Can I Use Regular Gas on the TLX?
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
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From: Waffles, BU
Pro
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From: calgary
Ditto, ECU's are tuned to run richer fuel mixtures when lower octane is used, especially when it's under load.
Senior Moderator
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From: SoCal, CA
(and I would STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST IT!!!!!!) Just use the funnel in the trunk.
16GS FSprt,03Max,12 335is
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From: Manhattan Beach, Ca / Dallas, Tx
Senior Moderator
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From: SoCal, CA
Racer
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From: Indiana
That's a pretty stark difference from CA to TX and I wonder how much of it has to do with California's strict emissions rules. I haven't had to pay more than $3 for premium here in a while but when it changes it moves in $.20 increments so waiting a day or so could cost you a couple of bucks more or less per tank. I remember when the cost of a gallon of gas would be the same for months.
Summer is Coming
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,857
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From: Houston
I think what she honestly meant was that there isn't any differences in the actual gasoline , premium vs regular. It's the additives in it, it's not like one of them is a 'better' or cleaner product necessarily. Maybe all she has ever had is cars that use regular unleaded , in which filling them up with Premium would just be throwing away .30 per gallon .
That's a pretty stark difference from CA to TX and I wonder how much of it has to do with California's strict emissions rules. I haven't had to pay more than $3 for premium here in a while but when it changes it moves in $.20 increments so waiting a day or so could cost you a couple of bucks more or less per tank. I remember when the cost of a gallon of gas would be the same for months.
The difference in cost is from state or local taxes, state regulations on the additives in the gas etc.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2014
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From: Florida
When gas prices started dropping in my area, the difference in the price of regular and premium started increasing. Right now it is 50 cents or more depending on the brand. Still not enough to make me move away from premium, but then I have a full time job.
That is crazy. It's crazy that its that expensive down there in SoCal, but everything is more expensive down there.
Advanced
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 53
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From: Indiana
I've seen other such information and have experienced it myself. Engine runs more efficiently with recommended higher octane fuel and gets a slight boost in mpg. Bottom line, in an engine designed to take advantage of higher octane fuel, the cost difference is almost a wash.
16GS FSprt,03Max,12 335is
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 976
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From: Manhattan Beach, Ca / Dallas, Tx
16GS FSprt,03Max,12 335is
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 976
Likes: 7
From: Manhattan Beach, Ca / Dallas, Tx
That's a pretty stark difference from CA to TX and I wonder how much of it has to do with California's strict emissions rules. I haven't had to pay more than $3 for premium here in a while but when it changes it moves in $.20 increments so waiting a day or so could cost you a couple of bucks more or less per tank. I remember when the cost of a gallon of gas would be the same for months.
@CA
Suzuka Master
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From: Raleigh, NC - USA
Forgot to add there is about a $.30 spread per gallon 87 to 93. 89 mid grade is $2.62 or +$.20 over 87. Diesel is $2.59. Seems prices are very volatile, no pun intended, right now.
Off topic FWIW or not worth. Did the first tracking of the Cobras mileage when I got fuel on Thursday.
Car just crossed 600 mile mark. Filled the last time at 400. Took 10.2 gallons to fill to the same point in the filler neck (don't have a nozzle restrictor). 90% of the driving was short runs 5/7 miles with a number of stops requiring a run up through the gears, limit 3500rpm.
One for 40 miles mostly in town, main streets 45mph limit with traffic lights. 60mph cruise in 5th is 2100 RPM.
Off topic FWIW or not worth. Did the first tracking of the Cobras mileage when I got fuel on Thursday.
Car just crossed 600 mile mark. Filled the last time at 400. Took 10.2 gallons to fill to the same point in the filler neck (don't have a nozzle restrictor). 90% of the driving was short runs 5/7 miles with a number of stops requiring a run up through the gears, limit 3500rpm.
One for 40 miles mostly in town, main streets 45mph limit with traffic lights. 60mph cruise in 5th is 2100 RPM.
Last edited by BEAR-AvHistory; Jul 18, 2015 at 11:27 AM.
Problem solved 
Pro
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Pet peeve of mine. All sorts of reasons to use Premium as the fuel that's recommended. Higher octane=more power. Premium typically has more detergents=clean valves, etc.
