I don't quite know why my TSX requires premium fuel when the K series engine is essentially the same as whats in the new 4 cylinder Accord and CR-V. The Accord and CR-V don't require premium fuel. Someone please explain to me. :dunno:
The engine in my TSX doesn't seem that special to deserve premium fuel, next time I will just put in the middle grade fuel instead. It costs me $26 to fill this damn car and its really draining on my pocket book. h:

 

the TSX's K24 is different than the CRV, Accord, and Element's K24. the TSX's K24 has constantly variable cams on the intake and exhaust... the others have variable cams only on the intake valves.

because of this, the TSX is bred more for performance over the other vehicles, and features a more aggressive ignition timing map (refer to my above post about dynamic compression), thus requiring higher octane fuel.

worst case scenario if you run less than premium fuel will be the activation of the knock sensor and retarding of the ignition timing, resulting in poorer gas milage, performance, and increased fouling of the spark plugs.

 

I use only the best no matter what price... top grade 94 octane! :thumbup:

 

115 octane race fuel?

 

586 octane NASA space fuel.

 

damn i didn't know the prelude SI came with a fuel cell/hydrogen powered option...

 

lets not forget what "octane" really means

it doesnt mean more power for higher octane

octane is merely a way of measuring a certain fuel's tendency to combust when it is compressed.

as of late it has also become synonymous with quality, since the refining techniques used on petroleum distillates (gas/oil/etc) affect the octane and therefore quality of the end product

when i worked at the airport, i used to pump alot of Jet-A and 100LL

Jet-A is obviously for turbines, and it is basically super refined diesel fuel, in fact we used to run the actual diesel engine fuel trucks on Jet-A since there were thousands of gallons always at hand. and they ran great.

Jet-A is also a close relative of kerosene

100LL is actual gas and can be run in a gasoline engine, except for the fact that it has a small amount of lead (LL) in it. This is OK for the internals of the engine, it only causes damage to the O2 sensor and CAT, since these emissions devices contain platinum.

I put 100LL in my engine when i first got it, in a 1/5 ratio with 93 octane fuel and the car was definitely faster. however i got an O2 code almost immediately after returning from the test drive

and then i had to change my O2 sensor

~boom

 

Hey 04 Acura TSX, listen to Drift on this one. He knows his sh_t.
Nothing more to say..

 

octane is actually an 8 chain carbon molecule... it's electron lineup results in a tight bonding of the atoms, thus slowing it's breakdown thru resistance during combustion. higher octane count results in more octane molecules to help slow the combustion of the fuel.

but you're correct, octane is not a measure of it's refinement... sulfur content is the only true measure of a fuel's refinement.

to achieve different grades, higher grades are mixed with lower grades to maintain the required average of octane content as advertised.

 

No offense, but if the extra 20 cents a gallon is breaking the bank, you might should have gotten a little bit cheaper car.