Why didn't you just put an oil cooler on rather than selling for a loss and buying a Cayman? Now you have the same performance, a car that is not nearly as pretty, and you are out a ton of money. :rolleyes:

:drama:

Well ima just askin'! :happydance:

I hope you enjoy your Porsche.

I test drove a 2009 sport with touring 370z. I drove it for over 10 minutes from standing to around 40 mph, starts, stops, turns. I noticed the heat gauge going up and up and figured maybe the sales rep didn't put enough coolant in the car. This was in October, with average temp outside of around 68 degrees F.

When we got out of the car, there was an obvious burning smell. We did not come close to tracking the car, and were floored by it overheating so easily. If you can't slam on the gas to feel the torque from time to time without it overheating, what is the point? It was so odd, we really did believe there was something wrong on the coolant side, not a engineered defect allowed to make it into production.

Also, when we test drove the car, we had not heard about the oil temp issue so many have been discussing. If the car overheats when someone is slamming on the gas here and there to briefly test out its power, i can only imagine trying to have fun with it in the middle of the summer. A burning smell coming from the car cannot be good for it, regardless of what the dealer/manufacturer says. Nissan providing test cars with oil coolers just goes to show they knew magazine reviewers test driving them would encounter an overheating problem and warn people to stay clear.

I'm not looking forward to having to buy an oil cooler just to be able to slam on the gas from time to time, if that was the case, i would have just bought a sedan that was meant for getting to 60 slower and designed for comfort, not speed. :shakes head:

I think you're the first person to have high temps while going 40 mph.

I've gone 130+ and have done some pretty-spirited driving and haven't gotten close to being worried about the temps.

:bowrofl:

:bowrofl::bowrofl:

Limp mode is at 280, I believe. 235 is nothing to worry too much about.

A lot of this depends on airflow to the radiator, because the oil is water-cooled via the radiator. So regardless of speed, if you have a bunch of traffic in front of you blocking good clean airflow, it's going to lead to higher oil temps. So if you're driving at a decent clip with not very much traffic on the Interstate, your oil temps will be significantly lower than they'd be if you were driving at a relatively pedestrian pace on backroads doing a test drive.

Every new car has a burning smell. Your salesman sounds like a moron, btw.

:iagree:

And this is what always seems to run up my temps. I have a nice drive home from work that allows for some spirited driving, but near the end I hit gridlock with no airflow................. in the summer I always seem to then creep up to the 250/260 range.

John

Guess i'll dump the ester oil and use full synthetic Mobil 1 and see how it works as the mileage goes up :shakes head:

I think you're a little confused about what we're talking about here. The car was not overheating, and your salesman sounds like an idiot if he did not know what was happening here. Oil temps and water temps are 2 completely different things. It takes longer than 10 minutes for the Oil temp needle to even get off the peg. You were probably referring to the temp LED gauge, which really isnt a gauge. Anywhere from 150 to 220 degrees will light up the same dot. It will rise quickly from stone cold which probably confused you. Your salesman shouold have known better. On the Burning smell, it's NOT burning...Just oils and preservatives cooking off that are just part of new car build procedures. This will take a few days. From a coolant perspective, this car actually runs very cool...in the 180 degree range which is low for modern emissions controlled cars.

:tup:

yeah my smell was gone within a few hundred miles. i knew what it was and was glad to finally experience it for myself :tup:

That’s because every “merkin” face magazine reviewer is going drive it (370Z) like it’s in a demolition derby!

Cayman engines have a 20% failure rate by 60k miles and the 2009's with DFI have serious problems with carboning. The rear main seal problems are a sign of high quality?
Hopefully VW can fix the entire BS………….I’ve owned Porsches in the past and hopefully the problems will get fix in the future!


Merkin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That's putting int mildly! :)

I chose not to put money into a car if the manufacturer chose not to own up to the issue.

Actually I have purchased 2 Caymans since I got rid of the Z. The first was an '08' manual. I then drove an '09' with PDK and PASM and traded the '08' in on the '09'.

The original plan was to buy a Nizmo when it came out. My sales guy new I wanted one. This gets back to the original point of Nissan's costs.

Then the solution for Nissan is simple. Let the journalists drive the car on the highways.

I'll give you the rear main seal. I replaced 2 on my 996.
20% failure rate at 60k. I don't think so.
Just spoke to the regional rep today about the intakes and carbon. He said it can be an issue on DFI engines. Gasoline type and driving style are players in this game. The Audi R8 has this issue as well.

VW may will fix the issues. However, it is a given that Carlos will merely go the smoke an mirrors route.

Robert, thanks I am really enjoying the new car.

Almost forgot, the oil temp issue was my only complaint with the car.

Alan, I mean no offense but a pretty silly comment.

I'm from Ohio (in fact I'll be there tomorrow night) and in the (approximately) 33 years I spent there I never saw a single highway where you could legally drive triple digits for hours on end, or do flat-out quarter mile sprints all day (skid pads are pretty hard to find on public roads as well not to mention the fact the fact that capital punishment in Ohio is reserved for only two crimes, murder and speeding).

