I just got a new Maxima about 2 months ago. It kicks *ss but my question is what brand of gas is the best to use. I know you need to use premium but what brand??? I currently use Chevron Supreme. Please help!!

 

Congratulations on getting a Max. Is it an auto or 5 speed? I also use Chevron supreme sometimes I use Mobil or Arco. I don't noticed an improvement when switching bransds, so I go with whatever gas station is selling their premium gas for less. I usually stick with these three and avoid using "generic" brands. I have heard on the board to avoid using 76 gas since it contains certain additives that can harm the Vq engine. So stick with Chevron and you should be fine. Try doing a search and see what you come up with.

 

It is an auto. I know that you can get more power with a 5 speed but I am lazy and I would rather just have to drive. Does Price Club use that Unical 76 gas? Has anyone ever heard of that?

 

I just use premium, at the Arco station. Personally, i dont see te point in paying more at other stations.

 

I thought that stations like Texaco and Chevron were better because they use additives in there gas.

 

Perhaps, but now Arco uses CleanTech From personal experiences, all our cars have run fine on the cheapy stuff. Our 88 Camry has no problems what-so-ever, and i've always put in 87 Arco. But, to each his own!

 

I get either Chevron or Shell.

 

Our high-compression Maxima engines tend to be a little finicky with regard to the gasoline you use. They're actually able to tolerate lower octane ratings better than some of the additives gasoline manufacturers put in their gasolines.

The best pump gas on the market is Chevron Supreme with Techron. The only gasoline I'm aware of that should specifically be avoided is Unocal 76.

Hope that helps.

 

up here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, we don't get Chevron our only choices are Sunoco, Shell, Esso(Exxon) and Canada's own Petro-Canada

now, the province of ontario has the DIRTIEST gas in North America when it comes to sulphur content...the limit is around 1000ppm (or something like that)...the cleanest gas of the bunch happens to be Sunoco (around 50ppm of sulphur) and the dirtiest is Esso (around 900ppm...funny how they're still within legal limits!). this is one of the reasons why engines branded ULEV or SULEV aren't beneficial in ontario, the sulphur in our gas messes up their emission control systems

needless to say, i put Sunoco supreme (or Ultra94 whenever gas is cheap)

cheers

 

Just out of curiousity, why aviod Unocal? I kno people who dont fill up anywhere but there.

 

As long as the station has 91 octane, I don't care where I go..

 

I have used Chevron 93 almost always and have never had any problems like pinging, etc....

 

Use the search funcion and search on "Unocal" in the 5th Gen Forum, Mike. When you're done, let me know if you have any questions.

 

What did Nissan-USA say about the long term affects of using Unocal fuel? It said from past posts that they were going to check for you.

 

Unocal 76 gasoline contains an additive than can foul the injectors on our engines.

 

Thanks y2kse. It is only Chevron Supreme for me then.

 

hmmm, very good info to know! thanks

 

Does anyone have a QuikTrip around them? If so, I think you'll be with me when I say these are the best gas stations and best gas on the planet. They are an unbelievably large step above the other guys. And no, I don't work for them, just buy their product.

BTW, does anyoen know if dealerships put anything but premium in these thigns when they fill em, cuz i put in premium for the first time the other day and the car runs smoother and responds to throttle better than it did with the dealership's gas...

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the dealer delivers the car with the cheap stuff....

 

Without a doubt, UMD_MaxSE.

 

I used to fell the same way until I saw a special report onthe local news channel that gas stations had been selling 87 octane and passing it off as premium. Sucks. I am glad that I never actually filled it up from unfamilar gas brands. Most of those stations that were being shut down where unknows. Nothing like Chevron, Texaco, or Mobil. Makes you wonder doesn't it?

 

when we got our car the dealer filled it up with regular and said it would be fine...oh well

my dad uses 91 shell...does anyone know why arco is cheaper?

 

We used to have Texaco, but they were in competition with Shell or something like that, and one of the companies had to go. So, Texaco left, and Arco replaced all of the Texacos here in Hawaii. I don't know about there, but Arco's gas is refined locally by some of the lesser known, local brands (e.g Aloha gas, or possibly Tessoro/Gas Express). Also, since they don't spend any money on marketing, and the cheaper cost of refining by a non-name brand, I would think these are the reasons. I'm not 100 percent sure though.

