Nissan Repair: 1997 Pathfinder Pinging, nissan products, rod bearings

Question
Von--
A friend has '97 Pathfinder with only about 100k miles on it, and it is very good condition. All service has been performed by a dealer. Recently, he has noticed some pinging on acceleration or hills. He took it to the dealer, who told him there was nothing wrong and that he should start using "better quality gas" in it. He told him to run premium in it from now on. My friend buys his gas at a variety of stations, all name brands, so I am skeptical that octane-cheating by local service stations is the cause.  his manual says the Pathfinder is supposed to run on regular unleaded, octane 87, which is what is sold everywhere around here.  I said I thought the pinging means he needs the timing adjusted. What do you think?


Answer
I only use premium gas in all of my Nissan products.  But, that is just me.  Yes, higher octane will solve the problem or you could retard the timing.  If you retard the timing you will get lower gas mileage.  You could compare the cost differential of lowering the timing a couple of degrees and try that for a couple of tanks and if the mileage is really lower you might be better off getting premium and setting the timing back to where it was originally.  But, you do not want it pinging as it will eventually mess up the rod bearings.