Perhaps you've never seen what "journalists" do to vehicles they test but the fact that a vehicle is even running by the time they are done is somewhat amazing...everyone, Nissan included, has said that if you drive these cars that way you need an oil cooler; Nissan puts coolers on the cars that are being tested because when a these cars are driven the way they are for these tests it's needed...simple as that.

I have nearly 16K on my coupe at this point...I've driven it about as hard on the street as most anybody here drives theirs (and still has a license) and that includes deserts and multiple 100+ degree days. My mechanic, who has been building and racing Nissan's for longer then most of the members of this forum here have been alive, says the oil temp these engines are seeing isn't a problem for this engine and he only has a cooler on the car he tracks. So, while it's just my opinion, I suspect that about 98% of this "oil temp problem" is due to the oil temp gauge Nissan put in the 370.

That said, I am sorry you felt you had to sell you car.

Alan………….I give you a +1 for your honesty…………Ok, maybe it’s a little less than 20%, 15% +/-, it’s still above the normal engine failure percentage.

Robert,
an interesting post. Do you know if your mechanic has an idea if the 350Z has similar oil temperatures? Perhaps he has seen a 350Z with an added oil temp gauge?
I love the way the 370 looks, I'm just hesitant to pull the trigger on a purchase given the problems I had with oil consumption with my 2006 350Z. I am in South Florida where is it always hot, and the thought of driving around staring at the oil temperature all day bothers me.
Thanks

Adam

Robert
I forgot to ask..have you experienced limp mode?

Thank you

Funny stuff. Nissan owned Porsche in IMSA, they own them on-track now....and now they've pwned Porsche with a $35000 car plus legendary Japanese reliability. :tiphat:

Not to mention how Nissan pwned porsche at the $80K price point.

"“We absolutely maintain (that) Tochio Suzuki – the chief test driver on the GT-R program pounded thousands of laps – he got to know every inch of Nurburgring (circuit) and how the car performs on the Nurburgring and hence set that fabulous lap. More than that, I can’t speculate. I can’t explain why they (Porsche GT3) couldn’t match the time.”

Nissan Officially Responds To Porsche Skepticism, Recommends Driving Lessons



"We (Nissan) are aware that several auto makers have purchased the GT-R for their own testing and evaluation. Like all GT-R customers, we recommend that any auto maker buying a GT-R should follow the recommended run-in procedures, service schedules and maintenance to ensure the maximum performance from their car. In addition, we offer performance driving courses for prospective and current GT-R owners to help them get the best performance from their car. We would welcome the opportunity to help any auto manufacturer (Porsche) with understanding the full capabilities of the GT-R."

:worship:

Justifiable.

Indeed.

He has a 350 he tracks regularly...he put a cooler on it. The 350 like most cars need an additional oil cooler if you are going to drive it that that edge.

To answer your next post, no, I've never hit limp mode and while I try to stay out of jail as much as possible; I don't baby my cars.

Robert, It appears that all the way back in April you were having oil temp issues. Care to elaborate as to how you solved the oil temp issue?<!-- / message -->

Seems to me his coupe is still stock and he doesn't have any problems. Wow, man, let it go. You drive a very expensive, overpriced German car now, enjoy the inflated repair bills. Isn't there a Porsche forum you can go to and bash Nissan? Better yet, go to the GT-R forum where they will laugh at your car's lack of performance.

:tup:

[YOUTUBEHQ]RkYgI1vExBA[/YOUTUBEHQ]

There wasn't really anything to solve.

I was as concerned as anyone reading all the doom and gloom posts (such as are in this thread). Early in my coupe's life the oil temps were reaching into the 250's with hard driving (notably on the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway). But, it never got much above that and I never went into limp mode. Even with hard autocrossing; and hard runs on the Dragon, the Hellbender, the Skyway and the Devil's Triangle (to name a few) and a several thousand mile trip down Route 66 through 100+ degree days and southwestern desert and into Las Vegas I never encountered a problem with the oil temps and with using the Ester oil (as I've done without fail) and as the miles have added the temps have even dropped from the highest I've experienced.

My discussion with my mechanic friend, who I've mentioned before, also said there was a non-issue unless tracking the car. When he talks about Nissans I listen - not only has he been building and racing Nissans for 30+ years but his shop is the shop Nissan uses to maintain the heritage collection...Nissan trusts him and so do I.

I'd love to see the factory add an oil and/or transmission cooler; at least as an option but I doubt if more than 5% of the people who buy a 370 would ever actually need the option and I suspect that anyone routinely tracking their car would still need to add a larger oil cooler even if the factory supplied one so the option likely wouldn't even benefit those who probably most need it meaning it would be a wast of Nissan's money to do the tooling and design changes necessary to even offer it (and if they put them on every 370 then everyone would actually wind up paying for something they likely don't even need).

