Jackass

Ummmm, pretty sure I'm the jackass.

056mt

It's quite amusing how triggered some people get about some of us deciding to run regular gas in OUR cars.

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

Nobody is stopping you from using whatever you wish. You can pour moutain dew down the gas tank for all I care. You can't ignore what is clearly stated on the gas lid or in the owners manual. It's required to use 91 or higher, after that it's your choice. At the end of the day i'm not worried about spending a extra few hundred bucks in the year for the proper required fuel. If a few hundred bucks is going to make it or break for you, then you have other issues.

TheSauceBoss

Death, taxes, and a monthly acurazine debate on premium vs regular gas.

xjokerz

Okay, so I'm going to stop with the whining and just get the premium 92 octane. 92 is what we have here in western Washington. I've been getting gas at Safeway and a few 76 stations. Is there any good gas station that I should focus on going to? I've heard great things about Shell gas.

What are your guys' recommendations for best premium gas?

056mt

Here it goes again, this is what I'm talking about. You state you run regular and why and people start throwing borderline insults your way, it is ridiculous.

It is a calculated risk after looking at the cost-benefit factors.

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

I use 93 in all my vehicles as it's what required. I use whatever the vehicle calls for.. Insults started with your cute statement of being triggered. Welcome to the internet and welcome to me being real with you.

056mt

How about this one?



There have also been comments about me not giving a shit about my car and stuff like that that were totally unprovoked. I've been 100% cordial the whole thread up until this point and haven't passed a bit of judgement on anyone that chooses to run premium yet there's definitely been backhanded remarks going the other direction. BTW that comment wasn't directed at you, or anyone in particular, though if that's how you respond to a general observation you must be at least a little triggered no?

Personally, I feel those who think anyone putting anything less than 91 octane in their car, regardless of the conditions or circumstances, is an idiot who is damaging their car out of cheapness is a fool, though I've kept that to myself up until this point. Though that's more about the attitude and ignorance than their choice.

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

The reality is for someone to have the same level of pristine to my TL on here or in general is very slim. I'm a different type of person and if you follow my build thread you would understand my statement. I've been around this crap way too long and repaired vehicles for 12 years before leaving the industry. In my eyes, I'm a hard critic and if it's not to my standards of clean or well maintained, I write it off. That's just my character. Needless to say, even with my "attitude" i'm still a genuine car guy and a good person. I called out someone on the Facebook group because his ball joint broke and his front tire was bold. The car lacked maintenance. After I busted his balls, I paypal him money to use towards buying a set of decent tires. How ever you and others maintain your vehicles is on you guys. It's not my car so I don't care to be honest. The reality is, the 3rd gen TL community has shown the reality of what has happened to these vehicles once it's hit the 4th or 5th owners, so I don't expect much. Enjoy your night.

DMZ

Mine is still on its first owner, so I give it the love, maintenance, AND GAS these vehicles should ALWAYS receive.
.
.

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

I know for a fact you do the right thing with your TL and take care of it. It's beating a dead horse as it always has when it comes to fuel and oil. You have members here who are more knowledgeable than the engineers who designed the 3rd gen TL. The engineers of the newer Acura stuff is a different story.. Clearly as show on your gas lid and in the owners manual it states what to use. Whatever these owners want to use is up to them but you can't ignore what's clearly stated..


Then you this statement such as "ACURA CLAIMS ITS OKAY to use regular" from one bright member here. Funny last time I've checked this was the 3rd gen TL 2004-2008 Acura didn't make such claims for this vehicle.

Then this other bright individual posting this crap "I trust the people above know more about this stuff than some internet talking head or barstool prophet. The knock sensors and computers have only advanced and gotten better since 2003. And Honda is now making turbo engines that run on regular to replace the (old) SOHC V6 ( I have a 3.2 TL and 3.0 Accord in my driveway).

I now run regular in my 3rd gen TL (6MT) all the time. Like Honda's principal chemist, I can't tell the difference, no change in mileage or power.

It's a free country, run what makes you happy, but don't be scared to try a tank and see for yourself.

FLAME AWAY haters "

Flame away haters because "I want to use regular and not be judged and if you do, you're a HATER!!!!" and I trust peoples from the internet more than the engineers who designed the engine

And then pasted this statement from good ole google:

"According to the manufacturer, premium gas is required only for the Acura NSX. However, it is recommended for the MDX, RDX, TLX, RLX, and ILX for optimal performance. The answer to the question,” Do all Acuras require premium gas?” is no — but there are many reasons why a higher-octane fuel can benefit your Acura vehicle."

What exactly does the 2004-2008 3rd gen TL have to do with the MDX, RDX, TLX, RLX and ILX? Nothing because it's over a decade older than these vehicles as the statement was for current Acura's..

056mt

It's more I was looking to have a discussion on the topic, I brought my reasons to the table but so far from the other side all I've heard is shit slinging and "because acura says so."







I feel I've already explained my side but let me elaborate since not many people seem to understand what I am saying.. Obviously running 93 all the time would be best, duh. But 93 cost 90c/gal more here currently and that isn't a non-factor. I could afford it just fine, but I just don't think it makes sense to do so.

Yes, Acura designed the engine to run on 91 safely in the most extreme cases. So an engine with optimal compression should have no problem being driven aggressively and revving up to redline in 100-110 degree weather. So yeah, if I was going to be racing my car in that weather I would put premium in. I also know my car with 215k likely isn't making the same compression as a car with 10k miles. It's also not always 110 degrees. Given all these factors, if it is going to be over 90 degrees I will usually put 50/50 in which would put me at around 90 octane, rather than 91. If I am going to be going on a trip with all highway miles at a constant 2500rpm, I probably won't. If it's cool fall/spring weather, or winter, I usually run 87 unless I plan on driving the car hard. In all of the above circumstances I am unlikely to get engine knocking despite running less octane than recommended by acura, and even less likely to get predetonation to a degree it would damage my engine.

