regular unleaded to premium
10-03-2013, 08:35 AM
#1
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regular unleaded to premium
Hey guys, so I have a 97 max file and my parents have been filling it up with regular unleaded since I could remember BC of the gas prices in Cali.I was wondering what would happen if I wanted to fill the gas with premium now? Would it be better to the engine or not? Thank you
10-03-2013, 09:23 AM
#4
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Just want to make sure man.since the engine and pings are always getting regular I don't want it to be in shock and breakdown on me bro.thanks again.here its about 20 cents more for premium so its not much more fo r a full tank.
10-04-2013, 09:51 AM
#7
I use midgrade. The owners manual recommends premium, but what a lot of people forget/don't know, is that premium was 91 octane when these cars first came out. I used to use regular, then always developed some sort of fuel issue, so I at least use midgrade now, which is a night and day difference from regular. I tried premium after midgrade and didn't notice a difference, so im not spending an extra 20 cents a gallon for nothing. Haha.
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Posted from Maxima.org App for Android
10-04-2013, 11:21 AM
#11
Have you proven that mith on your dreams or just paper.?
That is only an opinion, depending on how broke some people are and ignorant going from synthetic oil to regular walmart brand is like giving your 200k engine life back.
Same goes for low octane to per say 89-91 it is only a safety feature.
That is only an opinion, depending on how broke some people are and ignorant going from synthetic oil to regular walmart brand is like giving your 200k engine life back.
Same goes for low octane to per say 89-91 it is only a safety feature.
10-04-2013, 12:33 PM
#12
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Location: Portland, Oregon
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This topic has been discussed endlessly. Do a search.
Nissan itself says to use premium for maximum performance. It says so on a label next to your gas cap.
If your knock sensor is dead, you might as well run regular. The computer retards the timing whenever a knock sensor is dead or if regular is used. They do that to protect the engine form knock. Knock is bad for the bearings.
The trade off is like this: if you use premium like Nissan recommends, the computer will advance the timing. You will feel more power and your engine will run better. The gas mileage will increase. Yes, the gas costs a little more. But you get more miles per gallon. So you might as well.
If you insist on putting regular in your car, you might think you are saving money. But your computer will retard the timing and you will burn more of that cheap gas. The knocking will make your knock sensor die an early death. They are not fun to replace.
To those who will insist that I am wrong, first tell me if your knock sensor works.
Bottom line..... The Maxima was not built to be an economy car. It is intended to be a powerful car for its engine size. It wants to be fed premium gas for premium performance.
Nissan itself says to use premium for maximum performance. It says so on a label next to your gas cap.
If your knock sensor is dead, you might as well run regular. The computer retards the timing whenever a knock sensor is dead or if regular is used. They do that to protect the engine form knock. Knock is bad for the bearings.
The trade off is like this: if you use premium like Nissan recommends, the computer will advance the timing. You will feel more power and your engine will run better. The gas mileage will increase. Yes, the gas costs a little more. But you get more miles per gallon. So you might as well.
If you insist on putting regular in your car, you might think you are saving money. But your computer will retard the timing and you will burn more of that cheap gas. The knocking will make your knock sensor die an early death. They are not fun to replace.
To those who will insist that I am wrong, first tell me if your knock sensor works.
Bottom line..... The Maxima was not built to be an economy car. It is intended to be a powerful car for its engine size. It wants to be fed premium gas for premium performance.
10-04-2013, 02:09 PM
#14
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Yes
Not quite, the ECU will run a default "safe" timing map to avoid any chance of knock and ping if the KS is dead.
The ECU cannot detect the octane rating of fuel, therefore doesn't know if your using 89 or 105. It listenes for knock and or ping detected from the KS and adjusts timing as needed.
It's very possible to run regular fuel (most people use regular) and not have any knock and or ping detected, therefore running a standard timing map.
The computer retards the timing whenever a knock sensor is dead or if regular is used.
.
.
The ECU cannot detect the octane rating of fuel, therefore doesn't know if your using 89 or 105. It listenes for knock and or ping detected from the KS and adjusts timing as needed.
It's very possible to run regular fuel (most people use regular) and not have any knock and or ping detected, therefore running a standard timing map.
10-05-2013, 06:43 PM
#15
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well guys, i filled it up with premium on thursday.it seems to be running smoother and gets faster quicker than before.the best thing is that the tachometer before when i would start up the engine would sometimes go up and rapidly go down seeming like the batter was bad or something but would still start up, now it starts up regularly.idk much about cars, but would it be alright if i continue fueling it up with the premium or midgrade or would it blow up like njmaxseltd said.thanks for the help guys
10-05-2013, 06:52 PM
#17
How do you know? I knew this kid once...
