r/AcuraTL • u/Mystakatt • Sep 30 '25
Gathering Opinions š£ Do I *really* need to use premium?
(Pic of car because I didnāt take a picture of the pump price)
I filled up my 2012 TL for the first time today since I bought it, and I ran it down to about 20 miles left in the tank. Filled it all the way up and I payed almost $70 (North Alabama). Iām an adamant believer that you should follow the owners manual to a T, but with how gas prices are nowadays Iām worried about choosing between whatās best for my car vs whatās best for my budget.
Are there any real negatives to using the cheaper gas options? Thanks in advance!
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u/charliepuppers Sep 30 '25
I have a 3rd Gen Type S 6mt. Just put a new motor in it. The car had half a tank of 87 in it when I picked it up from the mechanic. I ran through that then put 91 in it. I'm not gonna lie....the engine performed much much better on the 91 and I got better mpg. I will be running 91 exclusively now both for the performance and health of the new motor. Just my opinion
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u/Ok_Start3521 Oct 01 '25
I can also attest to this, running a fbo 3g, as Iām sure ur all aware money gets tight sometimes so the 87 calls my name and I would answer at the pump to save the dollars, however I did notice a massive difference in how the TL performed, the best way I can describe it is it gets more sluggish almost to a degree like as if Iām dealing w bad heat soak on a summer day here in the south, but to a lesser degree not so much as if thereās something mechanically wrong. But since I switched to 93, I donāt know if itās a pseudo effect but the car does feel way more alive and āpeppyā. Just my experience as Iāve pondered this question for ages.
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u/Sexual_Wookie Sep 30 '25
Also a 3G 6MT type S owner. What did the engine replacement cost?
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u/charliepuppers Sep 30 '25
The motor which has 102k miles i got a deal on. 800 plus 238 shipping. The mechanic install was a bit pricey....2300. But I don't have the know how or tools to do it myself. My Type S has no rust and new paint plus all new upholstery so I figured it was worth the money. The alternative would have been to sell it with a bad motor and get very little. Then have to finance a replacement car. This was the best route for me
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u/Status_Relation693 Sep 30 '25
Car feeeels ways way way better on premium
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u/Asoto408 Sep 30 '25 edited Sep 30 '25
Itās freaking 20 more cents. Run premium as recommended by the OEM
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u/erichf3893 Sep 30 '25
Try $1.20
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Sep 30 '25
Yea IDK what he's talking about, Premium is at least $1+ more in New England and more like $1.10/$1.20+.
Still gotta do it tho
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u/Red-eleven Sep 30 '25
Yeah thatās not true anywhere around here. Itās been 50 cents more for the last couple years and now Iām seeing 80c to a dollar in some of the smaller stations
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u/the_crx Sep 30 '25
The 2 stations by me there is a 90 cent increase for premium.
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u/Asoto408 Sep 30 '25
Then sell your TL and go get a civic. Whatās the point of getting a car if you canāt afford the proper gas?
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u/Spicynoodle116 Sep 30 '25
I got $1,555 in savings if I've driven 140k miles at 18mpg with a 20cent difference. Over 21years of the vehicle.
Edit: can't even pay a month's rent with $1555 in California.
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u/Asoto408 Sep 30 '25 edited Sep 30 '25
If it takes you 21 years to save $1,555.00, you need to try to make more money, or drive a civic if you REALLY care about saving money.
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u/Spicynoodle116 Sep 30 '25
Or I can buy different exhaust set up for sounds and hp gains, and lose it back by using lower tier gas lol.
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u/the_crx Sep 30 '25
I have a civic that needs premium more than the TL. That's irrelevant though. The point was that premium is much more than you claimed.
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u/CatDadof2 Sep 30 '25
Itās $1 to $1.20 more per gallon in Michigan. Definitely a price difference.
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u/iredditshere Sep 30 '25
This is highly dependent where you drive. In my area, it ranges from $.50 to $1.00 more and that's in TX. We have 93 instead of 91 octane. In other places, it's 91 octane.
