New Car and Driver review of the 370z... oil temp fail!

ChrisSlicks · 09-10-2011, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

My C6 Z51 had a factory oil cooler. It runs 205F cruising, temp was around 240-280 at the track, depending on how much revs you use. Also do fast guys really run flat out 25 minutes straight, not even a lap of cooling down? Jesus, I thought only rookies do that.

Yes the Z51 has a cooler, base does not.

The cool down lap comes after you get the checker flag

Even with a cool down lap here or there the heat build up just becomes too much to dissipate in a single lap, we do it but it is only momentary relief. The cars probably get pushed the hardest when you start red misting trying to catch someone in front of you as you start focusing exclusively on driving and forget to look at gauges.

cossie1600 · 09-10-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Yes the Z51 has a cooler, base does not.

The cool down lap comes after you get the checker flag

Even with a cool down lap here or there the heat build up just becomes too much to dissipate in a single lap, we do it but it is only momentary relief. The cars probably get pushed the hardest when you start red misting trying to catch someone in front of you as you start focusing exclusively on driving and forget to look at gauges.

No way, shifting a car 500RPM makes a dramatic difference in both Z and Corvette. My car hoovers around 260F and creeps near 270 while hotlapping, it drops to 250-260 as soon as I short shift. It was the same exact thing with the C6.

I am getting too old to race against the car in front of me in a time trial, clocks are safer bets.

LakeShow · 09-10-2011, 12:21 PM

Hey I am looking to get a Z, is this oil temp issue a year specific or can just happen to any Z?

Pharmacist · 09-10-2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakeShow

Hey I am looking to get a Z, is this oil temp issue a year specific or can just happen to any Z?

all years. but it's really only if you do track days. On the road, it's extremely rare and you only get it on very hot days while driving very aggressively and bouncing off the redline for a lot of time. Really, 99% of all limp mode incidents are encountered on the track. BTW do u have a gtr?

LakeShow · 09-10-2011, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pharmacist

all years. but it's really only if you do track days. On the road, it's extremely rare and you only get it on very hot days while driving very aggressively and bouncing off the redline for a lot of time. Really, 99% of all limp mode incidents are encountered on the track. BTW do u have a gtr?

Ah ok don't think my Z would be seeing the track a lot when I get it although in NY we get those 100 degrees summer days. What is limp mode? Is the car able to still drive? To answer your question my older brother has a GTR and he's going to probably trade in for a 12' soon, I personally have a 2010 Maxima right now.

Red__Zed · 09-09-2011, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

I'm still LOL'ing at you all. We got the Z06's up to about 270* thrashing 'em at Spring Mountain this week and it handled it just fine. 100* ambient temperature, hours on the track, the cars are run 12-14 thousand miles and then sold with a disclosure. They have NEVER had ONE SINGLE engine failure at Spring Mountain. They run 5-30 Mobil 1 just like what comes in the cars.

I HIGHLY doubt Nissan's engines are much more susceptible to breaking down at high temperature than GM's small-block V8 pushrod engines.

You all need to just get over it until you actually break something. I posted a thread a few weeks ago about it and this board was so butthurt about the concept that NOONE HAS EVER broken a 370Z engine because of oil temps that the thread was deleted as I don't see it anymore. Jesus. All most of you want to do is whine and that totally proved it. You are never going to listen to reason, logic, or look at the evidence. You just want to run your cockholsters about what you THINK is a problem. Just sell the car. Your whining even made it into Consumer Reports and now the 370Z has a nice big black circle for power-train reliability or cooling or some such, lol.

UNLESS you are hitting limp mode on the track and it is hampering your ability to enjoy the car, it is not ONE BIT of an issue except for what you are turning it into.

All that aside, does Nissan have an engine-oil life monitor? It won't steer you wrong if you stick with OEM oil and have a good air-filter that is PROPERLY sealed in the air-box (many oil-life monitors don't monitor contaminants, although I believe Mercedes does). If not, I would indeed suggest what others are saying with the UAO's and you might decide to change the oil earlier than otherwise if you do beat on it in the heat. That is just good common sense and PM for your tools.

Sorry for being a bit rough in this post, but this oil-temp thing, I have come to learn, is completely ridiculous unless it is holding you back on the track. Whining about 220* oil temps during daily driving? Really?

I mostly agree, but I think the oil temps definitely merit paying more attention to UOA's. I've seen a lot of guys that hit 240s in normal highway driving....which means I'd start to get concerned with spirited driving.

While it is true that modern oils are good up to higher temps, they still aren't intended to be run long term at high temps. Oil gets changed after a day at the track....more than 3000 miles on 240-260* oil may not be the best call-- which is why getting UOA's done regularly is really important on a car like the Z. My first one on the Ester oil showed that it was broken down after about 1200 miles (when I did my first change). I've run GC since, and it's been great...except one oil change where I ran Ester again....and again, broken down in under 2000 miles. So while most people are blowing certain concerns out of proportions, there is also an element of concern for how the oil is actually holding up. There's a lot of hand-waving and claims that "modern oil is fine to 300*"-- but it is more complex than that, and requires actually paying attention to the way the oil is holding up.