Last edited by TexasTex; 10-05-2013 at 06:55 PM.
10-05-2013, 09:47 PM
#23
Hahaha, I had a vision of my wife putting premium in my 3/4 ton turbo diesel.
Her - "Thanks for letting my friend Amy and I use your truck to move her new couch. I filled it up with premium, just like you put in your Camaro. I think there's something wrong though, white smoke is coming from it and it's louder than usual."
Me- "Yea, no problem babe....WAIT, YOU DID WHAT?"
Took a weekend to drop the tank and clean the system out. No glow plug damage, thank God.
You're clearly hanging around the wrong crowd.
Her - "Thanks for letting my friend Amy and I use your truck to move her new couch. I filled it up with premium, just like you put in your Camaro. I think there's something wrong though, white smoke is coming from it and it's louder than usual."
Me- "Yea, no problem babe....WAIT, YOU DID WHAT?"
Took a weekend to drop the tank and clean the system out. No glow plug damage, thank God.
You're clearly hanging around the wrong crowd.
10-06-2013, 06:45 AM
#24
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At this point I have no idea what the problem is, so we continue talking about it, until she comes out with "the pump was weird and didn't fit in the hole like it usually does" so now light goes off in my head and I'm thinking holy **** she put in diesel, not only that but she did it despite the fact the pump is green and didn't fit right!! How can you really make such a mistake, I don't know, and then she even kept going when the pump wouldn't fit and was determined to do it! Needless to say, she wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed and "things didn't work out" with her.
My opinion on gas has always been that it's very important, and if the car calls for premium you should use premium, instead of saving a dollar or two on a full tank. Your engine will thank you for it in the long run, and you get way better performance. To me it's the same as drinking malt liquor vs. expensive bottle of something nice, you can even feel the difference the morning after when you have no hangover vs. terrible hangover from cheap drinks.
10-06-2013, 12:53 PM
#25
In my old I30, my gf put in diesel once. I got a call from her saying "Babe, I'm at the gas station and just filled up a FULL TANK and then the car started weird, and it died and now it wont run! What do I do?"
At this point I have no idea what the problem is, so we continue talking about it, until she comes out with "the pump was weird and didn't fit in the hole like it usually does" so now light goes off in my head and I'm thinking holy **** she put in diesel, not only that but she did it despite the fact the pump is green and didn't fit right!! How can you really make such a mistake, I don't know, and then she even kept going when the pump wouldn't fit and was determined to do it! Needless to say, she wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed and "things didn't work out" with her.
My opinion on gas has always been that it's very important, and if the car calls for premium you should use premium, instead of saving a dollar or two on a full tank. Your engine will thank you for it in the long run, and you get way better performance. To me it's the same as drinking malt liquor vs. expensive bottle of something nice, you can even feel the difference the morning after when you have no hangover vs. terrible hangover from cheap drinks.
At this point I have no idea what the problem is, so we continue talking about it, until she comes out with "the pump was weird and didn't fit in the hole like it usually does" so now light goes off in my head and I'm thinking holy **** she put in diesel, not only that but she did it despite the fact the pump is green and didn't fit right!! How can you really make such a mistake, I don't know, and then she even kept going when the pump wouldn't fit and was determined to do it! Needless to say, she wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed and "things didn't work out" with her.
My opinion on gas has always been that it's very important, and if the car calls for premium you should use premium, instead of saving a dollar or two on a full tank. Your engine will thank you for it in the long run, and you get way better performance. To me it's the same as drinking malt liquor vs. expensive bottle of something nice, you can even feel the difference the morning after when you have no hangover vs. terrible hangover from cheap drinks.
And yes, I agree fuel wise.
10-06-2013, 01:17 PM
#26
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10-06-2013, 02:26 PM
#30
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Location: Jacksonville, FL
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Well, 91 isn't available in my area, so I go with 93 with my car. If both are available where you are, try 91 first. Also, if you have pure gas (non-ethanol blended), get that.
10-06-2013, 05:08 PM
#32
Stock car u can get away with 89 no problem, but I wouldn't run 87 ever... I jus run 94 octane (i've tuned to that) from Petro Canada-it only used to be available from Sunoco. it's only 2 cents more per liter than 91 so like a 1.50 difference per tank, what a deal!