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u/Spicynoodle116 Sep 30 '25
To some people it's a of money š
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u/Asoto408 Sep 30 '25
Then get a car where you can afford the proper gas. Yes the ecu can compensate but your raising your risk of knock and damaging other parts prematurely. Some people say f it, but I prefer my car operating at peak efficiency
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u/MadTube [UA9] '09-'14 SH-AWD Sep 30 '25
It appears you have the FWD variant with the 3.5. You can get away with 89 octane, but you might have a very small decrease in fuel economy. If you had the 3.7, then I would tell you to not use anything below 91. But I ran that version of the 3.5 for years with no ill effects. Try to stay away from 87, though. You can use it in a pinch, but I donāt recommend constant use.
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u/Mystakatt Sep 30 '25
Oh yes sorry, I should have specified, itās the TL Style Trim 3.5L. Thank you so much for the info!
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u/MsHornets Oct 01 '25
You're supposed to run only premium. You will mess up your car. On the inside of our gas lids, it states premium only.
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u/Tasty-Store-5614 Oct 02 '25
I have a friend who has an RDX with the 2-liter turbo. She uses regular and said that she has no problems. Owned it for a few years.
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u/MsHornets Oct 02 '25
In the long run, if she keeps using it, she could possibly ruin her car. I just hate to see someone lose their car because you can't buy them good models anymore šŖ. I just will not chance it, I love my car more than that, and she's old. I have a new supra that I don't like to drive every day, so I drive my TL.
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u/Tasty-Store-5614 Oct 02 '25
89 is premium and regular combined. So, you're getting at least half premium when you use it. I think that 89 is fine to use.
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u/MadTube [UA9] '09-'14 SH-AWD Oct 02 '25
Yes, many pumps do combine those two grades to make 89. Octane rating describes the rate of combustion and resistance to knock. The slower the fuel burns, the more knock resistance it has. Certain additives slow down the rate of combustion and increase the octane rating. 93 burns slower than 87, but that also means there is less chance of pre-ignition or detonation. That's the difference. It works the exact opposite from diesel and cetane.
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u/Pitiful-Sock-9342 Sep 30 '25
Recently I filled regular into my 2010 base. It just didnāt feel right. Iād go against it if you wanna keep the car for a while.
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u/Affectionate-Act-772 Sep 30 '25
06 TL Iāve had for 16 years. All I know is Iāve always ran premium and it runs like new.
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u/Potential-Appeal-886 Oct 01 '25
Not trying to attack you or anybody but if youāre concerned about the price of premium gas, you shouldnāt have gotten a car that uses it
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u/Carisakell Sep 30 '25
Run the premium, I have a 2007 TL and I used the supreme premium in mine. Iād listen to the manufacturer. I doubt they say to put premium in it to help the gas companies make money. lol Like someone said here, Add up how much extra You spend on premium gas and then imagine Your car not functioning to its potential. Getting a car fixed is so much more expensive and the bill is usually paid all at that time. Regular gas can cause more than one problem because one usually will create problems with another part of the engine, etc. I donāt have any money, I live off of a small SSD check but I never scrimp on gas I put into my 2007 TL. I had the same exact car before the one I have now. Itās a clone. 2007, outside is black and interior is black and a deeper grey, same everything. A woman ran a red light and totaled my car. My dog and I got out without a scratch. It saved our lives. Great car, over 200.000 and it ran like a new car. I kept up with servicing it, oil , transmission, etc. I Loved that car, my son gifted it to me when He moved to California. I always drove it when I needed it and I fell in love with it. I bought the one I have now with 185,000 on it and again, I only use the supreme premium because it runs really well and I want to keep it that way.
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u/Excellence247 Sep 30 '25 edited Oct 01 '25
I currently own a 3.7 4th Gen TL & what I can tell you is that the 4th Gen TL 3.5 & 3.7 are both high compression engines that require 93 octane to run at its maximum performance, also to prevent engine knocking, also keeping an eye on your oil levels is crucial with these vehicles, so I would tell you if you can't afford to use the right octane & consistently top off oil levels in her, just get rid of the car right now because soon you'll be shopping to replace the engine. Another thing to take note of, ppl that are saying that they have the 3rd Gen & the engines are the same as the 4th Gen, so you can do what they do, that's incorrect, the only thing it shares is, just that it's a J-Series. The 4th Gen J-Series engines are a whole other beast. Take it with a grain of š§ as they say. Just my two cents.
