89 Octane works

[admorris]

Originally Posted by nicks56

Just mentioning, from my experience with my titan, there is a noticeable difference in the powerband with 93 octane (BP). I used 87 octane (BP) initially and the truck ran fine, but felt at certain RPM's to lag a bit. I used this for about 2000 miles. I then started using 93 octane (as gas prices dropped). I've been doing this for roughly 1500 miles now and the truck runs better. Don't get me wrong, I don't think the horsepower has increased tremendously, but the truck runs smoother (better) throughout the rpm range. If you drive your truck daily, maybe use the 87 to save some $. But if you drive a car during the day, and use the truck for play, why not use the 93? Your talking another $2 per fillup. If you're saying 93 does nothing, try a few fillups, you are mistaken. I also noticed an average of 1.0 mpg increase with 93. To each there own, though, use 87 if you want, use 89 if you want, or 93. Peace.

I stand by my earlier statement...93 octane is a waste unless you are getting knocking at 87 octane. The main difference between the two octanes is how quickly one burns vs. the other (93 burns slower therefore resist pre-detination better). I understand where one may think b/c 93 cost more that is it better, but higher octane fuels are designed for higher compression engines. Once again...if the manual calls for 87 then run 87. If your engine ran like crap on 87 then you had bad gas..it wasn't b/c it was 87 octane.

Here is an informative article to read for you nay-sayers:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/041008.html

[TitanicSE]

There is a very noticable difference between using 87 and 93 in the Titan. But just throwing one tankful in isn't enough for the ECU to change the timing (unless maybe you disconnect the battery overnight...not sure). It takes a few tankfuls for this to take place. Yep...she runs just fine on the cheap stuff...no problems at all. But it does run a bit quicker (maybe not .10 - .15 cents a gallon quicker...that's for you to decide) on high octane. I'm surprised Nissan doesn't recommend premium since it IS concidered a high compression engine. Our trucks ECU has the ability to advance/retard timing according to fuel type used.
So without everyone again getting into a pizzing match over what the manual says or doesn't say, although there is a slight speed diff. between the two fuel types, your Titan (as most here know) will run and perform just fine on 87.

[Titan_TX]

Originally Posted by admorris

I stand by my earlier statement...93 octane is a waste unless you are getting knocking at 87 octane. The main difference between the two octanes is how quickly one burns vs. the other (93 burns slower therefore resist pre-detination better). I understand where one may think b/c 93 cost more that is it better, but higher octane fuels are designed for higher compression engines. Once again...if the manual calls for 87 then run 87. If your engine ran like crap on 87 then you had bad gas..it wasn't b/c it was 87 octane.

Here is an informative article to read for you nay-sayers:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/041008.html

On Nissans it is not a waste. Nissans are turned with high compression and will get the most use out of octane gas compared to most other cars. The ECU will detune the car if you run 87 but will also run fine. But if you run 93, it will use the "better" tuning and give you a little extra boost in power. Over the years this has been proven on Nissans.

On some cars however your article might be true, but not on Nissans.

[Titan_TX]

Originally Posted by TitanicSE

There is a very noticable difference between using 87 and 93 in the Titan. But just throwing one tankful in isn't enough for the ECU to change the timing (unless maybe you disconnect the battery overnight...not sure). It takes a few tankfuls for this to take place. Yep...she runs just fine on the cheap stuff...no problems at all. But it does run a bit quicker (maybe not .10 - .15 cents a gallon quicker...that's for you to decide) on high octane. I'm surprised Nissan doesn't recommend premium since it IS concidered a high compression engine. Our trucks ECU has the ability to advance/retard timing according to fuel type used.
So without everyone again getting into a pizzing match over what the manual says or doesn't say, although there is a slight speed diff. between the two fuel types, your Titan (as most here know) will run and perform just fine on 87.

If Nissan recommended 91+ on the Titan they would lose sales because of gas prices. When you buy a truck you freak with the gas milege, but you will freak more if you had to pay for 93 octane.

Before I ever have my Titan dynoed with a base. I will reset the ecu, have 93 octane in the tank, and run it through at least one tank before it see's the dyno. This will gurantee the best results.

[admorris]

Originally Posted by Titan_TX

On Nissans it is not a waste. Nissans are turned with high compression and will get the most use out of octane gas compared to most other cars. The ECU will detune the car if you run 87 but will also run fine. But if you run 93, it will use the "better" tuning and give you a little extra boost in power. Over the years this has been proven on Nissans.

On some cars however your article might be true, but not on Nissans.

Where did you get this information? I cannot believe Nissan made a vehicle unlike just about every other car manufacturer in the world. I have yet to find any article on the net supporting this information. The rule of thumb is to run as low an octane as you possibly can without knocking. Once you hear knocking, jump up a grade. You will get the most 'performance' out of your vehicle by doing this. This is supported by numerous engine builders/manufacturers...not just me.

[lizardking]

Use whatever gas makes you happy! If running the higher octane yields results then by all means run it. I know from my experience and that I have had my Titan since first week of December 2003 that 89 is good for me. I notice the higher the octane I run in the Titan the better the engine responds and sounds. If I was worried about how much higher octane gas cost then I wouldn't own a $30000+ pickup.

[TitanicSE]

Originally Posted by admorris

Where did you get this information? I cannot believe Nissan made a vehicle unlike just about every other car manufacturer in the world. I have yet to find any article on the net supporting this information. The rule of thumb is to run as low an octane as you possibly can without knocking. Once you hear knocking, jump up a grade. You will get the most 'performance' out of your vehicle by doing this. This is supported by numerous engine builders/manufacturers...not just me.

