Check you owner's manual, for 2k2/3 Nissan changed the wording of the fuel requirements. It now says that the minimum octane rating is 87, but 91 is recommended for increased performance. The lowest fuel available (in Canada anyway) is 87 so it is impossible for Nissan to deny any warranty claim for using 87 octane.

 

You all are just a bunch of cheap Fu**s!

Just kidding....










NOT

 

The ECU advances the timing depending on conditions and knock threshold upto 60-degrees even. If you run a lower octane the ECU will just not advance as much, kind of like my arguement with the "Timing Advance Mod". You MAY be able to add a little more advance through the use of a Consult for idle through say 2000rpms, but after 2000rpms(theoretical) the ECU has compensated and will set the advance to whatever value the OEM predefined for that load, rpm, and condition.

OEM engineers want to squeeze out every degree of advance possible, so the ECU is going to be tuned for MAXIMUM performance/emissions within a SAFETY margin. If you run lower ocatane, you are just playing with that little safety margin that's been designed into the system.

Lower octane allows faster/longer flame propagation, which with the same advance will produce more power to a point. However, if ANY condition causes enough detonation, like going up hill on a hot day with the A/C on, that bish is going to ping and lose power baaaaad. I'm not saying it will hurt anything mechanically, but the ECU will retard the timing and your performance will suck.

 

The 2003 SE user's manual says it is OK to use as low as 87 octane gasoline, but they _recommend_ premium fuel. I will look up the page no tomorrow for those who want it.

 

so all that other crap is

I am halfway thru my 'test' tank of 89 octane... so far, just a little bit more mileage than using 93.

-R

 

What "other crap"?

 

I also checked my owner's manual and it too states that you can use 87 octane but for improved performance, to use 91 octane. I have tried premium, 93 octane, for about a month and did not notice any difference between 93 and 87 octance. Actually my mileage decreased with premium gas. I get about 25mpg driving in the suburbs without any highway driving.
I think too many people are worried about all of this octane stuff. Since the manual states that 87 octance if fine, why send more for something you don't need.

 

I've been using 93 since I got the car,
maybe I'll try some 87, since the manual says 87 is ok, just 91+ is better
By the way, I can't fine 91 octane just 87,89,93 and occasionally 94.

 

If you don't push the car too hard into the upper RPM band (or total engine load w/ accessories on), then you will get slightly better mileage with the 87 octane. Our engine doesn't make it's peak power at a low RPM, so for maximum performance, you have to use the higher octane stuff.

If you do all your shifting and driving at or below 3500 RPM, then the low ocatane gas will give you better gas mileage (due to it's burn characteristics vs. the 91+ octane gas). The flash points for 87 octane and 93 octane are different (IIRC), so that in and of itself should lead you all to the same thought process that I am currently on. If you have the patience, try driving like "grandma" for a month on the 87, and then drive like "grandma" again on the 93. I bet 87 gets you better mileage.

 

Oh I forgot one thing!
if you are switching from 93 to 87 make sure that your tank is almost empty.
otherwise you might mix the two gasolines and your car will run like crap.

 

Good point! Never thought about that.

I'm thinking 87-octane would shine more during winter driving also, but the summer vs. winter blend would make that impossible to test.

I know 91-octane is a must for summers here. You can hear cars ping baaaad out of stoplights. Higher octane will help performance AND fuel economy during hot stop-n-go driving.

 

I had to learn the hard way on my T/C'ed '70 Beetle (hybrid). Turbos and carbs don't always work very well together (lots of money on dyno time). The engine could rev to 8K RPM, but on the street I set the limiter to 5500 and used only 87 octane. When I took her to the strip, it was 93 (or sometimes AVGas, 100 octane) and set the limit to the mechanical safe max of 8K RPM. Made some mad power, even past 6K RPM. Nothing like the old school aircooled VW engines...cheap, easy to work on, and tons of power per liter!

 

That's sick!

A guy I knew in college had a TC'd beetle and that thing was MEAN. It would break traction at full boost. FUNNY to see the azz end kick out.

 

Yeah...scare the crap out of any car on the road! I also liked the instant wheelie when DOT's were on the back. I couldn't keep the front wheels down on launches over 3000 RPM. That tends to distract the guy in the lane next to you

 

 

I recently put 87 after using 93 for a while.
The MPG went from 25.5 to 30.5
Car still runs perfectly!
87 is cheaper and seems to be more efficient, I'm staying with 87

 

I agree with you, I found the same problem that premium is "older" than other grade fuel. For not to be extreme, I am using #89

 

Heh heh...then you're in for a nasty shock when I tell you that 89 is a mix of 87 and 93 (or whatever octane is your highest)...so you're still getting the "older" gas

 

No need to bring this old thread back.

 

I don't know why nissan wouldn't honor their warrenty on pinging because of low octane gas use because the dealership I bought my nissan from fills ALL of their cars up with 87 octane regardless.