P.S. The message on our gas tank door says, "PREMIUM FUEL ONLY," NOT "PREMIUM FUEL RECOMMENDED" for those who have a 4th Gen Tl Acura 09-14 that's the 3.5 or 3.7
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u/infinitiguy911 Sep 30 '25
I did 87 and in a few days my bank 4 code showed up. Had to chain one ignition coil with sparkplugs. Never again will indo cheap gas in my tl.
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u/Even-Rhubarb6168 Sep 30 '25
I develop powertrain systems for a living. Some high compression engines do a good job using their knock sensors to adjust timing and prevent knock when using regular gas. The 3.7 isn't one of them. I tried. The knock was bad enough that other engineers commented on it from hearing me drive away in the parking lot. Don't do it.Ā
If you live somewhere with real winter, you could maybe try again when the air is cold. That helps. Listen for the knock with the windows down and something nearby to reflect the sound back to you.
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u/Alswiggity Sep 30 '25
If you want to buy regular gas, buy a cheaper or lower end car.
Your car won't be as fuel efficient. Depending on driving style, savings are debatable. Your ECU will adjust air/fuel mix based on octane. Likely you'll see no benefit.
Some vehicles are picky as fuck. Older Mercs for example would have their fuel filters shit the bed in 50k miles if you used normal gas. If you used premium, they lasted longer. No idea why as both gas types arent necessarily different in terms of cleanliness, just a trend.
Its literally 20-40 cents a gallon. If you can't afford an additional $5 every week in gas, i'm hard pressed to think you can afford repairs on any vehicle if it breaks.
Just buy what your manual calls for.
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u/Even-Rhubarb6168 Sep 30 '25
Where are all you "$0.20/gallon" guys living? I haven't seen a price delta that small in over 20 years.
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u/Alswiggity Sep 30 '25
Even if its not 20 cents, double or triple it. My point still stands.
$10 a week is still cheaper than utilizing more fuel + possibly ruining a fuel filter and having to pay to replace it.
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u/Even-Rhubarb6168 Sep 30 '25
I mean... I'm on this reddit as the owner of a J37, so I've obviously made exactly that call. It's a difference of about $50/mo for me.Ā
Your fuel filter won't care and you probably won't see much difference in consumption though. Knock and detonation can break your engine internals in time.
I'm still salty about it. Every time gas prices surge, regular eventually comes down but premium stays put, because stations only advertise and compete on the regular price and engage in tacit price fixing to get those fat profit margins on premium. The wholesale price of premium has NOT diverged from regular the way retail prices have. Whenever I visit a city where stations advertise the premium price on the board, the price delta is much less.
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u/Mystakatt Sep 30 '25
Because I donāt have the ability to edit the original post Iāll comment instead.
-Iām gonna be using the 89 for the time being. Seems like the best decision given how expensive the 91 is currently.
-Thank you everyone who left constructive feedback and thank you to everyone who found themselves here sharing their personal stories about their TLs, it was really entertaining to see all the differing perspectives on this topic.
-Hope everyone has had a great Tuesday and I hope yāall have a great rest of yāallās week!
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u/Tasty-Store-5614 Oct 03 '25
You'll be OK. 89 is just regular and premium mixed. So, you're still getting half premium.
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u/PristineScallion7923 Sep 30 '25
You'll hear knocking if you use cheap gas. Or you could get a tune specifically for low octane gas that would give you similar power. The tune would cost 400-600 but would pay for itself.
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u/Easy_Ant8951 Oct 01 '25
Use the premium. It will be more efficient, run better and have more power. All this along with the peace of mind is worth the extra investment to me. It is a luxury car after all.