He's correct. You are misinformed. Nissan is NOT unlike any manufacturer out there. Most any high compression engine using an OBDII system wil have similar results. The Endurance has already been dyno'd by a few here to prove that point. The Titans V8 makes more power using 93 than it does on 87 octane. We're talkijng POWER here, not just a lack of pinging. Yes, the Titan will not ping on 87, but the ECU will recalibrate timing and "detune" engine power to keep from doing so.

[Titan Power]

Where did you get this information? I cannot believe Nissan made a vehicle unlike just about every other car manufacturer in the world. I have yet to find any article on the net supporting this information. The rule of thumb is to run as low an octane as you possibly can without knocking. Once you hear knocking, jump up a grade. You will get the most 'performance' out of your vehicle by doing this. This is supported by numerous engine builders/manufacturers...not just me.

Welcome to the 21 century. Or the 1990's. Or even the 80's for that matter. Because knock sensors have been commonplace on cars for the last 15-20 years, Nissans in particular. If you can hear audible knock on any knock sensor equiped vehicle, you've got problems. That means the engine is knocking so severly that the ECU pulled all of the timing it could and still couldn't stop it. Gone are the days when you could just tune by ear. When the knock sensor detects knock long before you ever hear it, the ECU responds by retarding timing. This reduces power. It works the other way around, too. No knock, more timing, more power. That is fact. Do you really think Nissan put a different engine in their infinity badged Armada clone just to get 10hp? And it's mere coincidence that it requires 91+ for that performance?

One more thing to chew on. All cars sold in the U.S. MUST BE ABLE to run on 87. Even high horsepower turbo cars must be able to run safely on 87. When a manufacturer specifies the required octane rating, that is the octane required for the advertized hp rating. That's it, stop reading more into it. So if you run your WRX or EVO on 87, it will function fine, but you can't complain to your dealer that it's down on power.

The real debate about the Titan is about how much power, and if is it worth it. That is yet unanswered, and up to the individual. But "87 is optimum" is nonsense. It may be good enough for most people under most conditions, myself included, but that doesn't make it optimum. So if the majority of us want to debate these matters, we should feel free to do so without unfounded interruption.


Jason K.

[gtbigup01]

Originally Posted by Titan_TX

If Nissan recommended 91+ on the Titan they would lose sales because of gas prices. When you buy a truck you freak with the gas milege, but you will freak more if you had to pay for 93 octane.

Before I ever have my Titan dynoed with a base. I will reset the ecu, have 93 octane in the tank, and run it through at least one tank before it see's the dyno. This will gurantee the best results.

Do you think TOYOTA will loose sales? Reason for this question is that the new Tacoma V6 now requires PRIMIUM FUEL. Guess we'll see how much sales they'll loose.

[Titan_TX]

Originally Posted by admorris

Where did you get this information? I cannot believe Nissan made a vehicle unlike just about every other car manufacturer in the world. I have yet to find any article on the net supporting this information. The rule of thumb is to run as low an octane as you possibly can without knocking. Once you hear knocking, jump up a grade. You will get the most 'performance' out of your vehicle by doing this. This is supported by numerous engine builders/manufacturers...not just me.

I have had Nissans for over 10 years and worked with custom programming in JWT ecus for them as well. Nissans have been proven to run better on 93 octane over 87. They produce more power. You can search any Nissan car club forum and see for yourself. That is why 90% of the people on these Nissan forums run 93 octane. You won't hear knocking on modern day engines because the knock sensors and the ECU act so quickly to cut back timing, that its silent.

[Titan_TX]

Originally Posted by gtbigup01

Do you think TOYOTA will loose sales? Reason for this question is that the new Tacoma V6 now requires PRIMIUM FUEL. Guess we'll see how much sales they'll loose.

That will be a good question. Depends how good gas milege it gets as well. I came from a G35 that required 91+ and it only got 19-20 mpg. Going to the Titan and now using 87 in it, I am paying basically the same amount I was on the G35. So making that jump was fine. But if I had to pay 93 in the Titan, I probably would have never bought it but you never know.

[ICE17N24]

Originally Posted by SUBTITAN

Not to start this discussion over again for the umpteenth time, but my owners manual recommends 87 octane 85 if you live in higher elevations.

Kind of off topic. I'm not getting involved in this discussion at all, but I would like to know where you can find 85 octane gas. All the gas around me is 87 and I live at around 4500 feet. Just a question and not trying to start anything, just curious???

ICE

[ciron28]

Originally Posted by ICE17N24

Kind of off topic. I'm not getting involved in this discussion at all, but I would like to know where you can find 85 octane gas. All the gas around me is 87 and I live at around 4500 feet. Just a question and not trying to start anything, just curious???

ICE

It is also off the subject but I see me Iowa Hawkeyes beat your LSU Tigers 30-25. I didn't see the game but my wife said it was awesome to watch.(for both teams)

[ICE17N24]

Originally Posted by ciron28

It is also off the subject but I see me Iowa Hawkeyes beat your LSU Tigers 30-25. I didn't see the game but my wife said it was awesome to watch.(for both teams)

THAT SUCKED!! No, it was a pretty good game until the final pass when Iowa scored as time ran out!!! SUCKED!!

JK, it was a good one. LSU doesn't have half the team they had last year. NO QB=NO OFFENSE=NO POINTS=SUCKS!!! HAHAHAHA.

Congrats on your win. Have a good one and Happy New Year

ICE

[ciron28]

Originally Posted by ICE17N24

THAT SUCKED!! No, it was a pretty good game until the final pass when Iowa scored as time ran out!!! SUCKED!!

JK, it was a good one. LSU doesn't have half the team they had last year. NO QB=NO OFFENSE=NO POINTS=SUCKS!!! HAHAHAHA.

Congrats on your win. Have a good one and Happy New Year

ICE

I'm sure LSU will be back next year. Thanks and you have a Happy new year also.