Does Premium gas void your factory warranty?

One of my friends at work has a Honda Pilot.  His dealer told him that if he uses Premium gas and there are engine problems, it can void the warranty since the engine doesn't require it.
 
I think this is total BS because in every single car manual I have seen, it always says a Minimum of 85/87 octane and never has said anything about a limit to what octane you can use.
 
I'm just curious if anybody knows anything about this.

I've heard of the opposite, but not this.  If your care requires 93 or higher octane and you put in 87, you can be nailed for that... but never heard of 87 requirement and you dump in 93.  Sounds like a dealer trying to milk things.

  That's what ya get for buying Jap Crap.  The lady at home Depot said I would void the HOT DOG WARRANTY if i used Grey Poupon mustard, intead of Cisco????

Premium is not going to hurt anything, but if your sake sucker's computer isn't programmed to take advantage of the cooler burn, why would you pay for it?  Too much octane can lead to hard starting when a car that isn't mechanically of electronically set up to burn it, but that is like Turbo Blue 106, NOT 93/94.  When I say hard starting, I mean only while you have it in your tank, not permenantly.  Sheeeoot, I had a boat with Gale Banks Big Block Chevy's that had to burn Aviation Gas....110.  Pump gas isn't gonna do anything.

Doc Olds is right. Honda engines are more tempermental and they usually say to NOT use 91 octane because the engines aren't calibrated for that octane and won't burn it efficiently. So basically, all you get for 24 more cents per gallon in the Honda is higher pollution, not higher performance.

Yeah a huge missconception is that a higher octane fuel will give you more power when it doesn't. the higher the octane the more stable the gas is so you can run a higher compression and add power adders without having detonation. When i first built the 347 stroker in my mustang i had to run it on 100 octane because it was detonating with 93 octane do to the timing and compression. I now have a custom tune on it and run 93. If i had tuned it for 100 octane i could have pulled a little more power out of the engine by advancing the timing more and giving it a more aggresive tune. OCTANE DOESNT ADD POWER.

my old dodge runs on 87 octane, making in the 490-500hp range...im only running around 8.5 to 1 compression.

when a modern vehicle "requires" a certain octane, it is because the engine computer is programmed to perform at its optimum level with that octane, without detonation.  running low octane in a car that "requires" higher octane, will often make slightly less power as modern, stockish vehicles have things like knock sensors, which adjust the timing based on a variety of readings by the computer...but in most cases it will not hurt anything, but that is provided that the octane difference and the changes needed by the computer are within the adjustable parameters of the system. for instance...if you put 87 octane in a modified new GT500, it will most likely "knock" (detonation) and with detonation, you have increased heat levels and over time, that will cause hot spots in the piston, and eventually engine failure...this problem is especially serious with forced induction engines.
 
say that you had a "tune" or hand programmer for your H3, and had it set to make its power with something like a "93 octane tune", and you instead run 87 octane, it could eventually cause a hot spot, but on a vehicle with something as simple as a tune on a stock, NA vehicle, it will not be a sudden thing, unless there are other problems..
 
we have a performance computer in amanda's truck, and it requires 92 octane or higher.  if we run cheap gas, it will knock under load, and overtime, that knocking could cause a problem, but if i were to swap back in the stock computer, that same engine will safely handle 87 octane.

Sake Sucker..... Nice.... very classy to boot I might add.
 

Yeah yeah.  Rice burner.  Tokyo toilet.  I got hundred's of em.  I'm from suburbia DETROIT.  I have two family members retired from GM, others still work there.  I'd like them to be able to retire too.
 
If foreign diluted america keeps buying jap crap, maybe we can flip burgers and sell insurance for a living?  How'd ya like yer burger sir? 
 
importliller isn't even on par with me on that one.         I feel better.  Now what kind of insurance did ya need on that weedhopper?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Doc Olds
If foreign diluted america keeps buying jap crap, maybe we can flip burgers and sell insurance for a living?  How'd ya like yer burger sir? 

 
 
Hey now ... I'm proudly diluting the American gene pool thank you very fricken much! LOL! 

I know about the minimum premium requirements, but his car requires 87.  I don't think he realizes premium doesn't mean luxury.  Oh well.
 