Regarding price of gas going down...I've been following this trend for a long while. I remember my late Father bitching a blue streak about gas lines when I was a "young'un". He never did buy into the excuse that we were running out of oil (as was the company line from oil companies in the '70s to prop up the prices sky rocketing. My Father was prophetic at the time, as he seemed to be the only one who saw the ruse as an excuse to raise prices.
'80s came along, price rose, and then plummeted once it was clear we weren't running out of oil, and that U.S. gov't wasn't going to support big oil. Again, I remember my Father talking at the dinner table about Reagan not supporting OPEC or big oil. Sure enough, in hindsight, once I got to college and started studying economics, it was clear that there never was a solid fundamental reason for the dramatic rise in oil. OPEC wasn't restricting supply.....BP, Dutch Petroleum, CITCO, etc were. At one point, OPEC complained so loudly that they weren't at fault, they let the price of a bbl of oil drop to $12-$15/bbl.
'90s-economic boom, but oil prices plummeted again. Again, there were no fundamental economic reasons to support high gas prices.
Fast forward, we have heard that Middle East was volatile and supply could be interrupted, so that caused prices to rise. Too much money at stake. We've heard this for at least 4 decades. NEVER has the flow of oil been interrupted. Again, no fundamental economic reason to support gas prices where they are.
Right now, we're self sufficient when it comes to oil. Matter of fact, we don't need any OPEC oil at all. Further, the supply of oil is so high that we've run out of places to put it. We've become quite efficient at finding our own oil, getting our own oil, refining our own oil, that outside forces should have no affect effect on U.S. gas prices.
It's mind numbing to me that CA is actually paying $5/gal.
Iran is getting ready to flood the market with oil. World wide prices should drop like a stone.
Demand for oil has plateaued and in some places, dropped (like China where they are pulling in the reigns on their economy).
Realistically, at least in the U.S., no one should be paying more than $2.00-$2.25/gal for any grade of gas, in order for everyone to make a profit. Anything above that, someone is getting an obscene amount of profit and taking advantage of people so conditioned to high gas prices as to offer a shrug.
We can only wish to find someone who isn't beholden to big oil to put a stop to this. The people it hurts most are those who can afford gas prices rising the least.
Regarding price of gas going down...I've been following this trend for a long while. I remember my late Father bitching a blue streak about gas lines when I was a "young'un". He never did buy into the excuse that we were running out of oil (as was the company line from oil companies in the '70s to prop up the prices sky rocketing. My Father was prophetic at the time, as he seemed to be the only one who saw the ruse as an excuse to raise prices.
'80s came along, price rose, and then plummeted once it was clear we weren't running out of oil, and that U.S. gov't wasn't going to support big oil. Again, I remember my Father talking at the dinner table about Reagan not supporting OPEC or big oil. Sure enough, in hindsight, once I got to college and started studying economics, it was clear that there never was a solid fundamental reason for the dramatic rise in oil. OPEC wasn't restricting supply.....BP, Dutch Petroleum, CITCO, etc were. At one point, OPEC complained so loudly that they weren't at fault, they let the price of a bbl of oil drop to $12-$15/bbl.
'90s-economic boom, but oil prices plummeted again. Again, there were no fundamental economic reasons to support high gas prices.
Fast forward, we have heard that Middle East was volatile and supply could be interrupted, so that caused prices to rise. Too much money at stake. We've heard this for at least 4 decades. NEVER has the flow of oil been interrupted. Again, no fundamental economic reason to support gas prices where they are.
Right now, we're self sufficient when it comes to oil. Matter of fact, we don't need any OPEC oil at all. Further, the supply of oil is so high that we've run out of places to put it. We've become quite efficient at finding our own oil, getting our own oil, refining our own oil, that outside forces should have no affect effect on U.S. gas prices.
It's mind numbing to me that CA is actually paying $5/gal.
Iran is getting ready to flood the market with oil. World wide prices should drop like a stone.
Demand for oil has plateaued and in some places, dropped (like China where they are pulling in the reigns on their economy).
