Honda and Premium Fuels

sandeep108 · 5th August 2006, 12:24

Yes, no problem to fill xtrapremium when tank is half full of ordinary. Actually to test it, this may be a better way. I always fill when tank is at 40-50%. Then I alternate between normal and xtrapremium.

hondadude · 5th August 2006, 12:59

If the car is designed for lower octane fuel, then there is no real performance or FE advantage of using higher octane fuel. Following link has good explaination about this

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/041008.html

sandeep108 · 5th August 2006, 13:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by hondadude

If the car is designed for lower octane fuel, then there is no real performance or FE advantage of using higher octane fuel. Following link has good explaination about this

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/041008.html

Agreed, that is why I said earlier also that it all depends on how the engine / management system takes it. One can always try for a couple of tankfuls and see. Mostly very few cases of any adverse effects have been reported (other than from bad premium fuel itself).

Also if one notices, civic compression ratio at 10.5:1 is the same as international. So it should certainly benefit from higher octane. In case of OHC, they had actually lowered the compression ratio. IMO any engine with compression ratio higher than 8 or 8.5 would benefit from higher octane petrol. Another reason is that when speed was originally launched, regular petrol octane rating was only 83. It was only due to better emission norms, that regular petrol has now moved to 87 and now 89 in metros. Which by the way due to adulteration may be 85 or 87. So now difference between speed / power and regular is only some additives - which may or may not be better for your car. That is why my preference for xtrapremium which is 91 or speed 93/97.

hondadude · 5th August 2006, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandeep108

Agreed, that is why I said earlier also that it all depends on how the engine / management system takes it. One can always try for a couple of tankfuls and see. Mostly very few cases of any adverse effects have been reported (other than from bad premium fuel itself).

The original poster was asking about Honda City and in its stock variant, it won't help to fill 'er up with premium fuel. It won't hurt either, but if spending more money on petrol is where the happiness lies then so be it

wolfinstein · 6th August 2006, 13:13

I suggest alternate between Regular and Premium Fuels, For every 2 Tank fulls 1 Tank full of Power or Speed 97 or Xtra Premium whichever you run on..!

condor · 6th August 2006, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by rareone

When i asked him the reason why he said its written in the manual to use 87 Fuel and not the 91 Octane Fuel...

* Did you check the manual?
* Does the manual specifically say "do not use 91 Octane"?

Manuals typically specify the lowest octane rating that is to be used in the car. Using higher octane fuel shouldnt harm the engine, even if there are no benefits - noticeable or otherwise.

OT, used 93 octane in the late 80's in our Chetak and later in my KB100 - engine was running smoother, and FE was better too.

gbpscars · 12th August 2006, 15:57

!!! Well always thought that the ECU has the capability to change firing parameters in real time based on the octane level in fuel sensed. yeah?? When we are talking about a high end car like Optra and the like, I think it must be for sure.

SLK · 12th August 2006, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbpscars

!!! Well always thought that the ECU has the capability to change firing parameters in real time based on the octane level in fuel sensed. yeah?? When we are talking about a high end car like Optra and the like, I think it must be for sure.

Does the ECU control the firing timing at all?... I am sure it does not for 800/ WagonR/ Alto!

sandeep108 · 14th August 2006, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLK

Does the ECU control the firing timing at all?... I am sure it does not for 800/ WagonR/ Alto!

Why do you feel so? Of course it depends on the mfr., but generally ECU/ECM takes parameters from various sensors (including usually anti-knock, oxygen, etc.) and adjusts timing, fuel, air, etc. appropriately.

esteem_lover · 14th August 2006, 12:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfinstein

I suggest alternate between Regular and Premium Fuels, For every 2 Tank fulls 1 Tank full of Power or Speed 97 or Xtra Premium whichever you run on..!

what good would that do ???

SLK · 14th August 2006, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandeep108

Why do you feel so? Of course it depends on the mfr., but generally ECU/ECM takes parameters from various sensors (including usually anti-knock, oxygen, etc.) and adjusts timing, fuel, air, etc. appropriately.

Well I felt so.. just b'coz the ignition system in WagonR/ Alto though is digital is indipendent of the ECU.
The timing is controled by the timing belt.. i wonder how ECU can change that.. unless its a high-end engine like some vtec ...

sandeep108 · 14th August 2006, 16:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLK

Well I felt so.. just b'coz the ignition system in WagonR/ Alto though is digital is indipendent of the ECU.
The timing is controled by the timing belt.. i wonder how ECU can change that.. unless its a high-end engine like some vtec ...

