For the first time ever, the Fuel recommendation for a Maxima is set at 87 with no mention of pinging or knocking.

History would tell you that the owners manual on any Maxima would recommend a 91 where 87 can only be used "as a last resort". This time around it's worded as follows:

Edit: Okay, so they just worded it differently. But it's still surprising to see that they recommends 87 first-hand where normally they'd say 91.

 

This could actually be fairly significant. Note that they said that for "improved" performance, use higher octane fuel. This means that they may have "de-rated" the engine to 265HP/255TQ on 87 octane fuel. By re-upping the octane level to 91/93, suddenly 265HP/255TQ (on 87) could turn into 275HP/265TQ on premium fuel.

The new Accord V6 gains power over the manufacturer rating because of this. The Camry V6 (and Toyota 1MZ-FE engined cars) also gain about 10HP/10TQ by upping the fuel to premium from the recommended 87.


I can't wait to see some dynos!

 

The fuel recommendation wording for the 6th gen is identical to the wording in my 2k2 owner's manual (publication no. OM2E-0A33U0, printed Nov 2001). Nissan's spin doctors continue to play with the numbers on the VQ depending on the application. IMHO if there is a slight power increase with the 6th gen it has to do with the dual exhaust.

 

The "same" dual exhaust on the 240hp Altima?

 

Darn!

The new engine also has a completely new intake manifold and a few other changes.

 

Odd that your Manuals stats that, on mine it's clearly printed as:

"FUEL RECOMMENDATION
Use unleaded premium gasoline with an octane rating of at least 91 AKI (Anti-Knock Index) number (Research octane number 96) If unleaded premium gasoline is not available,unleaded regular gasoline with an
octane rating of at least 87 AKI (Research octane number 91) can be used."

 

What's the build date of your car and more specifically the printing date of the manual that came with it? I'm in Canada but there is no technical differences between US and Canadian spec cars and it is very clear by reading the manual that it was primarily intended for US audiences.

You got me on the Altima dual exhuast thing BTW.

 

Yeah, anyone remember the SCC test of the 350Z? They actually got a few hp going up to 100 octane from 91. They don't have 93 octane in Cali anymore, but I would have liked to have seen if they could have gotten that gain just by going up to 93 octane.

Like you said, 6th genners might get some gains going up to 93. Who will be the first to try it out, though?

 

I'd rather stick to the good stuff that our VQ's deserve... 93 octane... costly these days but well worth it

 

well i agree but what are the prices in Michigan?

 

max...to the max, I too am from MI and each gas station has thier owen prices, usually on avg. $1.85 up to $1.99 in my suburb of West Bloomfield so depending on where you go in the metro Detroit area for gas it varies

 

I'm really glad about this change! If it had occurred when I got my first Max I could have saved over a grand on fuel by now

 

Premium gas is $2.35 where I live (near San Francisco) for 91 octane.

 

ditto.

 

oddly enough, my 2000 Max runs stronger on Exxon Regular fuel. i'm still scratching my head on this revelation.

 

up to $2.65 down here in LA for 91.. cant wait till i go see how much 100 octane is :P