Realistically, at least in the U.S., no one should be paying more than $2.00-$2.25/gal for any grade of gas, in order for everyone to make a profit. Anything above that, someone is getting an obscene amount of profit and taking advantage of people so conditioned to high gas prices as to offer a shrug.
We can only wish to find someone who isn't beholden to big oil to put a stop to this. The people it hurts most are those who can afford gas prices rising the least.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 106
Likes: 30
I feel very comfortable to use 87 octane regular gas in both the I-4 and V6 TLXs, when compared to the engine used in Honda Accord which only asks for regular gas.
Accord I-4: 185 hp and 181 lb. ft torque
TLX I-4: 206 hp and 182 lb. ft torque
Accord V6: 278 hp and 252 lb. ft torque
TLX V6: 290 hp and 267 lb. ft torque
Honda simply tuned the accord engines a little higher for the TLX. The additional hp and lb. ft torque cannot justify the need for premium if we think different octane number is the only difference to separate premium gas from regular (same cleansing additives). However, you have to ask where Honda gets those additional outputs in the engines for TLX: there are no turbo or super chargers. I think the high octane in premium gas partially contributes to the higher outputs. This also tells us that using regular in your TLXs will not harm your engines. The worst you will experience is a slight loss of power, which most drivers will not notice at all.
Accord I-4: 185 hp and 181 lb. ft torque
TLX I-4: 206 hp and 182 lb. ft torque
Accord V6: 278 hp and 252 lb. ft torque
TLX V6: 290 hp and 267 lb. ft torque
Honda simply tuned the accord engines a little higher for the TLX. The additional hp and lb. ft torque cannot justify the need for premium if we think different octane number is the only difference to separate premium gas from regular (same cleansing additives). However, you have to ask where Honda gets those additional outputs in the engines for TLX: there are no turbo or super chargers. I think the high octane in premium gas partially contributes to the higher outputs. This also tells us that using regular in your TLXs will not harm your engines. The worst you will experience is a slight loss of power, which most drivers will not notice at all.
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Jul 2015
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Myth's About Premium Gas: Myth 1
Myth 1: Premium gas gives you more miles per gallon than regular gas.
Premium vs. Regular | Car Talk
Sorry, that's pretty much booo-gus.
Here's why.
Each gallon of gas that we pump from our local Quickie Mart is actually made up from as many as seven different ingredients. The exact amount of energy in each gallon of premium or regular gas will vary from company to company, depending upon what kind of additives they use.
In actual fact, you'll get a greater range of fuel economy between different brands of regular gas, than you will between the same manufacturer's regular and premium gasses. Interesting, eh? We thought so.
Finally, here's a nice irony: to increase gas' octane rating, companies add ethanol, when they're mixing up a batch of premium fuel. Interestingly, ethanol actually contains less energy than untreated gas, so the net result from the ethanol component is a reduction in your MPG. Other premium additives, however, have the reverse effect, and slightly increase your MPG. So okay, overall premium provides a very slight net increase in MPG, but it's so slight that we swear you won't notice the difference.
I always used the increased MPG that resulted from using premium as a justification to purchase it.
Too bad. Consider yourself better informed now, and stop lining the pockets of oil companies, okay?
Premium vs. Regular | Car Talk
Sorry, that's pretty much booo-gus.
Here's why.
Each gallon of gas that we pump from our local Quickie Mart is actually made up from as many as seven different ingredients. The exact amount of energy in each gallon of premium or regular gas will vary from company to company, depending upon what kind of additives they use.
In actual fact, you'll get a greater range of fuel economy between different brands of regular gas, than you will between the same manufacturer's regular and premium gasses. Interesting, eh? We thought so.
Finally, here's a nice irony: to increase gas' octane rating, companies add ethanol, when they're mixing up a batch of premium fuel. Interestingly, ethanol actually contains less energy than untreated gas, so the net result from the ethanol component is a reduction in your MPG. Other premium additives, however, have the reverse effect, and slightly increase your MPG. So okay, overall premium provides a very slight net increase in MPG, but it's so slight that we swear you won't notice the difference.
I always used the increased MPG that resulted from using premium as a justification to purchase it.
Too bad. Consider yourself better informed now, and stop lining the pockets of oil companies, okay?