I do not think ignition system of any modern MPFI car is independent of the ECU/ECM. The timing setting is usually controlled through the ECU/ECM. That is why many mfr. advt. 8bit/16bit ECM, more than one computer to control other systems. Also most MPFI engines will not knock at all, since the ignition timing is altered. At worst, engine will simply stall. In vtec, it is the valve and other settings also are further controlled.

The Wolf · 14th August 2006, 23:51

Well, heres somethign Id like to share...The reason why few dealers ask us to stay away from premium fuels is supposedly the additives in the premium fuels affect the cat con. They either clog the cat con or react with the chemical composition that the cat con element is made of. I dont know how much of this is true but have heard several people speaking in the same lines.

One experience I can share is Speed 91 used to leave this pink residue inside my bikes exhaust, donno if you guys have experienced it!!!! My bike dide have a cat con so it prolly wouldnt matter but the ones that come with a cat con might be affected by this residue.

sandeep108 · 16th August 2006, 10:42

That is extremely suprising. With both fuels and cars required to meet BS II/III norms, I am sure our petro companies would not do anything like gumming up cats. But one thing sure odd is that till date all auto magazines are staying away from doing any detailed analysis/comparison of these hyped up fuels.

bansal.sushant · 15th May 2018, 03:47

Hi,
Sorry for bringing up a 12 year old thread.
I am planning to go for a road trip in my Honda City 4rd gen petrol (run just 6k kms). I have been using normal fuel uptil now, should I use premium for this trip, since it is the first time the car will be running for such a long distance?

Also Delhi has Euro 6 fuel now, will that make a difference? Or should I just use normal fuel and some additives separately?

5th August 2006, 12:24	#16
sandeep108 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,050 Thanked: 302 Times	Yes, no problem to fill xtrapremium when tank is half full of ordinary. Actually to test it, this may be a better way. I always fill when tank is at 40-50%. Then I alternate between normal and xtrapremium.
	() Thanks

5th August 2006, 12:59	#17
hondadude Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,044 Thanked: 69 Times	If the car is designed for lower octane fuel, then there is no real performance or FE advantage of using higher octane fuel. Following link has good explaination about this http://www.straightdope.com/columns/041008.html
	() Thanks

6th August 2006, 13:13	#20
wolfinstein BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 994 Thanked: 20 Times	I suggest alternate between Regular and Premium Fuels, For every 2 Tank fulls 1 Tank full of Power or Speed 97 or Xtra Premium whichever you run on..!
	() Thanks

12th August 2006, 15:57	#22
gbpscars BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 402 Thanked: 5 Times	!!! Well always thought that the ECU has the capability to change firing parameters in real time based on the octane level in fuel sensed. yeah?? When we are talking about a high end car like Optra and the like, I think it must be for sure.
	() Thanks

14th August 2006, 23:51	#28
The Wolf Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,118 Thanked: 71 Times	Well, heres somethign Id like to share...The reason why few dealers ask us to stay away from premium fuels is supposedly the additives in the premium fuels affect the cat con. They either clog the cat con or react with the chemical composition that the cat con element is made of. I dont know how much of this is true but have heard several people speaking in the same lines. One experience I can share is Speed 91 used to leave this pink residue inside my bikes exhaust, donno if you guys have experienced it!!!! My bike dide have a cat con so it prolly wouldnt matter but the ones that come with a cat con might be affected by this residue.
	() Thanks

16th August 2006, 10:42	#29
sandeep108 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,050 Thanked: 302 Times	That is extremely suprising. With both fuels and cars required to meet BS II/III norms, I am sure our petro companies would not do anything like gumming up cats. But one thing sure odd is that till date all auto magazines are staying away from doing any detailed analysis/comparison of these hyped up fuels.
	() Thanks

15th May 2018, 03:47	#30
bansal.sushant BHPian Join Date: May 2017 Location: Delhi/Hyderabad Posts: 140 Thanked: 320 Times	Re: Honda and Premium Fuels Hi, Sorry for bringing up a 12 year old thread. I am planning to go for a road trip in my Honda City 4rd gen petrol (run just 6k kms). I have been using normal fuel uptil now, should I use premium for this trip, since it is the first time the car will be running for such a long distance? Also Delhi has Euro 6 fuel now, will that make a difference? Or should I just use normal fuel and some additives separately?
	() Thanks