When I was getting my ECU reflashed at Technosquare, Tadashi told me the traction control worked by retarding the timing. With a reflashed ECU, you get more timing. I noticed my car pinged a bit at low rpms. Soooooo . . . the other day I was near my Union 76 gas station that serves up 100 octane race gas ($7.19 a gallon!!!!). I put in 5 gallons on an empty tank and then filled the rest with 91, giving me about 93-94 octane. Then after I was sure I had the good stuff flowing, I turned off traction control, and turned off AC. When I accelerated, it pulled like such a beast. I spun the tires in 2nd gear all the way up an on ramp without even trying. U guys gotta try that!!! woohoooo!!!

 

Did that a few time and its absolutly crazy, spinnig out through 2nd gear and what not..

 

how and where i turn off traction control?????

 

Sorry, OT, those wheels of yours are 18's Deus, right? I cant wait to put my early purchase on...even though there hasent even been any snow and they theoretically could be on the car now

 

i second that

 

Its behind ur steering wheel in the dash, on the left side next to steering wheel heater.

 

I always thought that traction control would become active
only if the car detects that it needs it even though the button
is on.

 

TC is an option isn't it? Not all 6th gen's have it?

 

That is correct. I don't have that as an option (I have a blank panel where the switch should be...).

So, as a result, I spin my tires more than I want to. It was really bad when I had the balding RSA's... especially when it rained.

 

Ho well i don't have it either so GRRRRRRRRR

 

You guys don't know how traction control works? I don't have it on my 2004 but my last vehicle had it. I think the DPP package in 04 didn't include the TCS. I only miss it when it rains. Wonder if it stays on in Manual mode ??

 

My SL doesn't have it, and thats both good and bad, I guess. I do enjoy having the freedom to spin my tires if I want to and have the entire throttle response available to me but when its bad weather out it can be helpful. My Pathfider LE has it and it works great in that big rig. Although my Max does very well in the rain and snow, so far.

 

The 07 has traction control but I have VDC (which I didn't think much about when I bought it but am really impressed by it now). Anyway, my manual says I can turn off VDC but TC will always be on. That sucks.

 

The octane of the racing fuel you bought is known as Research Octane. The octane of the premium you bought is determined by the formula you find posted on most gas pumps as (R+M)/2. This means that the 91 octane number premium gasoline is not measured on the same basis as the 100 Research Octane racing fuel. Because most people on this thread are familiar with the octane number posted on the pump, I will translate the racing fuel to an approximately similar octane number.

Most gasolines have what is known as a 10 point sensitivity -- which normally would result in a gasoline with 100 Research Octane having a comperable 90 Motor Octane. Using the formula, above, this would give the racing fuel a comperable 95 octane number compared to the 91 octane number of the premium gasoline.

If you put 5 gallons of 95 octane number racing fuel in a tank that holds a total of 20 gallons, and the rest of the tank held 91 octane number fuel, the average octane of the mix would be about 92 octane number. The improvement in your Max's performance over burning 91 octane number fuel may actually have occurred, but I suspect some of it resulted in wanting better performance and thinking that you had close to 94 octane fuel -- when it was, in reality, only about 92 octane number.

If you want more information on "Octane Nnumber, and What It Means," check out my thread on that topic in the Fluids & Lubes section of this site -- here:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=396716

By the way, I understand that California mandates that commercial premium gasoline can be no more than 91 octane number. There must be a waiver for the racing fuel you bought -- and the price is an indicator that Union Oil does not want to sell too much of this product -- because it will run afoul of the state mandate on commercial premium gasoline. I've not figured out why environmentalists are making this restriction in premium gasoline octane number, but they obviously have some reason.

 

I thought it's the other way around, no ?

 

This is what the manual says:
About TC:
"As long as these lights are on (the TCS OFF light), the traction control function is canceled. The vehicle will behave like a vehicle without the system."

About VDC:
"If the vehicle is operated with the vehicle dynamic control system OFF using the VDC OFF switch, VDC functions will be turned off. The VDC system will still try to transfer power from a slipping drive wheel to one with more traction when the VDC system switch is OFF. The Slip indicator will flash if wheel spin is detected. The ABS will still operate with the VDC system off."

It doesn't technically say that TC is still on when VDC is off, but it will still control the slipping wheel when off which, to me, is TC.

 

Good info.

 

The TCS in my '06 [non VDC] reduces the engine RPM to correct the "Slip" [wheel spin] condition, "the transfer power from a slipping drive wheel to one with more traction" stated in the manual refers to the LSD only avaible on 6 speed MT

 

I thought the CVT with VDC does essentially the same thing as a LSD, since it's all computer controlled? Nissan never really spells out how their system works (like other manufacturers do). When I've pushed it, say in a curve, my engine rpms don't fall...but maybe it's just braking instead of transfering power. Either way, it sucks because I can't turn whatever it's doing totally off. Safer, but not as much fun.

 

Fantastic Info

Deus wont show his head in this thread after his 100 octane gas fairytale. lol

 

Thanks to both you and maxhead for the recognition. There are times you need to know the science of what is being discussed. That is why I did the long posts on octane in the Fluids & Lubes section of this site -- so people would not be confused or mislead over the different octanes.