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 56
Likes: 11
Myth's About Premium Gas: Myth 2
Myth 2: Premium has special or extra detergents in it that are worth the added cost.
Premium vs. Regular | Car
It's true that premium gas does contain special or extra detergents, but in our opinion they're of no additional benefit.
Our advice is to ignore any sales pitch about the super-special detergents that come in the premium-grade fuel.
These days, all of the gasoline from the major gas companies contain more than enough detergents to keep your engine clean. Period.
The only reason you might have a use for the extra detergents in premium, is if you have a noticeably dirty engine, and need to scrub carbon and other crud off engine components. (And, if you're doing that, we'd instead suggest that you toss in one of the many fine engine additives.)
You said "major gas companies." Is there a difference in the gas between the big names, and the El-Cheapo gasoline at my local Costco or Stupey-Mart?
There is. A number of years ago, some of the major auto manufacturers were ticked off with the deposits from gas that met EPA detergent standards. In other words, they were afraid they'd take the heat for problems, when their customer's engines clogged up from the twigs and dirt that was getting deposited on their fine handiwork.
So, they set their own guidelines, which they call "Tier 2." All of the gas from the major gas companies meets the Tier 2 standards. The gas at your local Quickie Mart probably does not. The difference? In some tests, after about 10,000 miles, there was a minor amount of crud built up on engine components that ran exclusively on Quickie-Mart gas. Do we think this is an issue? Not really. But, would we advise running your car for 100,000 miles only on Quickie-Mart gas? Not if you're concerned about the longevity of your vehicle. We recommend switching back and forth between Tier 1 and Tier 2 - maybe every other tank full - to keep your engine running clean.
Premium vs. Regular | Car
It's true that premium gas does contain special or extra detergents, but in our opinion they're of no additional benefit.
Our advice is to ignore any sales pitch about the super-special detergents that come in the premium-grade fuel.
These days, all of the gasoline from the major gas companies contain more than enough detergents to keep your engine clean. Period.
The only reason you might have a use for the extra detergents in premium, is if you have a noticeably dirty engine, and need to scrub carbon and other crud off engine components. (And, if you're doing that, we'd instead suggest that you toss in one of the many fine engine additives.)
You said "major gas companies." Is there a difference in the gas between the big names, and the El-Cheapo gasoline at my local Costco or Stupey-Mart?
There is. A number of years ago, some of the major auto manufacturers were ticked off with the deposits from gas that met EPA detergent standards. In other words, they were afraid they'd take the heat for problems, when their customer's engines clogged up from the twigs and dirt that was getting deposited on their fine handiwork.
So, they set their own guidelines, which they call "Tier 2." All of the gas from the major gas companies meets the Tier 2 standards. The gas at your local Quickie Mart probably does not. The difference? In some tests, after about 10,000 miles, there was a minor amount of crud built up on engine components that ran exclusively on Quickie-Mart gas. Do we think this is an issue? Not really. But, would we advise running your car for 100,000 miles only on Quickie-Mart gas? Not if you're concerned about the longevity of your vehicle. We recommend switching back and forth between Tier 1 and Tier 2 - maybe every other tank full - to keep your engine running clean.
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 88,888
Likes: 11,846
From: Waffles, BU
This is such a common theme, and it's fucking asinine. Higher octane=more power.. more like specOctane=properCombustionDoesn'tPullTimingAndSen dUnburntFuelDownYerPipe
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 88,888
Likes: 11,846
From: Waffles, BU
I feel very comfortable to use 87 octane regular gas in both the I-4 and V6 TLXs, when compared to the engine used in Honda Accord which only asks for regular gas.
Accord I-4: 185 hp and 181 lb. ft torque
TLX I-4: 206 hp and 182 lb. ft torque
Accord V6: 278 hp and 252 lb. ft torque
TLX V6: 290 hp and 267 lb. ft torque
Honda simply tuned the accord engines a little higher for the TLX. The additional hp and lb. ft torque cannot justify the need for premium if we think different octane number is the only difference to separate premium gas from regular (same cleansing additives). However, you have to ask where Honda gets those additional outputs in the engines for TLX: there are no turbo or super chargers. I think the high octane in premium gas partially contributes to the higher outputs. This also tells us that using regular in your TLXs will not harm your engines. The worst you will experience is a slight loss of power, which most drivers will not notice at all.
