View Poll Results: What grade gas do you put in your car?
93
61
50.83%
91-92
45
37.50%
89
8
6.67%
87
6
5.00%
Voters: 120. You may not vote on this poll
What grade gas do you guys put in your car?
It's chrome alright...
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,999
WTF is this?
"People like you"...? Sorry, have we been introduced?
So you're saying the difference between 91 and 89 octane is that the engine is going to crap out 50k miles sooner? If it *required* 91 I'd buy it like I did for my last car. Even Nissan says there's nothing wrong with 89.
Now, let's talk stupidity... these aren't race cars. These are street cars, and mine is driven 'normally' on the street. There's no reason a 2k2 Maxima *needs* 91 or 93 octane. If you feel so strongly about it, how about you mail me a check for the approximately $800 you think I should spend on wasted octane over the next 3 years, jacka**.
With how I drive, my engine is going to last plenty long enough, and the next person to get it will be just as problem-free as me. But if there is something wrong with it, I hope it's you who buys it....
edit: oh, and I forgot... is this where I apologize for having enough money to not *need* to keep a car that long? Little bitter about having to buy other's second hand cars, are we?
Originally posted by SprintMax
people like you don't usually keep your car after 100k so you see no problems and its not you that has to deal with your stupidity
people like you don't usually keep your car after 100k so you see no problems and its not you that has to deal with your stupidity
So you're saying the difference between 91 and 89 octane is that the engine is going to crap out 50k miles sooner? If it *required* 91 I'd buy it like I did for my last car. Even Nissan says there's nothing wrong with 89.
Now, let's talk stupidity... these aren't race cars. These are street cars, and mine is driven 'normally' on the street. There's no reason a 2k2 Maxima *needs* 91 or 93 octane. If you feel so strongly about it, how about you mail me a check for the approximately $800 you think I should spend on wasted octane over the next 3 years, jacka**.
With how I drive, my engine is going to last plenty long enough, and the next person to get it will be just as problem-free as me. But if there is something wrong with it, I hope it's you who buys it....
edit: oh, and I forgot... is this where I apologize for having enough money to not *need* to keep a car that long? Little bitter about having to buy other's second hand cars, are we?
Dyno plot says I have the most area under the Administrator curve
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,064
The Nissan VQ engine is a higher performance engine that runs a higher compression ratio (VQ30: 10.0:1, VQ35: 10.3:1) and therefore REQUIRES the use of 91+ octane fuel. You can run 87 if you want, but at reduced performance, the knock sensor will be constantly kicking in, and the engine will not be running the way it was designed to. It says in my manual that I can run 87 if I need to, but not to fill the tank all the way and switch back to 91+ ASAP.
I use nothing but 93 octane fuel, since that's what we get around here. If I was in Cali I'd put in 91.
My old Accord V6 engine was an econo-tuned engine. It ran a lower 9.4:1 CR and therefore did not need higher octane fuel. In fact, if you put in anything higher than 87 octane, your performance levels would DROP because the ignition timing is tuned ONLY for 87 octane. So when I was still in the Accord V6, I put only 87 octane fuel in it. 86 or higher was what the manual said.
I seriously don't understand people that pay more money for a better performing car only to put gas in it that's BELOW what the manufacturer recommends and then not get any better performance than some other cars all because they're too cheap to spend the extra $2.00 per fillup to put the right stuff in.
If $2 per fillup really does make that much of a difference in people's budgets, then perhaps they should have bought a different car, like an Accord V6/4-cyl, or an Altima 2.5.
JMO
You CAN get away with putting 89 or 87 octane fuel in a VQ with no ill effects, but you need to be at higher altitude locations such as Denver for example. The much thinner air at the higher altitudes has the effect of dropping the engine's compression ratio such that the higher octane fuel is no longer needed.
I use nothing but 93 octane fuel, since that's what we get around here. If I was in Cali I'd put in 91.
My old Accord V6 engine was an econo-tuned engine. It ran a lower 9.4:1 CR and therefore did not need higher octane fuel. In fact, if you put in anything higher than 87 octane, your performance levels would DROP because the ignition timing is tuned ONLY for 87 octane. So when I was still in the Accord V6, I put only 87 octane fuel in it. 86 or higher was what the manual said.