I had my PCM programmed for 87 through 93, so I can use whatever I want.  The engine runs so much smoother on 93 then it does on 87/89.  It's noticably smoother and quiter, so I choose to use that.  I did the math, and for $100+ dollars a year more to use better fuel in my only car, I think it's worth it
 
We've had alot of debates about this and Linus Gump is the ultimate gas expert since he has the inside info on it.  BUT, I don't think anybody has ever asked the question about using Premium in Regular and it voiding the warranty.
 
I know everybody says if your computer is not programmed for 93 and you use it in your car, you can get carbon building in the engine.  Wouldn't this void your warranty, since it's your fault?

Probably voids all the Japanese Warranties     If your warranty booklet/manual says "If you do x.............. your warranty will be void..."  Yep
 
C'mon Mike, you work at a law firm, the answer is in your warranty booklet/manual.  The warranty is in writing and the terms are included in the written document they provide with the product.  The can change/modify unilateraly so long as it is in writting.      Maybe there will still be some jobs teaching people to read.  The Magnoson Moss Warranty Act does not make the sales/service bozo at the dealer ship in control of a new product manufacture's warranty conditions.
 
Zyne:  You are welcome bro.

I'm not arguing with you on that one buddy; people DO need to RTFM
 
BUT, I don't know much about engines.  I know how they work and more about compression then the average person, but I'm no expert by far.  That's why I ask so much.  I would love to buy an older car and tear it apart and build it up from scratch.  My wife is into old muscle cars, so I'm trying to slowly work that project in now that we have our own garage   I know how to fix everything on a car, except engines and transmissions.  I have never attempted it, because I never had to, but am good at taking things apart, fixing them, and putting them back together.  Unfortunately, my in-laws know this as well and is very unfortunate. 
 
BUT that's not the point  

Alright.  Then I think we covered it.  Going up in octane ain't gonna do nothin.  Oh, Ive torn apart motors that are 40 years old, I've seen some carbon buildup.......but I never saw it cause engine breakage.  Might run crappy, but not ruin it.  If you are supposed to be running higher octane, and running too low a number, then you can cause problems. 
 
So, up = nothin.   Down = potential problems....some that can cause real damage and trash engine components. 

Well, here's another one for you...
 
My PCM has a special tune for that range I mentioned.  How long does it take an engine to adapt to switching from low, to high, or high to low before it knows how to run the engine at that level? Keep in mind, I have the program for the whole range, so is it instant, or does it take a tank or two?

Pretty figgin instantaneous.   Ask the PCMforless people, they know a lot more about that than most any of us.  Look at what Patrick said.  The MAF,MAP, O2, Knock and Throttle position sensors send continuous data thet the computer reacts to PDQ.  Hey this is up your alley big time HummerGuy.    So the computer knows it can advance your timing and adjust fuel mixture with higher octaine and the burn will be maintained at its optimal level.

Speaking of MAP, I got another MAP error yesterday morning.  It was replaced not even two weeks ago.  DOH!

Drama Queen.............got ya.  Man that ain't right.  However, there are defective parts, maybe the replacement was bad?????????  I once replaced an alternator, and got two bad ones in a row?  
 
Let's hope.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Doc Olds

Yeah yeah.  Rice burner.  Tokyo toilet.  I got hundred's of em.  I'm from suburbia DETROIT.  I have two family members retired from GM, others still work there.  I'd like them to be able to retire too.

If foreign diluted america keeps buying jap crap, maybe we can flip burgers and sell insurance for a living?  How'd ya like yer burger sir? 

importliller isn't even on par with me on that one.         I feel better.  Now what kind of insurance did ya need on that weedhopper?

 
and I'm asian.  thanks for the "funny" references.  have any special names you use to refer to us as people?  or just the "crap" my type produces?  btw, I'm sure the computer you're using comes with all american-made parts from american companies too.  /sarcasm off.
 
for what it's worth, japanese cars are great for those who don't have time to do necessary maintenance.  must sound like sin to most people here, since it seems like everyone here takes very good care of their cars.  fact remains, though, not all people have the time or money to do all the necessary maintenance.  my parents don't.  they have a pair of hondas (1991 and 1994) that see an oil change every 12k miles....if they're lucky.  never had the radiator flushed.  tires never rotated; rebalanced only when tires are replaced.  nothing except the tires (and oil filter during an oil change) have been replaced before (not even the wipers).  never a single problem.
 
