I know maybe many ppl asked this many times already.but I still have the same question in my mind..

I just bought a 97 Maxima GLE, long drive everyday, so wanna save some pennies..

I read the cars.com, they said on the 95-99 maxima, just need the regular gas..I know the gas cap said premium recommended,, but is it really necessary??

If I put the regular gas in my Maxima, the check light will come on?? what the different on the MPG between #87 and #93 gas?

Regular gas should work but if you want optimum performance, use Premium (91). Please refer to the thread below for additional info.

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I compromise and use 89. No issues and I've been running 89 for 7 months now.

Just a late note here, if your knock sensor is OK (check the codes) then you can get away with low octane if you don't run hard. If the knock sensor picks up a knock, it'll retard your timing until re-set or re-learned, and that'll cost you a lot in poor mileage. Get codes read to check KS soon, you may be in trouble already, it's a 'ghost code' that doesn't set off the CEL. If KS code is there, you can fix it with a 'resistor mod' instead of the KS (about $50 or more), but then you really have to be careful about gettin' down on the gas.

The Knock Sensor is in the car for a reason - to detect engine knocking/pre-ignition so the ECM can make corrective action by retarding ignition. It's a piezoelectric device that generates voltage when subjected to pressure/vibration. It's the same device used in audio tweeters with the application reversed (voltage application generates sound).

Usage of a 550K-ohm resistor is only for T/S purposes to confirm a bad KS. It should never be used to replace the KS. If you do so, the engine may be knocking so bad (to the point of destruction) but the ECM cannot do anything since the 'KS' signal seems 'normal.' You are on your own if you replaced the KS with a resistor on a permanent basis.

Lower octane fuel actually has (slightly) higher energy content than higher octane fuel. Whether or not that is beneficial depends on the individual engine. Some cars absolutely DO benefit from premium. Others don't.

But at the end of the day, if your car "recommends" premium, it does so for a reason. Using lower octane fuel can necessitate timing changes to compensate for knock. This negatively affects power and fuel economy. So in cars that actually benefit from premium (like the Max) you're only losing when you downgrade. Less power and poorer economy. A Corolla designed for regular may actually demonstrate decreased fuel economy using premium, but that will not happen in any car designed for higher-octane fuels.

There are a lot of disappointingly over-generalized articles, news reports, and websites out there that want to tell everyone that premium gas is never necessary. That's just not true. If you drive an economy car, it might be true. But the Maxima is not an economy car, and it does not have an economy engine. It is capable of quite decent MPG but the real focus is on performance. The cost of that performance is a higher octane requirement.

I dont see what the big deal is with people tryin to save money using lower octane fuel. Even if yuor a commuter you wont save much more a year using lower octane gas.

Lets just say the premium is 20 cents more per gallon. You drive 10k miles a year getting 20 mpg so you use about 500 gallons. 500 X .2 is 100. So is 100 bux even worth it?

Up here in TO. Canada it's 13 cents more per liter for premium (91). That's why I compromise and use 89 octane @ 6 cents more per liter or about 22 cents more per U.S gallon.

sorry to show the calculation here..

I drive at least 30 thousand miles a year. let's say the car runs 30 MPG.then the car drink 1000+ gallons gas a year..

#87 and #93 have around 40 cents difference..that means more that $400 a year..my car's insurance cover up to 1 millions only cost me $387..

all I means,, if the car really not need the premium gas, why not just use regular.

MTZI30 wrote:I dont see what the big deal is with people tryin to save money using lower octane fuel. Even if yuor a commuter you wont save much more a year using lower octane gas.

Lets just say the premium is 20 cents more per gallon. You drive 10k miles a year getting 20 mpg so you use about 500 gallons. 500 X .2 is 100. So is 100 bux even worth it?

I drive a lot more than 10k a year. More like 20-22k. But even then the cost savings for downgrading are negligible per mile or even over the course of a single year.

I just don't understand why people buy sports/performance/sporty cars when mpg is such a big concern. Obviously the car isn't going to do well. If saving ~$3 per fillup is THAT big a concern, they should have just bought a Yaris.

hangout wrote:sorry to show the calculation here..

I drive at least 30 thousand miles a year. let's say the car runs 30 MPG.then the car drink 1000+ gallons gas a year..

#87 and #93 have around 40 cents difference..that means more that $400 a year..my car's insurance cover up to 1 millions only cost me $387..

all I means,, if the car really not need the premium gas, why not just use regular.

Oh ya for sure in fact some cars do worse on premium. Just for my siituation.....btw 30k a year???? Damn thats a LOTTTT of driving!!!

Hehehe..I did try Yaris , Sentra and Smart for two.. etc..

trust me, while you drive 30+k miles a year, your butt will look for a bigger seat

only compact vehicle I had can satisfy me was the Scion xB.. 2004 HOT LAVA