What kind of gas can I use in the 300zx?

[LIBRILZ]

I think going with 87 would be just fine. I have the N/A model by the way so yeah, I don't see the big problem. I wouldn't run the car hard either.

[clickdoc]

even the NA needs the higher octane or it will cause detonation -- i bought an NA from a guy that used 87 -- ran like sh#$t ! it is worth the cash -- give it what it deserves !

[freakonaleash1187]

ONLY RUN PREMIUM IN Z32'S!! If you can't afford premium, don't buy a Z.

[Hamann]

even the NA needs the higher octane or it will cause detonation -- i bought an NA from a guy that used 87 -- ran like sh#$t ! it is worth the cash -- give it what it deserves !

IWhen i bought my car the guy told me he ran 87. I put in nothing but 93 and yes my car is running like ****. It keeps on fouling out on cylinder 4 for some reason.

[tg]

ew. 94 all the way.

It will save you on cats/o2 sensors/plugs down the road, not to mention keep your combustion chamber and turbo's cleaner.

[evildky]

the higher octane is more resistant to preignition (pinging), this can damage your pistons, it's cheap insurance to put the proper gas in it, your talking about an extra buck ro 2 at fill up, if you can't afford it maybe you should get an economy car?

[clickdoc]

when i bought my last Z the guy was running 87 -- and it had a bad injector -- i say give it what the cars manual askes for -- premium -- ps the compression on a NA is higher -- a further need for high octane -- if it not already too late -- get a good fuel injector cleaner or better yet try terraclean -- it cleans everything from the intake to the exhaust & the O2 sensors -- ~ 135 dollars -- injectors are alot more expensive -- and it is worth a try to get your NA running like a real Z !

[96SoftTop]

the higher octane is more resistant to preignition (pinging), this can damage your pistons,

Umm... Please re-word... "resistant to preignition" will not "damage your pistons". Missing that "resistance" might cause piston damage. You inadvertantly promote the use of LOWER Octane in your statement.Quote »it's cheap insurance to put the proper gas in it, your talking about an extra buck ro 2 at fill up, if you can't afford it maybe you should get an economy car?[/quote]Actually, my Owner's Manual says the N/A needs 91 Octane. If you burn gasoline with a higher Octane you are, 1. wasting money, and b. causing problems in the engine. Octane is a combustion retardant. As such, if you have a higher compression ration, you need a higher Octane rated fuel. However; a stock N/A running 94 Octane, when it only needs 91 will retard combustion, and make the ECU work harder to compensate.

Under no circumstance will a higher Octane rating improve performance UNLESS you are getting pre-ignition combustion (knocks or pinging, which are used interchangedly, though not correctly). If you can hear a clicking or blinking sound when you hit the accelerator, you are probably running a fuel with an Octane rating that is too low.

Octane will not make your car faster, more reliable, or more efficient if it is not needed. Octane is not a magical additive. It makes gas burn more SLOWLY.

Ken

P.S. Besides... you can't buy an Octane rating higher than 92 where I live unless you have a license to buy "racing fuel".

[tg]

Umm... Please re-word... "resistant to preignition" will not "damage your pistons". Missing that "resistance" might cause piston damage. You inadvertantly promote the use of LOWER Octane in your statement.

Actually, my Owner's Manual says the N/A needs 91 Octane. If you burn gasoline with a higher Octane you are, 1. wasting money, and b. causing problems in the engine. Octane is a combustion retardant. As such, if you have a higher compression ration, you need a higher Octane rated fuel. However; a stock N/A running 94 Octane, when it only needs 91 will retard combustion, and make the ECU work harder to compensate.

Under no circumstance will a higher Octane rating improve performance UNLESS you are getting pre-ignition combustion (knocks or pinging, which are used interchangedly, though not correctly). If you can hear a clicking or blinking sound when you hit the accelerator, you are probably running a fuel with an Octane rating that is too low.

Octane will not make your car faster, more reliable, or more efficient if it is not needed. Octane is not a magical additive. It makes gas burn more SLOWLY.

Ken

P.S. Besides... you can't buy an Octane rating higher than 92 where I live unless you have a license to buy "racing fuel".

There is more to high-test than just the octane content, 94 can hold more detergent and maintain the same ignition quality -- your manual recommends 91 as a MINIMUM. Liscence to buy racing fuel?? not around here... we can get 104 at the strip in cans.

