Does a 2000+ year maxima require special gasoline?

[vi edit]

I can give you some experience based upon my Volkswagens. They both suggested I use premium gasoline. If I put the 90 octane ethanol blend in there, I got about 5MPG (highway) lower milage than I did with 92 octane "non"ethanol gasoline.

5MPG * 14 gallons = 70 miles difference. If I'm getting 25MPG, then that's roughly 2.8 gallons of gasoline that I lost because of skimping on the good stuff. 2.8 * $1.30 = $3.64.

If I had spent the extra $.15 for premium, it would have only cost me $2.1.

I save money in the long run going premium.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I can give you some experience based upon my Volkswagens. They both suggested I use premium gasoline. If I put the 90 octane ethanol blend in there, I got about 5MPG (highway) lower milage than I did with 92 octane "non"ethanol gasoline.

5MPG * 14 gallons = 70 miles difference. If I'm getting 25MPG, then that's roughly 2.8 gallons of gasoline that I lost because of skimping on the good stuff. 2.8 * $1.30 = $3.64.

If I had spent the extra $.15 for premium, it would have only cost me $2.1.

I save money in the long run going premium.

The car and driver stated that a car that says it needs only regular notices no gains from premium (as I thought), and to back up your findings a car that requires premium and is put on regular will suffer a noticeable power loss - from 6.6% in their m3 to about 10% in their saab. Less power is less efficiency if it's the same engine so I'd presume your gas mileage would drop a lot as well. I suppose I'll go with the premium if I get such a car. Losing 15 or so horsepower is fairly bad and if I'm barely saving any money due to worse gas mileage anyway what's the point I guess...

 

vi_edit


The difference in mileage is due to the fact you used Ethanol which is known widely to reduce mileage.

Look closely at htis chart

 

Skoorb ;

Why don't you just measure the difference between the two ?

Run one tank of premium, measure your mileage and then run one tank of regular.


Off to work

 

[ObiDon]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Roger
No long term consequences except for what Eli stated ;

Higher fuel consumption

Less power

But can't you guys give me exact numbers? I want the answer so that I can compare the loss of mileage versus save in gas. Please get me the numbers guys I don't care how long it takes ya!

Okay, just for you...

Before I start I have to mention that I don't know exact names of the 3 fuel grades since I normally use super. So, I will assume regular/premium/super.

A year or two ago I was curious about the same thing. Normally, I drive until my fuel reserve light comes on and then I go get gas. When I do this it takes around 18 gallons to fill it (~22 gallon tank) back up. Also, out of habit, I always reset my tripmeter at the same Chevron that I always go to. I average about 25MPG in normal city-type driving.

Most of my driving is to/from work, the grocery store, and Fry's.

When I filled with premium ($1.69 at the time) my reserve light came on right around the 400 mile mark.

When I filled with super ($1.79 at the time) my light would come on about 450 miles later.

So, using super would cost me about $1.76 more per tank but I was getting about 50 miles per tank of gas. Compared to the cost of using the next grade down, it was like getting a free gallon every time I went!

Your mileage may vary.

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

I want my maxima.

 

[Hammer]

did you get it already then?

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Originally posted by: hammer09
did you get it already then?

Nope. Sigh.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

This has got me thinking.. should I use special gasoline in my 240sx?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
This has got me thinking.. should I use special gasoline in my 240sx?

Only if Nissan says it is necessary to. Otherwise there is no real benefit, notwithstanding the claims of the petroleum companies (who, lo and behold, are selling gasoline!).

 

[notfred]

I Still don't understand how people can buy a $25,000 car, spend $350/month on payments, $100/month on insurance, and then say they can't afford an extra $10/month for the right gasoline.

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Originally posted by: notfred
I Still don't understand how people can buy a $25,000 car, spend $350/month on payments, $100/month on insurance, and then say they can't afford an extra $10/month for the right gasoline.

Did he say he cannot afford it? Maybe he was just trying to gather information....

AND I agree. If you cannot afford the gas, duh, you cannot afford the car!

