Just changed Maximas, recommended fuel grade?

[Pillman9mm]

Hey all, I just traded in my 1996 Maxima automatic for a 2001 Maxima SE with a 5 speed manual. I always ran 87 in my old one and it was fine. Should I continue to run 87 in this new one or should I go to a higher grade?

[MinisterofDOOM]

You can safely run any grade. Premium will net you a little more power and probably get you a tiny bit farther per fillup, but 87 won't hurt anything.

[Nrw]

they require a min of 91. So didn't your 4th gen.. You "can" run cheap **** but your gas mileage WILL go down, I know this from experience.

[WalterGA]

they require a min of 91. So didn't your 4th gen.. You "can" run cheap **** but your gas mileage WILL go down, I know this from experience.

The minimum stated in my 2007 Maxima's manual is 87 octane. It's what I run. I've tried a couple of tanks of 93 octane, and I can't tell much difference in mileage. Gasoline is "mislabled" as "regular", "mid-grade", and "premium". "Premium" gas is no better gas than "regular"; the premium is just not quite as combustible as are the other grades.

[marlin29311]

The minimum stated in my 2007 Maxima's manual is 87 octane. It's what I run. I've tried a couple of tanks of 93 octane, and I can't tell much difference in mileage. Gasoline is "mislabled" as "regular", "mid-grade", and "premium". "Premium" gas is no better gas than "regular"; the premium is just not quite as combustible as are the other grades.

Depends on the station that you fill up at - you're right that the labeling of the fuel has to do with the AKI index and it's suceptibility to detonation, however, at stations like Shell, the premium fuel (in this case, V-Power) contains a higher level of cleaning detergents for your engine than the regular fuel.

[Nrw]

The minimum stated in my 2007 Maxima's manual is 87 octane. It's what I run. I've tried a couple of tanks of 93 octane, and I can't tell much difference in mileage. Gasoline is "mislabled" as "regular", "mid-grade", and "premium". "Premium" gas is no better gas than "regular"; the premium is just not quite as combustible as are the other grades.

Sorry I misread I meant "recommended". I do the same route for every tank 80% of the time. One tank I averaged 20mpg, mixed highway and city, and then the next tank with 93 I averaged 25mpg mixed. That's a noticeable amount if you ask me. Driving style did not change and I had nothing malfunctioning.

The reason for higher octane is as you said so its less combustible. These motors are fairly high compression, 10:1 for any of the VQ30's. You want a fuel that is less combustible so it doesn't pre-detonate or "knock", which is when the fuel ignites before the spark. To counter this the ECU adds more fuel thus decreasing fuel mileage.

And here's a quote that I have seen pulled out of 6th gen owners manual by multiple people in different places. "for improved vehicle performance NISSAN recommends the use of unleaded premium gasoline with an octane rating of at least 91 AKI number (Research Octane number 96)."

I will give you this though. You didn't go saying its so much more expensive. Because in reality its 3-5 dollar difference between a full tank of reg, 87octane, and premium, 93octane.