To Premium or not to Premium that is the question

[Korbinian]

I was thinking of buying a 1998 Q45, but I don't think I would be able to afford putting Premium in it. So my question is this would I be able to just run the car on regular without harming the car?

[Raxephon]

You're in Nova Scotia, aren't propane/LPG conversions common there?

Premium will take you the farthest and your car will treat you better for it, running regular is a bad idea in any car especially a Q45.

You can, but its still a bad idea.

[maxnix]

I was thinking of buying a 1998 Q45, but I don't think I would be able to afford putting Premium in it.

If that is your criterion, then you need to find a car that can burn regular.

Don't even consider a high performance luxury car unless it is one of the newer Cadillacs. They have more severe porblems than just fuel quality.

[Korbinian]

I know about all that but can someone please just answer my question. Please!

[maxnix]

My reply did. What do you not understand?

[Korbinian]

Ok I get it I wont buy it thanks.

[SteveTheTech]

Don't get discouraged by it, the car really does run better with premium as the base fuel map is designed for the higher resistance to burn.

The Q is not a cheap car to own, I understand that gas in Canada is pricey, try looking at an I30/35. The total cost of ownership is significantly less and they still have the highline badging.

[maxnix]

I understand that gas in Canada is pricey, try looking at an I30/35. The total cost of ownership is significantly less and they still have the highline badging.

But they still require premium.

The best regular burning gas car in my book would be the Honda V6 or I4 with a manual shift. The coupes at least look a little sexy. Just got to love FWD plowing and no LSD.

[SteveTheTech]

Yeah but you can adjust the base ignition timing to compensate for people who use cheap gas.

Oh maybe a G20, still not cheap maintance but it has a reliable drive train if it's maintained properly.

Whatever you end up getting make sure you get it checked out.

[Q45tech]

Even though people believe regular has enough detergents to keep valves and combustion chambers clean, we always see improvements in idle and stress acceleration WHEN/ AFTER a fuel system cleaner chemical is used. OBVIOUSLY a high compression engine requires MORE than a lower compression engine.Actually it depends on how people drive, When we blow the soot out on a test drive by hitting redline a few times locked in first gear, the engine always idles better and seems less tempermental by the end of the 5 mile loop. We almost always see clouds of black soot behind us.

Same with a typical 2nd gear acceleration up to 90 mph clouds come out just slower and longer...........some pf this is from the extra richness to protect pistons and cats.

But if you do the acceleration a second time you see much less black smoke, so something is cleaner.

Don't wait until you do a supid 2 lane pass and stair down a SEMI to look for that extra 0.1 second and 12 feet of space.

[Sanger]

Yeah but you can adjust the base ignition timing to compensate for people who use cheap gas.

Oh maybe a G20, still not cheap maintance but it has a reliable drive train if it's maintained properly.

Whatever you end up getting make sure you get it checked out.

The problem with most older Nissans / Infiniti is the KS failure, which is suppose to adjust the timing with lower grade gas.

Here is an article from NY Times regarding use of regular unleaded vs. premium.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08...itial

[Korbinian]

So if the KS fails while I'm using regular I'm screwed?

[SteveTheTech]

SHHH that's a secret though. LOL.

There are ideal running conditions and then there's what people are going to do. Despite the fact that the gas door as well as the combination meter both recommend premium.

[Korbinian]

Alright thanks for all your answers guys now I have something to think about.

[SteveTheTech]

Well Korbinian as you can see from how this topic has evolved that there are tons of people here who can help with just about anything. Feel free to ask questions if you have any.

[Victor]

The NYTs article gave an example of a Hyundai Genesis getting 7 more horsepower (2% more) using premium compared to regular, which I would assume would translate to about 2% better gas mileage. I don't know what the figures would be for a Q45, but I assume the difference would be greater since the Q wasn't designed to run on either although it could. Well anyway, here in California in my area premium usually runs about 20 cents a gallon more than regular, or about 5% more. So just on economics, using the NYT figures, you would only save 5%-2%=3% by using regular instead of premium, and risk damaging your engine if the knock sensor ever failed.

[Q45tech]

Every time a cylinder knocks it drives the piston straight down into the rod bearing. This creates extra wear and tear on the bearing, eventually the bearing gives up and a new/used engine is required..............The $200 saved per year should be balanced against the engine or loss of vehicle cost.

I just consider the $200 as part of the $3,000 in annual m & r cost.

[Korbinian]

Ok I think I may buy this car yet but after hearing all of your comments I think I'll only be putting Premium in it.

