Honda Car Forum

2008 or 2009 acura tsx. do you need premium fuel?

no, modern cars have computers that monitor the fuel and it will adjust the spark youll lose peak horse power but you wont notice

Yes you DO...if you can't afford the gas, don't buy the car. The manual and the gas cap BOTH say premium.

Yes, absolutely.If you put in regular fuel, the car will still run. But the anti-knock sensors will work like mad to mitigate the damage to your engine.With regular fuel, there will be less power available to you, and the maximum RPM you can reach will be capped. While this may be fine for normal driving, in an emergency situation you may suddenly find yourself restricted.There are many reasons, including:1) Higher compression engine means more power in a smaller engine, with better fuel consumption2) Using premium gas allows for different catalytic converters and other emissions equipment, to reduce environmental harm.The TSX is a fabulous car. =]

A post @ AboutAcura.com references an article from USA Today, saying you don't have to use Premium - even in an Acura or Lexus.

The article's basic point:

"...today's engines designed for premium run fine on regular, too, their makers say, though power declines slightly" (roughly 5%).

AboutAcura.com has the highlights of the article here:

www.AboutAcura.com: Can I Use Regular Unleaded In My Acura?