BTW, no oil life indicator on the 370z.

rangercarol · 09-09-2011, 09:42 PM

I read that C & D article and was also disappointed with the results. But, being pragmatic, It seems unlikely I will ever suffer brake fade or high oil temp with the low-key driving style of my wife and I.

Having said that, it still disturbs me that my 2000 Ranger truck with a 4.0L engine has, not only an oil cooler, it also has a transmission fluid cooler. This is no sophisticated, high-end vehicle; it cost way less than half the price of a Z. Tell me again why Nissan can't afford to include an oil cooler?

Ranger

ImportConvert · 09-09-2011, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangercarol

I read that C & D article and was also disappointed with the results. But, being pragmatic, It seems unlikely I will ever suffer brake fade or high oil temp with the low-key driving style of my wife and I.

Having said that, it still disturbs me that my 2000 Ranger truck with a 4.0L engine has, not only an oil cooler, it also has a transmission fluid cooler. This is no sophisticated, high-end vehicle; it cost way less than half the price of a Z. Tell me again why Nissan can't afford to include an oil cooler?

Ranger

Just a guess, but they are using the lack of an oil-cooler as a breaker switch for other systems on the car, figuring that it will hit limp mode before other things are worn out from track-use/spirited driving. I'm not basing that on anything substantial, just a guess.

Red__Zed · 09-09-2011, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Just a guess, but they are using the lack of an oil-cooler as a breaker switch for other systems on the car, figuring that it will hit limp mode before other things are worn out from track-use/spirited driving. I'm not basing that on anything substantial, just a guess.

most likely the case.

Lug · 09-09-2011, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Just a guess, but they are using the lack of an oil-cooler as a breaker switch for other systems on the car, figuring that it will hit limp mode before other things are worn out from track-use/spirited driving. I'm not basing that on anything substantial, just a guess.

Nissan used to use a trimetal formula in their bearings. They dropped lead (for environmental reasons) and later discovered that you can get excess wear if run for extended periods over 300 dregrees. That's why they use 280 as a cut off.

PapoZalsa · 09-09-2011, 09:54 PM

6MT · 09-10-2011, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PapoZalsa

Mt Tam I am · 09-10-2011, 12:03 PM

I do not mind losing this test to an EVO, it is fourth place that is tough to believe.

I was just at Jim Russell race school where they use stock EVO's with professional drivers. I stuck to them like glue on the paddock. On the track they were max'ed out and I was still with them. I do have an oil cooler which I can't imagine being without and well worth the expense.

Here is a recap: Race school day.

onzedge · 09-10-2011, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am

I do not mind losing this test to an EVO, it is fourth place that is tough to believe.

I was just at Jim Russell race school where they use stock EVO's with professional drivers. I stuck to them like glue on the paddock. On the track they were max'ed out and I was still with them. I do have an oil cooler which I can't imagine being without and well worth the expense.

Here is a recap: Race school day.

Good stuff, Mt. Tam.

11Thumper · 09-09-2011, 10:09 PM

I'm pretty sure it's not too uncommon for cars to run oil temps around 220-230 under normal operation. Heck, the VW VR6 did all the time.

09-09-2011, 09:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
rangercarol Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: McCormick, SC Age: 85 Posts: 56 Drives: 2011 370z Cherry 6m Rep Power: 3370	Car & Driver & oil Temp I read that C & D article and was also disappointed with the results. But, being pragmatic, It seems unlikely I will ever suffer brake fade or high oil temp with the low-key driving style of my wife and I. Having said that, it still disturbs me that my 2000 Ranger truck with a 4.0L engine has, not only an oil cooler, it also has a transmission fluid cooler. This is no sophisticated, high-end vehicle; it cost way less than half the price of a Z. Tell me again why Nissan can't afford to include an oil cooler? Ranger

09-09-2011, 09:54 PM	#11 (permalink)
PapoZalsa A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Not in Sunny Florida Posts: 6,358 Drives: 16 Nismo w/Tech Pack Rep Power: 4500	__________________ 2009 370Z MB Base w/Sport Package 6MT Modshack's Custom Air Intakes /3M Clear Bra/ Illuminated Kick Plates / F. I CBE w/12" resonators / EVO-R Front Lip / Rear Hatch Wing / Tein S-Tech Springs /Ilegal Tint in the Rep. of VA/4x20mm Z1 Spacers/ Vinyl Roof/Liquid Carbon Designs

09-10-2011, 12:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3844	I do not mind losing this test to an EVO, it is fourth place that is tough to believe. I was just at Jim Russell race school where they use stock EVO's with professional drivers. I stuck to them like glue on the paddock. On the track they were max'ed out and I was still with them. I do have an oil cooler which I can't imagine being without and well worth the expense. Here is a recap: Race school day. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

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09-10-2011, 12:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
LakeShow A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: L.I., NY Posts: 5,307 Drives: Everything Rep Power: 26	Hey I am looking to get a Z, is this oil temp issue a year specific or can just happen to any Z?

09-09-2011, 10:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
11Thumper Track Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 754 Drives: '11 370Z, '01 S2k Rep Power: 18	I'm pretty sure it's not too uncommon for cars to run oil temps around 220-230 under normal operation. Heck, the VW VR6 did all the time.