what minimun octane for the 5 gen

 

91

 

Actually Regular is fine. Premium is recommend for performance and less knocking.

Dixit

 

if low on cash... regular
if have money... 91+

 

I've heard of people using a lower grade but saw a decrease in mileage, performance, and yep - it pinged. The way I see it is we spent enough money on our cars to justify $1 - $2 per tank more to make it run like it should - don't be cheap! Does anyone use an additive in the tank? I use STP Fuel Injector Cleaner every few thousand miles. Anything better out there as far as additives?

 

Nissan recommends you don't use any fuel additives. Apparently, it tends to gum things up. I think it even says so in the manual. Besides, any premium gas you buy anyway will have enough additives to keep the engine relatively clean.

 

I think the general conclusion about fuel and the Maxima around here is that you should just use 91+ octane.

You can put 87 in, but then your performance and mileage will degrade to the point where you would have actually saved money by just putting in 91 octane to begin with (better mileage = saved money)

 

Well on a trip from Birmingham to DC, I put a tank of 87, it did not ping, nor did it knock. AND in fact I got 2mpg better gas mileage off the premium, I know this is accurate cause the trip was 800miles, so I had to fill up twice the whole way.

I mean i noticed a difference in HP cause it would not pick up as fast, but I did not REALLY care since we on the highway and aint doing 1/4 runs here.

Dixit

 

Was the better mileage due to all highway driving maybe? We're only talking a couple bucks TOPS per tank here, I run premium in the pathfinder as well - now THAT hurts at about 13-15 mpg, but I do it anyway.

 

When I bought my car may '01 I was using 89 oct & I noticed was giving me $hitted *** pick up & start up....talk to service manager @ nissan I knew & told me only use 91+ oct & let me know if a change...a week later I noticed alot of difference & 3 months later I still feel the change.....Thats my own experience

 

My wife filled up the Max with 87 once (She must have confused my car for the hoopty Lincoln she was driving). The car pinged a little and the performance definitely was not there. I know the manual says 91.
There is a lot of debate about octane out there but I think there is a noticeable difference with this engine.

 

I've never had anything other than premium in it. 91-93 octane depending on the station. Such a little price difference. Plus you never have to wait in line with the penny pinchers for the discount gas.