I seriously don't understand people that pay more money for a better performing car only to put gas in it that's BELOW what the manufacturer recommends and then not get any better performance than some other cars all because they're too cheap to spend the extra $2.00 per fillup to put the right stuff in.
If $2 per fillup really does make that much of a difference in people's budgets, then perhaps they should have bought a different car, like an Accord V6/4-cyl, or an Altima 2.5.
JMO
You CAN get away with putting 89 or 87 octane fuel in a VQ with no ill effects, but you need to be at higher altitude locations such as Denver for example. The much thinner air at the higher altitudes has the effect of dropping the engine's compression ratio such that the higher octane fuel is no longer needed.
Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 139
Originally posted by Majisto
You don't technically need high octane until you are lowering the compression to run a supercharger (Remember, all a higher octane gas means is that it will not detonate or explode early before it is ready to combust. The lower the compression, the easier it is for it to detonate early), but you may as well play it safe and run the higher octane.
You don't technically need high octane until you are lowering the compression to run a supercharger (Remember, all a higher octane gas means is that it will not detonate or explode early before it is ready to combust. The lower the compression, the easier it is for it to detonate early), but you may as well play it safe and run the higher octane.
That said, the Maxima's engine has a stock compression ratio of 10:1 which is higher than the average cars (9/9.5:1). This is why it's recommended to use higher octane fuel.
Also remember your location matters when choosing fuels. If you lived in Denver then the Max would run great on 87 octane fuel because of the elevation (thinner air). But if you were planning a trip through Death Valley (negative elevation, really dense air) i'd want 92/93 in my Max.
ok cheapskate
actually the engine is a race engine and thats why the manual says 91 Octane or higher.... thank you.. drive through..
actually the engine is a race engine and thats why the manual says 91 Octane or higher.... thank you.. drive through..
Originally posted by 2k2wannabe
WTF is this?
"People like you"...? Sorry, have we been introduced?
So you're saying the difference between 91 and 89 octane is that the engine is going to crap out 50k miles sooner? If it *required* 91 I'd buy it like I did for my last car. Even Nissan says there's nothing wrong with 89.
Now, let's talk stupidity... these aren't race cars. These are street cars, and mine is driven 'normally' on the street. There's no reason a 2k2 Maxima *needs* 91 or 93 octane. If you feel so strongly about it, how about you mail me a check for the approximately $800 you think I should spend on wasted octane over the next 3 years, jacka**.
With how I drive, my engine is going to last plenty long enough, and the next person to get it will be just as problem-free as me. But if there is something wrong with it, I hope it's you who buys it....
edit: oh, and I forgot... is this where I apologize for having enough money to not *need* to keep a car that long? Little bitter about having to buy other's second hand cars, are we?
WTF is this?
"People like you"...? Sorry, have we been introduced?
So you're saying the difference between 91 and 89 octane is that the engine is going to crap out 50k miles sooner? If it *required* 91 I'd buy it like I did for my last car. Even Nissan says there's nothing wrong with 89.
Now, let's talk stupidity... these aren't race cars. These are street cars, and mine is driven 'normally' on the street. There's no reason a 2k2 Maxima *needs* 91 or 93 octane. If you feel so strongly about it, how about you mail me a check for the approximately $800 you think I should spend on wasted octane over the next 3 years, jacka**.
With how I drive, my engine is going to last plenty long enough, and the next person to get it will be just as problem-free as me. But if there is something wrong with it, I hope it's you who buys it....
edit: oh, and I forgot... is this where I apologize for having enough money to not *need* to keep a car that long? Little bitter about having to buy other's second hand cars, are we?
Dyno plot says I have the most area under the Administrator curve
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,064
Originally posted by 2k2wannabe
So you're saying the difference between 91 and 89 octane is that the engine is going to crap out 50k miles sooner? If it *required* 91 I'd buy it like I did for my last car. Even Nissan says there's nothing wrong with 89.
So you're saying the difference between 91 and 89 octane is that the engine is going to crap out 50k miles sooner? If it *required* 91 I'd buy it like I did for my last car. Even Nissan says there's nothing wrong with 89.