10-06-2013, 08:29 PM
#34
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Have you tried to "edumacate" them as they say these days...lol. They had that hiccup in the 09's that said "premium only"' but every other Max since 89 other than that year till the 13 has said premium recommended "not required" for maximum performance!
Last edited by MONTE 01&97 SE; 10-06-2013 at 08:32 PM.
10-06-2013, 09:31 PM
#36
Sometimes I chime in & other times I just ignore those threads. The recommendation is there for a reason. If people there are asking those kind of questions, I believe they bought the wrong car. If spending money on premium is an issue, they should have purchased something else.
10-06-2013, 10:18 PM
#37
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,042
It has kinda also been said that these cars have injector problems. Well I've had my i30 for over 3 years and nite once had she had the taste of regular gas....oh wait yea she has this is the gods honest truth :
So my neighbor needed to use my Car he said he'll put gas in. He did and he even filled up the tank. So normally after the tune up and cai install my mpgs went up a huge difference. After 3 days of driving i literally had half a tank. Im like what the hell is going on. Two more days i was on E. So i filled her up and the drivability was better and she was sipping the gas now. We were talking about his maxima about the work that needs to be done on it. Started complimenting my car and i told him the gas situation and he was like oh yea i went to citgo and used regular ...i forgot.
Hell my mom got onto my sisterabout using regular in her i. And my sister uses premium in her altima
So my neighbor needed to use my Car he said he'll put gas in. He did and he even filled up the tank. So normally after the tune up and cai install my mpgs went up a huge difference. After 3 days of driving i literally had half a tank. Im like what the hell is going on. Two more days i was on E. So i filled her up and the drivability was better and she was sipping the gas now. We were talking about his maxima about the work that needs to be done on it. Started complimenting my car and i told him the gas situation and he was like oh yea i went to citgo and used regular ...i forgot.
Hell my mom got onto my sisterabout using regular in her i. And my sister uses premium in her altima
10-07-2013, 01:16 AM
#38
Hahaha, I had a vision of my wife putting premium in my 3/4 ton turbo diesel.
Her - "Thanks for letting my friend Amy and I use your truck to move her new couch. I filled it up with premium, just like you put in your Camaro. I think there's something wrong though, white smoke is coming from it and it's louder than usual."
Me- "Yea, no problem babe....WAIT, YOU DID WHAT?"
Took a weekend to drop the tank and clean the system out. No glow plug damage, thank God.
Her - "Thanks for letting my friend Amy and I use your truck to move her new couch. I filled it up with premium, just like you put in your Camaro. I think there's something wrong though, white smoke is coming from it and it's louder than usual."
Me- "Yea, no problem babe....WAIT, YOU DID WHAT?"
Took a weekend to drop the tank and clean the system out. No glow plug damage, thank God.
10-07-2013, 01:20 AM
#39
In my old I30, my gf put in diesel once. I got a call from her saying "Babe, I'm at the gas station and just filled up a FULL TANK and then the car started weird, and it died and now it wont run! What do I do?"
At this point I have no idea what the problem is, so we continue talking about it, until she comes out with "the pump was weird and didn't fit in the hole like it usually does" so now light goes off in my head and I'm thinking holy **** she put in diesel, not only that but she did it despite the fact the pump is green and didn't fit right!! How can you really make such a mistake, I don't know, and then she even kept going when the pump wouldn't fit and was determined to do it! Needless to say, she wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed and "things didn't work out" with her.
My opinion on gas has always been that it's very important, and if the car calls for premium you should use premium, instead of saving a dollar or two on a full tank. Your engine will thank you for it in the long run, and you get way better performance. To me it's the same as drinking malt liquor vs. expensive bottle of something nice, you can even feel the difference the morning after when you have no hangover vs. terrible hangover from cheap drinks.
At this point I have no idea what the problem is, so we continue talking about it, until she comes out with "the pump was weird and didn't fit in the hole like it usually does" so now light goes off in my head and I'm thinking holy **** she put in diesel, not only that but she did it despite the fact the pump is green and didn't fit right!! How can you really make such a mistake, I don't know, and then she even kept going when the pump wouldn't fit and was determined to do it! Needless to say, she wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed and "things didn't work out" with her.
My opinion on gas has always been that it's very important, and if the car calls for premium you should use premium, instead of saving a dollar or two on a full tank. Your engine will thank you for it in the long run, and you get way better performance. To me it's the same as drinking malt liquor vs. expensive bottle of something nice, you can even feel the difference the morning after when you have no hangover vs. terrible hangover from cheap drinks.
10-07-2013, 11:04 AM
#40
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