Gasoline for RSX type S?

[minui]

Just bought an RSX type S and I'm not sure what kind of gasoline to put in it.

The manual recommends Premium, but I'm wondering if a type S would be susceptible to engine knock if I were to just use Regular.

Any type S drivers here use anything less than premium without any problems?

Thanks

[adam c]

Premium

and yes you can get engine knock with regular

[Cooked Rice]

Just run husky or mohawk 90 if you can't afford premium anywhere else. husky and mohawk are 90/92/94 because it's ethanol blend. Their 90 is the same price as shell 87 etc...

[schocker]

The manual says premium so use that.

[buh_buh]

It won't knock. There's probably a knock sensor, so if even if it did, it would just pull timing and your car will feel slower. I'd use mid-grade.

[Skyline_Addict]

why would you decide to cheap out on gas after getting a car that you know takes premium? put premium in, as the manual says.

[chkolny541]

has anyone ever had a case of a mechanical failure or "engine knock" that has been DIRECTLY caused by the octane rating of the fuel they use? i kinda doubt it
'


but on the flip side, isnt a tank of premium vs reg like 3 or 4$ more

[Pollywog]

Originally posted by Cooked Rice
Just run husky or mohawk 90 if you can't afford premium anywhere else. husky and mohawk are 90/92/94 because it's ethanol blend. Their 90 is the same price as shell 87 etc...

To my understanding, the net fuel efficiency loss with an ethanol blend outweighs that of the extra cost of premium. I say pay for premium, or buy something with a lower-compression motor.

"The energy content of ethanol is about 30-35% less (per volume) than gasoline..."

and here's a link to another article: http://www.slate.com/id/2122961/


Sorry, I know this isn't a thread about Ethanol.


Originally posted by chkolny541
has anyone ever had a case of a mechanical failure or "engine knock" that has been DIRECTLY caused by the octane rating of the fuel they use? i kinda doubt it


Yes, to answer your question. When you start playing with higher compression ratio's and boost it especially becomes that much more noticable. While I havn't personally had mechanical failure due to it, I most definatly have experienced knocking trying to be cheap at the pump.

[Criticull]

If the regular to premium spread is 10 cents, you're gonna pay $4.50 more for premium per tank. If you're on a tank a week, that's under $250 a year.

You probably don't need to cheap out. Cheap out in other ways like selling parts of the car that you don't think it needs (i.e. the back windshield wiper) lol.

The knock sensor probably covers you somewhat, but why risk it?

[minui]

Originally posted by Skyline_Addict
why would you decide to cheap out on gas after getting a car that you know takes premium? put premium in, as the manual says.

I'm actually running it on premium right now.
It's not that I'm trying to cheap out, I just want to make sure I'm not unnecessarily purchasing premium.

I owned a 03 celica a while back, and it also says to put premium in. I ran it on regular for 2 years with no problems.

But I know the compression on a type S is going to be higher than on a celica, which is why I ask.

I have no problems with running Premium, just thought I'd ask

Thanks for the inputs
:closed:

[Pollywog]

Enjoy the new ride!:thumbsup:

[minui]

Thanks everyone :thumbsup:

[texasnick]

K20A2
Found in:
2002-2004 Acura RSX Type-S and 2002-2005 Honda Civic Type R (EP, European)
Displacement: 1998 cc
Compression: 11.0:1
Power: 200 hp (147 kW) @ 7400 rpm
Torque: 142 ft·lbf (193 N·m) @ 6000 rpm
Redline: 8200 rpm


K20Z1
Found in:
2005-2006 Acura RSX-S
Displacement: 1998 cc
Compression: 11.0:1
Power: 201 hp (150 kW) @ 7800 rpm (sae NET Rev 8/04)
Torque: 140 ft·lbf (194 N·m) @ 7000 rpm (sae NET Rev 8/04)
Redline: 8200 rpm

[Pollywog]

Originally posted by texasnick
K20A2
Found in:
2002-2004 Acura RSX Type-S and 2002-2005 Honda Civic Type R (EP, European)
Displacement: 1998 cc
Compression: 11.0:1
Power: 200 hp (147 kW) @ 7400 rpm
Torque: 142 ft·lbf (193 N·m) @ 6000 rpm
Redline: 8200 rpm


K20Z1
Found in:
2005-2006 Acura RSX-S
Displacement: 1998 cc
Compression: 11.0:1
Power: 201 hp (150 kW) @ 7800 rpm (sae NET Rev 8/04)
Torque: 140 ft·lbf (194 N·m) @ 7000 rpm (sae NET Rev 8/04)
Redline: 8200 rpm

And what inspired you to post this? We know its a high-compression engine, regardless of the year.

[nj2Type-S]

enjoy your type-s. i miss mine, lol.

[dimi]

I've run mid grade on my S2000, without any negative effects. 11.0 compression. I still run premium but at this altitude mid grade would be more than enough.

[texasnick]

Originally posted by Pollywog


And what inspired you to post this? We know its a high-compression engine, regardless of the year.

