370z requires premium fuel?

tvfreakazoid

WOW you guys use a lot higher octane than compared to America. wish we had higher octane more available her in Cali. Well we do have them available, but not as many and there expensive as hell.

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Mudders milk

BalanBro

True, but the amount they pay for their regular gas is probably similar to what we would pay for race type fuel. We have it cheap compared to most of the world.

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2012 Mercedes C63 AMG P31 Sedan, ROW, aFe, Eurocharged Dyno Tune. 438WHP/415WTQ
2010 SOLD: 40th Anniversary 370z

Augustus

A few points...

Technically, premium gas isn't required in a (stock) Z. Required as in the engine will explode if you don't use it. Per the manual, you can use 87 octane, but it's not recommended and you should avoid "spirited" driving if doing so. Using 87 in a high-compression engine means you'll get more knock. Knock = bad. Now in any modern car, the knock-sensors will detect knock and pull the timing before you even hear it. Retarded timing = less power and likely less MPG. Bad.

In my experience (based on owning several 'premium-recommended' cars over the years and being stuck at some podunk gas station that only had 87 a handful of times), running lower-octane gas in a premium-recommended car is a zero-sum game. It will cost you $3 less to fill up, yes, but you're going to see a decrease in MPG that's >= the cost you saved to fill up.

Bottom line, just put premium in you Z. It's a sports car. If you can't afford premium, buy a different car.

Actually, no, they don't. European/English gas is about the same octane as we have in the US. Like miles vs. kilometers, there is a difference in how octane is presented at the pump. In Canada & Europe, they use the straight "research-octane-number" or "RON". In the US, we use the "AKI" or (R+M/2) measurement. Nitty gritty details can be found elsewhere, but basically..

91/92 octane Euro/UK = 87 octane US
95 octane Euro/UK = 91 octane US
98 octane Euro/UK = 93/94 octane US.

So don't think we have "crappy" gas here in the US because of the octane ratings. It's simply not true. That said, there are some stations in Europe (Shell V-Power?) that sell 100 octane gas, and that equates to like 95 octane in the US, which is a notch better than what we (generally) have here. And it is true that some Euro-spec vehicles may require this, which must be slightly detuned for the US market.

Similarly, it's like how vehicles in the UK seem to get better MPG than they do in the US (for Top Gear UK fans, this is relevant). They actually do get better MPG, but it's not the technology, it's simply the size of the gallon. An imperial gallon is 4.5L whereas a US gallon is 3.8L.

Crash

91, 92, or 93 octane will be just fine. Don't worry about those higher octanes unless you plan go use forced induction.

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2002 Corvette Z06 - Totaled
2003 Corvette Z06 50th Anniversary

tvfreakazoid

I was just wondering. I think the 100 octane is like 6.99 a gallon. Way to rich for my blood. But if you put 100 octane wouldn't it increase the HP a decent amount?

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Mudders milk

Crash

Nope. It just runs with fewer knocks.

100 octane is really meant for MUCH higher compression engines or forced induction.

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2002 Corvette Z06 - Totaled
2003 Corvette Z06 50th Anniversary

tvfreakazoid

But it would still be safe if you were to use it right?

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Mudders milk

Skaterbasist

Yes, it is safe. But not necessary on a naturally aspirated VQ unless you are tuned for it.

I have a 2006 G35 Coupe 6MT with a tune, and one of my maps is tuned for 100 octane. It does yield a few more hp and smoothens out my powerband, but its nothing like forced induction.

I only use my 100 octane performance map when I track the car. Mostly for additional safety since 100 octane would be less likely to knock.

Rockcrawler

or aggresive timing

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2009 silver sport, 6MT touring and nav, 8700 miles when I got it, "almost" a daily driver now... bone stock aside from tint and Gemini CBE, PC'd Rays black stardust and running 275/295 DWS rubber

Crash

Maybe... My experience with higher octanes is that after a while, it screwed up my catalytic converters... It really won't help you if you're running a stock car. You can use it if you want, but I don't think it's good for the cats and it's certainly not good for your wallet.

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2002 Corvette Z06 - Totaled
2003 Corvette Z06 50th Anniversary

Crash

^^^ What he said.

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2002 Corvette Z06 - Totaled
2003 Corvette Z06 50th Anniversary

Crash

When E85 becomes more popular in California (if our sh!thead of a governor gets his stupid squishy head out of his lazy republican @ss) I'll be tuning my Z for E85.

I've been reading that people who convert and tune for E85 are making quite a bit more power... And forced induction is safer because the compression for E85 is supposed to be higher for E85.

Any thoughts?

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2002 Corvette Z06 - Totaled
2003 Corvette Z06 50th Anniversary

Lug

Thoughts? I think that The Cyberdyne Systems Corporation may be monitoring the interwebs and you better be careful about badmouthing the T800 series!

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keep Chubbs in your pocket - Chubbs

Crash

WTF?

That's... well... strange. But hey, I guess I should be more specific, right?

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2002 Corvette Z06 - Totaled
2003 Corvette Z06 50th Anniversary

Lug

Your governer played the role of the T800 Terminator series in a couple of movies and I was just warning you before he shows up in a time bubble.

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keep Chubbs in your pocket - Chubbs