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2022 MDX Aspec / 2019 Ridgeline Sport / 2007 335i Coupe
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Last week in NM. Btw I used 88. Until I reached ones that had 87. When I left TX I filled up with 93 to gather mileage info. No reasonable difference. 21mpg with 87 or 93.
Cool beans. So you would recommend premium gas even in my Pilot based on that logic. Or use Top Tier Gas which I try to. Or I guess you could throw in a bottle of Techron every once and awhile with the savings of not buying Premium. I dunno. Is carbon build up a real problem in modern engines where I am going to put on 75-100K in 8-10 years before I sell the car to someone else?
And yes as y'all know I am at this point a lowly Honda Pilot Elite buyer and not an Acura buyer so yes I must be poor. I am cheap so yes I would burn $1 bills over $20s, but I know a few of the Acura Daddy Warbucks around here would choose a higher currency haha
Umm, the manual literally says Fuel RECOMMENDATION right above the words you cited aboveSo, all engineers know that everything varies. There are no absolutes on the planet that anyone knows of. If 86 octane can damage the engine, buying 87 octane from some low budget station risks the octane being under 87. I fully understand that 87 is supposed to be the minimum but, refer to the first sentence.
I have been buying "premium" fuel for BMW, Mercedes, Acura, and even a VW for many years. Premium from one brand may be 91 octane while others 92, or 93. I really don't care. I just don't see how saving a few bucks on a tank of gas would be worth any level of damage risk. My personal experience says the higher octane indeed improves performance and mpg. Is it enough to justify the cost? Probably not. But, then again, I burn Benjis in my fireplace when I want a little extra heat (heh, heh).
The manual for the NA 3.5L states "Unleaded premium gasoline, pump octane number 91 or higher." There is no "recommended" although, I think it does say that on the fuel door. I have no doubt it would burn 87 with no appreciable deterioration in performance but, again, why? To save $4 a fill-up and prove what? It also says the engine may knock with lower octane. They mean lower than 91.
As always, to each their own but, I don't think choosing to run higher octane fuel, even if only recommended, is foolish. Only if you are burning $1 bills to heat your home does 87 octane in the MDX make sense to me.
View attachment 124648
EDIT: Texas beat me to it
One can always do walnut blasting to get rid of carbon deposits, post 80-100k miles. I used regular 87 on the 18 MDX 9/10 times and sometimes 93, the initial 6 months. Zero difference in fuel economy or acceleration.Cool beans. So you would recommend premium gas even in my Pilot based on that logic. Or use Top Tier Gas which I try to. Or I guess you could throw in a bottle of Techron every once and awhile with the savings of not buying Premium. I dunno. Is carbon build up a real problem in modern engines where I am going to put on 75-100K in 8-10 years before I sell the car to someone else?
And yes as y'all know I am at this point a lowly Honda Pilot Elite buyer and not an Acura buyer so yes I must be poor. I am cheap so yes I would burn $1 bills over $20s, but I know a few of the Acura Daddy Warbucks around here would choose a higher currency haha
Yes, Fuel Recommendation
Honda Pilot Elite. Not just, Honda or, Honda Pilot. No insecurity there...
Wow. Prices here are at about $3.50 for regular (87 octane). I know prices are much higher in other states.
Honda Pilot Elite. Not just, Honda or, Honda Pilot. No insecurity there...
no I am actually not insecure about the purchase. I am admittedly a cheapskate as came across in my earlier posts analyzing which car I really "need" but I decided to plunk down the money for the Elite trim to really enjoy my car with no regrets as I am getting older and I can swing it. I certainly didn't do it to flex on the world. No hot chicks have approached my car at this point just because it carries the Elite badge haha. But I am enjoying all those foo-foo features that you guys like such as folding and auto dimming mirrors and heated steering wheel and stuff.
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What reassurances do we have that octane ratings are accurate? I mean we're talking 86 (damage) vs 87 (okay), only 1 octane difference.
None. My point exactly. If 86 could cause harm, why even screw around with 87? As IanCH has pointed out, the design is based on 91 or higher. Thus the recommendation. So, for the few bucks, why buck? I mean, spend $60-$75K on a vehicle and then ignore the manufacturers recommendation? Because they get some kick back from the oil company? Whatever. Again, to each their own.
I knew what I was getting so this doesn't bug me as its the same as my 2019 pilot with new Type S and Advance had a better milage then my pilot just would be nice if the tank would be bigger. extra 10 LTRS or 2.5 gallons would be nice,
2022 MDX Aspec / 2019 Ridgeline Sport / 2007 335i Coupe
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217 Posts
Wow, what did we do with all the previous Honda’s where 87 was recommended and no lower grade was mentioned? Did you not sleep at night ? Do you not travel and get confused when there is only 90 octanes premium?
You have more likely hood of the manufacturer putting in MMT or too much ethanol, increasing octane ( or moisture) than you do it being lower as the method by which they refine is a standard.
You would get a check engine light if something was wrong. The sensors would pick up massive knock, retard timing, remove all wheel drive to reduce load, and you would feel a big difference in acceleration and mileage.
