ethorn

Supposing that you drive 15000mi/year and get only 22MPG (just below my work commute milage, far below the rest of my milage) you pay 136.36 extra per year (or 15000 miles). So the cost is negligable. I have the maintenance manual and on page GI-5 it has the following precaution:

ethorn

my Milage is lower than it could be because I don't waste a chance to punch it. Well above 80MPH long before getting off the on ramp to the highway. Always first off the line at a stop light/sign. So you should be able to get this milage if not better. I only use BP Premium (93).

lightonthehill

To some extent, I agree with the maintenance manual. If I had to use regular gas in my Maxima, I certainly would not try to drive it like a sports sedan. This engine was designed for premium fuel.

I usually switch to the middle grade of gas after each Maxima is a year or two old, but never use regular grade. The middle grade seems to work well with my conservative (but fast) driving style.

ethorn

I am only 24... I am a very spirited driver

Pedal to the floor during 75% of my accelerations... I just love this power. Far better than my 97 V6 Camry I had before

Smoke_Screen

Great, just when I thought a new car would make me feel comfortable using the 86/87 octane (always ran high octane in the Cavalier) now I am second guessing. I drive normal most of the time to save on gas, but I too am one of the 'first off the line' drivers. I mean, it's not hard w/265HP backing you up, but I'm no granny by a long shot. Maybe once or twice a day do I really get on it, but haven't put the pedal to the floor yet (have almost, but not all the way).

I know the manual basically says "use cheap stuff". But there's that quote from above, and that little sticker on the inside of my gas door that says "use the expensive sh|t". So seems like middle or high grade is really for me based on my driving style, and $11.36/mo isn't really that much more.

Oh well, reality bites!

MaxMaybe

This topic has been discussed ad infinitum and here are some links that address it:

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=1

http://autorepair.about.com/library/.../aa060504a.htm

http://chemistry.about.com/library/w...abyb100401.htm

SilverMax_04

Thanks for 3 good articles. I read them all and none of them contridict what I've said about octane on this other thread (in 2 of my 3 posts there):

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=323568

I find the "real world" driving experiences in the Car & Driver article to be particularly revealing. Like I've said before, if you race your Max be certain to burn Premium. Otherwise, save the money and burn Regular.

CanadianMoFo

Well I used to use regular. When I switched to premium (94) my fuel economy went way up. If it costs me 10% more per liter and gives me 20% better mileage, then I'm buying it.

CM.

Bobo

I have been chastised by the locals for using 89 octane most of the time in my low mileage 95 SE. I sometimes use premium when going on a trip. A Nissan service manager told me a few years ago to use one tank of premium in three as it would help to keep the injectors cleaner. This appears to be a fallacy.

I am currently running Chevron 92 around the city and I have had it on the highway and quite frankly I am not sure that I can tell the difference in performance relative to 89. Only time well tell how it affects my fuel economy which I will track.

Having said all this, unless one were running there 2004 Maxima at elevation I don't know what would possess them to run 87. The engine puts out 265 hp and is fairly high compression. I can't see the performance being there with an 87 octane and I would be inclined to run at least 89. To me its not dissimilar to being content with driving a car that needs a tuneup. If that's the way 2004 owners who use 87 octane feel about their car, why did they buy it in the first place. Kiddy cars are a hell of a lot cheaper and they don't use gas!