# Looking for computer chip for my max to burn regular **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** nissan, maxima\ **Created:** [July 17, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-computer-chip-for-my-max-to-burn-regular/51997 "2010-07-17T16:22:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![poor\_limbic\_control](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@poor\_limbic\_control](https://community.cartalk.com/u/poor_limbic_control)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-computer-chip-for-my-max-to-burn-regular/51997/1 "2010-07-17T16:22:42Z")
We did not buy a Maxima because Nissan said ‘PREMIUM REQUIRED’. Is there a computer chip that I can put in to the Maxima to let me use regular gas and not void the warranty? change ---
**Author:** ![willey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a9adbd/32.png) [@willey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/willey)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-computer-chip-for-my-max-to-burn-regular/51997/2 "2010-07-17T16:30:12Z")
Even if you can find a chip installing it will void the warranty. ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-computer-chip-for-my-max-to-burn-regular/51997/3 "2010-07-17T18:21:23Z")
Forget the chip and buy premium gas. If you can’t do this then sell or trade the Maxima. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-computer-chip-for-my-max-to-burn-regular/51997/4 "2010-07-17T18:46:29Z")
No, only ‘chips’ you’ll find are for increased performance, most don’t work. The ‘premium’ requirement is partly determined by basic engine design (compression ratio). ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-computer-chip-for-my-max-to-burn-regular/51997/5 "2010-07-17T20:38:36Z")
Any tuning of the ECU will be done with a hand held tuner or laptop. Any “chip” you see for an OBD-II compliant vehicle will be scam, and it will void the warranty. Perhaps a 4 cylinder Altima will better suit your sensibilities. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-computer-chip-for-my-max-to-burn-regular/51997/6 "2010-07-18T02:33:47Z")
You paid 30 grand plus for a car, now you want to skimp on the fuel needed for it? With a 20 gallon tank, you’d only be spending 3~4 dollars extra over regular, depending on where you live. Just be glad you don’t have to buy 110 octane fuel, that’s $6+/gallon ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-computer-chip-for-my-max-to-burn-regular/51997/7 "2010-07-18T02:49:48Z")
Have you ever tried a tank of regular? Many “Premium Only” cars will run fine on regular grade fuel. If your Datsun will not tolerate regular, you will hear a rattling, pinging sound when you accelerate… If you can not detect any change in engine sound when accelerating, you are not hurting anything… ---
**Author:** ![euryale1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@euryale1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/euryale1)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-computer-chip-for-my-max-to-burn-regular/51997/8 "2010-07-18T04:44:32Z")
No this cannot be done. The engine was designed for performance. You want cheap gas. So go buy a cheap car. The engine may use a mid quality gas however or a mix of best and next best. The engine compression ratio determines the best (no knock) burn rate. This is what octane tells you. Usually engines above 9.5 to 1 compression require higher octane. This can be shifted by the timing up to a point. After that the emissions are an issue. You change that and it is a federal violation. Forget the warranty. The bust for chipping a car is 10K and they get the car. ---
**Author:** ![poor\_limbic\_control](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@poor\_limbic\_control](https://community.cartalk.com/u/poor_limbic_control)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/looking-for-computer-chip-for-my-max-to-burn-regular/51997/9 "2010-07-18T17:40:42Z")
That solves that. Thanks