View Poll Results: Which gas do you use on an 04 Maxima?
85
2
3.39%
89
5
8.47%
93
51
86.44%
Depends on how much money I have in my pocket!
1
1.69%
Voters: 59. You may not vote on this poll
Gas
07-30-2004, 04:02 AM
#4
I think he meant 87.
why would anyone that owns an 04 use anything but 93? Not that much more and prevents serious problems. If you can only get 91, so be it, but I would look around anyway.
Texaco or Sunoco 93 for me.
why would anyone that owns an 04 use anything but 93? Not that much more and prevents serious problems. If you can only get 91, so be it, but I would look around anyway.
Texaco or Sunoco 93 for me.
07-30-2004, 11:04 AM
#8
Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 65
Serious problems? There is a knock sensor in there, cowboy. It prevents serious problems. It retards timing if knock is detected.
I use 89, with no problems. Used it for years in my previous Maxima.
True, if you want to take advantage of the full timing advance, use
91 or 92 or 93, 94 whatever. IMHO, using more octane than you
need is just throwing away money. Unless you are drag racing the
car from every stoplight, why would you need high octane? Not me.
I use 89, with no problems. Used it for years in my previous Maxima.
True, if you want to take advantage of the full timing advance, use
91 or 92 or 93, 94 whatever. IMHO, using more octane than you
need is just throwing away money. Unless you are drag racing the
car from every stoplight, why would you need high octane? Not me.
07-30-2004, 01:30 PM
#9
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 128
I had a problem on my 2000 maxima where it would knock if I used anything less than 91. I tried many different gas stations, all with the same result.
I brought it to the dealer multiple times to look at the knock sensor, and for them to tell me what was wrong. They told me the knock sensor was operating normally. The fix was to run better gas.
Look....Nissan recommends 91 or better. They are not in the pockets of the oil industry, and have nothing to gain by getting you to buy better gas other than better performance by their engine.
I agree with those saying that for the nominal increase in cost, if it keeps the engine happy, and Nissan happy, and my warranty well in tact, I happily pay the difference.
I brought it to the dealer multiple times to look at the knock sensor, and for them to tell me what was wrong. They told me the knock sensor was operating normally. The fix was to run better gas.
Look....Nissan recommends 91 or better. They are not in the pockets of the oil industry, and have nothing to gain by getting you to buy better gas other than better performance by their engine.
I agree with those saying that for the nominal increase in cost, if it keeps the engine happy, and Nissan happy, and my warranty well in tact, I happily pay the difference.
07-30-2004, 01:54 PM
#10
Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 65
By all means, if the engine knocks, use the higher grade. I seem to be
able to get away with 89 with no problem. The owners manual states
you can use 87, but recommends 91. If you run with 87 the knock
sensor simply compensates by retarding the timing, thus lower horsepower. So, if you want maximum engine output, go with at
least 91. I drive like a little old lady, so I can live with 89.
able to get away with 89 with no problem. The owners manual states
you can use 87, but recommends 91. If you run with 87 the knock
sensor simply compensates by retarding the timing, thus lower horsepower. So, if you want maximum engine output, go with at
least 91. I drive like a little old lady, so I can live with 89.
07-30-2004, 01:58 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: a meadow south of Atlanta
Posts: 8,143
There are those who use 87 octane in their Maximas. This car runs on almost anything. The sensory devices check the gas, and gradually adjust to the octane being used. There is no question in my mind, however, that maximum performance and benefits are obtained by using gas in the 91 to 94 octane range.
In my 20 years of driving Maximas, I have fallen into a routine: I use 91 to 93 octane the first three years, then midgrade (usually 89 octane) after that. In 20 years, I have NEVER put a gallon of regular gas in any of my Maximas.
Whatever octane one uses, the most important thing to remember is that it takes the sensory devices on the '04 Maxima SEVERAL TANKS to make an adjustment between octanes, so NEVER alternate between grades; choose your octane and stick with it.
In my 20 years of driving Maximas, I have fallen into a routine: I use 91 to 93 octane the first three years, then midgrade (usually 89 octane) after that. In 20 years, I have NEVER put a gallon of regular gas in any of my Maximas.
Whatever octane one uses, the most important thing to remember is that it takes the sensory devices on the '04 Maxima SEVERAL TANKS to make an adjustment between octanes, so NEVER alternate between grades; choose your octane and stick with it.
07-31-2004, 07:36 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 880
Originally Posted by us024077
I don't use any of those "on" my Maixma, but I use 93 IN my maxima.
Is there any chance I've hurt my Max doing this? If so, is it covered by warranty? I've always used 91 or 93 octane, just like the manual says.
