Looking through the owners manual in our new CR-V last night, I saw that Honda recommends using Top Tier gas (https://www.toptiergas.com/licensedbrands/). These fuels must have a higher detergent level than other non-Top Tier fuels, thus keeping your injectors cleaner. With a direct injected engine, I'd imagine that this is quite important.

So if you always use a Top Tier fuel, an added injector cleaner probably is not necessary unless you're experiencing symptoms of dirty injectors.

 

Hi Jasond, I think i read about Top Tier gas classification several months ago...
:applause:
Thanks for the reminder!

 

I am doubtful of the use of injector cleaner when we have fuel injectors that run at 100's-1000's PSI; I don't see a bottle of magic juice cleaning something that crazy amount of pressure doesn't.

 

Once a year or so I put a bottle of Chevron Techron in my gas tank when I fill up.

If you buy gasoline at a Chevron, Texaco, or Caltex station in the US you wouldn't need to do that, as all of their gasolines have it.


https://youtu.be/h8i9qftqKNY

 

Chevron mixes Techron into the fuel they sell at the pump. It's probably their name for the detergent that gives them the Top Tier fuel certification. From their website: "Every 3,000 miles, Techron Concentrate Plus can be poured right into your gas tank. This is a great alternative if Chevron with Techron is not available in your area."

Link: http://www.chevronwithtechron.com/products.aspx

 

I have always pondered putting a can of Subaru's Upper Engine Cleaner through my CRV, but don't know what it would do to the Honda.
I have 4 cans of it sitting in the shed. :thumb:

 

I've never used FI cleaner on a regular basis on my daily drivers. (None of which have DI like the '17)


I DO use Top Tier gas most of the time, and religiously explore the upper reaches of the RPM range at least once a week. riving:

I feel that the increased injector duration during high RPMs serves to clean out the injectors. (Besides, it's FUN.) :doublethumb:

 

I just got offered a fuel induction cleaning service from my dealer last night. Price: $159.99. I am experiencing no symptoms. I never used any of that stuff in any cars I have driven sonec 1977. Wondering if this new technology in cars requires it. Then I read this:
I am doubtful of the use of injector cleaner when we have fuel injectors that run at 100's-1000's PSI; I don't see a bottle of magic juice cleaning something that crazy amount of pressure doesn't.

Thank you very much for setting me straight and I won't be wasting any money on this service. Just what I needed to hear.

 

Scam. What exactly do they do? Connect a pressurized can of cleaner to the fuel rail and wipe the throttle body out?
Run top tier gas and do your regular maintenance. You can wipe the throttle body out yourself.

 

I have owned several D.I. engines and never had problems. I use Top Tier gas about 90% of the time.
I'm lucky because all the local gas stations are Top Tier stations. When on trips I try to use only TT gas

 

on the list of top tier gasoline..we only have one around here and its always way more $ than the others...Canada ..eh

 

Someone on youtube tested Chevron Techron using a bore scope to show before and after pictures of the pistons:

https://youtu.be/h8i9qftqKNY

And Consumer Reports says that an Automobile Association of America test showed that top tier fuels were worth the extra cost.
And if you look at the top tier website, there is a fee, but there are also requirements that the fuels have to meet in order to be able to claim to be top tier.

https://www.toptiergas.com/faqs/

 

I only use TT gas. No exception and 93 octane.

 

:rolleyes2: :Hahaha: :rofl:

 

93 octane is a waste of money in your CR-V, but it's your money.

 

Sorry, have to disagree, it depends on the car. In my old (1999) Accord it was a waste of money, in my new CR-V it is almost a requirement. I have a 2018 LX with the 2.4L and the difference in fuel grade is very noticeable. The first tank was cheap gas (free full tank from the dealer), I could feel the engine bogging down in low revs when the system was dumping a lot of fuel to quench the chambers and keep it from knocking. Oil level grew and fuel contamination in the oil was evident.

Since then only 93 octane and oil level went down some, fuel mileage increased considerably, and engine feels happier. A change in driving style also helped, it doesn't seem to like very light throttle usage for acceleration. The way they programmed the CVT it needs a little more right foot or it doesn't let the engine raise the revs and causes it to bog down. Besides, I'm an old guy and it just seems wrong to use low octane on an 11.1:1 compression ration engine.

 

Just use a full tank of name brand fuel which has enhanced additives package already at least 1/2 the time and I think you'll be fine (base fuel stock is literally the same for all brands, comes from the same terminals regionally)

Seems like most problems are when people don't do oil changes regularly, don't change spark plugs, timing chain is work and piston rings get worn. Those cars start to have injector and plug fouling. Otherwise, in my rural town, there's tons of old under maintained cars still kicking. Makes me think it's not all that important.

