There is zero proof that using regular will reduce the life of a Maxima's motor significantly. While you won't get maximum power using regular, the motor won't mind using it, and for the 90% of Maxima drivers who never redline their cars, they will probably not notice any difference.

The rule of thumb is, if you want maximum performance, use super. If you don't mind giving up a few horsepower (its not like a huge hp loss) then you can use regular.

 

Well, like I said before "you'll increase the chance of pinging, which will reduce the life of your motor significantly." So, pinging does not reduce the life of your motor?

Anyways, I have experienced this myself. My car was accidentally filled with 87 once. I noticed the power loss, and ALOT of pinging. All over the rev band. Maybe my lead foot has something to do wtih it as well.

DW

 

uhhh.....the V6 has VTEC also, but it's a lame economy version, not performance oriented. Same thing on the 4-cyl.

Here's DYNO PROOF of a 98-02 Accord V6 losing power on premium fuel. Since the ignition timing is set specifically for 87, and won't advance if you put higher octane fuel in, you'll end up losing power.

Same thing with the 4-cyl's probably.


See the pic in my sig to see the economy-VTEC in the Accord V6 hard at work


And if your buddy is putting high octane fuel in his 4-banger economy Accord, then he needs to get his head checked

 

Perfect response. I run regular in the winter because:
-I'm at about 2500', nothing compared to Colorado, but a lot less thinner air than sea level
-Temps are below freezing - any of the times I've noticed pinging in previous cars the temps have been higher (70+ F)
-I'm running snow tires and can't get anywhere near WOT without spinning.

I do run premium in the summer when the power can be enjoyed, but the $$ is wasted in the winter.

 

The difference inbetween premium and regular gas is only like 5 cents. So at every fillup, the difference in cost is about what, 75 cents? 15 gallons x 0.05 cents. Why even worry about it? How much do you pay for your latte every morning? $2.25?

 

I don't know about you hotshots, but I drink mcdonalds or DnD

 

It's a good thing you don't have pets or kids. 1/2 hour, really?

 

The original post from Aphrodisiac was about a '00 Honda Accord, and there is no way that car has a V4, understand?

Find me a picture of any car in the world in the last 15 years that has a V4.

 

ok ok ok

http://www.hondacars.com/certified/m...ModelYear=2000

4 Cylinder!

 

I have to agree with SprintMax. I picked up my 2000 GXE today and page 10-3 of the owners manual says "Fuel Recommendation - Unleaded premium gasoline with an octane rating of at least 91 AKI". It says you CAN use 87 AKI if higher is not available, but that has almost always been true. I ran my 91 SE on 89 octane for a long time without any real trouble. Not sure I would suggest using 87 octane, but you should be able to run 89, with a tank of 91 every month or so, and not really see too much of a performance hit.

 

my 94 (VE30DE) says premium.

on the V4: last 15 years? my mom had a 93 Mercury Tracer station wagon, it had a V4. Honda still makes V4 cars. My Proof: 2003 Accord Sedan http://www.hondacars.com/models/spec...e=Accord+Sedan You can still get a Ford Focus with a V4. Lots of cars from the last 15 years have 4 bangers.

 

:|
its not a "V4" its an inline 4. I really dont know the difference but apparently there is one.

 

yeah, I was just noticing that after I edited and looked closer at the engine specs.

Still, many cars in the last 15 years have had V4's, not inlines.

 

I4, I4, I4. All those example you gave are I4s. A V4 is an engine with 2 cylinders facing one way and 2 cylinders facing the other way. All modern 4 cylinder cars are mostly I4s, with some H4s. No V4s at all. Net even in the past 15 years. Read that web page you posted from Honda again. InLine 4 = I4 = Straight 4 = NOT(!) V4

DW

 

OMG...some of you guys need "Engine Configurations 101"

http://autozine.kyul.net/technical_s...ne/smooth1.htm

You don't need to read anything in the article, but just look at the figures for what the different engine configurations look like

 

hrmm intresting read
so whats the difference between big block, short block, longitude/latitude?

I think I "get" long/lat but dont really know yet\

oh btw I like this example better <aint I such a snob?>

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine-inline.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine-v.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine-flat.htm

 

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine2.htm

 

Now you got a good question goin' on. That would be a good question for the older fellas, because I asked a motor head who was around 45 and he wasn't sure about what constitutes a big block. Because I believe that say a 350 Chevy could be big block or not, with 350 obviously being the displacement. Ask a motor head what a hemi is too. They all know it's a Chrysler term, but more than that you'll get all different answers.

Back to the main topic, the gasoline retailers have gone into frenzy mode. That means they're not sure right now how much they can rob people, so the prices are all over the place. Today I could choose from 1.67 to 1.90 for premium, when normally every single station is the same, like collusion. Those greedy gasoline retailers are planning new homes, additions, summer vacations, college educations, etc. But when you see them on the news they scream poverty even though they've jacked the price by 15 cents in the last 1 1/2 weeks. Pretty soon we'll get that useless chain letter email telling us to avoid buying gas for a day--yeah like we've got solidarity in the US or something. Better to just invest in oil and drilling cos

 

Here's your V4--they made a ton of them for Eastern Europe until 1994.

V4

 

OK. You got me there. I'm so caught up in the US domestic market that I didn't think to include the former eastern block nations usings those engines on those inexpensive taxicabs

DW