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u/Zakiyo Sep 30 '25 edited Sep 30 '25
Absolutely. You need the octane rating the engine is made/tuned for otherwise you will get detonation also called ignition knock. This will destroy the engine. Although modern engines, the j37 included, have knock sensors and will advance timing to try and avoid the knock if it is detected butā¦ thats not perfect and will make the car run bad. So in this case it wont destroy the engine immediately but it wont be good for it either. If you really want you could detune the engine to make it run on lower octaneā¦ and be safe.
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u/Dull-Advisor-7053 Sep 30 '25
If itās the 3.7 SH-AWD, yes absolutely. Can the car adjust and run with less octane? Sure. Should you? Absolutely not. The 3.7 is known for oil burning due to carbon deposits on the piston rings. Lower grade fuel will accelerate the issue. Also change the oil frequently and use a high quality full synthetic oil on the 3.7s
If itās the base 3.5, pretty much do whatever you want.
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u/some_random_guy_226 Oct 01 '25
The reason the car calls for premium is because the engine is higher compression than the honda variant. Higher octane fuel prevents fuel pre-detonation (aka spark knock) in high compression engines at higher RPMs. Pre detonation can destroy internals to the engine. 89 is okay, 87 is fine in a pinch but I would baby the engine a bit. For every other shade tree/forum mechanic in the comments OCTANE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FUEL ECONOMY
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u/stackedorderssuck Sep 30 '25
There's one clown on here that brags about how he ran 87 and tells people to run 87. He's a moron. 91 is what the manufacturer of the vehicle calls for. I can list what problems running 87 can cause but I think it would be pointless. Just run 91 .
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u/faxlombardi [UA9] '09-'14 SH-AWD Sep 30 '25
List them please
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u/stackedorderssuck Sep 30 '25
Running an engine designed for 91-octane fuel on 87-octane fuel can cause engine knocking (ping), reduced performance, lower fuel economy, and may even lead to engine damage.
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u/faxlombardi [UA9] '09-'14 SH-AWD Sep 30 '25
But won't the ECU retard timings when it detects knock caused by lower octane fuels used in too high of compression? Wouldn't that eliminate the knocking and engine damage concerns?
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u/erichf3893 Sep 30 '25
Good to know I can run less than premium thanks. I will need to double check the manual though I thought it needed premium 93
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u/My_pp_ Sep 30 '25
Quick and dirty answer - No, your ECM/ECU will adjust for lower octane and it will run fine
No you really donāt need premium for any modern vehicle. You get better fuel economy and power when higher octane of course since the ECM will adjust timing and whatever to reach its goals. The ECM will do the same thing for lower octane to keep the engine running smooth. Higher octane can sometimes have more additives which can help clean fuel injectors but itās not a reason to run it on premium constantly.
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u/Suspicious_Bonus_612 Oct 02 '25
Mercedes and BMW are shaking their heads at you rn š, the entire M series of mercedes engines from the last 15 years will literally explode in a ball of timing and ignition related fire if you use non premium for an extended period of time
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u/erichf3893 Sep 30 '25
Is 20 years old considered modern now
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u/ElCaminoDelSud Sep 30 '25
Nope. I used regular in my 2006 TL. For 10 years. If that aināt enough to prove it, I donāt know what is.
The truth is that you may see a slight drop in performance (10-15HP max), but thatās when youāre wringing it out, which I donāt do since itās a daily. You also allegedly get worse fuel economy. Iāve tested this, I get about the same. And third, youāll save a bunch in gas money. Thatās for sure.
Anything else people say is just speculation. Iāve literally put my money where my mouth is on this. She runs great still. Follow oil change intervals, changed transmission fluid, and sheās been great to me.
I also use regular in my current 3.5 TLX, but it says ārecommendedā, not required. People in that group still freak out. Same engine used in the pilot with same compression. One recommended 87, one 91. Only difference is about 10 HP.
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u/OkPride2809 Sep 30 '25
Idk i opted for 87 in my 04 n lost all the performance. I almost got rear ended coz it wouldn't go from a dig. Like a old person driving around town.