 

[Parrotheader]

GREAT question. If I end up having to buy used on my next car, a 2000-2001 Maxima is probably going to be my first choice and after years of driving around in a regular-unleaded Sentra I was spoiled to not even looking at the cost of gas and wasn't really looking forward to paying an extra $2-$3 for super unleaded every time I fill up.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: notfred
I Still don't understand how people can buy a $25,000 car, spend $350/month on payments, $100/month on insurance, and then say they can't afford an extra $10/month for the right gasoline.

Well the car costs about $15k, not 25k! I am not the sort of guy who likes throwing away money when it's useless. If there is an advantage to premium I'll use it, and that was the point to this thread. If there is no noticeable advantage I wouldn't. It's like replacing your oil every 3000 miles or every 500 miles. Every 500 miles is a waste of money (hell even 3000 may be). It's all about optimizing my dollar.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Parrotheader
GREAT question. If I end up having to buy used on my next car, a 2000-2001 Maxima is probably going to be my first choice and after years of driving around in a regular-unleaded Sentra I was spoiled to not even looking at the cost of gas and wasn't really looking forward to paying an extra $2-$3 for super unleaded every time I fill up.

That's what we're driving - an old sentra! It's a 93, and I think it will look simply smashing next to a 2000 maxima

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: notfred
I Still don't understand how people can buy a $25,000 car, spend $350/month on payments, $100/month on insurance, and then say they can't afford an extra $10/month for the right gasoline.

Well the car costs about $15k, not 25k! I am not the sort of guy who likes throwing away money when it's useless. If there is an advantage to premium I'll use it, and that was the point to this thread. If there is no noticeable advantage I wouldn't. It's like replacing your oil every 3000 miles or every 500 miles. Every 500 miles is a waste of money (hell even 3000 may be). It's all about optimizing my dollar.

Exactly. Go my cute little Skoorbie, go!

 

[Parrotheader]

I don't know if you guys already have a specific car picked out yet, but given that you drive almost the exact same car I do and are looking at similar cars in a fairly similar price range AND since you live in Birmingham now you might want to check out a car lot I just saw down in Pelham the other day. I can't remember the exact name of the place right now, but it's near some car rental place near the YMCA off Highway 31. Their entire lot (roughly 60-80 cars) was almost exclusively made up of Japanese imports in the $7,500 - $18,000 range. Tons of Accords, Maximas, etc. at what looked to be awesome prices.

 

[Mill]

Every now and then I will run 110 octane with and lean out my car a little bit on the bottle. It is 6.50 a gallon. EEK!

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Parrotheader
I don't know if you guys already have a specific car picked out yet, but given that you drive almost the exact same car I do and are looking in a fairly similar price range AND since you live in Birmingham now you might want to check out a car lot I just saw down in Pelham the other day. I can't remember the exact name of the place right now, but it's near some car rental place near the YMCA off Highway 31. Their entire lot (roughly 60-80 cars) was almost exclusively made up of Japanese imports in the $7,500 - $18,000 range. Tons of Accords, Maximas, etc. at what looked to be awesome prices.

It may be called pelam imports which I've noticed on autotrader (not sure of the name though). That particular lot you're talking about we drive by every time we go to the gym! I will see what they want but our needs are very specific:

- 2000 maxima
- price ceiling of $16k, and $14k would be preferable
- must be under at least 60k miles for the powertrain warranty and under 36k is great so that we can extend everything
- must be a 5-speed

I've found a few that meet these criteria but the 4th is difficult. Most maximas are autos and I may have to go to Atlanta to buy one, which I don't wanna do! The drop in price of these maxims is astonishing. It's not hard at all to find a 2000 in the 30k mile range for $14.XX K. Most are GXEs of course, but one guy has a 2000 SE with 54k miles available now for $15,100. Thing looks awesome!

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Parrotheader
I don't know if you guys already have a specific car picked out yet, but given that you drive almost the exact same car I do and are looking in a fairly similar price range AND since you live in Birmingham now you might want to check out a car lot I just saw down in Pelham the other day. I can't remember the exact name of the place right now, but it's near some car rental place near the YMCA off Highway 31. Their entire lot (roughly 60-80 cars) was almost exclusively made up of Japanese imports in the $7,500 - $18,000 range. Tons of Accords, Maximas, etc. at what looked to be awesome prices.