With that said, my questions to you are why are you still "here" and still, apparently, upset about this (at least upset enough to keep posting in this thread)?

I'm not suggesting you can't or shouldnt' be here - obviously you have as much right as anyone to be here but I don't see the point unless you just want to bash the 370. Why don't you just go out and enjoy your new Porsche and let us enjoy or Z's.



P.S. For anyone not familiar withe the Dragon, Devil's Triangle, etc. I mentioned above; just google "The Tail Of The Dragon" and you'll pull up a ton of information about these roads/routes...truly some of the most beautiful and challenging pieces of asphalt anywhere in the world.

:iagree:

"Other than normal" would be track use. Robert did not cause whatever "issues" people think they are having, nor is he in a position to speak for Nissan on this issue. He's been more than forthcoming here..

Easy there Steve, Alan's not bashing. He's just looking for an honest answer that no one at Nissan is willing to give, quite a few of us are, most of us have given up.

At this point I have no problem adding an oil cooler to my car, but I too find it disappointing that one was not available as a factory option given that all the press cars did. Sure the press are pretty hard on the cars, a couple of them were even crashed from the brakes giving out (different issue), but all the magazine reviews clearly listed the oil coolers as options - that weren't available. I for one am simply stunned that the Nismo doesn't come with a cooler standard from the factory, I'm sure Nissan has there reasons but they aren't talking. No one from Nissan will give you a straight and honest answer.

+10 Robert

I think a statement has already been issued on this (many many pages ago):

370Zsteve,

Bottom line out of the box the Cayman S beats the 370Z. Yes it costs more to do that. However, while at the track there have been far too many Z's sitting on hot days watching the Caymans roll onto the track. I'd suggest you (A) go out in a stock 09 Cayman S on track and do a back to back run in (B) a stock 370Z. Find a cool day and track so you can complete part B if you haven't added your oil cooler.

For my 370Z track experience on the one and only weekend at the track I was able to get 5 laps before the oil went north. So, $36000/5 laps for the weekend = $7200/lap or $72000/110 laps for the weekend = $654/lap. That's an order of magnitude cheaper on the first weekend. You know what they say about first impressions. :stirthepot:

I haven't had anyone from Porsche telling me not to use my launch control nor have they reprogrammed it. And as I've said before under 'choice' I think the GTR is just plain ugly. Others find the Cayman ugly and I personally have no affinity towards the Panamera.

The 370Z continues to be a good bang for the buck. And from there you can go both ways.

As to why I continue to post here I feel the $36000 Nissan entry fee should allow me to write all I want.

Edit: This is in no way intended to offend any of the many people on this forum with whom I have had numerous and meaningful conversations!

In other words, you want to throw a pity party - that seems a bit childish to me.

Further, while I have a lot of respect for Porsche as a nameplate, I would have saved $10K or so and bought a 'Vette (and used some of the money I saved for better seats). :)

Yes I've read that one before. I especially love the last part, which is why I've held off installing a cooler for so long.

Let me translate for you.
You only need an oil cooler if you go to the track. If you go to the track and we find out about it we can, at our discretion, void your factory warranty. We will take the fact that you have installed an oil cooler as evidence that you are driving on the track.

Sure, Porsche engines might blow up more frequently than the Nissan engines, but at least they replace them no questions asked during the warranty period.

Any time I've taken my car in to the dealer for any reason they have gone over the car inspecting for any evidence that the car has been on track. I am now very paranoid of that fact and will not be visiting a dealer again for that reason. If anything does break it will be a major pain having to remove all performance parts before bringing it in.

I'm not sure your interpurtation of Nissan's position is accurate but even if so, such a position is not without precedent.

If memory serves, Subaru was handing out free memberships to SCCA and extolling the virtues of the WRX for autocrossing THEN turned around and voided warranties of the vehicles if people actully went out and participated in any SCCA Solo2 events.

Also; I've been doing "competition" things with my vehicles (of many different makes) since the early '73 when I bought my fist TransAm and I've found that what a "dealer" cares about varies a GREAT deal from dealer to dealer.


EDIT: Google is a wonderful thing isn't it!

Yes, I've heard the Subaru story before. I think it's deplorable that a manufacturer would do this, especially something like Auto-X which is a perfect setup to learn how to drive your new car safely. As a result I will never buy a Subaru, and now I have to question whether I will buy another Nissan despite my preference towards them having owned several over the last 20 years.

Frankly, I don't think manufacturers voiding warranties from any issues resulting or that may have resulted from competition and/or competition parts is either unusual or unreasonable.

Perhaps I'm a throwback to an earlier time but anytime I've modified my car from "stock" or participated in any sort of competition (be it 1/4 mile, road course, autocross or whatever) I've simply not expected the manufacturer to jump in and do warranty work for me. Mass-produced street-legal passenger cars as NOT built for competition no matter how much people who buy "performance" cars want them to be and no matter what some New York ad agency does in commercials.