what gas do you use?

[dasoupdude]

I would cringe at the sight of 89 spilling into there.

[MTLbroker]

According to 20/20 on abc network.

The Price Is Premium, But 'Gas Is Gas'When you head out on vacation this summer, you'll probably spend big bucks filling your car's gas tank, while griping about the price. But a lot of you who are complaining could be spending less for your gas.

You have a choice of gas at the pump. The price of 93 octane premium is more than regular 87 octane -- about 20 cents more per gallon at many stations. Because premium costs more, a lot of people think it's better for their cars.

People told us premium gasoline gives them better gas mileage, more power and cleaner engines.

Regular gas, one woman told "20/20," "leaves a lot of gunk in your engine … That's what my daddy taught me."

But her daddy -- and many of you who buy premium -- are wasting your money.

NASCAR driver Joe Nemechek knows this. "Believe me, I've pumped gas in from about every gas station there's been in my personal cars. Whether it's around town or on vacation or wherever, you put the regular in there it keeps on running," he said. The NASCAR drivers, mechanics, and car makers will tell you that for 90 percent of the cars sold today, high octane is no better than regular gas. It won't give you better mileage, more power or a cleaner engine. NASCAR crew member Lisa Smokstad told us what every expert told us.

"It is a myth that cars run better on premium gas," she said.

Some cars do need higher octane -- older cars that knock, and cars with high-compression, high-revving engines like Ferraris, Bentleys, Jaguars, Acuras, Mercedes and Corvettes.

But 90 percent of new cars don't need it -- check your owner's manual.

The car manufacturers and every car expert we consulted told us that for most cars, high octane is a waste of money. Even the gas companies that sell the high-octane fuel -- and make more money off of it -- admit most people don't need it. But they don't go out of their way to tell you that.

Once you've figured out which octane to buy, does the brand matter? Are the well-known national brands better than the no-name brands, which are usually cheaper?

People we spoke to gave similar reasons for buying name-brand gasoline that they gave for buying high-octane gas. They believed the national brands were higher quality, and better for their cars.

But they may not know that all the gas, brand name and generic, comes from the same refineries. Brand names do use different additives, but it doesn't make them better for your car.

In 1996, the Federal Trade Commission forced Amoco, which denied any wrongdoing, to stop claiming in its ads that it was better than other brands without scientific evidence to back it up.

"It's a myth that brand-name gas is better than a no-name gas," said mechanic Dave Bowman, co-host of "Two Guys Garage" on cable TV's Speed channel.

"It doesn't make any difference whether you're buying a branded product or a no-name product," he said.

"The only difference is price."

The NASCAR drivers agree about that, too. "It's a myth, you don't need the high-octane gasoline, you don't need the, the name-brand stuff," said driver Jimmie Johnson.

Some of the fans have figured that out.

One man summed it up nicely for us. "The manufacturers and the gasoline dealers, they all want you to buy that expensive stuff. It all runs on the same stuff. Gas is gas."

[janeous.k]

i use premium all the time,some say its pointless same say its worth itbut its only 2-3 dollar diffence so i will just spend couple more bucks on carits just my opinion,

[xjmxstac]

According to 20/20 on abc network.

The Price Is Premium, But 'Gas Is Gas'When you head out on vacation this summer, you'll probably spend big bucks filling your car's gas tank, while griping about the price. But a lot of you who are complaining could be spending less for your gas.

You have a choice of gas at the pump. The price of 93 octane premium is more than regular 87 octane -- about 20 cents more per gallon at many stations. Because premium costs more, a lot of people think it's better for their cars.

People told us premium gasoline gives them better gas mileage, more power and cleaner engines.

Regular gas, one woman told "20/20," "leaves a lot of gunk in your engine … That's what my daddy taught me."

But her daddy -- and many of you who buy premium -- are wasting your money.