It may be called pelam imports which I've noticed on autotrader (not sure of the name though). That particular lot you're talking about we drive by every time we go to the gym! I will see what they want but our needs are very specific:

- 2000 maxima
- price ceiling of $16k, and $14k would be preferable
- must be under at least 60k miles for the powertrain warranty and under 36k is great so that we can extend everything
- must be a 5-speed

I've found a few that meet these criteria but the 4th is difficult. Most maximas are autos and I may have to go to Atlanta to buy one, which I don't wanna do! The drop in price of these maxims is astonishing. It's not hard at all to find a 2000 in the 30k mile range for $14.XX K. Most are GXEs of course, but one guy has a 2000 SE with 54k miles available now for $15,100. Thing looks awesome!

That is either Pelham Imports or Pelham's Bill Bryd Kia.

 

[Parrotheader]

Yeah, Pelham Imports is the name. I live out that way and didn't even notice it until I was joyriding the other night. Their prices are what impressed me the most. Don't know if they're buying and fixing wrecks or what, but quite a few cars seemed to have fairly decent prices on them.

Finding a stick will be tough. I'd say 80% of the ones I've seen listed are autos. So WHO will be driving the Maxima when you get one?

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Originally posted by: Parrotheader
Yeah, Pelham Imports is the name. I live out that way and didn't even notice it until I was joyriding the other night. Their prices are what impressed me the most. Don't know if they're buying and fixing wrecks or what, but quite a few cars seemed to have fairly decent prices on them.

Finding a stick will be tough. I'd say 80% of the ones I've seen listed are autos. So WHO will be driving the Maxima when you get one?

Duh, me of course!

Actually I will be since I will be the one with the longer commute.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Parrotheader
Yeah, Pelham Imports is the name. I live out that way and didn't even notice it until I was joyriding the other night. Their prices are what impressed me the most. Don't know if they're buying and fixing wrecks or what, but quite a few cars seemed to have fairly decent prices on them.

Finding a stick will be tough. I'd say 80% of the ones I've seen listed are autos. So WHO will be driving the Maxima when you get one?

I am normally the one who drives when mrs and I are in the car but it would depend on who has the most miles to drive. FOr a while mrsskoorb will be commuting to chatannooga a couple times a week to be a nurse (FU Alabama nursing board), so she'd use it during that period. Thing is I figure that increase in insurance and gas and car payments will run us the same as price on a rental car for her travelling, so we're going to find the perfect maxima!

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: MrsSkoorb

Originally posted by: Parrotheader
Yeah, Pelham Imports is the name. I live out that way and didn't even notice it until I was joyriding the other night. Their prices are what impressed me the most. Don't know if they're buying and fixing wrecks or what, but quite a few cars seemed to have fairly decent prices on them.

Finding a stick will be tough. I'd say 80% of the ones I've seen listed are autos. So WHO will be driving the Maxima when you get one?

Duh, me of course!

Actually I will be since I will be the one with the longer commute.

I don't get to borrow it? :frown:

 

[Parrotheader]

Originally posted by: MrsSkoorb

Originally posted by: Parrotheader
Yeah, Pelham Imports is the name. I live out that way and didn't even notice it until I was joyriding the other night. Their prices are what impressed me the most. Don't know if they're buying and fixing wrecks or what, but quite a few cars seemed to have fairly decent prices on them.

Finding a stick will be tough. I'd say 80% of the ones I've seen listed are autos. So WHO will be driving the Maxima when you get one?

Duh, me of course!

Actually I will be since I will be the one with the longer commute.

Somehow it seems like every woman I know always gets the better car while the husband is stuck with the old one I'm getting this sinking feeling that when we replace my old Sentra next Spring my wife will somehow end up driving the new vehicle while I am relegated to the second string car again ('97 Accord in this case.) That's just one of the reasons I'm pushing to get a 4-door Tacoma since she doesn't really care if it ends up being a truck