Drop in MPG after using premium
03-15-2011, 01:40 PM
#41
Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 142
I always run 93 now...
I did two tanks of 87 once and got a CEL for EGR flow halfway through the second tank...it went away on its own after a few tanks of 93 and hasn't been back...don't know if it's related, but seriously--what does premium cost--$4.00 more a fillup tops? I can afford that.
Might be my imagination, but it just feels more responsive and smoother with 93, too...
As for MPG, I get about the same with any octane--or at least so close it's not a factor.
I did two tanks of 87 once and got a CEL for EGR flow halfway through the second tank...it went away on its own after a few tanks of 93 and hasn't been back...don't know if it's related, but seriously--what does premium cost--$4.00 more a fillup tops? I can afford that.
Might be my imagination, but it just feels more responsive and smoother with 93, too...
As for MPG, I get about the same with any octane--or at least so close it's not a factor.
03-16-2011, 05:15 PM
#42
I uesed 89 in my 99 and I see no difference from 93! Everybody wants the joy of 93 but the ish just cost to friggin much! Now if you are riding around on some chrome 20's then u deserve poor gas miles.
99
Super clean/spotless
174k
Stock 4 now!
99
Super clean/spotless
174k
Stock 4 now!
03-16-2011, 11:59 PM
#43
03-17-2011, 10:56 AM
#46
04-04-2011, 05:27 PM
#47
QQ
Gotta love living in montreal (canada btw).
Oh and I get about 19-20 mpg mixed driving.
I don't understand people boasting 30mpg.
Maybe it's because they don't drive it at -5 degrees fahrenheit..
04-04-2011, 08:40 PM
#48
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Dallas Metro
Posts: 3
LoL that is the funniest statement yet in this posting.
I am new to Maxima's but have run Mustangs since the late 80's. I did a lot of research on fuel and octane levels when I used to run 5.0's. The important thing here is someone mentioned higher compression earlier in the thread and it goes without saying higher compression motors work better with higher octane fuel.
The reason being higher octane fuel has a slower burn rate thus reducing the possibility of detonation(spark knock). To help some out here, detonation is what occurs when the spark plug prematurely fires, ie ignites the compressed fuel/air before the piston starts to travel down, this can severely damage rod bearings, reduce oil pressure and wear other parts out prematurely, so as you surmise that is a bad thing. Can you fun 87 octane, yes, should you, I will
leave that up to you. My new to me 96 will get the good stuff, good luck in whatever you decide.
I am new to Maxima's but have run Mustangs since the late 80's. I did a lot of research on fuel and octane levels when I used to run 5.0's. The important thing here is someone mentioned higher compression earlier in the thread and it goes without saying higher compression motors work better with higher octane fuel.
The reason being higher octane fuel has a slower burn rate thus reducing the possibility of detonation(spark knock). To help some out here, detonation is what occurs when the spark plug prematurely fires, ie ignites the compressed fuel/air before the piston starts to travel down, this can severely damage rod bearings, reduce oil pressure and wear other parts out prematurely, so as you surmise that is a bad thing. Can you fun 87 octane, yes, should you, I will
leave that up to you. My new to me 96 will get the good stuff, good luck in whatever you decide.
04-04-2011, 10:45 PM
#49
Funny I saw this thread because I used the highest octane gas religiously, up until when gas starting shooting up.
And I decided to run 89 to see what would happen and to my surprise I got a small gain in MPG and no significant loss in power, or maybe even no power loss at all because I didn't notice a difference.
But anyways I would never go below 89, because even though our cars are over 10 years old and I'm pretty sure that normal wear and tear would cause the compression to lower to a point where maybe it won't knock if you run 89 but 87 might still be too low even for the worn engine.
I've seen this firsthand with a buddy who put in the lowest grade gas in his Acura TL which also specifies on the gas lid to run premium. And when we drove to school I could seriously feel the engine strain to get up to speed even though I was a passenger which was probably because of the knock sensor retarding timing because it sensed knocking. The car also took a long time to start which he said normally does not happen. So after seeing this happen to his TL, I probably would never go lower than 89.
And I decided to run 89 to see what would happen and to my surprise I got a small gain in MPG and no significant loss in power, or maybe even no power loss at all because I didn't notice a difference.
But anyways I would never go below 89, because even though our cars are over 10 years old and I'm pretty sure that normal wear and tear would cause the compression to lower to a point where maybe it won't knock if you run 89 but 87 might still be too low even for the worn engine.
I've seen this firsthand with a buddy who put in the lowest grade gas in his Acura TL which also specifies on the gas lid to run premium. And when we drove to school I could seriously feel the engine strain to get up to speed even though I was a passenger which was probably because of the knock sensor retarding timing because it sensed knocking. The car also took a long time to start which he said normally does not happen. So after seeing this happen to his TL, I probably would never go lower than 89.
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