Now let me explain the cost-benefit analysis. Most decisions are a gamble to a degree. For a while I bought used smartphones on ebay for $150ish. Insurance would cost me $13/month. I decided to forgo insurance because as long as I don't break my phone within a year, I will come out ahead just not paying for insurance and buying another phone as long as I don't break it in the first 12 months. Recently I bought a newer $600 phone but did decide to go for insurance, since a screen repair cost $200-$300 and a replacement would cost $600. I'd have to go several years problem free to lose money with insurance.

Now onto the car; I should be able to get a used engine put in my car for under 3k, likely closer to 2k. I drive about 12k miles a year, so it would take me about 8 years to go 100k. 93 cost 90 cents a gallon more than 87. Getting 20mpg, I use 600 gallons a year, or 5000 gallons over the course of 100k miles. Running premium would cost an additional $540 a year, or $4500 over the course of 100k miles. That is more than I have in the car, new ball joints, LCA's, inner/outer tie rods, stabilizer bar end links, AC compressor, new TB/WP, a new APP sensor, throttle body, and new brakes all around. Running 50/50 blend making 90 octane in the hottest months of the year, or when I plan on driving the car aggressively, so lets say 30% of the time, would make 15% of the fuel I buy cost 90c/gal more. So every year I would be spending an additional $81 a year or $675 over the course of 100k miles. That brings the savings to $459 a year or $3825 over 100k. If a used engine cost $3000 as long as my engine is not damaged in 78000 miles, I come out ahead. If an engine cost $2000, as long as my engine is not damaged in 52,000 miles I come out ahead. Now, if I thought the likelyhood of engine damage was high, I probably would just run 93 all the time. But I don't. With a high mileage car that has probably lost compression over the years, I think it is highly unlikely running 87 in cold weather daily driving conditions, or 90 octane in the same conditions during the hot months will cause damage. But even if it does, I doubt it would happen in the time frames listed above. I am just being real. I am not the first owner, and while a used engine would be a wildcard, so is any car/engine you have not maintained since day one. Not to mention a used engine would probably have less miles than mine.

056mt

Just curious, are you running water/meth, E85, or race gas in your supercharged car? Low compression pistons? If so, do you rag on members running superchargers without any of the listed? Because I'd imagine such a car would be at a lot higher risk having predetonation issues than mine would.

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

Go through my build thread if you're curious. 8 years boosted my engine is mechanically sound. My TL in general has zero issues

Marsalis Simms

I'm surprised this thread is still getting responses lol At the end of the day, each owner can do as they wish with their vehicle. The car is obviously designed to take premium but if you feel safe with running regular and it doesn't impact you much personally, more power to ya. Some of us have TL's as beaters, others probably over "baby" them (myself included).

Marsalis Simms

Third owner for mine. I've been told I'm stupid for dumping thousands in preventative maintenance/repairs but I love the car lol


Getting the front bumper and spoiler repainted next week

Legend2TL

for the expected gas drama,

C&D did a interesting premium vs. regular on four vehicles (including a M5) in 2019 with performance results FWIW. Pretty interesting results, always amazes me how much modern ECU's manage ICE

https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...dodge-charger/

Legend2TL

Amazing condition!!!

Scottwax

Actually, according to the lead engineer on the 7th gen Accords, they were going to initially require premium and rate the motor at 250 hp vs 240. But since the Altima needed premium to make 240 hp and the Camry only made 225 hp, they decided to rate it at 240 hp and recommend regular.

I reset my ECU and started running premium soon after I bought mine, small but noticeable improvement in midrange and I get about 5% better mileage. Doesn't really pay for itself but don't care.

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

Don't listen to those that individuals. Remember the Type-s value is climbing and a really well kept 3rd gen TL will always sell for a pretty penny. So it's always worth it in the end. I always LOVE seeing clean 3rd gens. I'll break my neck if I see a clean one with a full A-spec kit driving past me. Such a timeless classic

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

You still doing details on the side? I detail my vehicles once a week. Whats your opinion on chemical guys wet butter wax? I've used it for the last 6 or so years and has been one of the best wax.

Pair of TLs

Marsalis Simms

That's how I feel about it. I've noticed the market climbing for them, especially the 6MT's so I'll probably end up holding onto mine for a bit. I have a A-Spec front lip, waiting to source a rear and have a few things repainted on the car itself before installing. I agree, timeless classic indeed.

Jim2301

Google "Top Tier" gasoline.

Scottwax

On the side? I've been detailing professionally since 1994.

Don't waste your money on wax. Its dead. Optimum Hyper Seal will blow it away in looks and longevity. The new version is ceramic based (and not cheap so called ceramic products at Walmart, they are a legit ceramic coating manufacturer) that lasts about a year now. You have to get it from them.

This is how it looks on an E46 M3 after polishing with Hyper Polish.

All you'd need to do for a long time is wash regularly. You can also use it as a drying aid. Spritz on a panel prior to drying, will help dry the panel quicker and add protection.

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

Fantastic work!! Love those M3's. Similar color to my M40i. Two out of the three vehicles I own have been professionally paint corrected and ceramic coated. the one that isn't I tend to wax weekly. I just placed an order for the Opti hyper seal. Can I use it to refresh the ceramic coating?

This is the most current picture I have of my TL

Legend2TL

Some interesting octane comparisons between some modern vehicles.
Not as much difference as I woulda thought.

driveTL

Interesting how 93 seems to push these vehicles closer to their factory crank ratings. I wouldn't have expected such an increase in output.