I was just posting CR of the motor as sort of a hint. If your engine is utilizing 11.0:1 CR and it redlines at 8,200 RPM WITH a 50 degree VTC, you are going to want to use good gas. That's all. Just trying to help out, and I posted both because the OP never specified what year Type S he was talking about. I'd say it's more on topic than your little getup about ethanol

...and to the people not using premium in an 11.0:1 motor :facepalm:

[alloroc]

Originally posted by chkolny541
has anyone ever had a case of a mechanical failure or "engine knock" that has been DIRECTLY caused by the octane rating of the fuel they use? i kinda doubt it
'


but on the flip side, isnt a tank of premium vs reg like 3 or 4$ more

If you can call broken rings and a hole in the piston mechanical failure, then yes I have.

[dimi]

Originally posted by texasnick


I was just posting CR of the motor as sort of a hint. If your engine is utilizing 11.0:1 CR and it redlines at 8,200 RPM WITH a 50 degree VTC, you are going to want to use good gas. That's all. Just trying to help out, and I posted both because the OP never specified what year Type S he was talking about. I'd say it's more on topic than your little getup about ethanol

...and to the people not using premium in an 11.0:1 motor :facepalm:

3500 ft altitude man. You think that doesn't make a difference?

[buh_buh]

I'm not using premium on my 11.5:1 motor, and my butt dyno thinks it feels slightly quicker, while my wallet says its definitely cheaper. Altitude definitely makes the difference.

[texasnick]

Have any of you guys using mid-grade on 11.0 or higher done any datalogging to check the knock count on your motors? I agree that reduced O2 content will make a big difference, but compared to the extra $5 a tank it costs to use premium, do you think it's worth taking the risk?

[rc2002]

If you're heavy on the throttle (especially at low rpm), I'd recommend premium.

It's cheap insurance.

[ShermanEF9]

Originally posted by buh_buh
I'm not using premium on my 11.5:1 motor, and my butt dyno thinks it feels slightly quicker, while my wallet says its definitely cheaper. Altitude definitely makes the difference.
What kind of power loss numbers do you get on that dyno? :P


I ran Midgrade in my old B16 civic, it ran okay, but i definately noticed a loss in fuel economy and it did run like shit from time to time... just run premium... its only a few dollars more and will save you money later.

[JordanAndrew]

Just follow the instructions and all is well. Why would you even ask this question if there is a specific fuel recommendation from the owner's manual? :facepalm:

If they through midgrade or regular would be fine, why the hell would they put Premium on the manual?

I see a few member here use different kinds of fuel but honestly speaking, these car companies used a lot of money to researching what's best for your vehicle. It all comes down to how you maintain it and keep it the way it is by using the proper fuel.

[sunsam]

enjoy your rsx i fill up my 350z at the pump .. my balls hurt every time ..

[buh_buh]

Originally posted by ShermanEF9

What kind of power loss numbers do you get on that dyno? :P

probably the same amount you gained on yours. :rolleyes:

[heavyD]

Originally posted by buh_buh
It won't knock. There's probably a knock sensor, so if even if it did, it would just pull timing and your car will feel slower. I'd use mid-grade.

At least someone hear understands a bit of engine management here. You can run the car forever on regular and have no issues as timing will be retarded. However if you want to squeeze all the available power from the little engine you will need the premium.

[Travel_Dude]

Apparently Esso has the best premium blend for our engine.

[Cooked Rice]

Originally posted by Travel_Dude
Apparently Esso has the best premium blend for our engine.

That is what I hear as well.

[gpomp]

Originally posted by texasnick


I was just posting CR of the motor as sort of a hint. If your engine is utilizing 11.0:1 CR and it redlines at 8,200 RPM WITH a 50 degree VTC, you are going to want to use good gas. That's all. Just trying to help out, and I posted both because the OP never specified what year Type S he was talking about. I'd say it's more on topic than your little getup about ethanol

...and to the people not using premium in an 11.0:1 motor :facepalm:
:rofl: at running 91 octane on your NA motors. the DA in calgary on a day like today is in the 5000+ range. i really doubt that you need the knock protection of 91. i always run 89 in both of my 11.0:1 NA cars.

as for your 50 degree thing you made up, the cam angle at max load and at max rpm on a k20 is actually 19 degrees.
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/2686/rsx.jpg

[texasnick]

Originally posted by gpomp
as for your 50 degree thing you made up, the cam angle at max load and at max rpm on a k20 is actually 19 degrees.


Hey, big guy. I'm talking about the VTC gear itself, not the cam angle. The VTC gear in a k20a2 allows for a 50* cam moment. That doesn't mean it has to have a 50* cam angle. :banghead:

That's a pretty graph you have posted. Do you have a knock count to go along with that? Have you dyno'd using 89 vs. 91? I'm sure putting mid grade in an 11.0:1 car doesn't have ANY ill effects whatsoever.

[jakeobus]

my k20R was tuned on 94 mohawk/huskey gas from day one, when i check knock with kpro nothing ever comes up.
i think its pretty safe to say that there's nothing wrong with blended gas.
as for the main question here....do you think that a company as big as honda with the genius engineer's they have would reccommend that you use premium if they didnt see it necessary.