If you have recently purchased your first Nissan vehicle or plan to buy one in the future, you might have many questions. One of the most common questions people have is about which fuel type they should use in their vehicle. For instance, you might not know if you need to use regular or premium gas.
The key to knowing which fuel you should use is understanding octane ratings and what premium gas does. Here's what you need to know about fueling up your Nissan.
What You Need to Know About Octane Ratings
If you've ever looked at the gas pump when you fuel up, you probably noticed the numbers on the button you press to select your desired fuel. On the gas pump, you'll see that regular fuel is marked with an 87, whereas premium gas is often marked with a 91. This number is the fuel's octane content, which is also an indicator of the stability of the gas or how easy it is to ignite. Fuel with more octane takes more energy to ignite, and high-performance engines may require this fuel.
Does Your Nissan Need Premium Fuel?
Each Nissan is different, and some vehicles do benefit from premium fuel. When you use the proper gas for your car, you ensure that your vehicle is as efficient as possible. If you have a Nissan vehicle with high-performance levels, premium gasoline is likely more beneficial. This will help your larger engine run as efficiently as possible without being held back by the kind of fuel you use to gas up.
One thing to know is that most Nissan vehicles run well with regular fuel. Nissans typically run efficiently without the need to opt for premium fuel. However, there are still some cars that benefit from premium. Knowing more about your engine can help you determine which type of fuel you need for your vehicle. If you’re still uncertain about what kind of fuel to use, take a look at the vehicle's owner's manual. The document should supply more information about which fuel options are ideal for your Nissan.
Which Nissan Vehicles Need Which Fuel Type?
Here's the key to remembering which cars need which type of fuel. If you have a sedan, you likely need regular gas. If you have a high-end luxury car, sports car, or something else that’s performance-based, you likely need premium fuel. However, there are some exceptions.
Let's look at the Nissan Altima, for instance. While you can use regular fuel for all generations of the Altima, the sixth generation of vehicles will benefit more from premium fuel. In fact, using 93 octane fuel can bring your power from 236 horsepower to 248 horsepower. In this case, ultra-premium gas is a good option for Nissan Altimas made after 2019. You can still get away with using regular gasoline, however.
On the other hand, the Nissan Rogue doesn't need any special fuel. Each model can get away with using regular unleaded fuel with no change in efficiency. Most smaller SUVs don’t require premium fuel, and the Nissan Murano doesn't need premium fuel if you buy the base model. Yet, some trim packages benefit from premium fuel.
However, if you own a newer Nissan Maxima, you should reach for the premium gas. The Maxima is a car that sees performance benefits with premium fuel, but you can still use regular gasoline in a pinch. You simply won't be as efficient on the road without the right kind of gas.
What Happens If You Use Regular Fuel Instead of Premium?
If you use the wrong fuel in your vehicle, your car may experience engine knocking. This happens when the fuel mixes with the air, creating an unexpected explosion, which could happen if you put high-octane gasoline in a car that doesn't need it. This can be alarming if you hear it while you are on the road, and you might even think that something else is wrong with your car.
Something else you might notice is that the engine doesn't seem as powerful as it usually does. You might not get the same efficiency from your vehicle with regular gas. You might move more slowly than you would otherwise and notice that you are fueling up more often. Or, even your gas mileage may suffer significantly.
The good news is that your vehicle likely won't experience permanent damage from putting regular fuel into a car that takes premium gas. You should be able to fuel up with the correct gas next time and see your car zoom back to life. Still, it's best not to make this a regular occurrence, so you can avoid the need for repairs or the need to remove gunk from your fuel tank.
What Happens If You Use Premium Fuel Instead of Regular?
If you put premium gas into your tank instead of the regular fuel your car needs, you probably won't notice anything. In fact, the most significant change will likely be to your wallet, thanks to the higher prices of premium gas. You shouldn't see anything different in how your vehicle drives, and you shouldn't face any need for repairs or service.
Should You Buy a Nissan That Uses Premium Gas?
There are plenty of reasons why you might want to consider a Nissan that uses premium gas. Premium fuel is more expensive than regular fuel. However, at the same time, you might still get better performance out of your vehicle if it can handle premium gas. If you are somebody who lives for a high-performance engine, you will probably love having a car that needs premium fuel.
Kraft Nissan understands that fuel types can be intimidating to understand at first. If you want to test drive a Nissan that uses premium gas, check out our inventory and learn more about the new cars available on our lot . You may find that a high-performance Nissan is your new dream car.