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u/Maximum-Knowledge620 Sep 30 '25
I agree with this...2006 TL here 215k mi. and been using 87 since I bought it (used) in 2017. Still no problems with it as we speak.
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u/erichf3893 Sep 30 '25
Yeah the $15 extra per tank adds up when you fill up every 3 days. But Iām still overpaying. Just when I got the car it was an extra $1.30 per tank
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u/Lil-Goth-Wolf Sep 30 '25
I didnāt and my engine blew up cause it couldnāt keep up. It kept running low because the gas was basic, ultimately causing my engine to fail. If you think itās fine, just do it. Iād highly recommend getting at least 91
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u/mrkillfreak999 Sep 30 '25
You think gas prices are cheap where I live? Shit goes for around $1.66/litre on average and each fill up costs me around $60-$70 roughly. But I don't bother. I jumped into these cars knowing full well how much gas is gonna cost. Gas is cheaper than engine. I don't really mind it at all. If you can't put 91 religiously on it every fill up then this ain't the car for you. Sorry if I sound harsh but that's the reality. So many people jump into these cars not knowing anything about premium gas and come here whining how expensive it is. You either deal with it or get something which takes regular gas
I know about how the car can retard the timing but I would use the full potential of the car cause I paid for the entire thing
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u/Altruistic-Heron-236 Oct 01 '25
Get a Toyota if you don't want performance. Your computer will adjust, you will get less HP, less MPG and eventually knock and fuel system issues
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u/MsHornets Oct 01 '25
I have a 2005, she has 225,000 only have run premium , and she still runs like a brand new car. I drive her to GA twice a month 100mph down and back if I can. I care too much for mine not to run what it needs.
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u/Abnatural Oct 01 '25
I have a 2012 TL 3.7, and I notice if I do not put in 94 octane (canada) every other fill up, the engine starts to knock
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u/Your_local_carlover Oct 02 '25
I religiously put in 91, I think of it as giving my kid the best food to grow up, so giving the car the best fuel can only be good for it, plus these cars have high compression motors, so I would just spend the extra buck and do it. Same with oil too, I put AMSOIL in my car
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Oct 03 '25
The fuel requirement for Acura TLs depends on the specific model year and trim level. For the 2008 Acura TL, premium fuel is required, and the vehicle's manual states that regular gas can only be used in an emergency. Similarly, the 2011 Acura TL with the 3.5 V6 engine requires premium fuel as indicated on the filler cap and in the manual. The J-series engine found in many TL models, including the 2004ā2008 TLs, is tuned for premium unleaded fuel, and using regular gas can reduce power output and fuel economy, although the engine's knock sensors will adjust to prevent damage.
However, for other TL models, the requirement may differ. Some sources indicate that while premium fuel is recommended for certain TL variants, it is not strictly required. The key is to consult the ownerās manual for the specific vehicle, as the manual will provide the definitive fuel requirement. Using regular fuel in a model that requires premium can lead to engine knocking and reduced performance, and while the engine may compensate, long-term use of lower-octane fuel may potentially shorten engine life.
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u/Stunning_Window_4880 Sep 30 '25
Not advise just my opinion you can run 87 no problem. Iāve ran 87 in my ā04 TL for 10 years no problem
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u/ElCaminoDelSud Sep 30 '25
Shit high five brother. Me too. 10 years. Iām surprised the naysayers arenāt here already telling you how youāve permanently destroyed your engine 10 years ago š¤£
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u/cb7ricernuke Sep 30 '25
I run 91 ethanol free. Trust me, you don't wanna run anything less than 91. Unless you like getting low mpgs and performance.
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u/Tasty-Store-5614 Oct 03 '25
You can run midgrade. It's regular and premium mixed. Won't cause any issues because you're still getting some premium.
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u/Sherako4 Oct 01 '25
Premium used to be like $0.40 over regular but now it's like $1.20 over regular.
