Premium Gas?

[BigB]

This may seem like a really stupid question, but with gas prices they way they are creeping right now..

Do I really need to run 93 octane in the MP3? The previous owner said that is what he ran so I am. Any experiences running 89 or 87 octane? Will the engine knock or ping?

TIA

[oliver2000]

This may seem like a really stupid question, but with gas prices they way they are creeping right now..

Do I really need to run 93 octane in the MP3? The previous owner said that is what he ran so I am. Any experiences running 89 or 87 octane? Will the engine knock or ping?

TIA

Premium is recommended due to the advance timing of the MP3, if you use regular you will notice a difference in performance. The ECU will notice and retard the timing.

[AznXstazy]

Premium is recommended due to the advance timing of the MP3, if you use regular you will notice a difference in performance. The ECU will notice and retard the timing.

yup i can tell when i push on the pedal. its goin to hit 3.50 soon here in va. how about u guys? sucks doesnt it? i thought 2.50 was bad before....god makes me wanan get a civic....

[Kansei]

This may seem like a really stupid question, but with gas prices they way they are creeping right now..

Do I really need to run 93 octane in the MP3? The previous owner said that is what he ran so I am. Any experiences running 89 or 87 octane? Will the engine knock or ping?

TIA

Yeah what Oliver said, I've heard that it'll retard the timing if you stop using premium. I'll find out myself when I have to drive the 350 miles back home because I plan on running low on gas before the trip, and then I'll toss 87 in for the drive back just to save a little.

I paid 3.29 for gas yesterday @ BJs (equivalent of a sam's club of costco) member price :'(

[Revs]

I've been using 87 in mine since gas prices went up to $0.97/L up here, now its at $1.10L !
All I notice is a slight loss of power due to the timing being retarded, it won't hurt the car tho.

[Kansei]

I've been using 87 in mine since gas prices went up to $0.97/L up here, now its at $1.10L !
All I notice is a slight loss of power due to the timing being retarded, it won't hurt the car tho.

Yeah for my normal driving I'll definitely continue to use premium but any time I'm going on a long highway trip I'll drop it to 87.

I bet the power loss isn't really noticeable at all, it's probably about the same as just running my Protege5 ECU. On my mom's 05 Altima and sister's 02 Maxima (both with the 3.5 V6) it's a really big difference.

[the tortoise]

I've always read that if you use regular fuel in a car that requires premium your efficiency is going to drop, thereby negating any of the savings.

For those running 87, I'd be interested to hear if there's a difference in your fuel economy.

[Kansei]

I've always read that if you use regular fuel in a car that requires premium your efficiency is going to drop, thereby negating any of the savings.

For those running 87, I'd be interested to hear if there's a difference in your fuel economy.

I would let you know when I burn through a tank of 87 driving back home, but I haven't done any extensive highway driving (anything more than 1 mile) since installing my MP3 ECU so I have no clue at all what kind of mileage it gets on the highway.

[safariMP3]

it will only RETARD timing basically when its too late.

just spend the extra 15-20 cents a gallon to ensure your motor will last!

[Kansei]

it will only RETARD timing basically when its too late.

just spend the extra 15-20 cents a gallon to ensure your motor will last!

Is the MP3 ECU really that stupid? The Nissan ECUs switch over to a different fuel map if they detect "bad" (not premium) petrol.

[Revs]

Running the 87 octane I haven't really noticed much difference with MPG compared to 91.
As for damaging the engine running lower than 91, I'd be very interested to know FOR SURE if it does or not. I know the previous owner ran 87 in is up until I got it which would be 100,000km and the engine runs great.

[269mp3]

I ran 87 in my car one time and it blew all of my spark plugs in three days. I was told it was because of the gasoline i used.

[MP3N.Y.C]

This may seem like a really stupid question, but with gas prices they way they are creeping right now..

Do I really need to run 93 octane in the MP3? The previous owner said that is what he ran so I am. Any experiences running 89 or 87 octane? Will the engine knock or ping?

TIA

I always run 93 octane in my car, every since I bought it new. I just paid $3.00 a gallon here in Milford Conn @ a Sunoco station, Ultra 93. Thats not bad for premium. I will continue to use 93, just drive my car less and use the little ladies accord V6, we run that 87 octane and it is just fine.

Pete

[Kansei]

I always run 93 octane in my car, every since I bought it new. I just paid $3.00 a gallon here in Milford Conn @ a Sunoco station, Ultra 93. Thats not bad for premium. I will continue to use 93, just drive my car less and use the little ladies accord V6, we run that 87 octane and it is just fine.

Pete

Lucky. I paid 3.29 BJ's member price a couple days ago. When I go to campus tomorrow to go to the gym I'm definitely just going to ride my bike to campus if it isn't raining, that way I'll have at least a bit of my cardio done (it's a 5 mile ride to campus each way) before I even get there :)

[BigB]

just filled up tonight. $3.09 for 93 octane, got 29mpg on this tank. Filled it up on Sunday.

[brokemp3]

i used 89 once and in ran like shit kept pinging and everything. you can notice a diference and you wont get as good gas milage and you will end up spending around the same if not more

[Topher's Wife]

i've been using 87 for a while now (couple of weeks), no knocks or pings. Plus I still get 30+ MPG. You can use it and then once the gas prices go back down, run 93 in it for atleast 2 whole tank fulls to get all the 87 out and then reset the ECU. Back good as new. Did it last year when the gas prices went so high.

Actually BigB.....was running on 87 at the Pine Mountain Meet. Wasn't really slowing me down then either.

Oh...and it's up to $3.25 already here.

[exNeon]

i usually split the difference, since it the msp manual says 91, and most places here only have 87,89 and 93, i go full tank 93, then when it gets to half, refill with 89. only issue is remembering what i put in it last.
93 in MA ranges from 3.05 -> 3.15 from what i have seen.
im sure it should be less, but as long as there are a bunch of jokers sitting around a table coming up with more lame excuses to keep prices up, they will.
i like how they occaisionally come out and say, we are not back up to capacity so we need to raise prices. what, like you lost some capacity recently. jerks.

[bharper]

Hey kids - if you're pissed about gas prices, don't vote for Republicans this November. What have they done in the past ten years they've been in control of Congress to keep prices down? Nothing. Just a thought.

[1somamp3]

With the US gallon conversion(cause we're in litres) and the exchange on money, it seems that we're paying $3.67US/gallon for our gas or $4.17CDN!!!

[Kansei]

I cry every time I have to get gas when I'm in Toronto.

[2k2silvermp5]

I don't have an mp3 but but I do have the mp3 ecu and have been running 89 and 93. I'll fill up w/ 89 one trip and then next fill up 93 and really noticed no difference in performance.