Yeah, 87 is fine so long as you don't mind retarded timing. I think the cleaners and additives thing is a myth with perhaps the exception of "specialty" premium gas such as Shell V-Power... although that may just be a marketing gimmick. At any rate, running lower octane gas will do nothing but make the engine perform less that optimum, and may promote a bit more wear and tear over time. I guess just be glad our cars don't have turbos, or you'd have spark-knock from hell.

I for one use 92-93 octane (usually Chevron)... I paid for a performance car so there's no since undermining that for only about $1.20 per tank savings.

================
1983 280ZX NA 2-Seater Cadet Blue, restored with Nismo suspension & brakes

2005 Saab 9-3ss Linear (daily driver)



Nissan's computers are very sensitive to knocking and octane reduces knocking. While they will run fine, you will definatly lose power.

I saw a dyno comparison on a current gen Maxima running 87 vs 91, and it lost close to 10 hp. Not a hugh amount, but given what some people spend to gain that much HP, I would think the extra $1.50 per tank is a bargin.

Even at one tank a week, thats less that 80 bucks a year. If a buck and a half a week is going to put you over the edge financially, you need to rethink your lifestyle and your choice of vehicles.



I was using 91 and then went down to 89 and the car ran fine. On occasion I would be forced to put Circle K gas in and noticed how poorly my car seemed to run. I didn't really notice it until I began using 91 again. I think the others are right, you're just going to risk knock sensor warnings and gumming up your fuel system over time. It's not that big of a price difference to use the more expensive fuel versus having to spend the $250 to have your fuel system cleaned out.



Think of it from a marketing/business standpoint from nissan. Why would they tell you to use a MORE expensive gas for the car if CHEAPER 87 octane would suffice? That would be an excellent*** marketing campaign for Nissan if their high performance car could use cheap gas. However, that is not the case, for some reason they justify using the higher octane. That's evidence enough for me to use 91+ Octane.

19[TT]91
My TT beauty is gone.
2[00]2 Honda 954RR
Suzuki 1200 S; sportscar eater
19[I4]94 Integra GSR Sedan
Long live the Z...



aka SAHTT




"I think the cleaners and additives thing is a myth"

It doesn't necessarily have more "cleaners" but 91 or 93 octane is more refined. I can speak from experience in a car I only ran 87 octane, I was changing the spark plugs and they all had massive carbon buildup on them. I then tore down the engine and discovered large amounts of carbon on the piston tops and on the back of the intake valves.

78 280z Black Pearl 132K miles? could be 232k miles? who knows...



"Datsun: We Are Driven"



well.... it looks like i'm going back to 93 oct. i've been using 87 for a while and noticed a better MPG... but i think its time to see what i get with 93.... but i do AT LEAST once a month buy berryman's B-12 fuel additive... to clean up the valves, pistons and fuel delivery system.
also i noticed that when i used 93 AND outlaw octane booster NOTHING HAPPENED... well my butt-dyno measured no difference. plus i could not tell any difference in acceleration.

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Higher octane...burns gas slower too! There is a BIG difference.

My SB ZR still feels like HEAVEN....what a wild ride!





ara du hye es? inche peses



who's this guy talking in german?
I use meguires

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Chrome Silver '03 Touring -MT-
C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
Kicker Solo Baric L7 1200w

I don't think, I know...

Well, I don't think you know either



Sorry, but that is NOT German!! Looks like Spanish?
Enno



I love my Z but don't plan on putting 100K miles on it before I sell it. By that time I will be in my dream Z that has a removable hard-top and twin-turbo.

MONEY IS NOT THE ISSUE AT ALL. I got soo many toys and not enough time. My newest hobby is karting: Tony Kart 125 cc

I started out using 91 (highest available) but then my super-gear head friend gave me a 30 min. detailed explanation why you are actually supposed to use the lowest octane as long as there is no pinging & knocking. He studied this in grad. school too and has 5 degrees. I am brainwashed now and won't go back to 91 -- unless if I am on the track.

I took my Z to a big track in Willow Springs, CA last year w/ my same gear-head friend and came back a changed man. I used to road race motorcycles there for 2 partial seasons until thai got too expensive and dangerous. I crashed at 120 mph, had to rebuild my bike, and got back on the horse within 3 months. Then I gave it up for good. Just a few enduro dirt bikes now.

BTW: wish this forum had spell check.

AJ350Z

Las Vegas, NV

2003 350Z : Silverstone, JWT, Voxx 18's, Falken 245/40/18
2004 Tony Kart 125 cc Kart
2002 Chevy Tahoe: black w/ BET style
2002 KTM 520 EXC Enduro Bike: baja




yup... i dunno i just put 93 oct. in and there's a little difference but not much... mostly engine response... i think it does better with 93

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C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
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I don't think, I know...

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"my super-gear head friend gave me a 30 min. detailed explanation why you are actually supposed to use the lowest octane as long as there is no pinging & knocking."

care to enlighten the rest of us? You should use the octane that is recommended by the manufactuer because the vehicle is optimized for that octane rating.

78 280z Black Pearl 132K miles? could be 232k miles? who knows...



"Datsun: We Are Driven"



My question is the 93 octane from Walmart the same as the 93 octane from ExxonMobil?



I guess that thing about your friend was a bunch of BS. Use what you want, but in the long run you won't be saving any money.

78 280z Black Pearl 132K miles? could be 232k miles? who knows...



