Check out this video of a Maxima Overview meeting.
Listen starting at 5:50 in the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3coq...eature=related

15-20% Horsepower decline is expected.

....Another reason you should follow the Owner's manual and use premium fuel.

 

yes sir 93 is the only way to go.

 

good find btw !

 

of course. nissan has been recommending 91 or higher for the VQ for years, never put reg in if you want it to perform optimally

 

Also check out 16:45, it talks about the sound generator.

 

With previous generations, the primary effect of using regular was a measureable loss in performance at wide open throttle. But with the increased compression in this '09 Maxima VQ, the loss in performance is not my greatest concern.

Nissan only 'recommended' premium with previous generations, but REQUIRES premium with this '09. In fact, the manual clearly states that, if 91 octane is not available, put only the amount of regular in the tank that is necessary to get to where you can get 91 octane, and drive very carefully while getting there (no spirited driving).

I have owned nothing but Maximas since October 1984, and this will be the first Maxima in which I won't be downgrading to midgrade after one or two years, then to regular after another year or two.

The engine/fuel system in this '09 was designed and built for 91 octane. It will also work well with 93 octane, but not with 87 octane. In case anyone cares, the car will get exactly the same MPG with either 91 or 93 octane. Any measurable difference between those two octanes might be elapsed time at wide open throttle.

 

Interesting they talked about the power reduction of using reqular vs premium but I wonder if they were measuring with an alcohol blend (and if so at what percentage) or pure gasoline?

 

^^ That is a good question. I found a station here that is using 100% all Gasoline in their premium and mid brands. In other words no ethanol. I have also used Texaco Premium as well. I could never tell the difference between with ethanol and without. But I am sticking with the without for awhile.

 

thats interesting, ive never seen a gas station that uses 100 percent gasoline, usually all the gas stations contain some ethanol. Whats the name of that gas station?

 

The chemistry of the non-oxygenated blend of high octane should lead to lower fuel consumption. It would be interesting to see if you do observe higher mpg's.

 

Here you go. Here is a link to it. It's branded under the name "Royal". They advertise the fact they contain no ethanol on their pumps and most importantly on their large price sign.

http://local.yahoo.com/info-12733021...on%2C+VA+22821

Next time I am in town, I will get a pic of it. The problem is I just filled up yesterday, so it may be while.

 

now do you experience any difference in performace/mpg when using this gas?

 

I just got to 3K and my first oil change yesterday, and I drive about maybe 15 miles a day. So mostly town driving and I have not had much open road driving to really know yet. Up to that first oil change I was not putting my foot into it much, until it was broke in some more. I am going with dino oil until 6K and then Synthetic to 10K and every 5K after that.

So in short words, at this point I don't have enough data to know if I have or not.

 

Breaking News. Just bought 2009 Maxima......Nissan put out a bulletin dated 24 July stating that for 2010 a change would be made to state premium fuel recommended but not required. Comments?

 

hmmmmm

 

I just had to add this... funny if you ask me.

http://nozzlerage.com/Nozzle_Rage_Video_2.html

 

 

That is sooooo funny!

 

Sam,

What synthetic are you going with? I've been reading up on M1 0W-40...sure sounds tempting....can't think of a downside if it works like it sounds like it does. I live in S.C. by the way so hot summers and not much bitter cold.

Thanks

 

Wow! This begs the question - Did Nissan change something in the fuel system for 2010, or are the '09 and '10 the same, and Nissan has decided to take a more practical approach to current world conditions?

If a change was made, and that change cannot be made retroactively to the '09, I will be one unhappy driver. The difference between regular and premium in my area varies from around 38 to 48 cents per gallon. Despite those who say 'it's worth it', I disagree. I never redline my Maxima, never use 'wide open throttle', and never understood why, with prices the way they are these days, Nissan would make a vehicle that REQUIRED premium. That goes against the premise that this is an 'affordable family sedan.'

I predict that, if that Nissan bulletin turns out to be reality, there is going to be quite a bit of 'converstation' about this here on the ORG.

 

I usually go with Mobil 1 or Pennzoil synthetics. Right now in my garage I have both. The reason for that, is the fact I change oil in all the family cars, there are 4 of them. But three of them take 5w-30 and one takes 5w-20. So I keep an eye out at Walmart for a good deal on them and buy a case or two when it goes on sale.

 

All cars can use either premium or regular gas. Some cars can "read" the fuel octane and adjust timing to extract more power. And then there are others, such as the '09 Maxima that requires hi test and will otherwise knock itself to death if 87 octane fuel is used. The fact that the '10 Maxima has the same advertised hp tells me that engine compression is the same. What change was made to accommodate 87 octane? It could be that the advance map is more denatured to prevent the engine from knocking itself to death when using low octane. If this thesis is correct, then the '10 will have much reduced hp when using 87 octane. A wuss Maxima.

I think for your '09, premium gas comes into play even under normal driving conditions. You should try WOT once in a while just to make sure the sound generator is working.

The upcharge for premium gas is market driven; charge what the traffic will bear. Up here in New England, the upcharge is $0.20. Last year when prices were zooming through $4.00/gal, the difference was only $0.10 at some stations. Nissan is not screwing you; your local fuel merchants are.

 

Just put premium in you cheap bast*rds and quit bringing it up so often. Jeeesus!!

 

i put premium in my max all the time even if i have no money i still do.

 

Me too. When it comes down to it, you're only talking like $3-$4 more for a full tank. Def worth it in my opinion.

 

Yeah, but if you fill up once a week at 16 gallons, and at an average upcharge of .22, that's $183 a year. It has an effect on a budget.

