Is Shell's new V-Power gas good for the Xterra?

[diversetek]

I just filled my tank up w/ shells v power gas but I wanna know if its worth it. You think its just a marketing scheme?

[OffroadX]

Just a marketing scheme to get people who don't need Premium to buy it just to get some perceived benefit. Odds are the gas you use now is doing a fine job of keeping things clean and if it isn't, it's nothing a $10 bottle of Techron Concentrate or a $20 can of BG44K (which I see you've used before) can't un-do every now and then.
Your X isn't supercharged, so using Premium is a complete waste, it'll cost you more than buying a bottle/can of cleaner now and then. Figure $.20 more per gallon, 18 gallons/fill-up, once a week, that's almost $15/month, and that's probably conservative.
Besides, Shell even says that their regular and mid-grade fuels contain twice the minimum amount of detergents mandated: http://www.shellvpower.com/all_about.htm

Don't be a sucker,
Brent

[diversetek]

Putting 76's (89 octane) is a bad idea too? Or just go 87?? Does 89 perform will on a non S/C Xterra V6??

[OffroadX]

Use the lowest octane you can unless your engine tells you otherwise by knocking. It's made to use 87, use 87. Higher octane does NOT mean more power, it actually combusts slower and at a higher temperature than the lower octane, and unless the engine is tuned to take advantage of it, you'll get LESS power, LOWER fuel economy, and if the fuel isn't combusting completely, you're sending some fuel down the exhaust as it completes the combustion process which can harm the exhaust valves, 02 sensors, and catalytic converters, not to mention increasing your exhaust emissions.

At elevations over 4000 ft, you can buy 85 octane gas and run it safely, octane requirements decrease with altitude.

Brent

[diversetek]

omg so i've been hurting my engine this whole time? I've been putting 91 for awhile now.... so what should i do? Just change to 87 from now on? One more thing... is 76 the best gas for xterras?

[OffroadX]

You've not been hurting it.

There is no "best" gas out there. Other than BP/Amoco which ensures they take the same fuel out of the system that they put in, the gas in the national pipeline network is fed and tapped by many brands indiscriminately. Your Texaco station may have fuel refined by Exxon in its tanks one week and by Unocal the next. What's different is what Texaco adds to the fuel at its regional distribution points after the fuel is taken out of the pipelines.
That said, from a cleaning standpoint, Chevron's Techron is supposedly one of the more effective cleaners out there and Chevron uses it in all grades, so if you were to stick with 87-octane Chevron you ought to be good.

[diversetek]

I really appreciate all the info you've given me. It's just funny how some of my buddies think they know it all and tells me to put "76" gas since it's the official fuel of NASCAR, LMAO! Saying that it'll perform better, ehe. What gas do you think of when it comes to performance?

[Schludwiller]

Originally Posted by diversetek

I really appreciate all the info you've given me. It's just funny how some of my buddies think they know it all and tells me to put "76" gas since it's the official fuel of NASCAR, LMAO! Saying that it'll perform better, ehe. What gas do you think of when it comes to performance?

Read his post again. 87 Octane is what your truck is designed for unless you're getting excessive pinging from the engine when it's under load (hills, etc). Chevron is supposedly best for their Techron additive, which is what I put in my truck, with Texaco following.

There isn't any performance gas. Just octane grades designed for the needs of each manufacturers engine.

[OffroadX]

"76" is the Unocal 76 brand: http://www.unocal.com/