Mike
08-02-2004, 08:10 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: toronto
Posts: 371
Used 87 (Shell)for the first 10 months, then when the prices went up used 94(Sunoco) {dont ask me why!!}
the car was great on 87 ... but with 94 was something else! ..... but only the first few weeks... now it feels like 87 again (although I'm still getting 94 in the tank)
I dont know ... maybe the gas dealers are cheating... But I did notice that when I filled up at Shell (87) my fuel eco would show approx. 640 - 670 K DTE, but with Sunoco (94) it shows 590 - 620 K DTE. [ Driven it on the hwy. right after filling gas using both brands for the same amt. of Km] {also stop when the pump stops ... never overfill}
the car was great on 87 ... but with 94 was something else! ..... but only the first few weeks... now it feels like 87 again (although I'm still getting 94 in the tank)
I dont know ... maybe the gas dealers are cheating... But I did notice that when I filled up at Shell (87) my fuel eco would show approx. 640 - 670 K DTE, but with Sunoco (94) it shows 590 - 620 K DTE. [ Driven it on the hwy. right after filling gas using both brands for the same amt. of Km] {also stop when the pump stops ... never overfill}
08-03-2004, 07:16 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,282
Originally Posted by high888
By all means, if the engine knocks, use the higher grade. I seem to be
able to get away with 89 with no problem. The owners manual states
you can use 87, but recommends 91. If you run with 87 the knock
sensor simply compensates by retarding the timing, thus lower horsepower. So, if you want maximum engine output, go with at
least 91. I drive like a little old lady, so I can live with 89.
able to get away with 89 with no problem. The owners manual states
you can use 87, but recommends 91. If you run with 87 the knock
sensor simply compensates by retarding the timing, thus lower horsepower. So, if you want maximum engine output, go with at
least 91. I drive like a little old lady, so I can live with 89.
08-04-2004, 07:26 AM
#18
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 116
I agree that high888 knows of what he speaks. I run 89 most of the time and have no problems. If I know I'm going to get heavy footed I'll fill up half a tank with 93 and make my own 91 blend. People tend to get overworked up over thier gas. If it doesn't knock it aint hurting your car and if you use to high of an octane you are just pouring money out the exhaust.
08-06-2004, 05:49 AM
#21
Member
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 39
there was a coversation just like this on a sportbike forum. everyone believe higher octane was better... well teh bottom line IT IS NOT BETTER... if the owners manual states that 87 is fine then use 87... if it recommends 91, then use 91 if you want to achieve what Nissan feels is peek performance... but do know that 87 is fine... we are talking about a sport sedan here... not a sport car...
here is a link to a site that talks about octane...
http://chemistry.about.com/library/w...abyb100401.htm
here is a link to a site that talks about octane...
http://chemistry.about.com/library/w...abyb100401.htm
08-18-2004, 12:22 PM
#22
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 17
Originally Posted by high888
Serious problems? There is a knock sensor in there, cowboy. It prevents serious problems. It retards timing if knock is detected.
I use 89, with no problems. Used it for years in my previous Maxima.
True, if you want to take advantage of the full timing advance, use
91 or 92 or 93, 94 whatever. IMHO, using more octane than you
need is just throwing away money. Unless you are drag racing the
car from every stoplight, why would you need high octane? Not me.
I use 89, with no problems. Used it for years in my previous Maxima.
True, if you want to take advantage of the full timing advance, use
91 or 92 or 93, 94 whatever. IMHO, using more octane than you
need is just throwing away money. Unless you are drag racing the
car from every stoplight, why would you need high octane? Not me.
08-22-2004, 03:53 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 240
Paying for premium gas can be a waste of money
Many people use premium gasoline in the belief that it's better for engines than regular. That can be a costly mistake, especially during times of high fuel prices. Octane grades don't represent a "good, better, best" choice; they simply measure the resistance of fuel to knocking or pinging, a condition in which gasoline burns uncontrollably in the engine's combustion chambers. Knocking and pinging can damage an engine.
While high-octane formulations resist knocking better than lower octanes, most engines are designed to take regular gas, which has an octane rating of about 87. Engines requiring premium gas are typically the more powerful ones found in sports and luxury vehicles. Those engines use a very high compression ratio, making them more vulnerable to knocking, so recommended fuels have octane ratings of 91 or higher. Using premium gas in an engine designed to run on regular doesn't improve performance.
Some engines for which premium gasoline is recommended can run on regular without problems. That's because the engine's knock-sensor system detects the presence of uncontrolled burning in the chambers. When it does, the engine's computer-control system retards engine timing, eliminating the knock but slightly reducing power. If you don't mind giving up some performance, you can run these engines on less-expensive regular gasoline. To check whether your engine is capable of running on regular gas, read your owner's manual or ask your dealership's service department.