Right now I'm not concerned myself, but for some that may be one month without power to the house, albit spread over 52 weeks.

 

From my experience and from friends with 3.5 02 and up Maxima's, my wife's G35 and 350Z's this engine is much happier with Supreme gas, definately worth the extra 2-3 bucks per fill up.

 

FYI, below is copied from the 2010 Maxima owners manual. Note the use of the word "recommended". I wonder what the compression ration of the 2010 model is? Found it 10.6:1, same as '09.

NISSAN recommends the use of premium unleaded
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, you may use unleaded regular
gasoline with an octane rating of at least 87
AKI number (Research octane number 91), but
you may notice a decrease in performance.
However, for maximum vehicle performance,
the use of unleaded premium gasoline
is recommended.

From the 2009 owners manual.

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 87 AKI (Anti-Knock Index) number (Research
octane number 91) can be used, but only under
the following precautions:
● Have the fuel tank filled only partially with
unleaded regular gasoline, and fill up with
unleaded premium as soon as possible.
● Avoid full throttle driving, and abrupt acceleration.
However, for maximum vehicle performance,
the use of unleaded premium gasoline
is recommended.

 

[QUOTE=2young2retire;7177807]FYI, below is copied from the 2010 Maxima owners manual. Note the use of the word "recommended". I wonder what the compression ration of the 2010 model is? Found it 10.6:1, same as '09.

NISSAN recommends the use of premium unleaded
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, you may use unleaded regular
gasoline with an octane rating of at least 87
AKI number (Research octane number 91), but
you may notice a decrease in performance.
However, for maximum vehicle performance,
the use of unleaded premium gasoline
is recommended.

From the 2009 owners manual.

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 87 AKI (Anti-Knock Index) number (Research
octane number 91) can be used, but only under
the following precautions:
● Have the fuel tank filled only partially with
unleaded regular gasoline, and fill up with
unleaded premium as soon as possible.
● Avoid full throttle driving, and abrupt acceleration.
However, for maximum vehicle performance,
the use of unleaded premium gasoline
is recommended.[/Q

Reads exactly as previous yr models...........I 'm almost positive nada changed from 09 to 10.......Just some believed oh this engine has a higher compression ratio etc than previous years..Just curious to what they have to say now!

 

MONTE - You are correct that this Maxima seems happier with premium gas. And you may be right that there may not be any difference between the '09 and '10 Maxima fuel setups,

But the wording between the '09 and the '10 is clearly different. Those who have been saying the '09 wording was not the same as prior year Maximas are EXACTLY correct. If there is no difference between the '09 and '10 Maxima fuel setups, then Nissan is at fault for saying otherwise in the Owner's Manuals. There is no fault with posters here posting what Nissan told them IN WRITING in the official '09 Owner's Manual.


2young2retire - Thanks for posting the exact wording of the '09 and '10 Maxima Owner Manuals. Those confirm what folks here have been saying this past year.


ANNINO & MONTE - You are among the lucky ones. In my area, the difference between regular and premium has varied from 34 cents to 54 cents per gallon over the past fifteen months. That is between $6 and $10 per fillup. That is far from a paltry sum. But I still pay it and go with premium.

 

Wow, that's crazy. And I thought gas was expensive around me....

 

I wish I had the choice. In Minnesota all gas has 10% and they want to increase it to 15%

 

It was a "Royal" branded station, do a google of it and see if there are any stations in your area.

 

i always fill her up with hess gasoline 93!! in ny its usually the cheapest but its premium gas that only goes into my max!!!

 

I've tried a few tankfulls (meaning 5 or 6) of the non-alcohol fuel provided by a company branded as "Pipeline" (St. Cloud Fl.) and didn't notice any big difference between it and the "normal" ethanol blend of Sunoco. I may have seen at most a 1MPG increase but that could easily have been based on wind speed and direction!! But I gave up on it as the convienience of a 24 hour gas station trumped the limtied operational hours of the "Pipeline" station.

 

Well light I was referring to 08 and prior years not the 09 , well the price of premium here in the DFW area varies. My station its only 22 cents difference from supreme to reg, others are more.

 

I have used nothing but premium in my 2009 since I got it. In NJ super is .20 to .40 more that regular. At 20 cents/gallon I think it is worth it. .40 cents adds up and would **** me off. I usually get my gas at Getty. It is the most convenient to where I live and it is one of the cheapest at 20 cents a gallon over their regular. Funny thing is their Premium is rated at 92 octane. Everyone else around here is 93. But the car runs good on it, I have tried the other stations 93 and feel no difference or economy. All the gas around here is 10% Ethanol.

 

That is because this car is designed for 91 octane. Anything over 91 octane will have no effect on MPG, and negligable effect on performance (possibly a tad in very extreme situations such as wide open throttle elapsed time runs).

 

In most of Canada, the highest you will find is 91 AKI. Sunoco makes a 94 but it contains at least 10% ethanol. Shell, Petro Canada, Esso - all their 91s are straight gasoline, no ethanol. Here in Ottawa, where we have some of the least expensive gas in the country, the difference between 87 AKI and 91 AKI is about 40 cents US per US gallon. We're all in litres here. How common is 89 in the States? Most stations here carry 87 (which I use quite happily in my VQ-engined 2008 Pathfinder), 89 and 91. Been happiest with Shell.

 

That isn't true. I fill up with 92 every week at Husky which has 10% ethanol. I could fill up with 94 but that is a bit of overkill. Shell 91 has Nitrogen and I am pretty sure Petro Can 91 has at least 10% ethanol and same with Esso.