Question about gas.
04-29-2004, 11:16 AM
#1
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 48
Question about gas.
Hey guys quick question here. My father has inherited a nice '99 Caddy Deville LOADED. So he is going to give me his totally stock 99 Maxima SE. I've been driving it off and on for the past few years, and I started reading some of the FAQs on maxima.org, and noticed the Maxima calls for 91+ octane gas. My dad has been putting the lowest quality gas in it ever since he bought the car. They say the problem with using the low quality gas, is it will cause detonation or pre-ignition. I spoke with my dad about this, and he has decided to start putting the 91+ octane gas in it now. The FAQ said the damage adds up after each detonation. Now i'm guessing by detonation they would mean back firing, and my dad said he's never heard it back fire, so is it possible this car has never had a problem with the cheap gas? I just want to make sure this car is running tip top before I start modding it. Would I be able to check the codes and see if the car has ever a detonation? They said performance is lost when it detonates, is their any way to gain the performance back if it has detonated? Belive me I plan to keep filling this up with the 91+ Octane, but I was just curious about these questions. Thanks for the help guys. Keep maxing.
04-29-2004, 11:25 AM
#2
Just start using premium fuel and you'll be fine. My dad used to put regular gas and the car ran fine. There was just a little lag with it. Don't worry about it, lots of people put regular gas and the car runs fine, but if you want the most performance, use premium.
If you want, just disconnect the battery overnight and then your ECU will relearn everything.
If you want, just disconnect the battery overnight and then your ECU will relearn everything.
04-29-2004, 12:09 PM
#4
It doesn't mean back firing, but rather engine knock(pre-detonation).
Knock is not good for your engine, so the knock sensor retards the timing to prevent future knock. The result: a car that performs more poorly because the timing has been retarded.
Like the others said, if you want to get the most out of the max, just use premium.
Knock is not good for your engine, so the knock sensor retards the timing to prevent future knock. The result: a car that performs more poorly because the timing has been retarded.
Like the others said, if you want to get the most out of the max, just use premium.
04-29-2004, 06:05 PM
#7
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Hey guys. Thanks for all the replies. I'd hate to see this car have problems like engine knock, I really appricate this car. I just filled her up with premium tonight.
Is it true if I unhook the battery overnight the cpu will reset itself and stop retarding the timing? Is this a good idea, you said the cpu retards timing to prevent further knock right? So setting the timing back to the original setting will not be a problem? You guys rock.
Is it true if I unhook the battery overnight the cpu will reset itself and stop retarding the timing? Is this a good idea, you said the cpu retards timing to prevent further knock right? So setting the timing back to the original setting will not be a problem? You guys rock.
04-29-2004, 08:04 PM
#9
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 384
Read the FAQ's 420. Welcome to the.org
You should replace the knock sensor. I didn't think anything was wrong with my car when I bought it. Drove it for like 4 months using 94 octane, then I found out I needed a new knock sensor. Got it replaced and it was like a different car. Better gas mileage and more power.
-Joe
You should replace the knock sensor. I didn't think anything was wrong with my car when I bought it. Drove it for like 4 months using 94 octane, then I found out I needed a new knock sensor. Got it replaced and it was like a different car. Better gas mileage and more power.
-Joe
04-29-2004, 08:12 PM
#10
Posted by ManualMaxima -
after awhile of purchasing it it just becomes sencond nature and you do not even think of the price compared to the other octane levels. The car runs much better with it!
after awhile of purchasing it it just becomes sencond nature and you do not even think of the price compared to the other octane levels. The car runs much better with it!
04-30-2004, 02:56 AM
#11
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 48
Originally Posted by (_8*(l)Homer
Read the FAQ's 420. Welcome to the.org
You should replace the knock sensor. I didn't think anything was wrong with my car when I bought it. Drove it for like 4 months using 94 octane, then I found out I needed a new knock sensor. Got it replaced and it was like a different car. Better gas mileage and more power.
-Joe
You should replace the knock sensor. I didn't think anything was wrong with my car when I bought it. Drove it for like 4 months using 94 octane, then I found out I needed a new knock sensor. Got it replaced and it was like a different car. Better gas mileage and more power.
-Joe
04-30-2004, 09:01 AM
#12
I don't think you should have to unhook your battery or reset your ECU unless your knock sensor is bad. It will learn that you are giving it better octane fuel as it goes. I was getting some hesitation in mine, and I started putting in some premium. Well, it took about 3 tanks for it to totally stop the hesitating, but it eventually learned what was going on. That tells me that my knock sensor is not bad yet. Yours might be, but you never know.
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Unclejunebug
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