I haven't used premium fuel in my 3.0 for most of the time I have had it. I really never noticed any problems or anything after three years. My question is my friend just got an 2002. What happens if he runs 87 octane in his 3.5??

Thanks

 

Knock sensors will allow the use of 87, but you might get knocking - detonations (which are bad). On top of this you lose out on horsepower.

When you do the math, it's not really that much per tank to buy premium, and if he cares for his car it'll be worth it.

 

you get worse gas mileage with cheaper gas because the car retards itself.
in the long run, you arent saving any money.

do what your owners manual and fuel door say...use premium gas

 

Tried it ONCE -- got knocking.
Don't do it - not worth it.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....377#post740377
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=390733
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=396716

 

for our cars: sugar > 87 octane

 

I would rather spend the extra $3.60 a tank than drive a retarded car.

If you couldn't handle the extra pocket change a tank, you should have bought something else. Like a Neon or something.

 

a bicycle......

 

You all bought your car hopefully with the intent to enjoy it. Spend the extra money and use 93. Although, 93 can be altered with 89 every other tank, considering 93 contains MANY cleaning agents.

 

^^^Another person who's bought into the "premium fuel" cleaning agent propaganda. I wish I was the guy who thought of naming 93 octane rated fuel "premium."

 

its called "premium" cause its the most expensive gas you can get and it has the highest octane.
all octane level at a given gas station has the same the cleaning agents/detergents. shell claims to have more that others.

 

Yeah, you're right and it's not like there's more descriptive name you can give it, but the marketing sure pulls in the suckers who can run 87 just fine.

 

completely agree
i admit that i fell for it when i first started driving. i knew nothing about octane and assumed that premium MUST be better.

 

the reason that engines require higher octane from the way i understand it is due to higher compression ratios... if you have a high compression ratio then you'll need high octane to get the right timing for the spark plugs to ignite the gas in the cylinder... right?

 

correct

i dont understand why people cant follow the simple directions from Nissan. Its in the owners manual and fuel door.
Stop being cheap...in the long run, you are paying the same for gas.

 

i'm hot... i know stuff.. lol.. but yeah.. i use nothing but 93.. i never thought about how you get lower mileage from using low octane gas, and you're actually not saving money though.. thats a good point

 

I wish the still sold 93 here in Oklahoma. For some reason all the station here went to 91 a couple of years ago.

 

well now i dont wanna move back

 

i wasnt calling you cheap...that comment was to all the other people that use lower octane to try and save money. when you do, your car retards itself to prevent detonation and your gas mileage goes down.

 

The octane rating has to do with the ability to be compressed without sponaneously combusting. With high compression engines, it's very easy for low octane gas to sponaneously combust during compression essentially pushing the wrong way on the piston causing what we know as a knock. This is why the knock sensors retard the timing to attempt to prevent this from happening.

 

Yep, a higher octane rating just means the gasoline ignites at a higher temperature, so that the heat generated by the compression stroke of high compression engine's piston doesn't ignite the gas before the spark. Otherwise it's really all the same gasoline.

If fact, gas buyers can take a lesson from the current pet food poison scare. There are 42 brands of cat food and 53 brands of dog food on the recall list that came from the same factories, from name brands to discount store brands.

I know this has nothing to do with the octane rating, but I'm just pointing out that for the most part, besides the rating, it's all the same stuff.

 

i use 93 and 89 and i mix it up between fillups. from what ive noticed, 93 gets better gas milage than 89. its up to you if you wanna fill up on 93 or 89. youll just have to fillup sooner when you put lower octane gas.

 

so...in the long run, you are spending the same amount of money (as stated)

 

Have you not been paying attention to the posts above. Regardless weather one gives you better gas milage than the other. 89 Octane is NOT good for you engine. In the long run it could impact the longevity of your engine, not to mention the fact that 89 causes your ECU to retard the timming. Think about it, if it really wasn't that big of a deal why would the ECU have those paramaters. Early detonation in your engine is NOT a good thing.

 

Instead of more incorrect info being passed around here, the following link probably gives some of the best info on gasoline octane ratings etc. that I've seen, and I urge everyone to carefully read and understand it. Note the info on ethenol blends and oxygenated fuels. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

 

I put 93 on my max and every other car i drive. I notice the diference if I dont so i stay with 93.

 

Where do you get 93 octane from? Here in Cali, We have 87, 89, 91 & diesel.

On another note: To the guy that started this thread, On your friends 2002; Stop the question and just follow the manuel. 91 minimun (You're driving a maxima; Not a civic)

 

regardless you're saving $1.80 at the MAX per tank by switching back and forth to 89....not worth it.

 

In my case, I am the third owner (1st owner had it to 47K, 2nd till 107K, now at 109400). I don't have a clue as to what fuel the previous owners have been running and being 17 and still in high school paying for the car in full, insurance, maintenance, mods, and gas (i pay everything) any money saved is good.

I have run 87 octane since i bought the car in Jaunary and the city mpg hasnt been the greatest but the highway has been pretty good. The car runs great and doesn't seem to hesitate when under WOT. I think its alright to keep putting 87 in, but then again i think about putting premium in every time i fill up.

93 is nearing $3.00 p/g and really bites me in the ***** but I think that it should be alright if i put 87 in on a regular basis and put Sunoco 94 with a fuel system cleaner every 3000 miles/oil change.

 

Yet you're saving a full $4 per tank. Go you.

 

Think of how much Taco Bell you could buy though.

 

Yet another person in the same thread who thinks that gasoline with a higher octane rating will clean their engine better than a lower octane gas.

Putting in 94 octane, which is higher than necessary, will is make your engine run better, but that's about it.

Also, be careful about what fuel system cleaner you use. Most fuel system cleaners hurt more than help. In fact, my owner's manual says:

NISSAN does not recommend the use of any
fuel additives (i.e. fuel injector cleaner, octane
booster, intake valve deposit removers, etc.)
which are sold commercially. Many of these
additives intended for gum, varnish or deposit
removal may contain active solvent or similar
ingredients that can be harmful to the fuel
system and engine.

 

That's probably cause Nissan does not want to be held liable for someone dumping a bottle of "unknown" substances into their car and having it crap out on them.

 

I'd like to throw in my .02 here as it seems that many people love to believe the advertising which fuel companies do.

My '01 SE, specifically states that 87 is fine or if you want more performance, put in 91. It says this on the door, and in the manual. I have put in 87octance for the 3 years I have had the car and it has run absolutely beautifully. If I was racing it or the car was knocking/pinging or running poorly.. I would switch to 91 and see if that cleared the problem. There is no point in going to 91 unless you drive hard or observe problems.

My mileage in my car is typically 20-22 mpg around town. When I take trips I get 25 or so. Putting in premium will not increase your mileage. Whatever you guys want to think is fine. If you want to increase your mileage per gallon, ease up with your right foot. check your tire PSI, and reduce weight.

Detergents, cleaners etc.. I can maybe see using them once in a while, but the truth is that they are probably not needed either. Most gas (regardless of manufacturer) is new (meaning from stations with high turnover) and clean and meeting standards.

What I truely believe is this. Gas suppliers and companies who make car care products ( wax, washes, cleaners, oil, oil treatments etc) know that people love to care for their cars **myself included** and only want to give their cars the best. This desire has fueled the marketing companies to bigger and better claims to their products. Personally..I believe that 70-80% of the stuff on the market isnt needed--and 30% probably do nothing.

Just my .02