Hi all,

I'd appreciate some educated opinions on this.

I just looked at a 1998 5sp SE with 67K miles on it. The price is fair, but the thing that bothers me is that the current (and original) owner never knew he should be using premium grade gas and therefore only used the cheap stuff.

What do you think? Should I still buy it anyway?

Thanks!
Lman

 

cheap stuff as in 87, or cheap stuff as in middle pump?

 

i was told that the max gets its performance back after u put
in the premium. So, i'd say go for it...and once it gets empty
jus fill that bayb back up wit premium
if u get the max then go to autozone and get octane boost

 

The Maxima was required to 91 or better gas...as per the manual...

(Section 9-2 of the 1996 Owners manual)

Erik

 

It's probably fine. The worst thing that would happen would be the knock sensor would retard the timing all the time and reduce the power output. Most people drive at like 30% of a car's potential anyway... Just use 91+ from now on....

-RMB

 

Exactly. I have a 97 SE and premium is recommended but not
required. I think the 'Premium Fuel Only' designation was dropped
in 97 so it probably doesn't exist for the 98 either. Since each
grade of gasoline has to have the detergents in it, the real gain
for premium is just its anti-knocking properties.

 

Just use techron fuel additive and 93 fuel for a few tanks. I just did it in my 96 GLE and it fixed a throttle lag that I blame on a dirty fuel system...Worked in 2 previous Jeeps as well.

 

Unfortunately it was the cheapest stuff, as in 87.

 

The owner's manual says:

"If unleaded premium gasoline is not available, unleaded regular gasoline with an octane rating of at least 87 AKI (Research octane number 91) can be used."

 

I was using 87 octane for 4 years until I got the SC installed in October 2000 and went 92 octane ever since. I pulled the stock spark plugs 2 weekends ago and they looked pretty good. I'd go ahead with your purchase after having it checked out.

 

It won't hurt it to use 87. You will get more power and better mileage with premium because it won't retard the timing. I wouldn't use anything else. (I get 4-5 more mpg on 93 octane). I'm sure there's tons of Maxima owners using 87 always, but I kept track of my gas/mileage with a spreadsheet and it saved me no money using 87 because of the mileage difference.

 

Perhaps resetting the ECU after switching to premium will help too.

 

I would say that 90% of Maximas probably don't run premium fuel because only the owners like us actually know it needs it or they feel its not necessary in a family sedan.

 

4-5mpg?? That's pretty extreme. I have used both 87 and 91 and have noticed no difference in fuel economy.

 

then I would buy it...BUT, before I "just start using premium",
I would clean the throttle body, IACV, PCV valve, spark plugs,
and anything else that the gas would affect...THEN, start using
premium!!!

Is that Li'l Bandit? She's sounds awful...USE PREMIUM DUDE, PREMIUM!!!
(simpsons' fans should appreciate that one!)

hope this helps.
FLO_BOY

 

It also depends on where you live. The manual says that higher altitude areas (over 4000 feet) like Utah, Idaho, and Montana do not need to use the higher octane. I never have in any of my maximas, but my i30 is pinging a little and I am going to experiment with higher octane fuels.