Thoughts on Quality Gas?

bvl

Could? Probably. Should you? No.

You are correct in how a knock detection system behaves: its there to preserve the *health* of the pistons and rods with a retarded timing map typically. Some may even splash a bit more fuel in.

The stock Z map is tuned for 91 octane. Engineers spent many man hours crafting the map. There is some conservative values in there for things like Cali Cat Piss (what they call 91 octane), but its not an 87 map.

If you can't afford the extra few washingtons per tank, perhaps an Altima Coupe would be a better choice of vehicle is my perspective.

I have owned cars tuned for 91-93 octane for near 20 years now by choice. Some I have altered (Flyin' Miata turbo, stage 2 WRX), some are stock that way (Z, Cayman, G35, GS-R). On the east coast we are fortunate enough to have a healthy supply of 93 (used to be Sunoco 94 before the gov hosed us all with ethanol) so the extra 2 points of octane is a safety point for aggressively tuned 91 octane cars.

Stock maps typically have some slop in them for sure. Aftermarket maps, or if you have access to a computer (as I did with the miata: tuned both maps myself), you see how critical octane is when you are riding the edge of maximum performance. Knock events are *not good*

- b