Overheating issue with 2013 370z?

Tazicon

The dealership said that on my 2011 they did NOT recomend ester oil anymore. Since that is where I get all of my oil changes on the Z I go with what they say is RECOMENDED for my car. I would gladly pay for ester oil it was needed. You can find out real fast by reading your owners manual if you have one of the years where ester oil is recomended.

DLSTR

Nothing has changed in the motor. What does your owner's manual say???

DLSTR

Old post from the 370Z.com--- Nissan has a white paper out on the VVEL and Ester oil patent for the particles it needs to protect VVEL system.

--The white paper on the DLC explains Nissan's quest to not only use DLC on engine surfaces, but to employ it where boundary lubrication is extreme. As you might know, when the oil film breaks down from shearing or reaction between two high load surfaces, the hydrodynamic lubrication begans to diminish and contact between the surfaces occurs under boundary lubrication. This is typically when most engine wear occurs. Conrod and Main bearings rely on oil pressure to prevent this from occuring and maintain hydrodynamic function. The VVEL system has no direct means of high pressure lubrication between the drive shaft and the Rocker Arm link which encompasses the drive shaft lobe. It makes sense that Nissan would want to employ their all-carbon nano additive with this system to prevent premature wear on such a high-load surface. Even if the drive shaft were hollow to allow oil to be pumped through it to the linkage in much the same way that oil flows through the crank to the journals, this si a small surface with high pressure. Nissan's own white paper and patent both show how a DLC nano-additive could be used to protect these surfaces.

This also explains why Nissan has the default safety-mode with high oil temperatures. An oil's ability to resist shear and sustain hydrodynamic lubrication under pressure is a function of viscosity. As pressure increases on the lubrication surface, viscosity must increase to maintain a hydrodynamic function. As the oil heats up, viscosity lowers, and boundary lubrication ensues. It makes sense that nissan would be very aware of this and th detriment it could cause to the VVEL mechanism. The new, patented ester oil is a natural safe-guard.--

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370Zsteve

Exactly. But let's not let it devolve into a Nissan Ester vs Synthetics thread...that has happened waaay too many times in the past.

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SOLD MY Z MARCH 2018 - another Core OG moves on - new ride 2019 Z Corvette Grand Sport - no mods necessary but already have eyes on HFC and intakes LOL IT NEVER ENDS.

DLSTR

Not my intention. It alludes to the issues surrounding the lubrication aspect of VVEL for Chuck's post.

Chuck33079

That's good info. I understand that. My question wasn't really clear. I get that vvel is a massive source of heat, and it's very sensitive to lubrication issues. My point was that we were discussing at what temperature does oil experience a significant loss of viscosity. I find it hard to believe that 220 degrees is a problem when we need the oil to be 212+ just to burn off any condensation in it. That's a very narrow window.

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DLSTR

I agree and for street use 220 is not going to affect the motor in a negative way. Nissan placed the limp mode much higher to begin with.

The OP is not hitting that limit in any way. Hopefully he will chime in with a report from his dealer. My guess is the car is fine unless he has pulled some specific codes that are affecting performance.

ZOperaMan

I can tell you that my '09 hits some sort of wall (significant loss of power and acceleration) sometimes when I've been driving "briskly" at 65+ speeds for about 45-60 minutes on Houston freeways in the summer. That's the only condition where I've experienced it -- feels like a fuel line restriction; kind of like someone suddenly transplanted the engine from a Dodge Neon into my Z.

My temp gauge indicates about 220 when this happens, BUT it goes away after a few minutes of idling after exiting the freeway; except that the temp gauge usually stays at 220 for longer than that (it happened yesterday, and fixed itself once I hit stop and go streets -- oil temps never fell below 220 until I got home). This makes me think it's not _directly_ related to oil temperature, whatever it is.

I do think it's temperature related, though, because it never happens below 215-220 -- except it doesn't happen every time oil temps hit 220.

I've seen the oil gauge indicate as high as 230-240 in heavy traffic without noticing the power loss.

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Chuck33079

That's not normal at all.

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2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

jabrother

The funny thing is if Nissan hadn't installed a stock oil temp gage you guys wouldn't be worrying about this at all most likely!! I have a stock 2010 370 and 220 is normal operating temp. Any aggressive driving combined with hot weather will easily push it into the 240-260 range.

Chuck33079

I think most of the sluggishness under 240-260 degrees is more likely IAT related than oil temp related.

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Tazicon

I still think its the way Z's run with the AC on....................I hate using the AC in my for that reason alone. It puts a pretty good drag on the car. You turn it off and its like a totally different car. I have a feeling that is what the OP is refering to.

Chuck33079

The AC is a huge drag, but I seem to remember that the compressor clutch lets go at WOT on these cars. It would contribute to part-throttle lagginess though. And since you're more likely to use AC when it's hotter out, that could very well be the issue. On other cars I've seen dynoed up to a 15whp difference between AC off and AC on.

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innovate370

Elvee, Did you find a solution to this problem?. Should I be worried as well?. Factory defect? I have a new 370z and within only 245 miles I saw my Oil temp hit 220degrees. California 70-80 degree weather Traffic.

Chuck33079

You shouldn't be worried. 220 is normal operating temp for a lot of us. And you're in traffic, so there's very little airflow. It's not a defect. That said, an oil cooler would be a wise purchase long term. Wait a little while to make sure you don't have any issues with the car before you change anything though.

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2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent