I am buying a used max '01 and the previous owner says that he has been using 89 octane. Is 91 octane required in the owners manual? If yes, could much damage be done using 89 for 31k miles? How would one determine the damage?

Rick

 

Please, please, please read at least this first...

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=218598

and check the FAQ's.

 

been many postings. 89 octane can be ok, but if the engine pinged usin it, that could be a problem.

 

Keep this in mind. I'm sure Nissan knew that requiring 91+ octane would turn away many buyers. I'm sure Nissan knew that if they said 87 octane was fine that it would attract more buyers. I'm sure since Nissan made the car, that they know what octane it requires since they spent 10's of thousands of dollars testing the engine with 91+ octane.

That being said, after reading many articles on the subject, if the guy your buying it from was older, he probably drove the car fairly easy. If he did, you probably won't have any problems with it. I would flush the engine with BG44k and then use 91+ octane from now on.

 

I'm sure Nissan also designed the car knowing that there will be owners who use other octane levels.

Using 89 is just fine.

 

Yes they did and installed a fail safe to protect the automobile. Kinda like a life vest prevents you from drowning. It doesn't mean that I want you to drop me in the middle of the ocean and leave to test the theory

 

what is the part number for a 'fail safe'? Never heard of that part before... can we mod it? is it an easy install?

 

I think if you take it out or put a GTR emblem on it, you'll get an extra couple of ponies

 

If you're not joking, it's the anti-knock sensor. If you are, then disregard anything I've said

 

When will you resident post ****** realize that we can save valuable bandwidth by ignoring these weekly octane threads? Personally, I'm sick of them. With the search feature off, one response to the unknowing newbie is OK, like jjs did above, but that should be it.

 

 

Sorry God...

 

agreed...

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ghlight=octane
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ghlight=octane
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ghlight=octane
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ghlight=octane
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ghlight=octane
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ghlight=octane
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ghlight=octane
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ghlight=octane

it's getting old.

 

Because I haven't forgotten what it feels like to be a newbie and ask questions that I don't know the answer to. Be patient. Everything will be ok.

 

it's not a matter of "asking questions you don't know the answer to" it's a matter of "asking questions that are directly addressed in the FAQ. jjs hit the nail on the head with the first reply...

not trying to bash a newbie, just trying to get "check the FAQ" instilled in them.

 

The manual for my 03 Max says to use at least 87 but 91 for optimal performance...so are there any gas stations that sell 91? Everywhere i go, i only see 87, 89 and then 93.

 

You can actually use 89 if you going on a long road trip. That way you can get more mileage. But don't plan on beating on your car with 89. For beating on it get 93 or 94