What the heck in our engines (or engines in general) is made of copper? Isn't copper a weak metal?

I just spoke to my mechanic. He said it might actually be brass you're seeing, not copper. So what's brass used for in engines? He said it's typically used in bearings and valve guides. I'd take this with a grain of salt though. I asked him what copper would be used for and he couldn't think of anything. But clearly, there's copper in engines because Blackstone tests for it. And the don't test for brass. So, I don't know how solid what he told me is.

Wow...thanks man! You went above and beyond by asking your mechanic.

You know what though, before I did the oil change, I noticed some valvetrain type of noise (buzz). I don't know how long that was going on because I usually drive with the radio on. But one day, had it off and noticed that noise. The noise was noticeable around 3-5 RMP. But it's been so long that I have driven with the radio off that I couldn't remember if that's what it always sounded like. Plus, the VQ37 has that bad rep for noise, so I didn't think much of it at the time. And after the oil change, the noise has gone away.

So maybe it's a valvetrain issue

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It will be detected as 2 separate metals by the analysis.

Beat me to it, Chris. +1 rep :tiphat:

Ah...well then what he told me suddenly makes sense! :tup:

FYI, here's my comments on my trip to the dealer today regarding my oil situation. Basically, it's a waiting game till the next change.

love the work so far!

Fresh baseline dyno numbers
 

Okay, in preparation for installing the Long-Tube Headers from F.I., I went and got a fresh baseline dyno done this morning at Forged Performance. Here are the results.

HP and TQ:
http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...n-04-07-10.jpg

HP and AFR:
http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...n-04-07-10.jpg

For reference, here are the charts from my last dyno in October, when I got my ECU tuned using UpRev.

HP and TQ:
http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...Tune102809.jpg

HP and AFR:
http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...e102809_AF.jpg

So it looks like I somehow gained 4whp in between last October and now. And it's warmer today that it was back in October. Not sure how that works, but I'll take it. Actually, looking at the graphs more closely, it looks like for the one in October, Sharif lifted as soon as he hit 7500 rpm, and this morning he held it to just short of 7750. That alone might account for the slight 'gain' from last time. (I have my rev limit bumped up to 8k.)

Anyway, now I have a fresh baseline and after I get the LTHs installed, I'll take it back for another dyno (and re-tune if necessary). I'm thinking there's a real good chance I'll crack 330whp, which is a quite a feat considering the dyno that this is being done on.

WTB Torque...... Looks like 250 peak?

I'm not terribly surprised. That's why I'm getting rid of the Stillen shorty headers.

Can you specify which number relates to what? Looks like you have the same HP as you have TQ and that can't be right.... right?

Looks like you need to update your sig! :tup:

I'm not sure what you mean. HP scale is on the left, TQ scale is on the right.

Chris is dyslexic.

It looks like that is the case if you eyeball where both plots are at 7500 they are pretty even. If he gave you the run files you can overlay them on the same chart to compare.