IWantAMaxima

Hi, i have been looking to upgrade cars for a long time (Ford escort just isn't getting it) and i really like these maximas, and was going to get one until i started to see this stuff about premium gas. From what i'v read i understand the following:
-1995 and newer require 91 or better octane gas
-1994 and older don't
-Engine damage will occur if 87 octane is put in

Assuming all of these are right (please correct me if there not)
-how will i know if the previous owner(s) put premium gas in?
-how will i know if there is engine damage from the wrong gas?
-how do i know that after driving 5k miles it isn't going to blow up from someones stupidity of putting the wroung stuff in?

Thank you very much, as this will infulence my buying decision.

CaLSoNiC

I just run the middle one... $1.50 for this **** is a lot better than $1.60 for premium. I dont use the crappy stuff though.

b4 I got my car my mom only ran the middle stuff every 3rd fill up and the 87 crap often. My car still runs fine and hasnt blown up. Im at 90,000 miles and my knock sensors are still alive!

IWantAMaxima

So that means that it's not going to have catastrophic effects if 87 was ever put in it?

CaLSoNiC

Catastropic maybe if the previous owner ran on pre-mixed 86octane. But no I dont think that its gonna have significant problems. I mean how many old people do you see driving Maximas? Lots right? How many of them do you think use premium gas? maybe 1 out of 10. It says use premium gas for maximum performance. I dont think that using low end gas is gonna have terrrible effects on you engine. Of course theres things like knocking and detonation, but bleh. Just treat it right when you get it and it should last a long time.

I30tMikeD

iTrader: (8)

Do a search and your worries will be put to rest.

Ramius83

Here is something the think about that most consumers do not know.

I work at a gas station called QuikTrip. QT (QuiTrip) is a famous "Texaco" type gas station in Phoenix, Atlanta, Tulsa, etc. QuikTrip, and all other gas stations, "trick" you.

The regular grade, 87, is crap as said before, and it has its own fuel tanks underground. 91/93, depending on state, is GREAT fuel, but expensive, and it has its own tanks underground. Now, mid grade, usually 89, is not a separate gas itself. It is a mixture of the 87 and 91/93 blends. In my state (GA), it is 93, so it is a mixture of 60% 87 grade and 40% 93 grade. So even if you are putting "mid-grade" in your Maxima, you are still putting that filthy 87 crap in your car, just not as large amounts.

But, to answer your question. Have you changed your fuel filter since you bought it. IF you haven't, replace it with a 90-96 300ZX twin turbo fuel filter. It is larger and has more capacity. But, once you take out the old filter, see how much crap runs out of it by running a little water through it. If a TON comes out, more than likely 87 grade was used, unless the gas stations they used had crappy filters on their higher grade fuel.

Eric L.

To answer your question - for 1995 and newer, Maximas are equipped with knock sensors (the older models most likely have them as well) and can run any grade of unleaded gasoline. Regular 87 octane will work perfectly fine, and super unleaded 91+ octane will give a little extra power (the engines rated power). How much is uncertain, but its definitely not a huge amount.

So to answer your question, running 87 is not bad for the engine. Like a post above says, most people probably run regular in their Maximas, and we have NEVER heard of a Maxima dying because it used regular. The people on this BBS tend to be enthusiasts, and hence will tend to use super.

sil SE

iTrader: (21)

do not worry. just buy a maxima. gas is the least of your problems.
has the car had a snake in it? has the car had rats nest in the engine bay and chew up the wiring? has the previous owner had a nasty case of diarrhea in the driver's seat? many many more important issues at hand. and best of luck to you

1MAX2NV

iTrader: (5)

It's all about octane rating (anti-knock) and NOT quality. Use the right octane rating according to your owner's manual. Anything more you are just wasting money. Higher compression engines and turbos are designed to burn higher octane gas. ie. Maxima, C5 Corvette. If you use lower octanes, you risk detonation. If you drive a Civic, it would be stupid to use 93 octane gas. You will get no performance gain or help engine longevity.

MacGyver265

Yet, if you put lower octane gas in the Maxima, the computer will retard the ignition so that it doesn't knock. Of course, this causes you to lose power, but it will not harm your engine.

98SEBlackMax

iTrader: (9)

87 octane isn't filthy (like filled with dirt filthly) it just has a lower ratio of octane compared to 93 octane thats all. With modern gasoline refining in the US there is no longer an issue with "dirty" gasoline or sub-standard fuels.

The only contamination is when something by chance gets into the gasoline stored underground or what not, which is regardless of the octane rating and may effect the cars that use that gasoline; hence the need for fuel filters.

But for the most part the only difference you see at the pump nowadays is the selection of different octane ratings and some gasoline companies put in additives too there fuel to make them "cleaner burning" , or too "drive your engine clean", and so on.