Anyone not using Premium gas anymore? - Honda Prelude Forum

aznmienxsir · 04-21-2008, 12:19 PM

I know the 5th gen prelude requires premium gas. I recently bought a 5th gen with 120k on it. The first couple of time I used premium gas. But the last 2 pump, I used regular. Personally I haven't really felt a difference in performance or the mileage. I still average about 26mpg mix driving. If using premium only helps in performance, I could care less. But if using regular show evidence of engine damage, then I would use premium. Since premium is over $4 a gallon, it takes about $50 to fill up a full tank.

Since I haven't been active on this board for a long time, I just want to see if anyone in here have use regular gas for a long period of time.

If so what is the conditions of your car?

FYI, the main car that I had before was an 03 Nissan Spec V. The car also requires premium gas but I stop using premium about 2 years after owning the car. I traded the car a few month ago for a new car for my wife. The car has about 65k on it and I don't think there was any damage to the engine because I used a lower quality gas.

spartanlaw · 04-21-2008, 12:31 PM

Every manufacturer will confirm that using regular fuel in a car that requires "premium" will not do any damage to the motor. The only potential issue could come from the fact that premium fuels carry more detergents and burning regular fuel may cause more buildiup vs premium. Further, if there happens to be a failure with knocksensors/etc, the regular fuel could cause damage that way. A modern car, however, compensates just fine for regular gas. Manufacturers do not test or advertise the power loss using regular, but it jgenerally estimated at 5-10%....I'd love to have some of the people who insist and swear by premium do a dyno on regular.

I myself run premium just because the fact of the matter is, at these gas levels, the extra 15-20cents is miniscule compared to the overall cost.

98auto · 04-21-2008, 12:57 PM

the $1.20 per tank difference between regular and premium is worth saving potential damage to the engine, or having the ecu pull timing out of the maps to compensate for the knock. If the extra $5 per month is too expensive, maybe a civic is more appropriate?

joshz · 04-21-2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98auto

the $1.20 per tank difference between regular and premium is worth saving potential damage to the engine, or having the ecu pull timing out of the maps to compensate for the knock. If the extra $5 per month is too expensive, maybe a civic is more appropriate?

aznmienxsir · 04-21-2008, 02:27 PM

It more like $.30 per gallon more from regular to premium at least over here. $.30x 13 gallon is about $4 more each time. I know $4 is not a lot, since I pump it every other week. But that extra $8 a month can be used for something else if I don't need it for gas.

The main reason for this thread is to see how the 5th gen reacts to a lower grade gas in the long run. I only had the car for a few month so I can't say much abut it yet. But I do know that different car reacts to different grade differently. Like European cars that require premium, try to pump a lower grade especially during the cold season, they will run like ****. While some, you can't hardly tell. Like the 03 Sentra that I had and the 99 Si that a friend of mine had. You really can't tell once the engine is warm up.

I am not trying to pick a fight to save a few buck. I just want to hear what others have experience on this board.

spartanlaw · 04-21-2008, 03:03 PM

There is no risk of damage. Find me someone who damaged a stock motor with low grade fuel. Even Porsche designs their cars so that they can run on low grade fuel. If you think that running low grade fuel will damage a modern motor - you are probably right. That's why every article and professional institute report I've read says otherwise. And now that I think about it, thats why putting low-test in a car voids your warranty. Wait, it doesn't. That's why the owners manual contains severe warnings. Wait, it doesn't. What's it say? It says: you can run it but will lose power.

Do you run the risk of getting knock if your knock sensor/etc are bad? Of course.....but lose the elitist "get a civic" attitude. For people who run highway miles up like crazy, using low test may make perfect sense.

golfradict · 04-21-2008, 05:17 PM

I use the plus gas in my Prelude, havent had any problems. I have heard that it will burn out the 02 sensor quicker but until I see any problems I will continue to run on the plus.

petern101 · 04-21-2008, 05:51 PM

There was a nice article on one of those turner mags awhile ago. Some dude had a WRX and they were getting a baseline. They all saw it was lower than most baselines, by 10-13 whp. Turns out the dude was running regular.

I'm sure you would be fine running regular but I wouldn't hit vtec much. I know on my car, it will bog and feel very laggy in the upper ranges on 90 octane.

98auto · 04-21-2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartanlaw

There is no risk of damage. Find me someone who damaged a stock motor with low grade fuel. Even Porsche designs their cars so that they can run on low grade fuel. If you think that running low grade fuel will damage a modern motor - you are probably right. That's why every article and professional institute report I've read says otherwise. And now that I think about it, thats why putting low-test in a car voids your warranty. Wait, it doesn't. That's why the owners manual contains severe warnings. Wait, it doesn't. What's it say? It says: you can run it but will lose power.

Do you run the risk of getting knock if your knock sensor/etc are bad? Of course.....but lose the elitist "get a civic" attitude. For people who run highway miles up like crazy, using low test may make perfect sense.