What Deus did was a reasonable assumption, unless you are very conversant with the differences in octane and octane number. Throughout the rest of the world (other than the USA and Canada) all advertised octane is Research Octane -- which is the measurement basis used to get the 100 octane racing fuel he used. Give the guy a break.

 

Now it makes sense. Last time I visited Poland I was scratching my head when I saw everybody buying 98 octane gas. Now I understand it!.

Yeah Deus deserves a break as most of us would you the same formula to calculate it. I would.

 

BTW, why is "95" octane gas so freaken expensive. Sunoco used to carry 94 (at least in NY) for like a dime more per gallon.

 

The TCS does retard timing...same was true in my GTP. We always turned it off at the track. Some guys even went as far as pulling the fuse, which in that car also eliminated power steering.

 

Mobscene: I have never been ashamed or afraid to "show my head.

I did notice my pinging stopped which indicates that the octane did increase. Of course there may be the "wishful thinking" factor in which by putting higher octane, one may "believe" the car is performing better. But it really does feel like its more responsive. I dont have any data to support it, no dyno pulls etc. I do know the car performs better without TC if ur careful with the throttle because it does retard the timing according to Tadashi.

 

what do u mean by "retard the timing". sry im a little lost. and what do u mean by be careful wtih the TCS off.

 

Retard the timing means that the engine timing is backed off to reduce power to the drivee wheels to regain traction. You have to be careful with traction control off since it allows full power to the wheels which may cause the car to go out of control under certain circumstances.

 

where can i find this 100 octane around the NJ area.....I would love to drain my tank and fill it up with it.

 

Hey I am just bustin your *****..

 

In California 100 R Octane racing fuel is expensive because it's made especially for racing -- and appears to have some sort of waiver from the very strict controls that the California Air people have over commercial grades of gasoline there.

If you are able to find it elswhere (Union would be the first oil company to try contacting), it should also be expensive for these added reasons (which also apply to California):

- It is made in small batches at selected refineries.
- The refinery must use high-octane components that are not very prevelent in the hydrocarbon streams of most refineries -- and in most cases can be used more profitably for blending commercial premium gasoline.
- It requires a separate tank in the refinery for storage.
- It is not shipped in pipelines (low cost) and probably not shipped in barges either (where appropriate).
- It is very likely delivered from the refinery all the way to selected race-fuel locations only by tank trucks (all the way = higher cost).

Sunoco used to make 94 octane number premium for selected markets in the North East section of the country. BP (previuosly Amoco) used to make "Crystal Clear Amoco Ultimate" premium gasoline (93 octane number) for the eastern half of the country. Both companies no longer make these specialty premium gasolines because government regulations require so many different gasoline blends to meet specific air quality regulations for smaller geographic areas, that all of the pipeline and many of the terminal tankage that was previously used for these unique products was taken by these different "botique" grades of gasoline, mandated for specific markets. When you can ship unique products (like 94 octane Sunoco -- made in larger batches) through pipelines to terminals for final delivery by truck, you can substantially reduce your supply and distribution costs versus shipping the product (made in very small batches) all the way by truck.

Those in the North East who believe their Max needs only premium (or have mods that increase their VQ's octane requirement) should be happy that the industry standard for premium in their area is 93 octane and not the California mandated maximum 91 octane for premium in California.

Me, I keep burning regular in my VQ. Here at 6 K feet elevation, 85 octane regular performs like 91 octane premium performs at sea level. Even when I drive east, I burn regular with no adverse performance problems -- but I don't ever race my Max. If you race, be certain to use premium for max performance.

 

screw what nissan says about the tank being 20 gallons that thing is only 17gallons maybe 17.5 tops. I drove my car to empty i mean sucking fumes and filled up to 17.2gallons.

 

Unless yoyu drained all the residual fuel in the tank, then on your overring Nissans claim of 20.5g volume tank.

 

Very interesting post. Here in Missouri, 93 octane premium is easy to come by. I've also heard of some stations in some parts of the state selling 120 octane fuel. I've not personally seen it, but several years aqo it was selling for about 4x what regular gas was going for. I have no idea if they still do or not.

 

I have put in 19.1 & 19.3 gallons during the first month of driving my '06 [80% highway]. I filled up a few times after I drove about 50 miles after seeing the low fuel light on and was only able to put 17.xx gallons in the tank I then realized there is about a 4 gallon resevere when the low fuel light first goes on. So yes the 6th gen has a 20 gallon tank. And no BS I will put money on that statement

 

My real point was not to re-hash the octane argument, but that the traction control lowers performance, but, if used correctly, when taking off TC, you gain power. I believe that the higher octane helps if you shut of TC AND have reflashed your ECU, which further advances the timing. Has anyone else tried this?

 

I couldn't get traction in first gear even with 25-30% throttle with TCS off when I ran a few weeks ago, spun both wheels well past the 60' mark. I also found this to be true with my other cars too; they don't pull as hard with TCS on.

 

I filled up with 91 and it doesnt pull like the 100 octane. That 100 works.

 

I don't doubt that it works for you -- you had the ECU in your Max "rehashed" -- or rather reflashed. This change obviously allows the VQ engine in your Max to take better advantage of the modern engine technology built into the VQ. For those of us without this mod, the over $4 per gallon you are paying for 100 Research Octane Racing Fuel would be a complete waste of money.

Glad you found something (even though it is "way expensive") that improves your engine preformance.