Why does 370z require premium gas?

jakoye · 10-28-2010, 12:43 AM

I'm just curious why it is that the 370z requires premium gasoline? I had an '85 300z back in the day and it didn't require premium fuel. I have a Mustang GT right now and it doesn't require premium fuel. Did the 350z require premium? Is it just an aspect of the VQ series of engines?

ThoriumHotdog · 10-28-2010, 12:56 AM

I'd imagine it has to do with the higher compression. If you use the cheap stuff you could damage your engine or at the very least lose performance and efficiency.

fairladyZ34 · 10-28-2010, 01:01 AM

yah, high compression

Trips · 10-28-2010, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoriumHotdog

I'd imagine it has to do with the higher compression. If you use the cheap stuff you could damage your engine or at the very least lose performance and efficiency.

I agree.

TreeSemdyZee · 10-28-2010, 01:48 AM

Higher compression requires higher octane. Higher octane gas has a higher ignition point. If you use lower octane gas, it will ignite too soon, thereby causing pinging (pre-ignition).

ImportConvert · 10-28-2010, 01:49 AM

The mustang GT has high compression as well. However, you will note that it produces a lot less power on anything less than premium. Ford was smart and created a few different tunes in the factory computer. It will retard a bunch of things and happily (but less efficiently) run on lower octane fuel.

Nissan did not (and I don't blame them, if you buy a sports car, you should run premium if it requires it.) do this. It is a high-compression engine and you need to run the recommended octane at minimum.

Nismo221 · 10-28-2010, 02:26 AM

yeah and i have a 1990 300zx and it also requires premium gas.

Endgame · 10-28-2010, 08:33 AM

most of the japanese and european sport/performance cars require premium. My SR20DET swapped 240 did, my RX8 did, the 350 does, the S2k does.

jakoye · 10-28-2010, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoriumHotdog

I'd imagine it has to do with the higher compression. If you use the cheap stuff you could damage your engine or at the very least lose performance and efficiency.

I like that signature, Thorium! I'm in the same boat.

Thanks for the education, Z-owners!

kenchan · 10-28-2010, 09:56 AM

at least premium isn't expensive as it was a couple of years ago when it took like $80 to fill up...

ImportConvert · 10-28-2010, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

at least premium isn't expensive as it was a couple of years ago when it took like $80 to fill up...

It's a whopping $0.20-0.30 a gallon more, for around 10whp or so (according to Ford, the mustang GT gets 412bhp on 91* and on 87* it gets 10bhp less, and 13#tq less). If you get 20mpg and drive 15K miles a year, that is about $200 a year for 10hp/13tq mod. A VERY! cost-effective mod in my book! You would have to put 25K miles or so on the vehicle to equal a cat-back in price, and this involves NO work and NO chance of voiding a warranty.

Lug · 10-28-2010, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

The mustang GT has high compression as well. However, you will note that it produces a lot less power on anything less than premium. Ford was smart and created a few different tunes in the factory computer. It will retard a bunch of things and happily (but less efficiently) run on lower octane fuel.

Nissan did not (and I don't blame them, if you buy a sports car, you should run premium if it requires it.) do this. It is a high-compression engine and you need to run the recommended octane at minimum.

According to Ford, the mustang goes from 412 hp to 405 hp when changing from 91 to 87 octane.

ImportConvert · 10-28-2010, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lug

according to ford, the mustang goes from 412 hp to 405 hp when changing from 91 to 87 octane.

402.

Besides, the way people talk about mods/hp gains for Z's on this site, 10hp/13tq is a LOT!

Further, the 91* tune that Ford uses is VERY conservative. People are getting a lot from just a tune on that car. I doubt Nissan is being nearly that conservative on their 332bhp V6.

fairladyZ34 · 10-28-2010, 10:51 AM

i get 93 octance here in NJ, maybe thats why my Z pulled hard lol

ImportConvert · 10-28-2010, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairladyZ34

i get 93 octance here in NJ, maybe thats why my Z pulled hard lol

As long as you aren't getting KR, then the lower the octane the better.

10-28-2010, 12:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
jakoye Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 257 Drives: 06 Mustang GT Rep Power: 16	Why does 370z require premium gas? I'm just curious why it is that the 370z requires premium gasoline? I had an '85 300z back in the day and it didn't require premium fuel. I have a Mustang GT right now and it doesn't require premium fuel. Did the 350z require premium? Is it just an aspect of the VQ series of engines? __________________ Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.

10-28-2010, 01:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
fairladyZ34 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Central NJ Posts: 1,577 Drives: 08 G37S Black M6 Rep Power: 18	yah, high compression __________________ From Z to G to BMW and back to a G! Nismo for life

10-28-2010, 02:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
Nismo221 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Decatur, Alabama Age: 35 Posts: 489 Drives: 2010 370z Nismo Rep Power: 14	yeah and i have a 1990 300zx and it also requires premium gas. __________________ Stillen Gen 3, Motordyne M370 Intake Manifold, 25 row oil cooler, Z1 test pipes, Greddy Ti-C 70mm dual exhaust, 15mm front/20mm rear spacers, RE-11's, V1 detector, LED interior lights, LED tag lights, Password JDM CF engine and radiator cooling covers.

10-28-2010, 10:51 AM	#14 (permalink)
fairladyZ34 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Central NJ Posts: 1,577 Drives: 08 G37S Black M6 Rep Power: 18	i get 93 octance here in NJ, maybe thats why my Z pulled hard lol stevent85 likes this. __________________ From Z to G to BMW and back to a G! Nismo for life

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10-28-2010, 12:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
ThoriumHotdog A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: TX Posts: 1,104 Drives: Turbo CRX si Rep Power: 16	I'd imagine it has to do with the higher compression. If you use the cheap stuff you could damage your engine or at the very least lose performance and efficiency.

10-28-2010, 01:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
TreeSemdyZee Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kentuck-IANA Age: 59 Posts: 4,880 Drives: '09 370 & ‘14 Juke Rep Power: 27408	Higher compression requires higher octane. Higher octane gas has a higher ignition point. If you use lower octane gas, it will ignite too soon, thereby causing pinging (pre-ignition).

10-28-2010, 01:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
ImportConvert A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SWMO Posts: 4,454 Drives: 2019 CX5 GT Reserve Rep Power: 7626	The mustang GT has high compression as well. However, you will note that it produces a lot less power on anything less than premium. Ford was smart and created a few different tunes in the factory computer. It will retard a bunch of things and happily (but less efficiently) run on lower octane fuel. Nissan did not (and I don't blame them, if you buy a sports car, you should run premium if it requires it.) do this. It is a high-compression engine and you need to run the recommended octane at minimum.

10-28-2010, 08:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
Endgame A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,613 Drives: Nothing Now! Rep Power: 223	most of the japanese and european sport/performance cars require premium. My SR20DET swapped 240 did, my RX8 did, the 350 does, the S2k does.

10-28-2010, 09:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	at least premium isn't expensive as it was a couple of years ago when it took like $80 to fill up...