[maxnix]

Ok I think I may buy this car yet but after hearing all of your comments I think I'll only be putting Premium in it.

That is wise. If you can't afford $300 per year for the premium, wrong car.

You should have a cash kitty for deferred maintenance. Say $2K.

Start by reading the sticky above. Miantenance records will tell a lot, as will fluid inspection and cam cover varnish.

Start with all new fluids and filters.

[Kiven422]

Let me give you a REAL WORLD IDEA

Two cars - A Q45 and any Honda 4 Cylinder.

$20 in your Q45 and get a QUARTER-TANK.$20 in a Honda 4cyl and get HALF-TANK.

85 miles per 1/4 tank in the Q45 (city & hwy)100+ miles per 1/4 tank in the Honda (city & hwy)

$20 in the Q45 = 100 miles max.$20 for the Honda = 200+ miles total.

So what are you paying? Well you got 4 extra cylinders. So thats twice as much on gas. Then your paying for Premium +20 cents. Thats not it... your driving in the city? your mileage sucks. << PERIOD.

My honda will make it a Sacramento in 1/8 of a tank. My Q45 will take 3/8 of a tank. So I paid over 4 times as much.
Modified by Kiven422 at 4:46 PM 9/17/2008

[Jesda]

Here you go. Its ugly, poorly made, and good on gas.

Old Qs > Newer garbage from Nissan

[paranoidjack]

Here you go. Its ugly, poorly made, and good on gas.

Old Qs > Newer garbage from Nissan

MAN, that car really is ugly. That's the late 80's Buick of the 00's.

[maxnix]

I test drove a Versa with a friend who has no clue to automotive excellence and even he thought it was a dog. One of the nastiest experiences I have had recently.

[Razi]

I drove a '00 Hyundai Accent last week.

[MinisterofDOOM]

MAN, that car really is ugly. That's the late 80's Buick of the 00's.

If you like the outside, you should see the inside. The shifter is up on the dash. I guess that's great if you drive like a geriatric with the seat all the way forward. But with my 6'4'' positioned comfortably, it was way out of easy reach. I can't imagine how irritating this car would be with a manual.

[VJ1]

Holy crap!!!, this is the day when I agree with Brian. If affording premium gas is a problem, please dont buy a Q, it's one of the prices you pay for owning such a beautifully engineered machine. The car was designed to run on premium, so use it. I'm the owner of 2 Q45s and 1 ugly *** Sentra (shown above). The Q gets avg. 15 mpg while the Sentra gets avg. 28 mpg,you do the math. But know this, there is no driving experience like a G50. So it somes down to performance, comfort and thrill, or fuel economy. You choose.

[Infinitiguy19]

They must have designed it to be good in the snow because its like 2 feet off the ground.

Thats one car I would think even brian would like to have lowered a bit

Its like nissans eairly attempt at a crossover or they must have been on something when they were designing it.

[mr.beeks]

im just amazed that everybody had a point of view and even showed cost of using premium gas and mileage but never explained the real reason of using premium over regular...

Im not a tech but anybody feel free to correct me if im wrong!

A g20 could burn regular gas because the (SR20DE, previously owned) is built at a lower compresion and thats why you could turbocharge it right away.

A q45 could not burn regular gas at all w/ out knocking (VH45DE, currently own) because the engine is built w/high compression

so if you add regular gas to your Q45 it will knock right away causing the ecu to give CEL code and run on limp mode therefore getting poor performance and also damaging engine.

Now for comparison I love my q45 cause is quiet and it glides thru the road like a 5k feather LOL...

[96Qowner]

Now for comparison I love my q45 cause is quiet and it glides thru the road like a 5k feather LOL...

I believe the early ads tried to explain it in those terms - oops ... but I digress.

That's EXACTLY why I love the G50. I take long highway trips. I get into the Q at 6:00AM and I end the day at 8:00PM - 14 hours. I don't feel the least bit fatigued, nothing aches, and the entire time, I've had the pleasure of operating the car, steering it through broad curves and tight mountain roads, punching it down to 2nd gear to escape annoying traffic, setting the cruise on 80 and just letting it breathe ... It never fails to be a joy to drive.

Now ... in town, I don't like it so much. It never feels like it has much of a chance to get its legs under itself, like a Great Dane in a backyard - three bounds and it has to stop for the fence. But you still get to enjoy that strong feathery ride, and the 1-2 is smooooooth powering out of a tight turn.

Premium? Bah. Don' sweat the few bucks.

Two cars - A Q45 and any Honda 4 Cylinder.