Originally posted by 2k2wannabe
Now, let's talk stupidity... these aren't race cars. These are street cars, and mine is driven 'normally' on the street. There's no reason a 2k2 Maxima *needs* 91 or 93 octane.
Now, let's talk stupidity... these aren't race cars. These are street cars, and mine is driven 'normally' on the street. There's no reason a 2k2 Maxima *needs* 91 or 93 octane.
Originally posted by 2k2wannabe
edit: oh, and I forgot... is this where I apologize for having enough money to not *need* to keep a car that long? Little bitter about having to buy other's second hand cars, are we?
edit: oh, and I forgot... is this where I apologize for having enough money to not *need* to keep a car that long? Little bitter about having to buy other's second hand cars, are we?
Originally posted by 2k2wannabe
edit: oh, and I forgot... is this where I apologize for having enough money to not *need* to keep a car that long? Little bitter about having to buy other's second hand cars, are we?
edit: oh, and I forgot... is this where I apologize for having enough money to not *need* to keep a car that long? Little bitter about having to buy other's second hand cars, are we?
It's chrome alright...
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,999
SteVTEC, none of it was directed at you.
SprintMax, neato. So you keep spending your money how you want, and I'll keep spending mine how I want. The next person to get my car won't have any "low octane related problems", I promise.
SprintMax, neato. So you keep spending your money how you want, and I'll keep spending mine how I want. The next person to get my car won't have any "low octane related problems", I promise.
I have always put in 93 or on rare occasion Sunoco 94 in all of my Maxima's. The only brands I ever use and consider worthy are Exxon/Mobil, Sunoco, Amoco(BP), Shell. Everything else like (Texaco, Hess, Eagle, Citgo, Getty, Gaseteria, Fill-N-Fly) I have never ever used and personally consider on a much lower level. I've had my 94 GXE for 4 years now and the car has treated me incredibly well overall, I feel its the least I could do to help it run as perfect as it always has. So I'm doing the same with the 98 SE and was even doing the same with the POS 97 SE that I was selling for over two months and still using 93.
The only time I've used 87 in the past 4 years or so have been on rentals, a 99 Chrysler 300M (Felt a bit guilty, but hey its American) and a 2K1 Grand Am. I even used to use Amoco 89+ on my 84 200SX N/A 5 Spd.
The only time I've used 87 in the past 4 years or so have been on rentals, a 99 Chrysler 300M (Felt a bit guilty, but hey its American) and a 2K1 Grand Am. I even used to use Amoco 89+ on my 84 200SX N/A 5 Spd.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,835
Actually I don't know of any Nissan manual (4th or 5th gen) that says Premium is required. It is definitely recommended, but I'm sure you can run 87 and go 150k+ miles trouble free. Nissan sells 150,000 Maximas a year (less now I think). Do you think everyone uses super? Nope. But have you ever heard horror stories about "I used 87 and now my engine is ruined"? Never. In fact, I've seen Toyotas, which I think are the most abused cars, which have "recommended super" but only got regular, and guess what, they have 200k miles on the engine and still run strong.
I would actually like to know whether the drivers here who have had bad knock sensors got it that way because they ran regular. The way I see it, someone who is sensitive enough to realize their car is not running perfectly would probably be someone who also babies their car and uses premium all the time.
It basically boils down to what you want to spend. If you feel the extra $3 is worth it per fillup (it is usually 20 cents higher for premium over regular for me), then go for it. If not, then run regular and don't feel bad about giving up a few horsepower. Buy from a reputable brand station and your max will be happy.
I would actually like to know whether the drivers here who have had bad knock sensors got it that way because they ran regular. The way I see it, someone who is sensitive enough to realize their car is not running perfectly would probably be someone who also babies their car and uses premium all the time.
It basically boils down to what you want to spend. If you feel the extra $3 is worth it per fillup (it is usually 20 cents higher for premium over regular for me), then go for it. If not, then run regular and don't feel bad about giving up a few horsepower. Buy from a reputable brand station and your max will be happy.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 220
I always fill up with the good stuff. An extra couple of bucks on each fill-up just means one less trip to Mcdonalds
We used to get our gas from Shell, but after a while, when filling up a tank, I noticed that when turning on the car right after the fill up, the needle would jump up to about 3/4 full and then VERY slowly continue to the F. The needle wouldn't even go past F anymore! Not only that, but after driving around on a full tank for say, 50 miles, the gauge would read that 3/4 of the tank remained
It's not a messed up O2 or MAF sensor, because I get about 21-23 mpg in the city. After reading this post I realized the shell gas was what was causing the problem, right away switched over Esso, always filling with 92 octane and nothing less.