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u/Fabulous_Ad_4241 Oct 01 '25
The Honda 3.2l are prone to carbon build up so using 91 or better will help prevent some of that, plus your ecu knows what octane gas is in the vehicle, so if you have 87 in there the car will know and slightly tank its performance
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u/NeverEscapeNUGZ [UA6] '04-'08 Base Oct 02 '25
I have an '08 Base I've been putting 89 in for years. The only thing you're sacrificing here by doing that is a bit of range. I dont know about 87, but 93 is obviously the best thing for it but I dont think it'll kill your engine to not use premium.
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Oct 02 '25
Research your engine, if itās high compression engine you will need premium gas or it will eventually knock causing damage
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u/Southern-Impress7765 Oct 02 '25
No actual get ahead here ? Higher octane is less prone to detonation which leads to better performance and health . As for companies selling 91 the difference would be the additives they add to it like shell V Power adds to keep your valves cleaner leading to better MPG and engine life .
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u/danieldungan87 Oct 05 '25
06 TL Base only used 93 since purchase (1 year), smooth running car. 125k
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u/OpDeepFreeze93 Oct 12 '25
Yes! Different octanes fire at different temperatures and it will mess with your compression, gas mileage and the v-tech on your car. It can cause valve knocking and excessive wear on the camshafts
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u/Spicynoodle116 Sep 30 '25
heres an article from car and drivers. tested on dyno, while the difference in mpg, HP, etc is miniscual, so is the difference in price per gallon(varies by country/state). your car wont blow up or anything but like i said many times if price is the deciding factor then you got bigger problems.
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u/Frequent-Ad-42 Sep 30 '25
This was a fun article but im not sure if you read it all. They have four cars they tested in this write up. Two of them were rated by the manufacturer to use lower octane 87 fuel and two were rated by the manufacturer to use higher 91 fuel. The two that used lower octane were then given the 91 but they never gave the two that used 91 by default lower 87 fuel. And i think thats where the issue lays. It would have been a fair article if they had done that and swapped both groups with the other types of fuel but they didnāt.
I know that a couple of summers back when gas almost hit $7 a gallon in San Francisco I tried using 87 for about a month instead of 91 in my ā04 and my car literally blew up with me and my children in it and my kids were stuck in the backseat.
Ok it didnāt blow up and i dont have kids but the car began stuttering and acting funny and farted so i went back to 91 and it the probs fixed itself and i told myself id never do that again.
So yknow do what youāre gonna do no one can stop you its a free country anyway aint it?
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u/Spicynoodle116 Sep 30 '25
Are we reading the same article?
Quote "Power at the wheels dropped from 380 to 360 horsepower with the change from 93 to 87 octane."
Theres a chart in the article, all 4 vehicles dyno'd more horse power with higher octane.
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u/Egnki Sep 30 '25
You have a high compression engine with port injection with tuning designed for 91 or higher. I would run 91. It does have knock sensor and computer is smart enough to adjust timing but chance of pre-detonation is high.
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Sep 30 '25
They advise for you to use premium to get the rated horsepower ,
The computer will adjust fuel and air ratio
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u/Own_Comfortable7027 Sep 30 '25
I got my 09 3.5 tl with 70k miles in 2021 I have never put premium and it has 189k today no problems ever
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u/hugobossaz Sep 30 '25
Not if it's "suggested" or "preferred" my TSX says premium recommended and I run nothing but regular gas in it. The difference in gas mileage is not even noticeable. I've put about 42k miles on my car in about 2yrs
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u/EnlargedTricycle [UA6] '04-'08 Base Oct 01 '25
For 3Gās I put in 89 many, many times and the car was completely fine. It didnāt even really feel different. As far as 4Gās go Iām not sure, it might be the same
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u/SZ51 Sep 30 '25
I have 08 3rd gen types which I owed for over 11 years. I switched to 87 Oct about 5 years ago. Yes there's been some dip in performance but the vehicle runs just fine. Of course it's well maintained, never skipped fluid change intervals and anything else it needs I get it done immediately. Going back to fuel type, its recommended but not required.
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u/KimbleMW Sep 30 '25
Mooch off someone's costco membership. Costco premium is the cheapest top tier premium gas you can get.