A hot-running engine or one with deposits may also knock, but premium gas may still not be the best solution. Service a hot-running engine as soon as possible, and handle deposit buildup with treatments that dissolve them. The treatments may be less expensive than regularly using premium gas.
Sources: ConsumerReports.org - September 2004
Many people use premium gasoline in the belief that it's better for engines than regular. That can be a costly mistake, especially during times of high fuel prices. Octane grades don't represent a "good, better, best" choice; they simply measure the resistance of fuel to knocking or pinging, a condition in which gasoline burns uncontrollably in the engine's combustion chambers. Knocking and pinging can damage an engine.
While high-octane formulations resist knocking better than lower octanes, most engines are designed to take regular gas, which has an octane rating of about 87. Engines requiring premium gas are typically the more powerful ones found in sports and luxury vehicles. Those engines use a very high compression ratio, making them more vulnerable to knocking, so recommended fuels have octane ratings of 91 or higher. Using premium gas in an engine designed to run on regular doesn't improve performance.
Some engines for which premium gasoline is recommended can run on regular without problems. That's because the engine's knock-sensor system detects the presence of uncontrolled burning in the chambers. When it does, the engine's computer-control system retards engine timing, eliminating the knock but slightly reducing power. If you don't mind giving up some performance, you can run these engines on less-expensive regular gasoline. To check whether your engine is capable of running on regular gas, read your owner's manual or ask your dealership's service department.
A hot-running engine or one with deposits may also knock, but premium gas may still not be the best solution. Service a hot-running engine as soon as possible, and handle deposit buildup with treatments that dissolve them. The treatments may be less expensive than regularly using premium gas.
Sources: ConsumerReports.org - September 2004
08-22-2004, 04:11 PM
#24
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12
I always use at least 93 and sometimes 94. Gives the car a bit more kick and is alot better for it. Plus, the higher the octane the longer it takes to burn giving better gas milage. Its worth the extra few buck a tank.
08-22-2004, 05:52 PM
#25
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 628
Originally Posted by sxy92max
I always use at least 93 and sometimes 94. Gives the car a bit more kick and is alot better for it. Plus, the higher the octane the longer it takes to burn giving better gas milage. Its worth the extra few buck a tank.
I have run several tankfuls of 87 and 93 through my 04, and get the same or higher mileage with 87.
08-31-2004, 06:59 AM
#27
Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 65
Originally Posted by sxy92max
I always use at least 93 and sometimes 94. Gives the car a bit more kick and is alot better for it. Plus, the higher the octane the longer it takes to burn giving better gas milage. Its worth the extra few buck a tank.
09-12-2004, 11:05 PM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 1,994
Originally Posted by Monotaur
BTW, where can you even get 85 octane?
What the manual does not say (but implies) is that all normally aspirated engines (those that are not turbo-charged) experience a reduced need for octane at higher elevations. This effect is about a 1 octane reduction for each 1,000 feet in elevation (and for most engines ranges between 0.8 and 1.2 octane per thousand feet).
Because of this effect, at 6,000 feet elevation (here in Colorado Springs) 85 octane should perform about like 91 octane at sea level. So I burn 85 octane. In the past when I drive East, I would buy 87 or 89 octane when I got East of Colorado. (Iowa has cheaper 89 than 87 because of their ethanol gas-tax reduction.)
This summer (for the first time) I tried to keep the car effectively burning 91 octane or better. On the trip going East I got my best mileage ever on two legs of the trip (Missouri, IL, KY and Tenn) -- both over 30 mpg. Then the mileage down to sea level and coming back home again returned to the previous mileages I've gotten in the past burning 87 octane -- 26.5 to 28.5 mpg. I continued using premium for most of the trip back to Colorado (4,000 miles Round Trip). The mileage stayed in the normal range or even slightly worse. I have concluded that I must have had a good tail wind on the day when I got better than 30 mpg. I did not notice that the car had any more pep burning premium (but then I did not race anyone either).
I will continue to burn 85 in Colorado and mid-grade 89 when I go east. If I ever race the car, I will burn Premium.
09-13-2004, 06:41 AM
#30
Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 63
I originally used 87 for the first 1500 miles and got about 21MPG. Then I changed to 93 and MPG dropped to about 18MPG - after several fill ups, I went back to 87 and now get about 21MPG again. Engine does not PING and runs beautifully.
I feel that 93 is a waste of money two ways, cost/gal and reduced MPG
I feel that 93 is a waste of money two ways, cost/gal and reduced MPG
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