"She needs premium dude! PREMIUM! DUDE!"
-Snake
We used to get our gas from Shell, but after a while, when filling up a tank, I noticed that when turning on the car right after the fill up, the needle would jump up to about 3/4 full and then VERY slowly continue to the F. The needle wouldn't even go past F anymore! Not only that, but after driving around on a full tank for say, 50 miles, the gauge would read that 3/4 of the tank remained
It's not a messed up O2 or MAF sensor, because I get about 21-23 mpg in the city. After reading this post I realized the shell gas was what was causing the problem, right away switched over Esso, always filling with 92 octane and nothing less."She needs premium dude! PREMIUM! DUDE!"
-Snake
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 21
Originally posted by Iqb316
I always fill up with the good stuff. An extra couple of bucks on each fill-up just means one less trip to Mcdonalds
We used to get our gas from Shell, but after a while, when filling up a tank, I noticed that when turning on the car right after the fill up, the needle would jump up to about 3/4 full and then VERY slowly continue to the F. The needle wouldn't even go past F anymore! Not only that, but after driving around on a full tank for say, 50 miles, the gauge would read that 3/4 of the tank remained It's not a messed up O2 or MAF sensor, because I get about 21-23 mpg in the city. After reading this post I realized the shell gas was what was causing the problem, right away switched over Esso, always filling with 92 octane and nothing less.
"She needs premium dude! PREMIUM! DUDE!"
-Snake
I always fill up with the good stuff. An extra couple of bucks on each fill-up just means one less trip to Mcdonalds
We used to get our gas from Shell, but after a while, when filling up a tank, I noticed that when turning on the car right after the fill up, the needle would jump up to about 3/4 full and then VERY slowly continue to the F. The needle wouldn't even go past F anymore! Not only that, but after driving around on a full tank for say, 50 miles, the gauge would read that 3/4 of the tank remained
It's not a messed up O2 or MAF sensor, because I get about 21-23 mpg in the city. After reading this post I realized the shell gas was what was causing the problem, right away switched over Esso, always filling with 92 octane and nothing less."She needs premium dude! PREMIUM! DUDE!"
-Snake
Dyno plot says I have the most area under the Administrator curve
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,064
Originally posted by Porcupine
93 octane everytime - Usually Shell since I get 5% cash back on their gas with my card. I'll have to look into the possible additive problem.
93 octane everytime - Usually Shell since I get 5% cash back on their gas with my card. I'll have to look into the possible additive problem.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,493
I used 92 for about 75% of my miles, then when octane went down to 91 and the gas prices went up in SoCal, I switched to 89, and now...I'm at 87. I don't have any knocks and my CEL has never come on and I beat a 01 Porsche Boxster S from 0-90 MPH (I do feel faster on premium though). I'm going to have my car tuned by XS on Monday and they are advising me to with the Apex'i S-AFC. I'll ask them their opinions on gas octanes and what I should be running (keep in mind, XS works with Skylines, Silvias, 240SX Turbos, and the 300ZX...they have a lot of experience with Nissan, the VG and VQ block).
As far as expense, I guess the extra of money spent on gas can be saved when it's time for a tune up...we don't have tune ups. I think the Maxima is a really low maintenance car when you think about it. So spend the extra money on the fuel of your choice. As for me, I go with Chevron and Mobil (they are really cheap in Westminster, Ca).
As far as expense, I guess the extra of money spent on gas can be saved when it's time for a tune up...we don't have tune ups. I think the Maxima is a really low maintenance car when you think about it. So spend the extra money on the fuel of your choice. As for me, I go with Chevron and Mobil (they are really cheap in Westminster, Ca).
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 457
my cousins car has about 130k on his 98 max and he's always used 87 and he has never had a problem. I use 87...i'm on a budget and my car gets driven alot so i don't pay the extra money, ive got 90k on my max without a problem yet
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