Premium vs regular

[jimboteque]

I have a 2007 Altima 3.5 SE CVT. Owners manual says premium, but gut feeling is that regular is fine. Thoughts? I figure it's more important to be putting quality gas in the car (staying away from places like Arco, Costco, etc) than it is to worry so much about octane. I also read on here somewhere that higher octane can actually decrease the power since it's tougher to ignite. What're everybody's thoughts on this?

[QR25DE]

If the manual states premium, you will need to run premium. 91+ Octane prevents engine knock which can destroy your motor. Putting in lower octane gas such as 87 can cause knocking and decrease fuel mileage.

The 3.5L requires premium and gets the most fuel economy and performance from 91+.

[downedzephyr]

If the manual states premium, you will need to run premium. 91+ Octane prevents engine knock which can destroy your motor. Putting in lower octane gas such as 87 can cause knocking and decrease fuel mileage.

The 3.5L requires premium and gets the most fuel economy and performance from 91+.

premium is "recommended", not required. you can run 87, but is it really worth risking knock to save like 3 bucks at the pump?
i would much rather shell out the couple extra bucks instead of having to worry about having my engine turn into a grenade.

[atlM35]

You might be able to get away with regular in the winter, but my 3.5s all ran like crap when I tried to use regular in warm climates.

[asoomal]

You can stick in regular, the ECU should back off the timing to compensate for knock.

[ItsEcko06]

I also read on here somewhere that higher octane can actually decrease the power since it's tougher to ignite. What're everybody's thoughts on this?

higher compression ratios need higher octane gas. if your motor isn't set for 91+ octane then yes it will decrease power since it isn't igniting properly/completely.
knocking/pinging happen when u use lower than recommended octane gas and the air/fuel mixture detonates prematurely therefore damaging the internals.the fix, not really a fix but a requirement, is using higher or "proper" octane gas

you learn something new everyday!

[RicerX]

Shell V-Power FTW.

Anyone up north use Sunoco? At one point, I seem to remember them having 95 octane a long time ago.

[dldjros69]

i thought it was 94?

[RicerX]

I don't remember - it's been several years.

[downedzephyr]

i would love 95, or even 93... all i see around where i live is 91 smh

[berretta28426]

So would you recommend 89, 91, or 93. My SE-R says premium, but what is premium and what is super premium and all that *@$% Every gas station uses different stupid terms for their different octanes!!

[rcboy514]

Premium will always be the highest octane number available any any gas station apart from those places that sell anything above like 95 or so. I would use 89 and above.

How is this thread still alive? it's a simple concept.

1) If you car manual says to use premium then use it.

2) if it doesn't ask for premium then don't use it.

Stray from those two statements and keep it to yourself. This is like making a thread about how to drive a manual car, there are 10,000 different ways people think is best, but in reality you can drive stick or you can't. Lets keep it simple. thank you

[downedzephyr]

Premium is like 91+

[The Real Berg]

my 2010 3.5 manual says 87 or higher.are they telling me 87 is ok but i can go higher? either way i use mid grade t just makes me feel better then using the lowest grade in my baby.i did try premium before and the car seemed to run with less sound but a little less peppy for some reason