I use Chevron surpreme. I used to use Arco, but the car seems to run better.

 

so arco's gas quality isnt any worse than Shell/Mobil/Chevron/etc.?

 

I have only used Chevron Supreme 93 octane. Inless I am really low on gas and need some gas, I will add like 5-10 dollars and fill up at the next Chevron. I also beleieve their comercial states that the 3 major car companies in america use their gas to pass the emisions test. So I assume that is for a reason.

 

I used mobile for the first 20k But then I tried Formula 1 Shell and I just felt better.. I heard that people say they feel their car performs better…. Or maybe its because the paid more.. either way for me it’s Shell all the way….

 

I know many people who say Arco's gas is watered down and less pure and blah blah. But, a local news cast said that most gas stations buy the gas from the same refineries, and the only difference is the additives. My 88 camry is proof that the gas doesn't harm the engine. If Arco's gas is watered down, my camry runs on part water!

 

all i hear is chevron this and chevron that. too bad there arent that many chevrons where i live.

 

The only ones I have seen in MD are around Gaithersburg or rockville...

 

the maxima manual says it doesn't recommend using fuels w/ oxygenates, or something like that. i know chevron (in Kali) uses oxygenates (it says it on the pump) to lower emissions and stuff. do other places also contain oxygenates?

 

Oxygenates like MTBE / ETBE / TAME are used in CA to lower emissions.
I think all of the gas in CA has MTBE added ( posted on the pump ).

Do we have a choice ???

In states with strict emission controls, adding it might be the only way to comply ( lucky Texans ! ).

 

I use Exxon/Mobil because I have an ExxonMobil Mastercard and I get a 3% discount at their stations. I do this up in PA when I go there on weekends becasue gas is like $0.30/gal cheaper

If I need to fillup in MD I'm starting to hit the Chevron station that's right up the street from me. Even though I don't get my 3% discount, since their gas is 10 cents cheaper than the cheapest Exxon/Mobil in town I still save money, and plus I've heard very good things about their fuel on multiple automotive forums.

So either Chevron or Exxon/Mobil for my Accord V6.

 

The only thing MTBE (and it's derivatives) do is contaminate the ground water. I think it's been shown that it doesn't do crap for emmissions, but hey, it's government mandated, and the goverment is here to help us.

We here in the midwest (thanks to the farmer's lobby) we use ethanol. It raises the octane, but has less power than gasoline.

Do we have a choice? *NO* It's an EPA mandate. Worse, the levels of additives vary depending on where you live, so when Chicago had $2++/gal gas prices, stations just couldn't go out and get *any* gas, they had to get gas that's formualted for this area. Go 75 miles in any direction, and the formulations are *different*.

I still maintain I lose approx 2mpg on this oxygenated gas crap.

Stuff like this just irks me off...

 

I only use two credit cards these days. An Associate Bank's Amoco Visa (web purchases only) and a Chase Bank Shell Mastercard.

I think the terms on the Amoco card is something like 3% on gas. It's changed since BP bought Amoco.

I use the Shell card *all* the time. (Even for groceries.) 5% back on purchases at Shell, 1% on everything else. According to my last bill, I've gotten $825 back since 1993.

'Course, I haven't carried a balance in over 15 years. These cards are *not* worth your time if you carry a balance.

 

Oh yeah, I get 1% back on my Exxon/Mobil card on "everything else" too. That Shell discount is awesome, but unfortunately there's not enough of them in my area to really use one.

There's also a Motor Trend car club card that will give you 10% off at ANY gas station, but it's a debit card, has to be pre-paid, and there's something like a $10/mo service charge so you have to fricken drive A LOT to beat the 3% from my ExxonMobil card. The 10% is nice on the MT card, but you have to drive enough per month so that the money you save pays for the $10/mo service charage AND still beat the 3% on a normal gas credit card to make it worthwhile.

I fall into that category (30,000 miles/yr +), but it's only a debit card, it's pre-paid, and if you lose it you're screwed because there's no security.