My girlfriends daughter drives an Acura and uses high-test gas because the dealer suggested it. With the difference in cost and her high rate of travel, she could save significantly by using regular gas. Could it hurt the car? Any info or opinions on this would be appreciated....thanks.
2007-03-21 15:13:33 · 11 answers · asked by john c 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
If the book says to use premium in your vehicle, you should follow the advice. Some vehicles emission control systems aren't designed for lower octanes that produce more vapors when burned. I would assume the Acura is such a vehicle. If you run lower octanes in that car, you'll eventually get your check engine light, and find that the car needs some very expensive parts changed that cheap, local service stations won't touch. Normally, only Acura dealerships will have access to those parts, and they are very expensive, and probably not covered under your warranty because you were warned to run premium in the vehicle. If it takes 14 gallons on a typical fill-up, the extra $2.80 you're paying is well worth it when you consider that it will likely cost you upwards of $700 to replace those parts.
2007-03-24 03:38:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the car. Some cars are designed to need high octane fuel. Sportscars mainly.
Many cars work exactly the same on low octane as high octane. It makes no difference whatsoever.
Some cars' computers are able to tweak the engine to get the most out of whichever fuel you use. If you use high-test, you'll get more power and economy.
Check the owner's manual to see which kind you have.
If an engine is tired out (or out of calibration), it may have a serious problem with pinging and dieseling. In that case, using high-octane fuel can be a "quick-n-dirty fix" to reduce pinging/dieseling until you fix the engine.
You didn't mention the year or model, so I have no idea if she drives a '91 or an '07. So I can't guess.
2007-03-21 22:30:22 · answer #2 · answered by Wolf Harper 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the owners' manual calls for high octane gas, it should be used. If not, you are just wasting money. The octane rating is a measure of the fuel's resistance to detonation. Higher compression engines create more heat in the compression stroke and low-test fuels can ignite prematurely, or "knock."
Other than the resistance to knocking, there is no advantage to high test gas.
You will be getting some advice about whether or not you can notice "knock" or "pinging" with lower octane gas. This is no longer as useful a way to decide as it used to be. Modern engines have knock sensors, and will fatten up (add more fuel) to the air/fuel mix when knock is identified. This can hurt fuel mileage, among other negative effects on the engine.
The dealer is not your definitive source, the owner's manual is.
2007-03-21 22:18:06 · answer #3 · answered by rris-tusla 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If her owners manual says to use 87, then have her switch. If the engine starts pinging then tell her to try 91. If it still pings then have her move back to 93 octane.
A lot depends on the age and perfomance of the engine.
I've a 93 Mustang 5.0 GT and if I don't use high test, I get serious pinging in my engine. The engine also responds quicker with 93 octane.
I have a 2000 Camry that I only put 87 octane in. There's nothing high performance in the stock 2.2L engine, so it gets the cheapest gas I can find.
2007-03-21 22:25:08 · answer #4 · answered by mrnaturl1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read the owners manual and burn what Acura recommends. High-test just means higher octane. Octane level has to do with the temperature at which fuel combusts. Generally high compression engines need high-test gas because fuel will combust at a lower temperature under high compression. If you don't have high compression, high-test gas will not do anything for you.
If you run regular unleaded and the engine does not "knock" or "ping" going uphill or under acceleration, you don't need it period.
"The dealer" is not always right and is often swayed by anecdotal evidence.
2007-03-21 22:28:26 · answer #5 · answered by united9198 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some higher compression motors require the high test. Look in the owners manual and see what is required. To buy anything over that, it would be a waste of money. So if it's 87,89, or 91 then that is what I'd use.
2007-03-22 00:01:25 · answer #6 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Octane requirements are listed in the owner's manual. Using higher octane than required by the vehicle is a complete waste of money.
2007-03-21 22:19:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
most all cars and trucks made today use 87 oct reg. gas higher oct gas will burn the values
2007-03-21 23:47:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the best awnser is to refer to the owners manuel for that. burning the wrong fuel can cause spark knock and enginge damage
2007-03-21 22:29:55 · answer #9 · answered by moe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
these days I'd go for the costly....but don't go back and forth between low and high. stay with one.
2007-03-21 22:30:31 · answer #10 · answered by racingirl14 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