Yes, 10:1 is usually the "cut-off point" for going from Regular to Premium, but your manual says you ALSO can use less octane.
This seems to be a trend in Owner's Manuals for a while now, saying you can "use Regular gas" (like 87 octane) but "for best performance use Premium." Yet they don't actually DEFINE "best performance" so I'm not sure what exactly you're giving up -- a very little or a whole lot
-- by using Regular or Plus. And they don't say you may NOT use anything less than Premium.
Look at it this way, according to the ambiguous wording, using Regular (or Plus) sure won't HURT your car so you CAN use it without worrying, so I'd try that and then compare it to Premuim...if YOU notice an obvious difference -- and it's worth the money difference to you per gallon -- then stay with Premuim...if you do NOT notice any distinct difference, don't waste your money...stay with Regular of Plus.
Maybe engineers wrote that unclear octane information, or maybe someone for whom English isn;t a first language -- or both -- but lots of cars can use 87 octane or, higher "for better performance." Maybe they mean you can use 87, too.
Get the car...you have a choices of gas to use...that's a plus: In times of outrageous gas prices, go with the minumum octane your manual says, when prices lighten up, go Premium if you want. I would think you could at least go down to Plus (88 octane) if not 87.
Of course, if you hear pinging (while engine is under load) using 87 then go up an octane rating until it's gone (assuming your timing it set correctly so that is not an issue)...I believe that would be the best test to see what you should be using regularly.
Good luck,
John D.
Does the Murano require premium fuel? I stopped by a dealership and popped
> the gas filler, and the note on the door said that "premium gas was
> recommended for best performance". All reviews I've seen, and Nissan's
> website avoid the issue altogether. With its 10.x to 1 compression ratio, I
> assume it dies, but wanted to confirm. I'm buying hi-test for my Passat,
> was interested in the Murano, but I'm tired of paying the extra $.16 - $.20
> U.S. per gallon already, especially with rising gas costs. Anyone with a
> Murano using mid-grade successfully? When I got the Passat, a friend told
> me I had to pay to play, which helped me rationalize it, but heck, my Avalon
> is happy with regular gas.