state police behind me and got towed, yay love fuel starve!

mantella87 · 05-08-2012, 10:11 AM

It's an interesting issue to say the least. Haven't experienced it myself, it's rare when I allow the Z to get too low on fuel, and I'm sad to say it, but it's rare when I drive the Z like a sports car. As Red pointed out, the 370 is not the only car that is prone to this. Aside from the S2K, what other cars are known to have this problem?

Red__Zed · 05-08-2012, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mantella87

It's an interesting issue to say the least. Haven't experienced it myself, it's rare when I allow the Z to get too low on fuel, and I'm sad to say it, but it's rare when I drive the Z like a sports car. As Red pointed out, the 370 is not the only car that is prone to this. Aside from the S2K, what other cars are known to have this problem?

Quite a few cars have it.

The big issue, as cossie stated, is the results of the fuel starve. My s2000 never did anything but a mild stutter starve, whereas the results of similar treatment caused to the to die.

The other issue is of course the fact that there is no readily available solution, but that's what happens when people pretend an issue doesn't exist.

red6spd · 05-08-2012, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

Cool? What are you trying to prove? I'm not arguing the design of the tank but the fact that some people have the issue some dont. Why do some Z's have Oil consumption issues and some dont? Thats denial as well Huh Red?

Red__Zed · 05-08-2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red6spd

Cool? What are you trying to prove? I'm not arguing the design of the tank but the fact that some people have the issue some dont. Why do some Z's have Oil consumption issues and some dont? Thats denial as well Huh Red?

It's not a "some cars" issue, it is a "some drivers" issue.

Anyone who looks at the tank can see the issue. It is a fundamental design flaw that created issues for anyone who drives hard. It is not at all similar to issues like oil consumption, which is going to be hit or miss

mantella87 · 05-09-2012, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red6spd

Cool? What are you trying to prove? I'm not arguing the design of the tank but the fact that some people have the issue some dont. Why do some Z's have Oil consumption issues and some dont? Thats denial as well Huh Red?

I don't really agree with hostility being aimed at this car either for the few (often very inconvenient) problems it may have, but comparing fuel starve to oil consumption is "apples to oranges."

Deadman · 05-08-2012, 10:21 AM

Hope I don't jinx myself as well but I have not had this and I never fill the car up with a full tank . I have taken corners just like you described and no problem.. either way I hope they have a tsb for this somewhere down the line

UNKNOWN_370 · 05-08-2012, 12:39 PM

Would an aftermatket fuel pump system at least minimize how catastrophic this issue is?

red6spd · 05-08-2012, 04:57 PM

Well if it takes the perfect combination of factors to make it happen then I'm cool with that. It has never happen to me and what seems like many other people on this forum while driving on the street. I have done what the OP describes many many times with much less fuel in the tank. I have also never had an issue with the fuel gauge being inaccurate. Can you explain that problem as well?

Red__Zed · 05-08-2012, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red6spd

Well if it takes the perfect combination of factors to make it happen then I'm cool with that. It has never happen to me and what seems like many other people on this forum while driving on the street. I have done what the OP describes many many times with much less fuel in the tank. I have also never had an issue with the fuel gauge being inaccurate. Can you explain that problem as well?

Gauge is a sensor issue. Not at all related.

Nobody is contending that the fuel starve is going to be a problem for everyone....if that's what you are reading, try removing the chip from your shoulder and reading again.

It is an issue for anyone that wants to get on the gas out of a long, fast right turn. Most of the time when you see it on the street people are really dogging it, or you have something funky like a reverse banked turn. Even then, street starve is usually at a much lower fuel level than I would ever let my car get to.

julianpayne · 05-09-2012, 04:27 PM

Guys, I can tell you that I've experienced this but under HARD driving conditions. Turn 17 at Sebring will have you taking a HARD right (almost 90+ mph), and anything under less than half will cause the issue. It's happen to me twice (on seperate occasions) already. It just so happens that a local show here in Tampa has a solution. As for street driving goes it has never happened to me (Luckily I don't do 90 mph on off ramps), but I do intend on tracking my car at least 4-5 times a year. So a solution will be put into place before my next track day.

The car runs lighter on 1/2 to 1/4 tank full on the track!

Footloose301 · 05-10-2012, 07:18 AM

FWIW I was hard on the car this past weekend doing some Auto-X, and my instructor was even harder and I had less than 1/2 tank and never had this issue. I have yet to see fuel starvation and I've take the on-ramp to North I-75 from Daniels Pkwy really hard, like really hard and never had an issue, but I don't look at my gas gauge so perhaps I had plenty of fuel.

m4a1mustang · 05-10-2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Footloose301

FWIW I was hard on the car this past weekend doing some Auto-X, and my instructor was even harder and I had less than 1/2 tank and never had this issue. I have yet to see fuel starvation and I've take the on-ramp to North I-75 from Daniels Pkwy really hard, like really hard and never had an issue, but I don't look at my gas gauge so perhaps I had plenty of fuel.

Remember dude, it has to be hard and long.

b1adesofcha0s · 05-10-2012, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Remember dude, it has to be hard and long.

That's what she said

Footloose301 · 05-10-2012, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Remember dude, it has to be hard and long.

Oh it was!

SeattleLion · 05-10-2012, 11:12 AM

This is all very interesting. There is no doubt that fuel starvation is an issue for the car. Like the oil overheating (not the same thing but similar in the design issues) it is something that a manufacturer who expects the car to be tracked should handle before making the car.

