As I've stated in a few other threads, I'm a newbie here, so the maxima is also very new to me. I did a search and didn't find a topic about this. The maxima owners manuel recommends 91 premium gas,, but that it was OK to use 87 and that you may notice a difference in performance. I did find an article somewhere where they actually tested the theory with 87 and 91 and noticed absolutely no difference with performance or gas mileage. Just curious what people here have found, if anything. I'll probably try both grades just to see

 

It's not about performance, it's about keeping your engine clean and then it depends how long you want to keep this car. If you want to keep it for 100k+ miles then use premium, else use regular.

 

Nissan does something else, related, which pisses me off. Their maintenance schedule calls for an oil change every 5000 miles. Synthetic oil change, that is. Why? The 2016 Camry I owned before this called for a synthetic oil change only every 10000 miles. IMHO a synthetic oil change every 5000 miles is overkill unless you do some heavy, difficult driving on a daily basis.

 

 

I'm no mechanic by any means,, but I thought premium gas was designed for high compression engines like what the new altima turbo is. Is the maxima considered a high compression engine?

 

 

on my third max first had 280000 miles second 190000, waste of money putting in higher octane. worked for and design gas pump and gas mixtures for National company.
Regular oil changes every 5000 to 8000 miles and common sense. always had more issues with other thing on the car not the engine block.
makes no difference.
year of my max that said to use 93 was a 95 max and 2000 max and 2016 max and 2014 Nissan Juke Nismo.

 

The 5,000 mile oil change doesn't bother me as I do that anyway but what annoys me is the 20,000 mile brake fluid flush requirement.

 

never done the brake fluid flush but I have seen older GM cars needing to replace master cylinders.
If you are on your brakes heavy yes I would do this.
had alot of discuss with Nissan Dealership about oil type with Juke Nismo and just with with cheaper oil changes at dealership.
Cost us 21 dollars with car wash.

 

 

Fuel grade/octane rating has been discussed a time or two on this forum. Enjoy the reading.

https://maxima.org/forums/8th-genera...gular-gas.html

https://maxima.org/forums/8th-genera...m-regular.html

https://maxima.org/forums/8th-genera...d-premium.html

https://maxima.org/forums/8th-genera...-surprise.html

https://maxima.org/forums/8th-genera...fuel-type.html

https://maxima.org/forums/8th-genera...emium-gas.html

https://maxima.org/forums/8th-genera...93842-gas.html

https://maxima.org/forums/8th-genera...uel-grade.html

https://maxima.org/forums/8th-genera...onnect-sl.html

https://maxima.org/forums/8th-genera...high-test.html

https://maxima.org/forums/8th-genera...uel-grade.html

https://maxima.org/forums/8th-genera...gular-gas.html

 

You will notice the performance decrease a little, car will auto adjust the timing and the spark will ignite at a different piston position essentially. It may also reduce the MPG's so while you are saving at the purchase, you will be visiting the pump a little more often. That's the real tradeoff. As far as "keeping the engine clean" someone mentioned above...that's some silly **** right there.

 

Thanks . The initial search didn't bring up any of those threads

 

I'm on my second 8th gen. I use regular about 90% of the time. My MPG is in line with others on the forum - I've seen as high as 34MPG on highway trips.
The price split - 35-55c/gallon on $2 gas - is way too much.
It's not about "keeping the engine clean" as stated above.
It's about knock sensors, which - if octane/RON is too low - will retard timing, resulting in lower power.

Top Tier Fuel (@ Costco, etc.) has detergents regardless of whether it's regular or premium.

 

The dealership I got my maxima from told me 7500 miles. 5000 seems excessive with a full synthetic oil. I'll have to check the book again.

 

<<As far as "keeping the engine clean" someone mentioned above...that's some silly **** right there.>>

I'm a PhD chemical engineer working in R&D for a multinational oil company ... and I am definitely not trying to sell anything to anyone here.

Between the two of us, on this particular subject, I will go out on a limb and say that you are the one who doesn't know what they are talking about.

 

I'm legitimately curious. What benefit is premium gas in our Maximas? In my previous vehicle I put in 91 non ethanol, mainly because I got better gas mileage. I didn't notice any improvements in performance though. I'm genuinely curious how premium benefits the engine in the maxima

 

All types of gasoline, including regular, contain additives (nitrogen-based compounds) whose role is to prevent /reduce the formation of carbonaceous compounds and gums inside the engine, everywhere, starting with the fuel injectors and the valves. Cleaner engines are better performing engines over the long run. I do not work in the Fuels division of my company so I don't have the raw data, but performance tests have been done and data exists. The performance data, evidently, is independently verified, otherwise any gasoline producer could make any claims about anything.

Premium gasoline contain more of these additives, and better ones. The best are believed to be BP's Ultimate and Shell's V-power or whatever it is called these days. That is where the recommendation comes in, not just because of the higher octane number. Goto https://www.bellperformance.com/blog...ce-to-your-car for more insights on this.

 

Arggghhhhh.....another gas thread.