Just bought my wife a 2005 Quest SL (3.5L) replacing my Isuzu Rodeo (POS but reliable) to go with our 1999 Maxima SE Limited which just became my daily driver. We have always run 87 octane in the max with no problems aside from poor fuel economy, around 23 mpg (my wife used to drive this primarily short highway trips). Even on extended highway trips with the max I was seeing maybe 25mpg, pretty poor in my opinion for a 70mph cruise. These cars are geared too short for the highway in my opinion.

Just curious if these cars should see 89 octane or better? I have been putting 87 in the Quest but recently checked the manual and it seems Nissan would like me to put in 91. I have seen some other tests of higher performance cars and clearly high compression needs high octane but would like to know your real world experience.....

Thanks in advance. At $2.60 a gallon for 87 octane I am hesitant to jump to even more expensive fuel!

 

With a 10.0 to 1 compression, DOHC, engine you aren't getting remotely the performance you should out of running 87 octane gas in your Maxima. You should go up to at least 91 octane. Improved operating performance, increased mpg and a smile on your face should make it worth the incremental cost. If not, sell the Maxima and buy yourself a Civic or Corolla as perhaps what you should be driving in that event.

Don't chintz out on the Quest either!

 

dont use additives, use 91 or higher at least. I am 16 and i manage to fork out 280 for the 93 octane, i think you can do it to, and if you cant, you shouldnt have bought a 3.5L van. oh and my car gets an average of 28 mpg or higher, and most people would call me a lead foot.
if you want to save gas money, get rid of the van, you'll be lucky to break 20 mpg in that thing

 

If you reread my initial post I am simply looking to get octane recomendations/information, which the previous poster helped with. Making foolish assumptions to justify smart a$$ remarks is something you'll outgrow, hopefully.

By the way on a weeklong trip loaded down with 2 adults 2 kids and all of the necessary luggage stroller pack and play and all that nonsense while towing our 1000lb 1100cc Jet-Ski/trailer (you want to talk fuel inefficiency, i pumped 40gals through that this week without breaking a sweat!!) we got 19mpg with the Quest, so I don't see 20mpg being too tough to attain...

Good luck, thanks to first poster for the straight-up help, I will switch to the higher octane and see how they run...

 

i did give you advice. dont use additives, and use 91 or more. that is what the fsm tells you to do, so thats what i said. i also gave my opinion afterwards which contradicted your statement that a maxima doesnt get good gas mileage. everyone knows 16 yr old kids drive fast and i still get good gas mileage so i dont see how you arent

 

You will find that the octane discussion NEVER ends on this forum...Your $$, your car...I'm not gonna argue that high octane isn't good for the car, but I WILL say again, that my car has 231,000 miles on it with 90% of those miles on regular gas. I put 93 in it occasionally, but it is not a rule with me. It all depends on how you drive. If you're aggressive, get the good stuff. If not, save $$. Baby need shoes....

 

Well I just did a bit more research on this site and I applaud you for getting 28mpg with your 95. It seems there are many more people getting 21-24, which is about what I just calculated mine at (24).

As I understand it the '95 is a touch lighter than the '99, probably not enough to make a big difference, but along with narrower stock tires and wheels would help more than hurt (although you may not have a stock wheel and tire combo).

I guess if I want to get good mileage I will take my GSXR750 to work (last tank 46 mpg despite the regular flogging)! And I have never minded putting 93 octane in that one, although with a carbuereted 11.8:1 compression, 13500rpm redline engine making 120hp from .75L it makes more sense to me than in a sport family sedan making 190hp from 3L....

 

I did 27 mpg this weekend overall on a road trip. I've done better, but I-95 was like an autobahn this past weekend. I roll when everyone else rolls...