There are "sporty" looking cars like the Eclipse that are not really meant to track. But since 1969 Z's have been on tracks. It's unbelievable that Nissan engineering was unaware of this problem. Nissan tracks prototypes extensively to shake out any design flaws. So how do we end up with cars that overheat oil, experience brake fade due to heat, and suffer fuel starvation under track conditions?

I think the answer is that in their minds the Nissan engineers assumed that anyone who has track ambitions for a Z will buy the Nismo. I don't know if the Nismo has the fuel starvation issue (I bet it does), but it has always come with an oil cooler and better ventilation for the brakes.

I agree that the problems above did not prevent me from buying and loving my car. It did cost me some money to get an oil cooler, better brake lines and fluid, and better brake pads. In my mind, at least, I can imagine the Nissan engineering team being beaten up by marketing who wanted to hit that under $40k price point. It's a neat trick to build a mid range sports car that can compete with cars costing twice as much. It just seems odd to me that now almost four years after the 370 was introduced, only the oil temp issue has been addressed.

05-08-2012, 04:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
red6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 3,277 Drives: 2010 Z Coupe M6 SPT Rep Power: 21	Well if it takes the perfect combination of factors to make it happen then I'm cool with that. It has never happen to me and what seems like many other people on this forum while driving on the street. I have done what the OP describes many many times with much less fuel in the tank. I have also never had an issue with the fuel gauge being inaccurate. Can you explain that problem as well? __________________ 2010 Base+Sport 6spd: Stillen G3, FI Non-Resonated CBE, FI Non-Resonated Test Pipes, UpRev Tuned, Custom 24R Oil Cooler, JDM Rear Fog-OEM Harness. ???Whp ???WTQ (Will find out come spring time)

05-09-2012, 04:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
julianpayne Base Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 36 Drives: 2010 370Z WH M6 T/S Rep Power: 14	Guys, I can tell you that I've experienced this but under HARD driving conditions. Turn 17 at Sebring will have you taking a HARD right (almost 90+ mph), and anything under less than half will cause the issue. It's happen to me twice (on seperate occasions) already. It just so happens that a local show here in Tampa has a solution. As for street driving goes it has never happened to me (Luckily I don't do 90 mph on off ramps), but I do intend on tracking my car at least 4-5 times a year. So a solution will be put into place before my next track day. The car runs lighter on 1/2 to 1/4 tank full on the track! __________________ Julian Payne 2010 White/Perm 370Z Touring/Sport

05-10-2012, 07:18 AM	#11 (permalink)
Footloose301 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 2,659 Drives: 40th Rep Power: 21	FWIW I was hard on the car this past weekend doing some Auto-X, and my instructor was even harder and I had less than 1/2 tank and never had this issue. I have yet to see fuel starvation and I've take the on-ramp to North I-75 from Daniels Pkwy really hard, like really hard and never had an issue, but I don't look at my gas gauge so perhaps I had plenty of fuel. __________________ 2010 40th Anniversary 370Z

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05-08-2012, 10:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
mantella87 Track Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 590 Drives: 2011 Z34 MT Rep Power: 14	It's an interesting issue to say the least. Haven't experienced it myself, it's rare when I allow the Z to get too low on fuel, and I'm sad to say it, but it's rare when I drive the Z like a sports car. As Red pointed out, the 370 is not the only car that is prone to this. Aside from the S2K, what other cars are known to have this problem?

05-08-2012, 10:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
Deadman Base Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 177 Drives: 2011 370z Base+S 6MT Rep Power: 14	Hope I don't jinx myself as well but I have not had this and I never fill the car up with a full tank . I have taken corners just like you described and no problem.. either way I hope they have a tsb for this somewhere down the line

05-08-2012, 12:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
UNKNOWN_370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: ny'r livn in tx Posts: 8,687 Drives: well over 130m.p.h. Rep Power: 14857	Would an aftermatket fuel pump system at least minimize how catastrophic this issue is?

05-10-2012, 11:12 AM	#15 (permalink)
SeattleLion Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 226 Drives: '13 Mustang GT Prem. Rep Power: 233	This is all very interesting. There is no doubt that fuel starvation is an issue for the car. Like the oil overheating (not the same thing but similar in the design issues) it is something that a manufacturer who expects the car to be tracked should handle before making the car. There are "sporty" looking cars like the Eclipse that are not really meant to track. But since 1969 Z's have been on tracks. It's unbelievable that Nissan engineering was unaware of this problem. Nissan tracks prototypes extensively to shake out any design flaws. So how do we end up with cars that overheat oil, experience brake fade due to heat, and suffer fuel starvation under track conditions? I think the answer is that in their minds the Nissan engineers assumed that anyone who has track ambitions for a Z will buy the Nismo. I don't know if the Nismo has the fuel starvation issue (I bet it does), but it has always come with an oil cooler and better ventilation for the brakes. I agree that the problems above did not prevent me from buying and loving my car. It did cost me some money to get an oil cooler, better brake lines and fluid, and better brake pads. In my mind, at least, I can imagine the Nissan engineering team being beaten up by marketing who wanted to hit that under $40k price point. It's a neat trick to build a mid range sports car that can compete with cars costing twice as much. It just seems odd to me that now almost four years after the 370 was introduced, only the oil temp issue has been addressed.