NASCAR driver Joe Nemechek knows this. "Believe me, I've pumped gas in from about every gas station there's been in my personal cars. Whether it's around town or on vacation or wherever, you put the regular in there it keeps on running," he said. The NASCAR drivers, mechanics, and car makers will tell you that for 90 percent of the cars sold today, high octane is no better than regular gas. It won't give you better mileage, more power or a cleaner engine. NASCAR crew member Lisa Smokstad told us what every expert told us.

"It is a myth that cars run better on premium gas," she said.

Some cars do need higher octane -- older cars that knock, and cars with high-compression, high-revving engines like Ferraris, Bentleys, Jaguars, Acuras, Mercedes and Corvettes.

But 90 percent of new cars don't need it -- check your owner's manual.

The car manufacturers and every car expert we consulted told us that for most cars, high octane is a waste of money. Even the gas companies that sell the high-octane fuel -- and make more money off of it -- admit most people don't need it. But they don't go out of their way to tell you that.

Once you've figured out which octane to buy, does the brand matter? Are the well-known national brands better than the no-name brands, which are usually cheaper?

People we spoke to gave similar reasons for buying name-brand gasoline that they gave for buying high-octane gas. They believed the national brands were higher quality, and better for their cars.

But they may not know that all the gas, brand name and generic, comes from the same refineries. Brand names do use different additives, but it doesn't make them better for your car.

In 1996, the Federal Trade Commission forced Amoco, which denied any wrongdoing, to stop claiming in its ads that it was better than other brands without scientific evidence to back it up.

"It's a myth that brand-name gas is better than a no-name gas," said mechanic Dave Bowman, co-host of "Two Guys Garage" on cable TV's Speed channel.

"It doesn't make any difference whether you're buying a branded product or a no-name product," he said.

"The only difference is price."

The NASCAR drivers agree about that, too. "It's a myth, you don't need the high-octane gasoline, you don't need the, the name-brand stuff," said driver Jimmie Johnson.

Some of the fans have figured that out.

One man summed it up nicely for us. "The manufacturers and the gasoline dealers, they all want you to buy that expensive stuff. It all runs on the same stuff. Gas is gas."

YOU need to read YOUR owner's manual...the 350z's manual states that the only time you put 89 or lower in your tank is if your in a situation where you're running out of gas and there's no 91 or higher available. Even then, the manual tells you NOT to fill it up with 89 or lower. Your suppose to put enough lower octane to get you to the next gas station with 91. Between 20/20 and my owner's manual, I'll go with my owner's manual. Out of all those people that testified that premium fuel doesn't matter, chances are none of them own a 350z, which by the way has a high compression engine.

[XterraVersa]

Some cars do need higher octane -- older cars that knock, and cars with high-compression, high-revving engines like Ferraris, Bentleys, Jaguars, Acuras, Mercedes and Corvettes.

I believe this part would cover the Z. Hell if an Acura needs premium so does the Z.

I don't have a Z yet, but what does the owners manual say about high altitude (5000+ ft)? My Xterra needs 91 octane otherwise mileage drops in half & there is absolutely no power. Sam's Club's 91 is only 10 cents more than 85 in Denver.

[S15nS13vert]

some1 please invent on how to use WATER instead of gasoline

[xjmxstac]

You mean hydrogen cell cars? They invented that 10 years ago...the public is just not ready to give up gasoline.

[2ndVQ35]

You mean hydrogen cell cars? They invented that 10 years ago...the public is just not ready to give up gasoline.

[shar75]

I hope you guys realize that they don't even have any fuel below the rating of 94 in Japan. The rating on the fuel is actually the detonation point, this is the amount of force that is needed to ignite the fuel. Why do you think that a diesal engine doesn't have spark plugs? (not from the magic fairys in the cylinders) So all you morons with spark knock keep on keepin on. You'll just keep mechanics like me in business. Thanks.When your piston has a hole in the top or the valves have burned up you'll come whining about how much it's going to cost.

[nterrigno]

always use 93!