sorry for the rant; I'm just tired of the whole domestic vs. import crap.  there's upsides and downsides to both.  in general, they're just different cars.  different strokes for different folks.

lets not turn this into a fight between "pro american" and "Everyone else"...

i have two built V8s, and I also have a turbo 4...the "charger" is built in canada, as were camaros...most of the parts on my newer dodges werent produced in this country. the edelbrock intake and valves covers i got for my demon were made in china.

anyway, i dont want to have to step into an argument over racial nonsense, so i ask that everyone please let it go...thank you.

Honda's SUCK!!!!!!!

Jeez.  My term "foreign diluted" was referring to products, not people.  Sorry for the digression.  I'll go back to watching my Sony TV now  as soon as I get done typing on my Dell.

Thank you for recognizing my sick sarcasm.     

The Only VIOD, will be your pocket book, won't bother the HUMMER Warrenty.........

Let's clear this up. Premuim=no advantages. I have always ran premium in my other vehicles. As long as there are no disadvantages of running premium, than I will keep using it.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ikao

and I'm asian.  thanks for the "funny" references.  have any special names you use to refer to us as people?  or just the "crap" my type produces?  btw, I'm sure the computer you're using comes with all american-made parts from american companies too.  /sarcasm off.

As a matter of fact, most computer parts are produced in Taiwan, not Japan.  Also, most labor intensive parts are produced in cheap labor countries such as China... not Japan. 

Oh and FYI, it was Americans who created the internet and the computer.

Please do not start anything here or assume because someone said jap crap that they are immediately racist or negative towards your race or thinks you are inferior.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ikao

for what it's worth, japanese cars are great for those who don't have time to do necessary maintenance. 

As oppose to...????  Now you are going here off on a crusade?

quote:

ORIGINAL: ikao

must sound like sin to most people here, since it seems like everyone here takes very good care of their cars.  fact remains, though, not all people have the time or money to do all the necessary maintenance.  my parents don't.  they have a pair of hondas (1991 and 1994) that see an oil change every 12k miles....if they're lucky.  never had the radiator flushed.  tires never rotated; rebalanced only when tires are replaced.  nothing except the tires (and oil filter during an oil change) have been replaced before (not even the wipers).  never a single problem.

So you assume that American cars needs to be maintained more?  Huh?  Oil change ever 12k miles, let me remind you of something... SYNTHETIC OIL.  Works in all cars  

Never had the tires rotated, I'm sorry here bro, but all cars NEEDS tires rotated, if it has 4 wheels and drives on rubber, to ensure even wear you HAVE to rotate it.  Rebalanced only when replaced?  You think a honda automatically balances the tires while it drives?  Umm buddy, I don't think a tire cares what car it's mounted to.

Wipers?  Same company makes them for most OEM's... once again, nothing special here.


I don't know where you get your logic, you want us not to flame your cars, but then you come here and make these gross assumptions that are so ill-informed it's almost sickening. 

quote:

ORIGINAL: ikao

sorry for the rant; I'm just tired of the whole domestic vs. import crap.  there's upsides and downsides to both.  in general, they're just different cars.  different strokes for different folks.

Obviously you are not, you made your point quite clear that we are in the wrong and imports are superior... if you didn't mean to, you would have just said this last quote instead of trying to show how superior imports are in maintenance...


No one here is racist or shows any type of hatred to any type of culture, keep that in mind.  We do occasionally like to poke fun at some types of cars (not the culture that they were born from) in a friendly rib poking form.  We realize that our cars are not 50mpg, runs 100k without problems, and are perfect, but to us, they are our cars that we enjoy.  Your cars are not big and have limited space/power/whatever, but thats what you enjoy.  There will always be some form of rib jabbing fun around here and in every import forum.  Keep that in mind.   Oh and dont' go calling me racist or anything like that either, my best friend is Asian (Chinese - Korean) and my family used to own large stakes in Nissan dealerships... not to mention we drove Hondas, BMW's, Mercs, and Nissans in the past.  You will find a lot of hummer folks also have an import or in some point in time did.