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Acura MDX gas questions

30 messages,  Last post on Mar 01, 2010 at 7:15 PM

You are in the Acura MDX Forum.

What is this discussion about? Acura MDX, Fuel System, SUV

Messages Page 2 of 3

#13 of 30 Gas Discussion by jmpage2

Mar 02, 2008 (1:21 pm)

I agree with others. Why would you want to cheap out on gas with such an expensive car with a high performance high compression tuned engine?
 
If you average 15,000 miles a year (which is the national average) then you are going to be putting about 900-1000 gallons of gas in this truck every year. The cost savings of going .40 cheaper to get lower octane gas will amount to savings of $300-$400 a year, or maybe $25 a month.
 
Spend $40K on a car and then go cheap on gas to save $25 a month and put fuel in that the manufacturer doesn't recommend? Foolhardy!

#14 of 30 mdx footrest removal for people with long legs by jimbo787

Apr 17, 2008 (2:00 pm)

i am interested in leasing an 08 mdx . being 6 foot 4 inches, i was wondering if it was possible to remove the footrest . for people with long legs this has to be a problem. it is very difficult to get in contact with anyone from honda regarding this matter

#16 of 30 Re: mdx footrest removal for people with long legs [jimbo787] by hpowders

Apr 17, 2008 (2:18 pm)

Replying to: jimbo787 (Apr 17, 2008 2:00 pm)
This has nothing to do with the forum topic. Why don't you re-post your query in the "2008 Acura MDX" thread?

#17 of 30 Leaded fuel for MDX 2004 by sarlek

May 04, 2008 (5:16 am)

I have just bought an Acura MDX 2004 model from the US to be used in a country where only leaded gas is sold. Are there any additives I can add to the gas to protect the catalytic converter?

#18 of 30 Re: Acura MDX: gas questions [kingtroll1] by maraist

Jul 14, 2008 (7:02 pm)

Replying to: kingtroll1 (Dec 22, 2007 10:37 pm)
I believe the issue is that when the knock-sensor detects a knock (due to any high temperature or compression, especially during high RPM or high-torque under low RPM), it will adjust the timing of the vehicle away from an optimal setting. So you not only get less horse-power, but you get less fuel-efficiency. So if you somehow drive the vehicle in a way that avoids knock, your lower octaine fuel may wind up getting you better mileage (since it has a higher energy density than high-octaine fuel). But from what I can tell here, it's unlikely you'll be able to completely avoid even a single knock for a given tank of fuel on the MDX.
 
Note also that American Octaine ratings are different than in Europe. American ratings take the average of loaded v.s. unloaded knocking on a reference engine. In Europe they only measure the unloaded rating. So interestingly enough, the American rating doesn't suggest what an unloaded octaine rating a particular fuel vendor may have.. Two gas companies may produce two totally different unloaded/loaded octain rating pair.. Since you get the average of the two, it's blurred. I wish they'd just display them both.

#19 of 30 Re: Acura MDX: gas octane by dave_nh

Jul 24, 2008 (6:54 am)

Replying to: maraist (Jul 14, 2008 7:02 pm)
I have a 2005 MDX. Each year, we (Wife and I) drive round-trip from New Hampshire to California at least once in June and once in December and have been doing so for three years, now (we are retired). Due to the outrageous gas prices, I thought I'd experiment and see if lower octane gas had any observable, deleterious effects on performance and/or mileage. I understand that when the knock sensor retards the spark to keep from pinging, the performance and mileage SHOULD decrease. A performance drop would not necessarily be an issue since even this model MDX provides far more power than we need. Although this "test" is hardly scientific, we have driven the routes enough times and the trip mileage is high enough that the results should be meaningful.
 
A few "test conditions":
* I do the all but a few hours of the driving.
* From NH to CA is usually straight out I90 - I80 and speeds are usually Posted+4mph.
* In Ca, the MDX is used for everyday, around the town driving.
* Coming back, we try and take different routes; we do a lot of sight-seeing.
* MPG is always calculated by using the on-board computer.
* Tires are Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza running 38 lps pressure.
* Engine oil is Mobil 1
 
Until this June, we had always used 91 octane and the overall trip mpg was ALWAYS 22 mpg +/- 0.5 MPG. Remember, this is an average based on at least 7,500 miles per trip, usually over 8,000 miles per trip. And there was never an appreciable difference between Westbound and Eastbound.
 
This trip, I used "mid-range" octane exclusively on the way out and "lowest" octane on the way back (including a trip up Pikes Peak).
 
Results vis-a-vis MPG
* The average mileage going out was 20.4 mpg using Mid-range octane.
* The average mileage coming back was the same 20.2 mpg using the "lowest" octane..
 
Results vis-a-vis performance.
* NO noticeable drop in performance and I was looking for one.
 
Gas savings on this trip was barely noticeable. In some states, the difference between Premium and whatever I was using was substantial (like California), in other states, not all that much. And when I found a station that was selling Premium for LESS than mid-range, the owner told me Premium was not moving well so he dropped the price.
 
As always, For What It's Worth,
 
Dave

#20 of 30 Re: Acura MDX: gas octane [dave_nh] by upstatedoc

Jul 24, 2008 (7:26 am)

Replying to: dave_nh (Jul 24, 2008 6:54 am)
Great post, we have a '04 MDX and get around 22 highway w/ 93 oct (no 91 here)
What do you figure your net loss or gain was in terms of $$ using 87 vs. 91?

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