Remember that cars burn cleaner, run much hotter and higher compression that cars years ago. All of these have a cleaning effect in burning up most contaminants. Further, I suspect Honda intentionally injects a little extra fuel on shutdown to prevent carbon buildup and prevent knocking at low RPM's when cold, but it seems to be possibly causing some oil dilution as well. But the side effect is injectors probably get cleaned from that as well.

 

Want better performance use 87 fuel with no ALCOHOL .... better gas mileage and better performance.
Find your stations here

https://www.pure-gas.org/

 

I agree that gasoline that does not contain ethanol will increase your fuel mileage over the same octane level with ethanol.
There is one gas station near where I live that claims to sell ethanol free gasoline.

But their prices are so much higher than the 10% ethanol blend that other stations sell that the increase in MPGs does not offset the increased cost per gallon.

JM2C

 

Times two........I only use sparingly especially in the winter months. Gas is so doubtful, you don't really have a clue what your paying for. The Dealer price one mentioned, is insane. JMHO and good luck
David g........:Naughty:

 

Top tier. Putting a quart of techron in a tank with thousands of gallons of fuel....

 

What octane does the manual spec and that is what you should use. I think it does say to use a good quality detergent fuel.
Using a higher than needed octane can actually create more deposits.

 

Well, to each his own lol. I have a 2013 CRV, not a 2017. But if I had a 1.5L, I would certainly be feeding it 93 octane. It is true that 87 can be used with the 1.5L turbo, but that's because the ECU is managing and preventing engine knock because of the cheap gas. Yes, 87 is regular cheap gas.

 

@RAV4owner - so glad to hear you are more knowledgeable than the Honda engineers that designed the engine in your CR-V. You should apply for a job at Honda!


As for me, I trust Honda when they say 87 octane is acceptable.

 

As for me, I trust Honda when they say 87 octane is acceptable.

That's fine. It is your car. Do what's acceptable...

 

+1 on S mode driving + 93 octane. I have done enough damage to other cars driving it in Econ. I am not sure why Econ is even made available as a feature. It is lousy. It should be outlawed...

 

Yes ECO stinks on the CRV ....But it's great on the G80 and the Elanrtra GT
PS.
Only burn 87 in all my cars :=)

 

I am not sure if I can link to a different forum, but on the civic forum, you can find posts by Hondata with test results performed on the 1.5L turbo that shows how Honda's ECU adapts to different octane levels. At least comparing just using 91 over 87 they were able to gain 12 to 13 lb-ft torque and 4-5 hp.

I am sure more with 93.

Even on my RAV4, I get better acceleration on 93 and the engine seems more responsive in sport mode.

The reasoning behind using high octane to reduce oil dilution is that with 87, there is more gas sprayed to prevent knock than say 93. The more gas sprayed, the more chance of it getting forced into the oil bin. 1.5L owners may want to try higher octane and see if that helps.

 

I am not sure if I can link to a different forum, but on the civic forum, you can find posts by Hondata with test results performed on the 1.5L turbo that shows how Honda's ECU adapts to different octane levels. At least comparing just using 91 over 87 they were able to gain 12 to 13 lb-ft torque and 4-5 hp.

Hondata is a tuning company, right? I had my old Trailblazer SS tuned by a company that showed improvements of 15 to 20HP over stock. The only issue was, premium gas went from being recommended, to being required once tuned. I ended up dumping the TBSS when premium hit $4.50/gal and I was spending >$500/mo on gas.

 

@halfempty. It is working for you because you are doing all the right things. You've got the high octane and you drive in S mode. On top of that, your gas tank is bigger...if you know what I mean.

 

you could say that about just about anything. Ok, be happy fueling your car with cheap gas. It would be happier with higher octane though.

 

the recommendation for a CRV is 87 or higher and there is data out there to support that CRV performs better (torque and hp gains) with higher octane.

Since you can't afford 93, just fill it with 87 and stop your nonsense that it makes no difference.

 

The "or higher" is there for reasons I've explained prior. There is no (zero) quantified data supporting what you're spewing, regarding a stock CR-V. "My butt tells me it's faster" doesn't count.

Oh, and it has nothing to do with my ability to afford premium. It has everything to do with me controlling which charities I contribute my disposable income to. The oil companies are not on that list.

 

Really? What is the point of arguing this issue further? Just agree that there are others with a different opinion, and move on. Does it really matter if someone else uses or doesn't use premium fuel? I don't get it. But that is just me.

 

Yes, they are only opinions..... but some person on this site can only insult you to for posting a different point of view.
He seems to do this a lot ... bet he was a bully when he was in school :=)