Even the manual states in the previous screenshots, they are only worried about detergents. Because “premium” or “top tier” offer more assurances of those detergents. But you could always go to a place like Costco that is a “top tier” supplier and only offers 87 or 93. Same detergents in either octane.
dunno how many threads it will take to convince anyone. Same engine across platforms. The only difference is how many people complain of noises in the Acura brand. How do you shut them up? You write in “premium fuel recommended” and now you have an excuse if they come in. Oh , try premium. Oh no improvement, yeah that’s normal noise, just like the pedal vibrations, tire noise, steering creaking, suspension clunking, seat squeaks, sunroof wind noise, humming from headlights, humming from electronic throttle body…..and so on.
2022 MDX Aspec / 2019 Ridgeline Sport / 2007 335i Coupe
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217 Posts
Here... from the same engine on a 23' pilot. Please sleep well tonight.
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So true but you won't convince some people on here by comparing to a Honda because, well, been there done that. I do also believe that the Premium recommendation just fits with the overall branding and marketing of the car. Acura is supposed to be a "performance" brand that Honda has created in America to peel off some buyers who may otherwise look at BMW etc. These buyers are happy to focus on the perceived performance of their engines. When they cross shop to BMW etc they will see "premium gas recommended" (or maybe even Required, not sure on that) and if they saw that the Acura engine was fine running standard 87 like the lesser Hondas and Toyotas of the world then the car becomes perceived as less of a performance machine. No cost to Acura to recommend 91 ...it's not their money being used to buy the gas...and it fits the overall marketing story better.
Such a stupid analysis...never met anyone who bought a premium/luxury car based on the recommended octane fuel rating of the manufacturer.
People will typically buy because of brand cachet, performance, creature comforts, and other reasons.
Is the Pilot forum slow, not enough excitement there? I frequent the Pilot forum and others like the Audi or Telluride or Hyundai forums (no snobbery here, I like all cars) but don't post, because I don't have said cars and won't have anything of value to contribute.
People will typically buy because of brand cachet, performance, creature comforts, and other reasons.
Is the Pilot forum slow, not enough excitement there? I frequent the Pilot forum and others like the Audi or Telluride or Hyundai forums (no snobbery here, I like all cars) but don't post, because I don't have said cars and won't have anything of value to contribute.
I didn't say anyone bought the car solely based on the recommended fuel. My view is that it is one reason why Acura chooses to RECOMMEND it (rather than REQUIRE it) for what is basically the same engine. You can have your own opinion. People can do what they want with their cars and if they want to use 91 to get those extra couple theoretical HP when they are flat out flooring the accelerator (is that how everyone drives?) then have at it. And others who choose to use Regular and the engine adjusts fine and nobody knows the difference are fine too. I just love the classic dumb rationale of "if you can afford to buy an Acura then you should buy Premium because you obviously have the money". Do any of you guys DIY your cars? Acura recommends in the owners manual that any time anything needs to be done (fluid changes, filters etc) that you should visit your local Acura service center.
So do you actually believe you can feel any difference in your car between 91 and 87? I still challenge anyone to run the blind test where you get someone else to pump your gas so you don't know whether you have 91 or 87. Make sure to do it on a pretty empty tank. Record your observations on the extra power you feel or don't feel or the extra knocking and pinging and engine timing retardation that you feel. Do it a few times and see. I've not done it myself so maybe it's noticeable but my guess is it is not. Who knows. Have a good day
Like I said idk why you guys think there isn't a difference between 91 and 87. If the engine is designed for 91 and actually takes advantage of it it's a huge difference.
The maximum output potential of 91 is at least 10% or 30hp higher, but probably more.
You can look at any car it will have more power on 91
Numerous other videos.
The maximum output potential of 91 is at least 10% or 30hp higher, but probably more.
You can look at any car it will have more power on 91
Numerous other videos.
19.6 MPG using Premium Gas. Type S Advanced. (Mostly around town with a very brief run on the interstate.)
Genuine question then Ian, if this J35 engine shared closely between MDX and Pilot, Odyssey etc has that much extra play in output due solely to 87 vs 91 then why is the reported output so close between them (285 on Pilot vs 290 on MDX)? Wouldn't Acura market the MDX at 315 HP ("at least, if not more" as you say) in this case? I wouldn't think they would overlook that marketing opportunity if those were the numbers being achieved between 87 and 91.
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When I owned my 2002 MDX, I only used 87 octane in spite of Acura's recommended premium. Additionally, I generally used unbranded gas as there is a station near me.
In spite of these, when I finally replaced the car, it had 340,000 trouble free miles on it. I doubt premium octane top tier gas would have made much of a difference.
In spite of these, when I finally replaced the car, it had 340,000 trouble free miles on it. I doubt premium octane top tier gas would have made much of a difference.
Manufacturers under rate their engines all the time. That's why a "280hp" 4cyl audi has a better performance than an engine from another mfg at "310hp"
Some manufacturers give SAE ideal hp, some give what they expect the worst case (added elevation, increased temp and humidity) and that leads to the under rating.
When they are decided how to label the hp in the car, they are using the competitive market to decide how they position it. If they think the car is underpowered in the market they rate it as high as they can to make it seem better. If they know it has better power than the competitors they will under rate it so that when customers drive the car they are impressed that it feels so much faster with the same or similar power.
The only thing that matters is back to back comparisons on same day same dyno, or 1/4mi with DA noted. Manufacturers just straight up lie about hp (under and over) all the time.
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