What gas does an Acura RSX take?
The Acura RSX, a compact sports car produced from 2002 to 2006, requires premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 or higher. This is the recommended fuel type for optimal performance and engine health in the Acura RSX.
Acura RSX Fuel Requirements
The Acura RSX is designed to run on premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 or higher. This is the manufacturer's recommended fuel type for this vehicle. Using a lower octane fuel, such as regular unleaded (87 octane), can lead to engine knocking, reduced power, and potentially cause long-term damage to the engine over time.
The Acura RSX's engine is a high-performance, high-compression unit that requires the higher octane fuel to prevent premature detonation and ensure efficient combustion. Premium fuel helps maintain the engine's optimal performance and fuel economy.
Consequences of Using Lower Octane Fuel
- Engine knocking or pinging: Lower octane fuel is more prone to premature ignition, leading to an audible knocking sound from the engine.
- Reduced power and acceleration: The engine may not be able to produce its full rated horsepower and torque when using lower octane fuel.
- Decreased fuel economy: Suboptimal combustion can result in reduced fuel efficiency, leading to higher fuel consumption.
- Potential engine damage: Over time, using lower octane fuel can cause carbon buildup, pre-ignition, and other issues that can lead to more serious engine problems.
It's important to always use the recommended premium unleaded gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 91 to ensure the Acura RSX performs at its best and to avoid any potential long-term engine issues.
Can I use 87 gas?
Regular gas with an 87 octane level is suitable for most engines, while some high-output engines require premium gas with higher (91-94) octane levels. Engines designed for regular-octane gas gain little to no benefit from using high-octane fuel.
What if I accidentally put 87 instead of 91?
In a best-case scenario, your car will be fine, but your engine will run less efficiently and the amount of mileage you get per gallon will suffer. This is why it will not actually save you money to put “cheap” gas in a car that requires a more expensive option.
Is an Acura RSX rare?
All to say the RSX, which was never all that common to begin with—in its best year Acura sold just 30,117 of them—is only going to become more special as time goes on, and as contrasts are drawn with the new RSX EV. Check out the Hagerty Media homepage so you don't miss a single story, or better yet, bookmark it.
Does a Acura need premium gas?
According to Acura, the Acura NSX requires premium gas. For models like the RDX, MDX, TLX, RLX, and ILX, premium gas is recommended. So, does Acura require premium gas? Only some models, not all — our service department recommends using higher octane gas in Acura for a few reasons.
Are 91 and 93 gas the same?
The fuel commonly marketed is 87, 91 and 93 octane gasoline. The main difference between all of them is that the higher the octane rating, the greater the gasoline's capacity to withstand the compression produced inside the cylinders. In this way, combustion is carried out in a much smoother and more efficient way.
What happens if I accidentally put regular gas in my Acura?
If you put lower-octane fuel into your high-octane vehicle, whether by mistake or to save money on gas, you'll probably notice the effects right away: things like poor fuel economy, reduced acceleration, and spark knock, which sounds like a high-pitched pinging or rattling noise.
What is the RSX in real life?
Acura's RSX returns as an all-electric SUV, built on Honda's in-house EV platform. The RSX will be the first model manufactured at Honda's upgraded Ohio EV Hub. Sales of the all-electric model are expected to officially begin in early 2026.
How long can RSX last?
Just like any engine it is how you take care of it, anywhere from 60,000 to a good 300,000 miles.
Can you put 87 gas in a Acura?
No — but it's recommended that you use a higher-octane fuel in your Acura for a number of reasons. According to Acura, premium gas is only required for the Acura NSX, but it is recommended for the MDX, RDX, TLX, RLX, and ILX.
Can I put 89 in 87 gas?
If you opt for a higher octane than your manual recommends—say, 89 instead of 87—your car will be perfectly fine. It will not, however, improve your car's mileage or give it any sort of extra performance boost. The only thing it will do is cost you extra money, so don't do this.