[xjmxstac]

I hope you guys realize that they don't even have any fuel below the rating of 94 in Japan. The rating on the fuel is actually the detonation point, this is the amount of force that is needed to ignite the fuel. Why do you think that a diesal engine doesn't have spark plugs? (not from the magic fairys in the cylinders) So all you morons with spark knock keep on keepin on. You'll just keep mechanics like me in business. Thanks.When your piston has a hole in the top or the valves have burned up you'll come whining about how much it's going to cost.

calm down man, easy with the name calling...its been established that 91 or higher should be used. You kinda sound like a my350z.com member.

[JDMZ32]

YOU need to read YOUR owner's manual...the 350z's manual states that the only time you put 89 or lower in your tank is if your in a situation where you're running out of gas and there's no 91 or higher available. Even then, the manual tells you NOT to fill it up with 89 or lower. Your suppose to put enough lower octane to get you to the next gas station with 91. Between 20/20 and my owner's manual, I'll go with my owner's manual. Out of all those people that testified that premium fuel doesn't matter, chances are none of them own a 350z, which by the way has a high compression engine.

same in the Z32 manual. also, don't listen to the guys at advance who say "power steering fluid is the exact same thing as automatic transmission fluid" because apparently it's not and apparently nissan had good reason for saying "only put ATF" in your power steering. yeaup.

[Burtonboarder950]

some good news: In jersey gas just dropped from 3.95 back to 3.89! The price of cigarettes dropped from 6.5 back to 6. idk y they dropped but im not complaing.

[vpacnico]

I personally use 91, where did you see 93 at ?

[Slider4105]

93 octane is here on the east coast, yall over on the west don't get it. 91 octane is what the lowest premium is listed as so it's fine to use. It's just an added bonus that we get 93.

In the G you can run 89 but it retards the timing really bad, you loose a lot of power, and I got like 3 mpg less than running premium (parents borrowed the car and thought 89 was close enough). Also, the owners manual in the 1st Gen G sedan states you can use regular but premium is recommended (coupe says to use premium only, dunno what that's about but its the same motor).

[Psyhons]

whoever puts 89 or lower should get their Z confiscated

Agree! It even says Premium Gas Only!!!

[R350Zz33]

93 all the time all day long i can even get race gas if i wanted put 93 right now is $2.19 a gallon not bad but im running on $4 worth of gas right now. (haven't gotten paid yet)

[nik..]

here in greece we have only 95 & 100 octane unleded gas and maybe i am not sure thats the reason the vqhr 2007 produce 313 hp in here compare to us model 306hp vqhr 2007..

[slipstream_pnoy]

here in greece we have only 95 & 100 octane unleded gas and maybe i am not sure thats the reason the vqhr 2007 produce 313 hp in here compare to us model 306hp vqhr 2007..

wow 95 -100 thats crazy, i wish that states octane was that high.

[NissanFairladyZ32]

93 FTW

[R350Zz33]

maybe this year ill get mixed gas

[xjmxstac]

mixed gas? like acetone and petrol?...

[Ar878]

I hear mixing a lot of water in your engine makes like 20 extra hp

[xjmxstac]

I hear mixing a lot of water in your engine makes like 20 extra hp

gatorade + 25hp...

[1DMFSTZ]

Mostly C116 but 93 mapped also.

[R350Zz33]

mixed gas? like acetone and petrol?...

no race gas and petrol

[xjmxstac]

Hahah he quoted himself what a tool."Subie's aint S**T from a roll" -R350Zz33 Are you talking about STI's? Did he know you were trying to race him? You're a sucker puncher aren't ya?

[R350Zz33]

seeing how i go to school with him and we went out on the road to race and did a 40 50 and 60 roll. yes he was racing yes its and sti its and 06 and no its not stock

[rmezz13]

seeing how i go to school with him and we went out on the road to race and did a 40 50 and 60 roll. yes he was racing yes its and sti its and 06 and no its not stock

not stock like lug nuts and eyelids(?) or not stock like bigger front mount and injectors, or even a cobb tuner, because those make a huge difference in a turbo car and there is not much else to mod besides those as pretty much a step one...

[Anthonysflying]

How did this STI mess end up on two threads?