[96SoftTop]

There is more to high-test than just the octane content, 94 can hold more detergent and maintain the same ignition quality -- your manual recommends 91 as a MINIMUM. Liscence to buy racing fuel?? not around here... we can get 104 at the strip in cans.

Not here. If you want 104, you better have a NASCAR or SCCA License.

And you can get any "detergent" that you want, it has nothing to do with Octane. Maybe I don't understand what you mean by "high-test", but the engine and manual dictate your Octane rating. Certainly not a causic agent like "detergent". "Detergent" is required, by law, to be posted on any fuel dispenser.

[tg]

Not here. If you want 104, you better have a NASCAR or SCCA License.

And you can get any "detergent" that you want, it has nothing to do with Octane. Maybe I don't understand what you mean by "high-test", but the engine and manual dictate your Octane rating. Certainly not a causic agent like "detergent". "Detergent" is required, by law, to be posted on any fuel dispenser.

The 94 here has significantly more detergent compared to the 91 -- this helps ALOT to keep your combustion chambers, injectors, plugs and o2 sensors in top shape, plus the price difference is negligent.

I ran 94 in my 1992 baretta (my first car) from 30,000km to 270,000km and never changed an o2 sensor or injector at all and when I sold it it ran like a top and had excellent compression. I swear by it, but if its not available where you are then I guess 91 will do.

One thing is agreed, lower octane than your manufacturers rating is a terrible idea, especially on a sports car.

[96SoftTop]

The 94 here has significantly more detergent compared to the 91 -- this helps ALOT to keep your combustion chambers, injectors, plugs and o2 sensors in top shape, plus the price difference is negligent.

I ran 94 in my 1992 baretta (my first car) from 30,000km to 270,000km and never changed an o2 sensor or injector at all and when I sold it it ran like a top and had excellent compression. I swear by it, but if its not available where you are then I guess 91 will do.

One thing is agreed, lower octane than your manufacturers rating is a terrible idea, especially on a sports car.

Again... Octane is a retardant. It is NOT soap. It has absolutely nothing to do with detergent. You can buy 84 Octane with the same amount of detergent (check Cheveron adds, for example). Will that work on a VG30DETT? I don't think so. The value of, or additives of detergent has absolutely nothing to do with Octane. That would be illegal by EPA Standards. Detergent is NOT Octane, and Octane has nothing to do with Detergent.

The required Octane ratings for your car are based on compression ratios, not how dirty it might get...

Ken

[NSR_s30]

PREMIUM

[96SoftTop]

PREMIUM

Pay for something that you don't need and can't use. Yup... Buy Premium...

No questions asked!

Ken

[Wetmyson]

Pay for something that you don't need and can't use. Yup... Buy Premium...

No questions asked!

Ken

are you making a point? the point being that everyone buys premium because it's more expensive called "premium" without understanding what it is? if so, i agree - a lot of people do that. it's silly.

but the original question asked was what kind of gas to use on a z32 300zx. and i think we all agree that both NA and TT Z32 300ZX's require 91 octane unleaded gasoline, which is often called premium, or super duper gasoline, or whatever. the TT requires premium because it has forced induction and the NA requires it because of the already high compression compression ratio.

so we all agree. let's be friends.

no more of this:

[96SoftTop]

are you making a point? the point being that everyone buys premium because it's more expensive called "premium" without understanding what it is? if so, i agree - a lot of people do that. it's silly.

but the original question asked was what kind of gas to use on a z32 300zx. and i think we all agree that both NA and TT Z32 300ZX's require 91 octane unleaded gasoline, which is often called premium, or super duper gasoline, or whatever. the TT requires premium because it has forced induction and the NA requires it because of the already high compression compression ratio.

so we all agree. let's be friends.

no more of this:

I agree...

But someone said that you have to burn 92 - 94...

My manual says 91, and if I'm lucky, I can find 92 in my town. When folks want to run a higher Octane than they need because they can, that's fine with me. Wasteful, but fine. Welcome to GreenDayAlWeekGoreMonthYear....

[evildky]

yes I worded that poorly, reworded:

higher octane is more resistant to pre ignition

pre ignition is also known as pinging

pinging, over time, can damage your engine

cliff notes:high ocatane = goodlow octane = engine go boom

91 is the highest available at some stations and I believe it's the highest available at the pump in CA? some stations here offer 93 but the next step below is still 89 so it's premium only at my local pumps, my modified 240Z gets 110 race fuel when possible but I run stupid amounts of boost and it's cheap insurance