We’ve written extensively about the Acura TLX, its capabilities, and various features on this blog. Today, we will talk about what fuel this sedan needs and what fuels are strictly prohibited. Let’s start with a quick answer:
All generations of the Acura TLX manufactured from 2015 onwards take premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 or higher. Gasoline with an octane rating of 87 – 90 may be used temporarily when 91 octane is unavailable, resulting in decreased engine performance.
However, that doesn’t tell the whole story. Below we’ve outlined recommendations and requirements for different fuels and fuel additives. We’ll also go into detail about the compatibility of the TLX with oxygenated blends. Furthermore, we discuss the tank size of these generations. Read on!
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Does The Acura TLX Require Premium Gasoline?
Let’s first talk about premium gasoline vs. regular gasoline in the Acura TLX. As mentioned above, Acura advises using premium gasoline with an octane of 91. However, many people wonder if it isn’t a better idea to use fuel with an even higher octane rating.
The reasoning behind this is that this fuel delivers even better performance and will also result in minor wear and tear on the engine. However, this is not the case. The only engine that is designed to make use of fuel with an octane of 93 or 95 actually receives benefit from it.
On the other hand, the TLX is still fully capable of taking fuel with a higher-than-recommended octane rating, and this will not result in any damage to the engine or a decrease in performance.
On the other hand, using fuels with a lower-than-recommended octane rating is (somewhat) harmful to the engine. Acura states that you can use 87 – 90 octane whenever 91 octane is unavailable. Most likely, this will not damage the engine, but it will result in a decrease in performance.
If you’re interested in the different gasoline requirements for all Acuras, please read the article we just linked.
Reformulated Gasoline
Another topic we need to talk about is the use of reformulated gasoline. Reformulated gasoline is the gasoline that’s mandatory in more than 19 areas of the United States. It was first introduced in California in the ’90s, and since then, it has been gaining ground.
The reason for its popularity is that this gasoline is designed to burn more cleanly, which results in fewer emissions. Therefore it’s mainly mandatory in regions of the USA where air quality is considered poor.
However, can the Acura TLX also take this gasoline? The answer to this is yes. Reformulated gasoline is safe to use with the TLX. Even better, Acura actively recommends the use of reformulated gasoline whenever it’s available.
Oxygenated Blends
Oxygenated blends of gasoline are types of gasoline that have been blended with a certain amount of ethanol or methanol. These chemicals are mainly helpful during winter when temperatures drop lower and lower. This provides a more difficult starting point for the engine. Ethanol and methanol help the engine start more quickly.
However, you can’t get just ethanol or methanol whenever you please. These chemicals are pretty dangerous for the engine and the fuel system, and using them should be done by following these rules:
- Never use fuel that contains methanol in any generation of the Acura TLX
- Only use fuel that contains a maximum of 15% ethanol for any generation of the Acura TLX. E-10 and E-15 can, therefore, safely be used, whereas E-85 will result in severe damage to the engine.
Gasoline With Additives
The final gasoline-specific topic we will talk about is the use of additives that need to be mixed into your fuel. These additives are widely available on the market these days. Supposedly they do a whole range of different things, such as:
- Boost the octane level in your fuel, thereby giving it better performance.
- Help the engine clean itself more effectively.
However, it’s good to know that Acura strongly advises against using additives in your Acura. This is because these additives can contain materials such as silicon or metallics that will seriously damage the engine and the fuel system.
Therefore, it’s recommended that you buy fuel that already has all the proper additives mixed into it. This kind of fuel can be purchased at certified TOP TIER gasoline retailers. These retailers sell gasoline that will provide the optimal performance for your engine and clean it as well as possible without damaging it. You can find a retailer at toptiergas.com.
What If I Hear A Knocking Sound From The Engine?
Furthermore, using fuels with an octane rating lower than 87 will result in severe damage to the engine, which is indicated by a symptom referred to as engine knock.
Engine knock means that the fuel can’t be adequately burned, resulting in a heavy knocking sound of the engine. A slight knocking sound is never a problem, but heavy knocking should be dealt with immediately.
Please stop the vehicle and contact your dealers if this heavy knocking occurs. You’re likely using fuel with a lower-than-recommended octane rating. The car needs to be drained, the fuel filter will need to be replaced, and the battery will need to be disconnected and reconnected to reset the car’s memory.
Fuel Economy Of The Acura TLX
Furthermore, we also need to discuss the fuel economy of the TLX while we’re on the subject. The Acura TLX has quite a good fuel economy, considering the fact that it’s a sporty sedan.
Second Generation (2021 – Present)
| Engine | Combined MPG | City MPG | Highway MPG |
| 2.0L | 25 | 22 | 31 |
| 3.0L | 21 | 19 | 25 |
First Generation (2015 – 2020)
| Engine | Combined MPG | City MPG | Highway MPG |
| 2.4L | 28 | 24 | 35 |
| 3.5L | 25 | 21 | 34 |
Fuel Tank Size Per Generation
- Acura TLX manufactured between 2015 – 2020 have a fuel tank size of 17.2 gallons (65 liters), whereas TLX manufactured from 2020 onwards have a fuel tank size of 15.9 gallons (60 liters).
Sources
- https://owners.acura.com/vehicles/information/2019/TLX/manuals?DealerNumber=$account.getDealerCode
- https://owners.acura.com/vehicles/information/2021/TLX/manuals
Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.
I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.
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