What would be the consequences of using either of the lower octane gasolines > in this vehicle?>

I would assume mileage would be off some, but would this be enough to > justify $.20/gallon additional cost for premium?>

Would there be any long-term harmful effect of using lower octane gas?>

Any knowledgeable recommendations would be appreciated.>

Don Cohen wrote:> > I have a U.S. 2004 Nissan Maxima SL, and love it. One of the only

I have a U.S. 2004 Nissan Maxima SL, and love it. One of the only> downsides> is the stipulation that it requires Premium gasoline. Given the recent> large increase in gas prices, this is more of a problem.

I would assume mileage would be off some, but would this be enough to> justify $.20/gallon additional cost for premium?>

Seems dumb> to risk damaging a $8,000+ engine trying to save $0.20 a gallon.

I always wonder why people buy hipo cars and then want to use cheap gas in> them.. Is $3 a tank really that big a problem for you? You can afford a> $30,000+ car buy can't spring for premium fuel? Just seems odd to me is> all.

If 20c a gallon is bothering you, you might want to consider a different> car. There won't be any damage from running regular due to the knock > sensor, but you'll lose power and MPG. If the power is not important to > you, why not buy something made to run on regular?

There is about a 20 cent difference, so filling the 18 gallon tank would> cost a maximum of $3.60 more.> That is true whether gas is selling for $1.59 or $2.29 per gallon. The > 3.60> is a small price to pay for good performance and smooth driving. -- If > cost> is an issue, then I would just drive a little more conservatively.>

I'm able to get about 24 MPG commuting to Seattle (in heavy traffic) with > a> 2004 2.5 Ltr.

What would be the consequences of using either of the lower octane

I would assume mileage would be off some, but would this be enough to> justify $.20/gallon additional cost for premium?>

Would there be any long-term harmful effect of using lower octane gas?>

Any knowledgeable recommendations would be appreciated.>

-- > Don> Photo Website at:> http://www.dlcphoto­graphy.net>

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I appreciate the civil response, Tom.>

Has anybody ever done any reasonably controlled studies to demonstrate how > much actual drop in MPG there is going from premium to regular? That was > one reason I posted, as I have often wondered about this. Is it a few > tenths of an mpg, or 4 mpg, or what? I recall the subject coming up many > years ago on "Car Talk" and if I recall correctly, they concluded that the > increase in MPG using premium did not offset the added cost (a slightly > different situation than mine, in a vehicle not specifically recommending > Premium to begin with).>

Best,>

Why is it that people have to be so judgmental, when somebody asks a> question, trying to gather a bit of hard data?

I have often wondered how much one really loses in terms of MPG, and> whether> or not this offsets the cost difference

. There are certainly plenty of > "urban legends" where people assume such and such to be the case, when the> facts would prove otherwise.

Not knowing the answer myself, I figured I'd > ask here to see if there was hard data and information available on this> subject to help me in making a decision.>

As I replied to a similarly confrontational response from Steve T:>

"Not that it's your business, or relevant to the questions I asked,

Sheesh, pretty judgmental group; I was just looking to gather a few> facts.">

Because this question is asked so regularly, did you do a google search on> this group first?

You'll probably see a 2-3 MPG+ loss on this car. And yes it does damage > the> engine over time.

The "facts" were done testing cars not designed to use premium fuel. Just > do> a search on "knock sensor" "Maxima" and see all the people complaining> about poor MPG and poor performance. That's what occures when you use > cheap> gas as well.

Actually it is relevant. As I said, it seems odd someone would buy a high> end performance car and then want to use cheap gas in it. Your > explaination> makes sense but doubt it's a comon one. Most people who are fighting a> major loss of income would sell the high end car and buy something cheaper> to insure, operate and make the payments on.

Maybe if you had explained WHY you need to save money, no one would have> questioned it? Like I said most people who can afford a $30,000+ car, the> taxes involved etc can spring for the $0.20 a gallon premium costs unless> they are just being a cheap.

-- >

Steve>

http://www.atlantar­acing.com

1. Check your tire pressure weekly. 3 PSI off on one or more tires and > what> you saved in gas cost just got burned up in Road resistance.> 2. Maximize your systems capability to produce the best gas mileage > possible> by using the cruise control as much and often as you can. The cruise can> maintain a steadier speed far more accurately than your foot.> 3. Lower Octane gas can lead to Engine Ping or pre-detonation. The ECU > will> retard the timing to prevent this from happening. Retarded timing will > lead> to a richer air-fuel mixture. This means that the engine will not be > burning> as cleanly as possible. There will be a build-up of carbon in the exhaust> and the emissions into the environment will not be as clean as they could> be. If you use fuel that has a high sulphur content, then the unburned> constituents will more heavily contaminate the catalytic converter and > that> may lead to reduced lifespan.> 4. Because the engine is not running optimally, your gas mileage will go> down and you will probably be consuming any savings that you thought you > had> achieved by purchasing a cheaper fuel. This you can easily test for > yourself> and prove. Do two tanks of high octane and two tanks of low octane and > keep> a record of mileage and cost. Then do the math. By the way, you should> probably reset the ECU between tests, as it will learn specific settings > for> one fuel grade versus the other and that may have an adverse influence > upon> your test results.

"Don Cohen" <doncohen@lens-cap.­alltel.net> wrote in message> news:AfadnZ4NTci7WP­zfRVn-1Q@adelphia.co­m...>> I have a U.S. 2004 Nissan Maxima SL, and love it. One of the only> downsides>> is the stipulation that it requires Premium gasoline. Given the recent>> large increase in gas prices, this is more of a problem.>>

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensore­d-Secure Usenet > News==----> http://www.newsfeed­s.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ > Newsgroups> ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption > =----

I remember that article in one of the car mags. Most of the cars tested > weren't even programmed to handle super unleaded. So it was a losing > battle for super un-leaded even before the test began, but the point they > were making was how wasteful people are to put super in a car not even > designed to use it.

This detailed information is greatly appreciated. Between this and the> other posts, it's pretty clear that regular gas is not a viable option.> Thanks for the other tips as well.>

Best,>

-- > Don> Photo Website at:> http://www.dlcphoto­graphy.net>

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Lovely images.> They'd love you at alt.photography if you posted your URL.

I understand where you're coming from, but I thought a straightforward> question looking for some facts while I was in the decision making process> didn't need much further elaboration.>

Just explaining why people find this question so odd. I see people buy > these> new and first thing they do is fill them up with cheap gas, then complain> about "why did it start running bad?"

Sheesh, pretty judgmental group; I was just looking to gather a few facts.

No offense intended, but this question HAS been asked dozens of times in > the past couple years. As other posters have stated, you'll damage your > engine. Don't do it. You're still getting a killer deal compared to the > dozens of SUVers paying $40 (Explorer)-$100 (Excursion) to fill their > tanks! =)

I appreciate the civil response, Tom.>

Has anybody ever done any reasonably controlled studies to demonstrate how> much actual drop in MPG there is going from premium to regular? That was> one reason I posted, as I have often wondered about this. Is it a few> tenths of an mpg, or 4 mpg, or what? I recall the subject coming up many> years ago on "Car Talk" and if I recall correctly, they concluded that the> increase in MPG using premium did not offset the added cost (a slightly> different situation than mine, in a vehicle not specifically recommending> Premium to begin with).>

Best,>

--> Don> Photo Website at:> http://www.dlcphoto­graphy.net>

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