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oil overheating unique to vq37vhr engine?

I was reading the latest edition of Dsport magazine where they reviewed several RWD cars. Predictably they criticized the 370z for the engine overheating its oil and shutting down after

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Old 09-03-2010, 11:05 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default oil overheating unique to vq37vhr engine?

I was reading the latest edition of Dsport magazine where they reviewed several RWD cars. Predictably they criticized the 370z for the engine overheating its oil and shutting down after 2-3 laps on the track. They mentioned that the Genesis Coupe doesn't have this problem. This got me thinking, are there any other cars out there with a similar overheating problem other than the 370z and g37?

I know bmw's turbocharged 335i also overheats easily, but other than that, what else? Gen Coupe, Corvette, Viper, Mustang, Camaro, Cayman and 911, M3, M5, Lotus Elise/Exige, Miata, Rx 8, ferrari, lamborghini, aston martin, turbocharged cars like the STi, Evo, and even Nissan's own GT-R do not overheat and go into limp mode after 3 laps on the track. As far as I know most, if not all, of these cars do not have an oil cooler from the factory.

So the question is why do they not overheat and shut down like our cars on the track? Is it that they do not produce much heat? If so what is so different about our engines that make them overheat so much? If these cars do heat up their oil so much, why do they not go into limp mode? Are their engines not as vulnerable to hot oil as our engines? If so why? Why would the vq37vhr engine be unusually vulnerable to hot oil? Or is it simply the case that the oil in these cars does overheat like our cars and their engine also suffers excessive wear and tear as a result but the manufacturer just couldn't care to put a limp mode for engine protection.
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Old 09-03-2010, 11:38 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Does the Genesis have a temp gauge? Maybe it should shut down, but wasn't programmed to...
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Old 09-04-2010, 12:25 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Crappy air flow.

Without digging into specs, I'd guess that the high-end cars do come with oil coolers. Heck, my 2000 Celica had one.
I think it would do Nissan well if they'd look at revamping the entire cooling system, no just the oil system. Oil temps are at the end of the chain. If the engine was cooled adequately, the oil temps wouldn't be so high.
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Old 09-04-2010, 12:48 AM   #4 (permalink)
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Don't know so much but I think the fact that its the most productive V6 has something to do with it... we are getting 330 from a V6 where everyone behind is getting 306 and under....
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Old 09-04-2010, 12:59 AM   #5 (permalink)
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Good question OP. Nobody's ever gotten down to the core about this. My s2000 never had an oil heating prob. My friend's genesis coupe 3.8 who I went to the track with a few times when i had the s never had this prob either. My buddy who drives a 335i tho.....is a different story. His cruising temps are 250+.
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Old 09-04-2010, 08:39 AM   #6 (permalink)
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It is kinda crazy. My s under hard driving would see almost 230...while it was an iron sleeved, closed deck stroker motor producing over 3 times the stock hp. I remember the guys that built it thinking it was a real problem to see temps that high. My mind was blown when I saw that 370s operated there.
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Old 09-04-2010, 08:43 AM   #7 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by tbonesteak View Post
Good question OP. Nobody's ever gotten down to the core about this. My s2000 never had an oil heating prob. My friend's genesis coupe 3.8 who I went to the track with a few times when i had the s never had this prob either. My buddy who drives a 335i tho.....is a different story. His cruising temps are 250+.
Yeah, the 335i is the only other car apart from the 370z and g37 to suffer heating problems, but that car is twin turbocharged, so at least it's somewhat understandable the amount of heat produced.

Did the 350z have an overheating problem? I'm not sure but I never heard of it. Could the reason be the VVEL in our engines? I read that there's a lot of friction going on over there, part of the reason why Nissan developed the diamond-like coating on the VVEL and recommends their ester oil. Maybe the excess friction generates too much heat?
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Old 09-04-2010, 09:10 AM   #8 (permalink)
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The RX8 would have oil temp issues and I think some of the early models did and they had an oil cooler. I had a 2006 and it had 2 oil coolers.

This just may be my ignorance, but I do not buy the whole 'the VQ is a high performing engine, that is why it runs hot' notion. Do not most engines have similar setups?? I know it is an inline 6, but did the E46 M3 have overheating issues??? Same type power was produced from it.

I think that is the VQ37's issue is that it does not have oil coolers. I would like to see a Stangs or a Genesis oil temps. To the earlier point, do they even know what temps their oil is reaching?
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Old 09-04-2010, 09:33 AM   #9 (permalink)
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OOOOOOOOld news
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Old 09-04-2010, 07:59 PM   #10 (permalink)
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very oooooold news. news flash if you track your car or dog the crap out of it
get an oil cooler. if you drive the car so hard it goes into safe mode doesn't that tell you something. should nissan included oil coolers with these cars? yes
but they didn't to keep cost down. everyone knows going in how they are going to drive their cars before they buy them do your homework first. i'm not on a soap box,but under normal conditions these car and sometimes not so normal these cars still kick -ss. sorry to ramble oil temp threads do that to me.
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Old 09-04-2010, 08:02 PM   #11 (permalink)
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I remember hearing the New Evo's with that fancy auto tranny was overheating the transmissions. Just figured it was kind of the same.
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Old 09-04-2010, 09:50 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sonic370 View Post
very oooooold news. news flash if you track your car or dog the crap out of it
get an oil cooler. if you drive the car so hard it goes into safe mode doesn't that tell you something. should nissan included oil coolers with these cars? yes
but they didn't to keep cost down. everyone knows going in how they are going to drive their cars before they buy them do your homework first. i'm not on a soap box,but under normal conditions these car and sometimes not so normal these cars still kick -ss. sorry to ramble oil temp threads do that to me.



seriously, did you even read the original post? i know the vq37 has an overheating problem. the entire universe knows it. and yes, i already got myself a huge *** 34 row oil cooler a long time ago, thanks for the advice

the point of the discussion was to find out what exactly is unique or different about the vq37 compared to other high performance engines that makes it produce so much heat and go into limp mode so quickly while other cars keep going without the need for an aftermarket oil cooler.
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Old 09-04-2010, 09:52 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by red6spd View Post
I remember hearing the New Evo's with that fancy auto tranny was overheating the transmissions. Just figured it was kind of the same.
that's true, actually many automated manual transmissions do overheat and require an oil cooler. i think it could be due to the higher pressures they used compared to slushbox autos. also, don't forget most of these transmissions have wet clutches, so the oil is used to cool down the clutch.
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Old 09-04-2010, 10:04 PM   #14 (permalink)
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I wish i knew what it was and how to correct it without voiding my warranty. The highest oil temp i've had is 220-224 in 90+ degree heat, so not bad. It's always in the back of my mind that dreaded oil temp. It's a uncomfortable feeling
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Old 09-05-2010, 08:31 AM   #15 (permalink)
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My oil temp gets to 230 pretty easily here in Texas. (Freeway driving.)

The real question is.... what temperature is "too high" and when should i be worried?

Ill be getting an oil cooler within the next few weeks.
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