We’ve written extensively about the Nissan Murano, its capabilities, and various features on this blog. Today, we will talk about what fuel this SUV needs and what fuels are strictly prohibited. Let’s start with a quick answer:
All generations of the Nissan Murano manufactured between 2003 – Present-day take regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87. The only exception to this are the CrossCabriolet models manufactured between 2008 – 2015; they take premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91.
However, that doesn’t tell the whole story. Below we’ve outlined recommendations and requirements for different kinds of fuels and fuel additives. We’ll also go into detail about the compatibility of the Murano with oxygenated blends. Furthermore, we discuss the tank size of these generations. Read on!
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Premium Gasoline
First of all, we feel it’s important to talk about the use of premium gasoline. This is because many people wonder if premium gasoline is not a better choice all of the time because it’s advertised in such a way. However, we highly advise you to follow the guidelines that we’ve just mentioned above in terms of the octane rating.
The reason for this is that only engines that are designed for premium fuel with an octane of 91 are actually capable of receiving benefits from its use. Using premium gasoline for an engine designed for regular gasoline will not damage the engine, but it will also not give it any benefits whatsoever. Furthermore, this gasoline is more expensive than regular gasoline, which will end up costing you more. You should also avoid mixing different octane gasoline.
Furthermore, it’s essential to know that all the generations and models of the Nissan Murano for which 91 octane is advised can also temporarily use 87 octane if the premium gasoline is not available. However, this will result in a decrease in performance, and it’s recommended to switch back to premium gasoline when available.
Reformulated Gasoline
Some types of gasoline that are sold in the United States are so-called reformulated gasoline. Reformulated gasoline is designed to burn more cleanly and therefore have fewer emissions. This type of gasoline first became compulsory in California, but the days it’s mandatory in more than 19 areas. These are mainly areas where the quality of the air is considered to be poor.
It’s good to know that all engines of the Nissan Murano, as with many Nissan vehicles whether we’re talking about the Nissan Titan, or Nissan Sentra, are suitable for reformulated gasoline. Furthermore, Nissan recommends you to use this kind of fuel whenever it’s available.
Oxygenated Blends
Some gasoline contains oxygenates such as ethanol, methanol, or MTBE. These fuels are designed to burn more cleanly, and the question is if they should be used with the Murano. The answer is that these fuels are acceptable up to a certain percentage. The guidelines for this are as follows.
- All generations of the Nissan Murano can take fuel that has a maximum of 5% methanol. However, this fuel should also contain a suitable amount of appropriate cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors. If not properly formulated with appropriate cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors, such methanol blends may cause fuel system damage and/or vehicle performance problems.
- All generations of the Nissan Murano can take fuel that has a maximum of 15% MTBE.
- All generations of the Nissan Murano manufactured up to 2018 can take fuel with a ethanol percentage of 10%. Muranos manufactured after 2018 can take fuel with a maximum ethanol percentage of 15%.
Gasoline With Additives
These days you can buy many additives for your gasoline. These additives are marketed in such a way that they seem to have benefits for your engine. Many of them claim to clean the engine more thoroughly, whereas others claim to boost your fuel’s octane level (which would presumably result in better performance).
Nissan strongly advises against the use of additives in all generations of the Murano. This is because some of these additives will contain silicon and metallics, which will damage the engine and the fuel system in the long run. Furthermore, damage that’s caused this way is not covered under warranty.
Instead, Nissan advises you to buy fuel from certified TOP TIER gas retailers. These retailers can be found throughout North America and on toptiergas.com. TOP TIER gas already has all the right additives mixed into it which will result in the best possible performance of the engine while also making sure it stays as clean as possible.
Knocking Sound After Refilling
In some cases you’ll hear a slight knocking noise of the engine. It’s important to know that a slight knocking noise of the engine is not a problem at all and to be expected. Especially in situations in which the Murano performance at its peak (such as when towing or driving up a hill) a knocking noise can be heard.
However, if this knocking noise becomes louder you may have a problem that you’ll need to address immediately. If this loud knocking noise occurs right refilling then its likely you’ve used fuel with an octane rating that’s lower than recommended.
If you’ve used 87 octane for an engine that has 91 as a recommendation then it seems your engine doesn’t react to it to well. In that case it’s advises to stop the car immediately and contact your dealer. The car will need to be drained from the fuel, the fuel filter will need to be replaced and the battery will need to be disconnected and reconnected to reset the memory of the car.
Fuel Tank Size Per Generation
Nissan Murano manufactured before 2015 have a fuel tank capacity of 21 5/8 gallons or 82 liters. Nissan Murano manufactured after 2015 have a fuel tank capacity of 19 gallons or 71.9 liters.
Closing Thoughts
In this blog post, we took an extensive look at the appropriate fuels to use in different generations of the Nissan Murano. From delineating the octane ratings suitable for the regular and CrossCabriolet models to discussing the intricacies of utilizing different fuel additives and oxygenated blends, we strived to cover all bases to give you a well-rounded understanding of the Murano’s fuel requirements.
As we reach the end of our discussion, we trust you now have a rich understanding of the fuel necessities and prohibitions when it comes to your Murano. Armed with this knowledge, you can ensure that you are feeding your vehicle with the right type of fuel to guarantee optimal performance and longevity.
Thank you for reading, and we hope this guide serves as a handy reference in helping you maintain the health and efficiency of your Nissan Murano for many miles to come. Stay tuned for more insights and tips on taking the best care of your vehicle.
Sources
- https://carmanuals2.com/get/nissan-murano-2006-owner-s-manual-89320
- https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/Murano/2014/2014-Murano-owner-manual.pdf
- https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/ManualsAndGuides/Murano/2017/2017-Murano-owner-manual.pdf
- https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/servicemanuals/nissan/2021-murano.pdf
Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.
I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.
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