No "elitist" attitude here, sir. I merely pointed out that the cost savings is minimal at best. We are talking less than $100 PER YEAR worth of gas savings. My point was, if someone really needs that $100 per year, maybe they are driving the wrong vehicle. I see these threads from time to time because people want to drive a nice car, but then don't want to pay for the gas in it. The ecu will pull timing, which then cuts down on power. What do you think the odds are that this timing reduction and consequentially less power will decrease gas mileage? I'd say pretty good. Honda designed the fuel and ignition maps to run on high octane. Running less will lead to knocking, which leads to the ecu pulling timing, which equals less power and decreased gas mileage. All of that to save less than $100 per year.

thepreludedude · 04-21-2008, 08:43 PM

i ***** and moan everytime i get gas (twice a week) but i still pump premium.

Daemione · 04-21-2008, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartanlaw

There is no risk of damage.

Like people have said, the H22 can run on 87 octane fuel. But the risk of pre-detonation is extremely high. And in order for the knock sensor to do it's job and tell the ECU to start pulling timing, there has to be pre-detonation for the sensor to hear. There is a lag between when the engine starts knocking, and when the ECU detunes itself to a level where it's safe again. Now, will this amount of pre-detonation immediately ruin your engine? Doubtful . . . But to say there is "no risk of damage" is just plain wrong.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartanlaw

Find me someone who damaged a stock motor with low grade fuel.

Find me a significant sample of people who are too cheap not to put the proper fuel in their H22.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartanlaw

For people who run highway miles up like crazy, using low test may make perfect sense.

Like 98auto said, if your ECU is pulling enough ignition timing to show a drop in power, what are the chances you're getting the same fuel efficiency? All it takes is a 2mpg drop in fuel efficiency, and your "savings" from using regular fuel have been burned away.

98auto · 04-21-2008, 09:58 PM

I couldn't have said it better myself Daemione

Solid · 04-21-2008, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daemione

Like people have said, the H22 can run on 87 octane fuel. But the risk of pre-detonation is extremely high. And in order for the knock sensor to do it's job and tell the ECU to start pulling timing, there has to be pre-detonation for the sensor to hear. There is a lag between when the engine starts knocking, and when the ECU detunes itself to a level where it's safe again. Now, will this amount of pre-detonation immediately ruin your engine? Doubtful . . . But to say there is "no risk of damage" is just plain wrong.

Find me a significant sample of people who are too cheap not to put the proper fuel in their H22.

Like 98auto said, if your ECU is pulling enough ignition timing to show a drop in power, what are the chances you're getting the same fuel efficiency? All it takes is a 2mpg drop in fuel efficiency, and your "savings" from using regular fuel have been burned away.

+2

People don't understand the knock system isn't an instantaneous process, so when you make the switch the car has to start over. Just like fuel trim it takes time and doesn't work perfectly.

If the knock system is so great I want someone to run diesel in their H22. No risk of pre-detonation right?

GizmoRR · 04-22-2008, 03:29 PM

premium its worth it

DRR1998 · 04-23-2008, 11:26 AM

Risk damage to your motor because you think you are saving 20 cents a gallon? Why would you do that? Not helpful, very harmful. You not only lose MPG and power, you are causing some damage every time the engine knocks. Even if you can't feel it, damage is being done. If you are just going to dump the car soon, you may not care until you break down. Then see how much money you saved. Use the best premium(Chevron), and drive less.

98auto · 04-23-2008, 11:34 AM

Here's a good question: If you drove an NSX, would you risk damaging that $10,000+ motor by running regular gas to save $8 per month? If you said yes, you need to have your head examined.

aznmienxsir · 04-23-2008, 05:05 PM

Thanks for those who replied and backed up there answers. Again, I am not looking for a fight and it seems that most prelude driver use premium.

If you have a $10,000 motor, it makes sense to use premium. But my prelude's motor is not worth that much. Heck I didn't even pay that much for the car, even half of that. I picked up the 99 lude for $4,500 with 120k on it. Really I plan to keep this car for about 2 years or so or until 200k. Maybe even longer depends on how the economy is.

But you made a point, I will use preimum.

Prelude1897 · 04-23-2008, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golfradict

I use the plus gas in my Prelude, havent had any problems. I have heard that it will burn out the 02 sensor quicker but until I see any problems I will continue to run on the plus.

That's what I'm running as well

dudeIgotaLude · 04-25-2008, 08:10 AM

I am a college student and it hurts to see that all my friends can use the low grade gas but I love my lude and will do anything to keep her in great condition. I will continue to but the premium and if I cant afford it, I will drive less.

GizmoRR · 04-26-2008, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudeIgotaLude

I am a college student and it hurts to see that all my friends can use the low grade gas but I love my lude and will do anything to keep her in great condition. I will continue to but the premium and if I cant afford it, I will drive less.

Good stuff, Good to know ludes are getting treated good all around the world