Can I use regular 87 octane on a 2000 Nissan Maxima if it says it requires 89 octane?

30 cents more per gallon than regular your car requires 91 octane to run at its best. 18.5 gallon gas tank completely empty would only cost an additional $5.55 to fill. That is if it was bone dry. OK the knock sensor retards the engine timing when it hears ping just not the cracking ping at tip in. Yes regular gas also gets less fuel milage. So lets say 25 to 26 mpg highway with premium fuel and you get 23 to 24 mpg with regular. For instance 26x18.5=481 premium and 23x18.5=444 or 37 miles less distance or just about the $5.55 you thought you were saving. Look at your owners manual section 10 page 3 fuel reccomended and page 2 for amount the tank holds.

Many owners report even more than 3 mpg difference. I used the lowest difference to just show there is really not much difference in using the good stuff except longer engine life. During summer months with extra load on the engine A/C running the difference is greater between regular and premium knowing you are doing the right thing using premium fuel. Like it says on the gray sticker on the gas door "for maxium performance use premium fuel"

I have been using 87 octane on my 2000 Nissan Quest, but my O2 sensor is lighting up all the time. I replaced the sensor and I am going back to 92 octane that is priced at $2.69/gallon in the state of Washington.

Some good answers really as said best stick with what the book says,but i do know how you feel,mines an Japanese import and uses 100 octane in Japan, over here we normally use 92 octane

But i have to drive a 10mile trip just to get the highest around here which is closer to the 100 octane.

It cost me in dollars $130 ish to fill up and i get 17mpg.

But i have had imports before and ran them on a lesser octane and not matter what people say it ran terrible and a total loss of power and was scary to drive and def would never overtake etc etc.

You will save today but risk spending a lot more in repairs tomorrow,but that's your own risk,as no ones saying you will def have problems but its that risk factor in life.

Modern cars have knock sensors to reduce the timing and prevent pinging or detonation. Your car should be able to get away with 87 octane but the power may be reduced.

I ran 87 on a turbo charged car that required 92 octane and I eventually blew out the knock sensor, but a new one only cost $30. After that I ran 89 and didn't have any more problems. I drove it for 50k miles and sold it at 200k miles on it and it still ran fine.

89 Maxima

It will likely decrease the longevity of your engine, but it's not going to ruin the car overnight since it's not a turbo charged vehicle. I think your best bet is to suck it up and pay for the 89 octane. It will save you some headaches in the long run.

it is rumored that the piston blast is not as hot and the crank is working against itself... However, do you want 175,000 or 225,000 trouble free miles... At 175, the car is spent...

use what the owners manual says

there is a reason for it

good luck