youngTL

Do you guys think I would have caused any problems by doing my first oil change early (at around 3000 km)? I swapped it out because I wanted full synthetic in there and have noticed a significant improvement in fuel economy and cold weather efficiency.

Does Acura still use high molybdenum oil from the factory? Did I fuck up?

LaCostaRacer

I don't know about if Moly is added to the break-in oil or not, but it has been in the past and Honda seems set in their ways. I don't think you messed anything up and if you're concerned you could probably add an additive to re-add the Moly again. You'll need to go to bobistheoilguy.com possibly to get that type of information.

Good luck! I suggest swapping the ATF every 20k instead of doing early oil changes going forward.

Mr Hyde

Last I heard, Honda/Acura was still using "break-in" oil containing moly, so I waited for the MID before changing mine. Too late to do anything now, but an additive containing some like was mentioned couldn't hurt.

fsttyms1

You will be just fine.

youngTL

Thanks guys.

spoiler900

What is the benefit of changing to full synthetic? Im not mechanically inclined. All I know is the thing costs twice as much but you can go twice as far. Does it help any way else like mpg or anything?

weather

^^ Better lubrication and less prone to breakdown so better engine life....in theory.

Mr. ShawnJ007

I'm with you @YoungTL, i waited for the 30% mark though. I put in Amsoil Signature Series 0W-20 with a K&N HP-1010 Filter right at 5000Kms.

Also popped in a K&N Air Filter (33-2499) at 5100Kms.

She's running beautifully. Range is reading about 580km on a full tank (up from 380Km @ 4000-5000Kms before the oil change), and she only drinks Ultra94. Perfect shifting, no problems what so ever... only slight annoyance is the persistent auto-idle stop.


I'm actually thinking about changing the rest of the fluids to Amsoil at 10K, tranny and rear differential (transfer case). I think Honda's cheaping out on the fluids they put in at the factory... i just want what's best for my baby I might however just stick with whatever fluid the service department recommends and change it more frequently.

Whats your mileage and how's your range on a full tank? What kind of gas are you feeding yours?

youngTL

All I know is that I fed my TL-S full synthetic the entire time I owned it. Redlined the damn thing many times per day, EVERY day. After a couple hundred thousand km, it doesn't burn a drop of oil.

And yes it does help fuel economy somewhat, especially in cold weather. Also FYI my full synthetic oil change was only $87 AT THE DEALERSHIP! That's not bad for dealership prices. I was too lazy to change it myself that day and I will not let a quick lube place touch the car.

My gas mileage is stupid good. 9.8L/100km in the city (driving like I do, which is aggressively), but keep in mind Edmonton roads aren't very clogged up. My highway mileage is shockingly good. 5.8L/100km is my highway record at 100 km/h while trying to hypermile. Normal highway mileage is about 6.3 - 6.7L/100km. (edit: adjusted the range based on some data I had that I dug up from my last trip). 6.7 is when I get aggressive and pass a lot. 6.3 is about normal passing sometimes but not too often.

I don't know what kind of range that gives me because I always fill at 1/4 tank or higher. I believe it's a 65L tank right? So that should net me about 1000km give or take on the highway and around 650km or so in the city.


I use 91 octane. I don't see the point in putting in 94 octane (plus hardly anywhere sells it here, I can only think of 2 gas stations in the entire city that do and they're far from me), I don't think you get a huge benefit from it. I definitely will not put less than 91 in though, because I'm hard on the engine and I don't want any knocking whatsoever at high RPM.

weather

^^ That is simply incredible as far as fuel economy!

youngTL

I know! It wasn't that good when I just bought it, but after break-in it seemed to loosen up a bit, power seemed to increase and so did fuel economy. I've had one new car before so I kind of expected that, but the large jump in economy surprised me.

Also I'm in Sport mode all day long every day. My typical acceleration pattern off a light (if it's not heavy traffic) is to accelerate briskly (going to about 4,500 RPM before shifting) up to cruising speed, then let the transmission (or if I'm in Sport+ do it myself) upshift to the highest gear possible for that speed. It does wonders for city fuel economy driving that way as long as you're not accelerating towards a line of traffic or a red light where you'll have to slow down and stop again right away.

I've also mastered the foot pressure for Auto-Idle-Stop. I can engage or not engage it at will, just with brake pressure. I only let it engage at very long lights or train crossings.

Highway I steady-state cruise at 110km/h-120km/h in 9th after briskly accelerating up to speed. If I'm hypermiling I slow to 100km/h. Hypermiling I also minimize passing and lane changes unless absolutely necessary.


But yeah, fuel economy is one of the reasons I bought the TLX over the IS350. I was able to take both home for a day and took them on the same extended test drive route (not on the same day) for about 100km. The TLX handily stomped the IS350 in fuel economy, but the IS350 has less body roll (given that Alberta is mostly flat with straight roads, this wasn't a big selling point to me).

weather

...Yeah, I average about 10.5l/100km in my IS which is a combined city/highway. The best I could get on a 300km trip was 7.9.

youngTL

Is your IS350 AWD or RWD? When I looked at them the 2016's were only offered in AWD, but previous years it was sometimes possible to get RWD. I think the AWD system in that car uses a lot more fuel due to the way it's set up.

Mr. ShawnJ007

It sounds like we drive the same way hahah, very spirited to say the least. I drive about 80% city right now in the suburbs so i still get to open her up regularly at night.

I'm heading to Montreal next weekend so ill let you know how my highway mileage goes, 5.8L/100Kms is awesome!

I believe we only have 56L tanks... i'm a little OCD so i run my tank dry every time to keep the fuel system "fresh". I also reset my Trip at every refuel to keep in tune with its vitals a little better (old habit from my 3rd gen).


Amsoil and Ultra94 worked wonders in my 2003 TL-P (CAI, OBX Headers, High Flow Cat, Magnaflow Catback), it still gets 600kms to a tank with 350K. I blew a hole in the flex of the J-Pipe though (too many VTEC Redlines? lol) and it needs a lot of work (suspension, rotors, pads, new electrical wires, 2 rear lock actuators seized, and who knows what else) so i put it away and got the TLX.

94 might be overdoing it, but i figure i'll treat it the same as i did my other one to get the best results and long term health.

youngTL

The TLX has an auto-reset of one of the 2 trip meters when you refuel, I really like that. Do you live in Alberta too, or elsewhere?

The fuel tank is 65.0 L, as per the manual, not 56 L.


I reckon you'd actually get slightly better fuel economy on 91 instead of 94, due to energy density. Try my highway tips and see how you do!

weather

I have the AWD although I could have ordered a RWD at the time

Mr. ShawnJ007

Same here... I learned from my last car that the engine is like a muscle, you need to stretch that baby out and work the higher RPMs for it to grow and give you its best.

I set Sport as the default in the menu, but i dont ever use Sport+, it seems too ridiculous for the roads I'm on... unless i'm showing off a little

The paddle works great in Sport, i use it frequently and then just tap the D to switch it back to auto once im cruising.

I also keep traction control off so it doesnt limit the power at all, i only keep it on when the roads are slick. I'm a little nuts with my ways but it works

Mr. ShawnJ007

Yeah i found that last week, super convenient for my habit! Hmm... i dont think ive ever been able to cram more than 57L in that and thats with basically nothing left in the tank. I'll check next time though.

Definitely will try it out next weekend.


I'm out in an eastern suburb of Toronto.

youngTL

The fuel gauge is pessimistic. When it's telling you empty, it isn't. I like Sport+ when I'm manually selecting gears for a longer period of time, because if you start cruising for awhile in other modes (including Sport) it'll go back to D on its own.