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Types Of Gas An Infiniti QX80 Takes (Explained)

Types Of Gas An Infiniti QX80 Takes (Explained)

On this blog, we do a lot of research regarding specific questions about different cars. Today we’ll look at the Infiniti QX80 and answer what kind of gas this car requires. We’ve gone through the owners’ manuals of the 2011 – present-day QX80 to find the answer. Here’s a quick answer:

The second generation of the QX80 manufactured from 2011 onwards takes premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91. If premium gasoline is not available, regular 87 octane can be used temporarily.

However, that doesn’t tell the whole story. Below we’ll dive into what kind of gas this car takes. We’ll talk about reformulated gasoline, E-85, and gasoline with additives. Should or shouldn’t you use this for the QX80? We’ll also talk about the fuel mileage of each generation as well as possible knocking noises and so much more. Read on!

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Does The Infiniti QX80 Need Premium Gasoline?

As we already stated in the introduction, 91 octane unleaded gasoline is preferred for the second generation of the QX80. However, there are some cases in which 87 octane unleaded gasoline can be used when 91 octane is unavailable.

However, this is typically not our preferred way of filling up when 91 octane is unavailable. Instead of choosing 87 octane when 91 octane is not available, we advise you to fill up with a more premium gasoline such as 93 – 95 octane.

This is because higher octane gasoline will never pose a threat to the engine and fuel system, whereas lower octane gasoline will have a risk of doing so. On the other hand, we don’t advise you to always fill up with more premium gasoline than recommended.

Some people believe that 93 – 95 octane is always the better choice, even if 91 octane is recommended. However, this is not true because the engine isn’t designed for higher octane gasoline and therefore won’t be able to benefit from it in any way.

Also read: 7 Common Problems Of An Infiniti QX80

Infographic explaining the different fuel types for an Infiniti QX80

What Types Of Gasoline Can And Can’t Be Used?

Besides knowing the proper octane levels, there are several other things that you should be aware of concerning the gasoline you use in your QX80. These mainly include different kinds of additives used in the fuel.

Reformulated Gasoline

First, there’s the use of reformulated gasoline compared to non-reformulated gasoline. Reformulated gasoline is gasoline that’s become popular over the past decade because it burns cleaner than its counterpart. For this reason, it has even become mandatory in some areas of the United States.

Therefore, it’s good to know that Infiniti recommends reformulated gasoline. Its use won’t negatively affect the engine or decrease its performance. Overall, it’s just a better type of gasoline that should be used whenever available.

Gasoline/Oxygenated Blends Or E-85

Another important aspect we need to discuss is the use of oxygenated blends of gasoline. Oxygenated blends contain chemicals such as ethanol, methanol, or MTBE that aren’t typically found in large quantities in gasoline. However, some types of gasoline may have these chemicals added.

One of the main reasons to add oxygenates to gasoline is because they tend to burn cleaner because they’re made out of biomass. The most common example of this is ethanol, widely used throughout the United States.

Therefore, it’s good to know that the second generation of the Infiniti QX80 can take gasoline with a maximum of 10% ethanol, also referred to as E10. This also means that it can’t take the other popular ethanol blends such as E15 (15% ethanol), E30 (30%), and E85 (51-83%). Doing so will result in damaging the engine and the fuel system.

Other possible oxygenates include methanol and MTBE. As a general rule of thumb, we advise you to avoid methanol since it’s a very corrosive substance. Infiniti states that the earlier part of the second generation of the QX80 (2011 -2014) cannot use gasoline with methanol.

QX80 manufactured from 2015 onwards can take gasoline with a maximum of 5% methanol. However, It should also contain a suitable amount of appropriate cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors. Fuel system damage will likely still occur without the correct solvents and inhibitors. Infiniti also states that there are insufficient data to confirm all methanol blends are safe.

Finally, MTBE may be used in gasoline for the QX80 as long as it does not exceed more than 15% of the total volume.

Gasoline With Added Materials

Finally, we have to talk about additives in these types of gasoline. As a general rule of thumb, just using any additive marketed to you is a bad idea. This is because many aftermarket additives contain harmful elements to the fuel system and engine.

These elements are most likely going to be some form of silicon or micro metals. Even though many additives are supposed to clean your engine, many will harm your engine. Also, octane boosters are advised against since it’s better to immediately tank the proper octane levels.

To prevent you from figuring out what kind of additives are good or bad, it’s best to buy gasoline from certified TOP TIER gasoline retailers. Lexus, like many other carmakers, actually endorses buying this gasoline. This is because it already has all the proper additives mixed into it, and it has been proven to clean the engine and improve the lifespan of the engine. Visit toptiergas.com to find a retailer near you.

What If I Hear A Knocking Noise From The Engine After Refilling?

Hearing a knocking noise in a car is a normal occurrence. However, it’s essential to listen carefully to the loudness of the knocking noise. A slight knocking noise is normal, especially when the car achieves peak performance (such as when towing or driving up a hill).

However, a loud knocking noise is a problem, especially if you refilled the car. In this case, you’re likely using gasoline with a lower than recommended octane level, and the car is not handling this well.

In this instance, the best thing to do is stop the car and call your dealer or garage. It’s very likely the car needs to be drained from its fuel, and the fuel filter will need to be changed. Ignoring the knocking noise will result in severe mechanical damage.

Also read: Infiniti QX80 Towing Capacity: Can It Tow a Trailer, Boat, or Jet Ski?

Does the Infiniti QX80 Have Good Gas Mileage?

The second generation of the Infiniti QX80 manufactured from 2011 onwards has a combined miles per gallon of 16, a city MPG of 14, and a highway MPG of 20. Therefore, it will come as no surprise that the Infiniti QX80 is not considered to be a fuel-efficient car. This is mainly because this is a sizeable SUV equipped with a 5.6L engine without any hybrid drivetrain to back it up.

What’s The Gas Tank Size Of An Infiniti QX80?

The second generation of the QX80 manufactured from 2011 onwards has a fuel tank capacity of 26 gallons or 98.4 liters. Assuming an average fuel price of $4 per gallon, this means it costs $104 to fill up a QX80.

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