

 

that 89 octane (mid-grade in Georgia). Works fine. I have filled the tank on my new TL twice and avg about 18.3MPG around Atlanta.

 

93 octane is what I use.

Acura recommends 91 octane.

There are many threads on the octane issue, some with a lot of good info. I'll try and find some for you if you don't want to search.

edit:
Found one of many threads.
http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showt...ghlight=octane

 

This topic has been discussed before. http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showt...&highlight=gas

 

I have just over 1,000 miles on my 04TL and have used 93 octane exclusively. Got 23 mpg during 1st 600 miles (driving around town) and just got 30 mpg (mostly on the highway @ 70 mph) last weekend. I can't find 91 octane, so I go up to 93, not down to 89.

 

I use the premium 93, and i get an average of 21MPG in heavy traffic here in Houston, But then again, i'm still under 1000 miles on the car so i havent really gone over 3000 RPMs.

 

I use what Honda recommends since I don't need the car's computer to de-tune my engine while using sub-91 octane gas. During my recent trip to the southwest, I figured it cost me about $40 more to use the recommended octane (nearly 6K miles) - small change in a $35K car I think.

 

I would suggest you use the 91/93 octane untill you break in your ride. You don't want to wonder about the gas if you have some kind of problem with performance. After its broken in use whatever you want.

 

I agree $40 is small change in a $35K car.

However, if you make 10 trips a year and keep the car for 10 years, the savings is just a tad bit more.

 

For what it's worth, most premium gas runs about 10¢ more than plus... so:

Since we all know the fuel light comes on at 13.5 gallons used (roughly), and knowing I fill up once every 2 weeks, it calculates out to just over $35 for the year. Many may fill up once a week, making that number about $70 per year.

For the additional performance, and the satisfaction I gain from following the manual (I'm one of those very compliant people), I'm happy to spend that amount.

Even if I keep the car for 10 years, it doesn't end up costing me more than an additional $350 to $700 to run the right fuel.

I think it's a bargain.

 

Do what the engineers who designed the car say to do. You can find it in your owner's manual. Your car will run just fine on 87 octane regular but you will give up about 2mpg and about 8% peak power. Your choice, but you won't save any money by using regular and you will not get the performance you paid for. If saving money is important, Honda makes a great car called the Accord.

 

Agreed... Run the good stuff in your car. Skip the 'super sized' french fries just one time and you've just saved enough money to bump yourself up to 93 for one week. If an extra $2 to $4 during a fill up is going to put you in the poor house, then man.. you bought the wrong car.