Is it worth switching gas now?
11-20-2005, 11:04 AM
#1
Is it worth switching gas now?
Before anyone goes crazy and tells me to read the stickies let me explain the situation.
Last night I bought a 99 SE 5sp from a private owner who filled up the car its whole life with 87 octane fuel. I drove the car home for 2 hours and it drove perfectly, no knocking or signs of performance deficiencies. I know you guys say that running the maxima on 91+ octane is better but at this point is it even worth switching to better gas? It has run 90,000 miles on 87, everything seems to be running nice, if it aint broken dont fix it right? I read the manual and it said 91 is recommended but 87 will be fine if 91 is not available. Have you guys noticed any kind of performance gains when switching to a higher octane fuel? If 91 octane is really that big a deal I will gladly switch over but I dont feel like bothering with much more expensive gas for the sake of 5hp.
Let the flaming start
LOL
Last night I bought a 99 SE 5sp from a private owner who filled up the car its whole life with 87 octane fuel. I drove the car home for 2 hours and it drove perfectly, no knocking or signs of performance deficiencies. I know you guys say that running the maxima on 91+ octane is better but at this point is it even worth switching to better gas? It has run 90,000 miles on 87, everything seems to be running nice, if it aint broken dont fix it right? I read the manual and it said 91 is recommended but 87 will be fine if 91 is not available. Have you guys noticed any kind of performance gains when switching to a higher octane fuel? If 91 octane is really that big a deal I will gladly switch over but I dont feel like bothering with much more expensive gas for the sake of 5hp.
Let the flaming start
LOL
11-20-2005, 11:27 AM
#3
Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 282
for what it's worth, i have a 97SE 5spd with 185,000 miles with very slight knocking. i mainly use 87, but occasionally use 91+. would probably use 91+ all the time if the freaking gas prices weren't so high. i have driven this car very hard with no problems, but maybe i'm lucky. if money isn't an issue, i say go ahead and use the higher octane to be on the safe side.
11-20-2005, 11:39 AM
#4
use seam foam (autozone) first, clean your engine. (basicaly a tune up) then fill with 91. I say that becasue it will help with the build up of carbon that the 87 could have caused.
Am i right.. I don't know.
Am i right.. I don't know.
11-20-2005, 11:41 AM
#6
if you want the most out of your max use the right stuff. will using 91 vs. 87 be a big power difference? - no. the difference occurs when your knock sensor goes bad, retards your timing (then reduces hp and lots o gas mileage). I went from 260 to 400 miles on a tank of gas when i changed my KS bc the previous owner used 87. The maxima will run perfectly fine on 87 - however not optimally. Up to you but I say be good to it and it will be good to you.
11-20-2005, 11:43 AM
#7
If gas mileage goes up THAT much when switching octanes, I would be a fool not to use the higher grade. 
How much does it cost to switch a knock sensor and how can you tell when its about to go?
How much does it cost to switch a knock sensor and how can you tell when its about to go?
11-20-2005, 11:54 AM
#8
no that was the difference between a good and bad knock sensor (which affects gas mileage).
Knock sensors are about $90 if you find a deal - theres a write-up in the FAQs about checking it and and changing it.
Knock sensors are about $90 if you find a deal - theres a write-up in the FAQs about checking it and and changing it.
11-20-2005, 12:00 PM
#9
Not flaming or anything, but in the stickies, there is something about the power difference of 87 and 91, and in the Fluids and Lubricants section, there is a very good thread about the effects of using 87.
11-20-2005, 05:24 PM
#14
Originally Posted by s0ber
Expect your knock sensor to go bad soon because of 90,000 miles of knocking in hot weather because of 87 octane :-\
but unless your KS is already bad and doesnt retard your timing, you wont knock, but then again, its already bad, so blah now im confusing myself.
11-20-2005, 07:32 PM
#17
Originally Posted by whitemax21
for what it's worth, i have a 97SE 5spd with 185,000 miles with very slight knocking. i mainly use 87, but occasionally use 91+. would probably use 91+ all the time if the freaking gas prices weren't so high. i have driven this car very hard with no problems, but maybe i'm lucky. if money isn't an issue, i say go ahead and use the higher octane to be on the safe side.
ive been getting it often. Usually i get Chevron gasoline, in my opinion i think chevron gas is cleaner and runs better than others although, i may be wrong 
11-21-2005, 07:01 AM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 6,190
I suggest you give that engine a good cleaning with AutoRX. See www.auto-rx.com and go to the Additives forum and search on www.bobistheoilguy.com.
Seafoam is only good for running through the brake booster hose to clean the intake manifold.
AutoRX will clean the crankcase, combustion chamber and ring packs.
Like NmexMax said try 2 tanks of 91 or higher octane and report back.
Seafoam is only good for running through the brake booster hose to clean the intake manifold.
AutoRX will clean the crankcase, combustion chamber and ring packs.
Like NmexMax said try 2 tanks of 91 or higher octane and report back.
11-21-2005, 07:25 AM
#24
I used 87 for a year and it ran fine no problems at all. When I got my y-pipe I was useing 87 for a little while and didnt feel hardly any difference and was not happy at all. So I decided to switch to 93 a little while after I got the y-pipe and man did I feel a difference and everybody that rode in my car did to. It had never felt like that before so I am sticking with 93 for now on or until gas prices hit 3.90 again
.
.
11-21-2005, 07:56 AM
#25
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,183
There are 0 excuses to use 87. Gas has hit the FLOOR! 2.23 for 93 here. The mileage is better, the performance is better, your wallet is better. You WILL feel the difference. I accidently used 87 a month ago once and I could not get my car to accelerate on the highway without downshifting. Now I can have the car in 4th gear and the torque converter locked and it will still climb from 2.7 RPMs to 4 if I let it.
11-21-2005, 08:22 AM
#26
For whatever it's worth... I live in Fl (hot weather +), I have a 95 and 96 SE and I use 87 regular in both. Before flaming begins...I consistently get 22+ MPG in town and over 30 on the interstate (35+ w the 5speed). Performance...never knocked/ping and will stay up with anyone elses stock 4th generation from the stoplight and I use the engines through the gears, up the on-ramps and "fun grins" (pulling full load) leaving German autocars from 70 to over 100....NEVER a ping/hestation. Oh by the way, I have never needed to change the KS. Oh yeah, the '95 has 150K and the '96 just turned 100K. Would premium be better..maybe. Is it worth .15-.20 per gallon...it hasn't shown me. I will keep running the regular, thank you. If it does for you, then do it! Go ahead, flame away!
11-21-2005, 08:34 AM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 452
I have a 95 with 205k miles. Original KS and I still get 26 MPG city-highway to 30 MPG highway. I use 93 all the time and never have any problems. I did try 87 once or twice. I noticed two things. 1)The car does not accelerate like it should. 2) Under a load (driving up hill at slower speeds, or heavy acceleration) there is a horrible noise like a clicking that emminates from the engine. To me the extra $2.00 per tank is peace of mind.
11-21-2005, 08:56 AM
#28
We dont have 93 in NJ where I live. 91 is about 2.40 here but it aint a thang fellas. I will fill it up a few times with 91 and see how it feels. The car accelerates very smoothly now and shows no signs of pinging.
I have notice an interesting thing with acceleration, though. The car pulls harder in 3d at 2kRPMs than in 2nd at 2kRPMs. Is this normal?
I have notice an interesting thing with acceleration, though. The car pulls harder in 3d at 2kRPMs than in 2nd at 2kRPMs. Is this normal?
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