Accord I-4: 185 hp and 181 lb. ft torque
TLX I-4: 206 hp and 182 lb. ft torque
Accord V6: 278 hp and 252 lb. ft torque
TLX V6: 290 hp and 267 lb. ft torque
Honda simply tuned the accord engines a little higher for the TLX. The additional hp and lb. ft torque cannot justify the need for premium if we think different octane number is the only difference to separate premium gas from regular (same cleansing additives). However, you have to ask where Honda gets those additional outputs in the engines for TLX: there are no turbo or super chargers. I think the high octane in premium gas partially contributes to the higher outputs. This also tells us that using regular in your TLXs will not harm your engines. The worst you will experience is a slight loss of power, which most drivers will not notice at all.
This folks is why we can't have nice things..
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 30,487
Likes: 4,417
From: In an igloo
I feel very comfortable to use 87 octane regular gas in both the I-4 and V6 TLXs, when compared to the engine used in Honda Accord which only asks for regular gas.
Accord I-4: 185 hp and 181 lb. ft torque
TLX I-4: 206 hp and 182 lb. ft torque
Accord V6: 278 hp and 252 lb. ft torque
TLX V6: 290 hp and 267 lb. ft torque
Honda simply tuned the accord engines a little higher for the TLX. The additional hp and lb. ft torque cannot justify the need for premium if we think different octane number is the only difference to separate premium gas from regular (same cleansing additives). However, you have to ask where Honda gets those additional outputs in the engines for TLX: there are no turbo or super chargers. I think the high octane in premium gas partially contributes to the higher outputs. This also tells us that using regular in your TLXs will not harm your engines. The worst you will experience is a slight loss of power, which most drivers will not notice at all.
Accord I-4: 185 hp and 181 lb. ft torque
TLX I-4: 206 hp and 182 lb. ft torque
Accord V6: 278 hp and 252 lb. ft torque
TLX V6: 290 hp and 267 lb. ft torque
Honda simply tuned the accord engines a little higher for the TLX. The additional hp and lb. ft torque cannot justify the need for premium if we think different octane number is the only difference to separate premium gas from regular (same cleansing additives). However, you have to ask where Honda gets those additional outputs in the engines for TLX: there are no turbo or super chargers. I think the high octane in premium gas partially contributes to the higher outputs. This also tells us that using regular in your TLXs will not harm your engines. The worst you will experience is a slight loss of power, which most drivers will not notice at all.
Are you familiar with the term "compression ratio"?
I feel very comfortable to use 87 octane regular gas in both the I-4 and V6 TLXs, when compared to the engine used in Honda Accord which only asks for regular gas.
Accord I-4: 185 hp and 181 lb. ft torque
TLX I-4: 206 hp and 182 lb. ft torque
Accord V6: 278 hp and 252 lb. ft torque
TLX V6: 290 hp and 267 lb. ft torque
Honda simply tuned the accord engines a little higher for the TLX. The additional hp and lb. ft torque cannot justify the need for premium if we think different octane number is the only difference to separate premium gas from regular (same cleansing additives). However, you have to ask where Honda gets those additional outputs in the engines for TLX: there are no turbo or super chargers. I think the high octane in premium gas partially contributes to the higher outputs. This also tells us that using regular in your TLXs will not harm your engines. The worst you will experience is a slight loss of power, which most drivers will not notice at all.
Accord I-4: 185 hp and 181 lb. ft torque
TLX I-4: 206 hp and 182 lb. ft torque
Accord V6: 278 hp and 252 lb. ft torque
TLX V6: 290 hp and 267 lb. ft torque
Honda simply tuned the accord engines a little higher for the TLX. The additional hp and lb. ft torque cannot justify the need for premium if we think different octane number is the only difference to separate premium gas from regular (same cleansing additives). However, you have to ask where Honda gets those additional outputs in the engines for TLX: there are no turbo or super chargers. I think the high octane in premium gas partially contributes to the higher outputs. This also tells us that using regular in your TLXs will not harm your engines. The worst you will experience is a slight loss of power, which most drivers will not notice at all.
You must be an engineeeer