Hey guys! Some time ago I posted in 4th gen and I30/I35 when I owned my '97 I30. I totalled it and bought a '98 QX4 which I sold recently and bought a new '02 I35 Sport.

I have some questions about the 3.5L and other maintenance recommedations:

1. The manual says 87 AKI gas is required, but 91+ AKI is recommended for performance reasons. With gas as high as it is, will running 87 do fine just like the manual says?

2. I need to get the transmission serviced soon because the car is 3 years old. Where should I get my transmission serviced for the most value and what type of fluid should I use? (Synthetic?)

3. Another maintenance item I want to address is cleaning the fuel system via over-the-counter medicines like Techron and the other 5,000 "Fuel system cleaners" sitting on Pep Boys' shelves. I saw that a bottle of Techron was roughly $12.99 while a lot of the other stuff (Prestone?) was around $4 or less and treated just as many gallons of gas. Is Techron worth a 125% increase in price or is all of this stuff the same?

4. My first tank of gas lasted me 373 miles and when I filled it up, 15.9 gallons of gas were replinished, so I got about 23mpg. Sound acceptable for about 70% highway driving with Kentucky hills?

 

1. Fill up with 91+ unless you want a dead knock sensor
2. Find a DYI guide and change it you self(Use Synthetic)
3.Dont use Techron
4. Its sounds pretty good

 

Regarding the gas, see if there's a Costco or Sam's in your area. Around here they sell premium for 25 cents/gallon less than the regular stations.

 

* I was under the impression that using 87 gas will lower fuel economy about 1mpg and slightly decrease horsepower, but WILL NOT affect the knock sensor or engine in anyway. Am I under the wrong impression?

* I don't want to simply drain/refill with tranny fluid... I'd like to have a shop with thorough tools completely drain the tranny, drop the pan, etc. I just didn't know if the dealership price was in the ballpark of other shops (~$100) or much more for this service, and also if I should use synthetic when they fill it back up.

* Why should I not use Techron? Should I use one of the $4 Prestone fuel system cleaners then?

* Using 87 gas would only save me less than $50 per year saving 20 cents per gallon with 1 mile per gallon less fuel economy, so it's probably best to stick with 91+.

 

I've heard nothing but good things about techron. It is one of the best additives in fuel.


James



http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

 

Your not going to spend the extra $2 to fill up with super instead of ****?

 

I just do not understand why higher gas prices are causing people to put anything less than premium in their tanks. I remember when regular was $1.89 and premium was $2.09. My most expensive gallons of premium were $3.49 when regular was $3.29. In both cases the price difference was $0.20 a gallon. So the "premium" you a pay for premium stays the same at $0.20 a gallon.

Now if you look at the percentage difference:

Before-----Reg $1.89 ----> Prem $2.09 = 10.5% increase

After ------Reg $3.29 ----> Prem $3.49 = 5.7% increase


Total increase in cost from going from reg to prem as a percentage is actually decreasing as the price of gas goes up. The increase in gas prices sucks, but in my opinion we should not even think to use regular until the difference in price becomes proportional to the increase in gas prices. That probably will not happen though.

 

3. Reason?

 

Maybe thats the case where you live, but here in CT when the prices went up, so did the graduation in price between grades. It was rediculous. At one point I believe there was a 35-45 cent difference between regular and premium.


James

 

I picked up a solid 2 MPG by doing the timing advance at Nissan. Bumped it to a bit over 17 degrees. That's close to a 10% increase.

The timing advance limits you to premium but that doesn't cost 10% more.

 

Dang, at costco where I live, the difference between premium and regular is 15cents.

 

Ya, you have a good car with a great engine, may as well as give it the best. And using those over the counter fuel system cleaners won't hurt, and depending on your car mileage, maybe you should use Seafoam as well. Def don't cheap out on the gas, if you can afford an Infiniti you should be able to afford the premium.

 

It didnt here in Jersey! w00t!

Even if Regular was 80 cents per gallon and prem was 1.80, I would still buy Premium! What the hell is wrong with you people? Stop being tight asses and put premium in your tanks!! It will save much worry down the road.!

 

You should always use premium gas.
and
I would use BG44K Fuel Additive.
it can be pricey at around 22.00
bucks a can but I hear its the best.
Use it about once a year and dont spill any.

 

BTW-
BG44K Fuel Additive can be hard to find.
I get it at the Nissan dealership.

 

Whoa whoa guys I didn't say I would cheap out I actually posted that after doing some math, it would only save me about $45 per year by using 87 instead of 91, so I decided to keep running 91. So no cheap gas here!

Still wondering about tranny service and whether or not I should get it done at a transmission place like Aamco, the dealership, or what... and which fluid should I get? Where do they sell synthetic transmission fluid that is compatible with my '02 I35? Pep Boys? Autozone?

Thanks a ton, guys. I am very pleased with this car so far and plan on keeping this one for a long time.

 

A Nissan dealer will do this for you? Does it void your powertrain warranty?

 

Some will, alot won't.
but I believe timing should be at 15 degrees +/- 2 degrees.
so you won't void a warrenty if you stay at 17 degrees.
It also seems alot of Maximas are at 14 degrees.

 

I have had very good experiences with Aamco. They did my gear oil for me 3 weeks ago. Quick and friendly.

 

What is it with you and this analogy?

 

Yes, he didn't even charge me. It only took a few minutes. I can actually feel a bit more power a lower RPM. Alot of people on the Org have had it done. It's one of the first things I would do.