My thoughts on using 87 instead of premium.
I have a 2011 TSX with 117,000 miles, which I bought five months ago as my first car. The previous owners told me they had always used premium gas, so I put in 93 octane, the most available premium gas in my area. I had no problems; the engine ran smoothly, and I was getting 25 mpg combined. Last week, I filled the tank (nearly empty) with about six gallons of 87 octane out of curiosity. After driving a few miles, I instantly felt the difference—the engine lacked power, and the throttle felt rough. In addition, the mileage was terrible. I got 17–20 mpg combined, and I needed gas again soon. However, the car ran fine, made no unusual noises, and felt reliable. Overall, I disliked the driving experience, and the cost savings were negligible because of the poor fuel economy. But if premium gas is unavailable, regular gas will suffice for getting from point A to point B.
I wanted to share my experience to help new TSX owners. I hope it was useful.
TLDR: Rough driving experience and terrible fuel economy. Usable if no other option.
I have a 2011 TSX with 117,000 miles, which I bought five months ago as my first car. The previous owners told me they had always used premium gas, so I put in 93 octane, the most available premium gas in my area. I had no problems; the engine ran smoothly, and I was getting 25 mpg combined. Last week, I filled the tank (nearly empty) with about six gallons of 87 octane out of curiosity. After driving a few miles, I instantly felt the difference—the engine lacked power, and the throttle felt rough. In addition, the mileage was terrible. I got 17–20 mpg combined, and I needed gas again soon. However, the car ran fine, made no unusual noises, and felt reliable. Overall, I disliked the driving experience, and the cost savings were negligible because of the poor fuel economy. But if premium gas is unavailable, regular gas will suffice for getting from point A to point B.
I wanted to share my experience to help new TSX owners. I hope it was useful.
TLDR: Rough driving experience and terrible fuel economy. Usable if no other option.