Phydeaux

The manual recommends 91 octane but says you could use 87 if you had to.

Have anyone had any problems with running regular gas?

bcannon

I have never put anything in my car other than 93...

I heard the engine will knock which I think means there are some cylinders where the gas isn't igniting...is this right? anyone wish to correct me?

It's not good for your car to put in a lower octane. The engine requires the 91 for a reason. My dad had a Nissan 240 that required 91, he put nothing but 87 in it and the car went to ****.

Gas is cheap now anyway...

GhettoMAX

I thought it was ok to use 87, but if you want all the performance then use reccomended octane! anyways I use 87

LeoB

...Sunoco 94

djmaxski

Its your car, we can't tell you what to do... However, I don't believe that Nissan cut a deal with the oil companies and encourages us to use 91 or better so they can make money. Nissan recommends 91 or better because the engine compression is design for 91 octane gas. The reason it says 87 is ok is so that you know its ok to use lesser octane if needed, however, its probably a good idea to stick with the premium. Just my $.02

SteVTEC

I think the general consensus of Gen5 Maxima drivers is that you CAN use 87 octane fuel, but your performance and mileage will suffer to the point where you might as well have just used 91+ octane anyways!

You should always use the recommended octane for your car as stated in your owner's manual. Since the Maxima is tuned and designed to run on 91+ octane, that's what you should use. You can put in 87 if you need to, like the manual says, but the result will be that the engine will probably retard timing because of knock, and that will result in decreased performance and mileage.

Do a search - this has been discussed in depth before

HulaMAX

iTrader: (1)

There were a few times a while back when the gas prices in Cali for 92 were $2+ so I opted to put in a few bucks of 89 until I got to my regular gas station. Until then, it just didn't feel the same. There were a few times going uphill that I heard a few knocks and pings too. Since then, I make sure I have enuf gas and never use anything less than super. I don't recommend anything less than Super. (IMO)
What sux now is all the gas stations in SoCal downgraded thier superunleaded to 91 octane now...

Maximum Velocity

iTrader: (3)

I learned my lesson with using bottom grade gas. Now all I put in is Chevron Plus, or whatever premium is. Something about that Techron. Runs great!!

NYC2SD

Basically, your knock sensor kicks in, which in turn retards your timing and that translates into lame performance.

unrealii

iTrader: (8)

Actually, knocking is when the compression and heat cause the gas to ignite its self. This occurs before the actual spark from the plug comes out which is VERY bad. The knock sensor is supposed to help by retarding the timing, but it still isn't a good idea to allow this to happen.
Higher octane just has higher resistance to detonation, that is how they squeeze more power out of it.

maxse01

Nothing but 93 or better for my baby.

ChillWill2000

87=knock and ping...knock and ping=hurt engine

91 and up=happy maxima

csyeo

Well, you have to think of the pros and cons. If you try using 87, the performance gets hit real bad and you have to take it out on the accelerator. On the other hand if you use 92, you can go easier on the gas padel and it saves you some gas and is better for your engine. So conculsion is lower octane use more gas higher octane use less gas and so difference in milage and the joy of driving will offset the diff in cost.

GhettoMAX

ok I get the point! I shall feed her the 91 octane and go on a Diet myself!

MrBurner

put it this way...you spent $20-$30k on your car...you could have gotten a civic for under $15k...why go cheap now? you have a nice car, take care of it...it is less than $2 more per tank

figure it is $2 more every tank and you fill up every 2 weeks...thats $4 per month which equates to $48 extra per year (well $52 extra if you count it by the weeks rather than months)...$52 is less than i used to pay for my MONTHLY internet provider

get premium...it is worth it...and you will have less problems in the end

Blackgums100

Do you have a 56K modem, if so I feel very sorry for you. Damn I got a mega bandwidth DSL, but guess what I could use a 56K, just like I could use 87 octane, it's weak, don't let the Max name down.

BuddyWh

Read the gasoline FAQ, it is most informative. In essence: for best performance and economy you want the lowest octane fuel your engine can burn without pinging or knocking. Don't use a higher octane than needed, it does nothing for performance and is just a waste. The problem is, of course, a Max's knock detector will retard timing at onset of knock, the usual indicator of too low an octane, which will degrade performance or gas mileage, the only reliable indicator for a Max. This won't cause any damage at all, just reduced performance you may not notice (unless you routinely run at the strip) and reduced gas mileage you should notice if you can divide in your head at fill-up (or carry a calculator).

In my 2k1 I normally burn 91, frequently 86. Even with 86 it never pings or knocks, and performance and gas mileage has never suffered. I live at 4,000 feet though and that does make a difference (read that FAQ if you wonder why), but I have also driven the car a lot at 600-700' altitude using 89 octane with no pinging or knocking.

If you do get knock in a Max you are burning so low octane that the ignition can't be retarded enough by the ECU. Your performance should noticeably suffer. Get some high-octane fuel in the tank to raise the average octane and prevent damage. If the tank is too full, drive gently to reduce knock until it is down some. Read the FAQ for useful and safe octane-enhancers in case you get some real sick gas. Some of them are not very good, some can damage your pollution equipment (cat's and oxygen sensors).

Frankly, I don't think you should ever have this situation as I doubt they make or sell that grade of a fuel in the US. But hey, you never can tell.

BuddyWh

GhettoMAX

Office = T1
Home = was Cable & DSL, now only Cable

Octane = was 87, now 91!

howz about that?

mike-777

I ran the middle grade of 89 for a while and the performance was way off and the mileage also was very bad.
for a dime a gal. difference it is actually cheaper to run 91 octane and get the better fuel economy plus the performance.
Stick to Chevron premium.