HP Fluctuations based on Engine Temp

rfisc2170 · 01-31-2012, 02:38 AM

Ok I am getting very frustrated and was wondering if anyone has heard or experienced this before and maybe knows what it is. For starters I have Stillin Gen 3 CAI, and since the installation its gotten worse.

I notice pretty major fluctuations in HP which feel like possibly 30+HP swings. I'll turn on the engine on a cool night and seriously put my *** in my seat for maybe the first 2-8 minutes ... but the same cold night after the engine heats up and the oil is at 200-220 it bogs down to a very noticeable point.

At first i thought it was the CAI actually sucking up hot air from the radiator (still a possible culprit) but that wouldn't support all the supposed gains.

I really want/need to get the car dyno'd but has anyone else heard anything like this? Any possible reasons? its a strange issue. I do live in south fla so cool night is 50's... and thats still rare but its even worse when the temp gets higher.

Thoughts?

DIGItonium · 01-31-2012, 08:46 AM

Yea, stuff gets hot and the car feels sluggish. Even with turbos, I have trouble getting it to spool up. I notice the throttle feels like it opens up more when I disable VDC.

Loss in acceleration + throttle response ??

Winters · 01-31-2012, 09:35 AM

I have the same temperature dependent sluggishness. Ideal oil temp seems to be about 190, progressively weaker above that, and at 220+ it really slows down. I read a passing reference in another post to the ECU pulling off power at higher temps, but haven't seen any other verification of that.

Added an 25 row Z1 oil cooler a couple of days ago to hopefully address this.

cossie1600 · 01-31-2012, 10:28 AM

No its air temp from maf

phunk · 01-31-2012, 03:57 PM

the ECU starts reducing power around 200 degrees, more as you go up. Its extremely noticeable even on a stock car. You dont have to hit full oil temp "limp mode" before it starts to pull back.

UpRev will verify this if you wanted a second opinion. I have touched on the topic with them a few times.

sammy · 01-31-2012, 04:14 PM

So what's the fix? Any oil cooler?

DIGItonium · 01-31-2012, 04:16 PM

I have an oil cooler, but temps will still hover around 200-210F with turbos. I don't know what it's like for N/A application though.

rfisc2170 · 02-01-2012, 03:56 AM

Quote:

No its air temp from maf

What do you mean? So you do think i'm getting hot air pulled in? I swear since i put in my CAI my engine has actually been running hotter! Highway driving with outside air temps between 60-80 keep my car running between 210-220. So the ECU DOES pull back power at temps over 200? CRAP! SO NO WONDER i never have full power besides at start up.

My car is completely stock with the exception of the Gen 3 CAI. The inconsistency of the car is so annoying... ESPECIALLY when i want to show it off!

How can i get this checked, what can i do! help!

ImportConvert · 02-01-2012, 04:50 AM

Normal. Can be tuned around at increased risk of pre-ignition.

Spikuh · 02-01-2012, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfisc2170

What do you mean? So you do think i'm getting hot air pulled in? I swear since i put in my CAI my engine has actually been running hotter! Highway driving with outside air temps between 60-80 keep my car running between 210-220. So the ECU DOES pull back power at temps over 200? CRAP! SO NO WONDER i never have full power besides at start up.

My car is completely stock with the exception of the Gen 3 CAI. The inconsistency of the car is so annoying... ESPECIALLY when i want to show it off!

How can i get this checked, what can i do! help!

There is a thread that mentions you can throw on most (all?) exhaust mods and not need to retune the engine, but if you put on a CAI in conjunction with one or more exhaust mods, you have to retune because it leans out the AFR mixture.

Not sure if this will be all that useful in your case, but maybe you are running a bit lean and causing extra heat that way.

If that is the case, you can get tune the engine to fix the AFR problems.

01-31-2012, 02:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
rfisc2170 Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 6 Drives: 370Z M6 Rep Power: 15	HP Fluctuations based on Engine Temp Ok I am getting very frustrated and was wondering if anyone has heard or experienced this before and maybe knows what it is. For starters I have Stillin Gen 3 CAI, and since the installation its gotten worse. I notice pretty major fluctuations in HP which feel like possibly 30+HP swings. I'll turn on the engine on a cool night and seriously put my *** in my seat for maybe the first 2-8 minutes ... but the same cold night after the engine heats up and the oil is at 200-220 it bogs down to a very noticeable point. At first i thought it was the CAI actually sucking up hot air from the radiator (still a possible culprit) but that wouldn't support all the supposed gains. I really want/need to get the car dyno'd but has anyone else heard anything like this? Any possible reasons? its a strange issue. I do live in south fla so cool night is 50's... and thats still rare but its even worse when the temp gets higher. Thoughts?

01-31-2012, 08:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	Yea, stuff gets hot and the car feels sluggish. Even with turbos, I have trouble getting it to spool up. I notice the throttle feels like it opens up more when I disable VDC. Loss in acceleration + throttle response ?? __________________

01-31-2012, 03:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
phunk A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,655 Drives: 370 Rep Power: 944523	the ECU starts reducing power around 200 degrees, more as you go up. Its extremely noticeable even on a stock car. You dont have to hit full oil temp "limp mode" before it starts to pull back. UpRev will verify this if you wanted a second opinion. I have touched on the topic with them a few times. __________________ Charles @ CJ Motorsports : Website \| Facebook \| Instagram \| YouTube Home of the 9 second, stock longblock, stock drivetrain 6MT 370z. 9.91 @ 142mph

01-31-2012, 04:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	I have an oil cooler, but temps will still hover around 200-210F with turbos. I don't know what it's like for N/A application though. __________________

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01-31-2012, 09:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
Winters Base Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: West Los Angeles Posts: 16 Drives: 2011 Black Nismo Rep Power: 13	I have the same temperature dependent sluggishness. Ideal oil temp seems to be about 190, progressively weaker above that, and at 220+ it really slows down. I read a passing reference in another post to the ECU pulling off power at higher temps, but haven't seen any other verification of that. Added an 25 row Z1 oil cooler a couple of days ago to hopefully address this.

01-31-2012, 10:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 29	No its air temp from maf

01-31-2012, 04:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
sammy Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 68 Drives: Carbon Silver 370Z Rep Power: 15	So what's the fix? Any oil cooler?

02-01-2012, 04:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
ImportConvert A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SWMO Posts: 4,454 Drives: 2019 CX5 GT Reserve Rep Power: 7626	Normal. Can be tuned around at increased risk of pre-ignition.