"Datsun: We Are Driven"



it seems though its the same senario as running across town to get gas that is @ 1.75 per... when there's a gas station around the corner selling for 1.83 per if any of you get my concept.

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Chrome Silver '03 Touring -MT-
C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
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"Nissan sets their maintenance guidelines for an engine intended to last 200K miles +. My 350Z will be with it's 4th owner by then."

This is precisely why people are afraid to buy used cars -- stupid irresponsible owners who treat their cars like crap and then lie about it later. "Yes I always used the best gas..."

Its a good car, use good gas...dont be a cheapo, and since you say you have "many toys", getting the good gas should not be a problem

Superior thinking has always prevailed over superior force.
-1990 300ZX NA 2+2: Greddy SP2

Post Edited (Feb 28, 1:17pm)



Don't call me stupid & irresponsible. This forum is supposed to be fun & informative.

Nissan only "recommends" a premium gas and does not require it.

Now buzz off and get a life.



"Nissan only "recommends" a premium gas and does not require it."

recommends premium gas for optimal performance and engine life. AT LEAST use a midgrade 89 octane. It is far better in preventing carbon buildup. jeez. count your pennys and put them in a piggy bank if thats the only way you can rationalize spending a few bucks more in the interest of sustaining your vehicle.

78 280z Black Pearl 132K miles? could be 232k miles? who knows...



"Datsun: We Are Driven"



tell you what after hearing all this i have already moved back to 93 even though i still have a good pattern of regular maintenance. like i posted above... B-12 fuel system cleaner every 5-6K miles and Mobil1 synthetic oil (5w-30) <-- the recommended motor oil. and an occasional full tank of 93 oct. 1 of every 4 tanks was 93 but i will now use 93 all the time...

he never "Stated" you were stupid and irresponsible... someone has a guilty conscience...hehehe

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Chrome Silver '03 Touring -MT-
C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
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well... now learning that 93 oct already contains a small amount of "cleaners" itself... no it's a waste of time... but since i was using 87 for a while, which as we all now know is a lesser purity of fuel... that could have been the best thing i have done for my engine... and it's not like i was sticking that in there every fill up... but every 5-6 thousand miles... I'm quite sure that a lower octane gas and 6K mile will have some sort of residue built up... and that being cleaned by the B12...

So to kind of answer your question... yes but since using 93... not as often... maybe like once every 10-12K miles...

I also look at it like this... if something breaks... that's just more incentive to put something "better" on there... ex. regular brake line wears... buy steel braided stillen brake lines... Bend a stock rim... get GT-Cs to replace it...

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Chrome Silver '03 Touring -MT-
C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
Kicker Solo Baric L7 1200w

I don't think, I know...

Well, I don't think you know either



********[quote=spudea]
87 octane has less cleaners in it. Over time your fuel system will get "gummed" up, as well as carbon build up on the back of your intake valves as well on the tops of the pistons and spark plugs. Plus your ecu is tuning your car down for the lower octane so you are losing perfermance.
***********


I don't know who told you this non sence, but i can assure you you have been seriously mis led. i have been in the fuel industry since 9/99 driving commercial fuel tankers.

1st of all the number you see at the pump is not a power rating, is not a quality rating, nor does this number reflect the fuels amount of detergent. the number is derived from the averaging of two tests to determine the fuels ability to resist knock/detonation. (mom) motor octane method, and (rom) research octane method(.

now the amount of detergent in fuel is regulated by the federal government, and the off brand compnaies use the bare minimum required by law, and this is why you see the super low prices at places like "race track: and "speed way", or other generic gas stations.

some name brand companies use more detergent than others. lets use chevron as one example. Chevron 87 contains the same amount of detergent as Chevron 89, 91, and 93. the same can be said for texaco, and BP, grade for grade. now chevron may use more detergent in its fuels than texaco, or amoco, but may use less than Hess. but they all have more detergent than what the federal govcernment requires. this i can assure you.

also at the generic fuel station they may not be selling a brand name fuel, but they are still buying from a name brand refinery using the name brand fuel companies "generic" brand of detergent additive, that meets the governments minimum requirements. as i stated earlier this is reflected in the price.


my choice of fuel under 91 octane: Chevron
my choice for fuels 91 and up : amoco ultimate clear with a bottle of chevron techron additive added in.



so since my fill ups generally take place at 7-11 or a QT. what do you think of my Berryman's B-12 habit: GOOD, BAD, or UGLY?

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Chrome Silver '03 Touring -MT-
C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
Kicker Solo Baric L7 1200w

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7-11 only sells citgo. the benefit of buying citgo gasoline is citgo does not import oil, so you know you are not supporting terrorist activities. the same could be said for sunoco, and a few others that i can not remember off the top of my head.

quick trip(QT) is one of those stations that sell unbranded fuel with "generic" fuel additive. on the plus side i beleive they guarentee thier fuel.

im not familiar with berryman's. But B12 sounds like its 112 octane, which contains lead. bad for o2 sensors, and great for cumbustion chamber build up, and clogging catalytic converters.

octane is not a detergent.



B12 is a in some instances is a fuel system and chamber cleaner...it to my knowledge adds no octane...

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Chrome Silver '03 Touring -MT-
C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
Kicker Solo Baric L7 1200w

I don't think, I know...

Well, I don't think you know either



added detergent sounds great. i add a bottle of the techron fuel system cleaner every oil change.