Gas Grade and Mileage

BlueDog007

I am considering a 2010 370Z. I have heard different opinions from different people. Some say the Z needs Premium gas (93) not Base (87). Some use 87. Which one is recommended and why? If using 93, does your car get better MPG due to the higher grade?

What upgrades can be made to get better MPG? Air intake? Or what?

xxAGAVExx

If you are worried about MPG don't get this car. This car is about going fast, having fun, looking good and spending alot on gas.

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KERMIT

This car is designed for premium fuel. Do not put 87 in it.

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enkei2k

People that say the Z needs 87 are wrong.

Owners manual clearly states that premium grade is recommended and ONLY use regular for emergency, not extended period of time.

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frost

I dunno who these people are saying use 87, that almost sounds like a fairy tale. Now, I have heard of people putting 87 in and then having performance issues.

Without trying to sound like a douche nozzle, why look at a car that probably costs mid to high 20s if you're gonna stress about a couple bucks at the pump?
And regarding upgrades to make the fuel mileage better? Well it doesn't make much sense to spend hundreds of dollars on parts to save a couple bucks either.

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SouthArk370Z

It depends on how they adjust the octane at the refinery, but, for all intents and purposes, octane has no effect on MPG. The most important parameter is energy density (eg, BTU/lb or kj/kg) - which means that ethanol "enhanced" fuels will give poorer MPG.

The engine is already pretty efficient so your driving habits will have more of an effect on MPG than mods.
Cooler air is nearly always a good thing, so some type of CAI may be beneficial.
Using "thinner" lubricants in the engine, transmission, and differential can give some gains, but at the risk of poor lubrication at higher temperatures (eg, tracking - but if you're tracking, you're probably not too worried about MPG). Don't do this without doing a lot of research first.
None if these will give big gains - the main thing is to keep an egg on the accelerator pedal.

Edit: And don't run less than 91 octane except in an emergency. Put in just enough low octane fuel to get you to some 91 and drive like your Grandma until you get the good stuff.

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Waiz

This topic has been brought up literally hundreds of times on both this and the 350z forum

Premium Mandatory?

370z requires premium fuel?

If you use a lower octane fuel you will not be getting the performance gains of running a higher octane but your engine won't blow up, it will however develop a knock

If you know anything about performance motors you want to run the highest Octane you can afford, not the lowest...

RoshDawg

Something interesting, Porsche (at least on the 991) runs temps of 210-220 for oil when in normal mode to reduce emissions and in turn (I think) increase gas mileage. When selecting sport, oil temp goes down to 180.

Higher oil temp apparently has something to do with emissions.

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SouthArk370Z

From what I have read about some of the MPG contests, higher engine temps = better MPG. Something to do with keeping the combustion gases as hot as possible while in the cylinder for maximum efficiency. IIRC, ∆T and heat loss rate were thrown in there.

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USMCASA

if u want to run cheap gas in a car get a mustang or hybrid

DEpointfive0

The car needs 91
/thread

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2xtreme1

It's like 5$ difference from using 87 instead of 91...
filling up full tank.

RoshDawg

Nice that makes sense. Judging from your other posts I take it you're an engineer? If so, what kind?

Oh and op, use 91 at least.

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BlueDog007

Just doing research and didn't really want your non-helpful comments. This will actually be my 3rd car. I'm not too worried about the costs. However, I'm not so sure I'm going to buy a Z if it only gets 15 mpg. That's a joke. My current daily driver is a 2010 Tundra that gets 16-17 mpg. That big truck weighs a lot more, is fast, and has more horsepower. It makes no sense at all that a little Z gets similar mileage as compared to a Tundra. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a 370Z, but it needs to get over 20 mpg.

In regards to premium vs. regular, my Tundra definitely gets better MPG running premium. The costs of the premium gas + the more miles per tank I get is pretty much a wash compared to buying regular grade gas.

A COI would pay off in the long run and should provide more HP...at least both are true with the Tundra.

Baer383

When I hear people talk about gas in any context I laugh b/c gas is one of those commodities that you will buy no matter what the cost ,my suggestion is to buy the car go FI and have fun but don't ever question gas again.

Endless you can't find it.

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