Yet another first time track day impression/suggestion

supunna_picta · 06-04-2011, 10:55 PM

Get an oil cooler. That is all.

Well, there is a little more... The car is a bone stock 2011 touring sport coupe. The track is the Great Plains Raceway near Denver, about 2.50 miles in length with elevation, undulation, off camber turns, decreasing radius turns and blind turns. Basically a newbie's nightmare. Once you learn the track layout it becomes quite fun and challenging to then learn the line. Temp was mid 80's I think.

The Z held up remarkably well in braking and cornering and sucked azz in the rev department due to oil heat issues. I hit about 120mph on the long straight once, but usually would only do 80 in 6th to cool things off so I could spend the bulk of the track in 2nd/3rd for power. It was really disconcerting to deal with rev issues/watching the oil temps, when on a new track trying to learn. Thanks Nissan for building a sports car and not addressing this fundamental issue.

I was impressed with the handling of the car which has the impression of being nervous and twitchy to the uninitiated but once you strap on some sack and attack a corner the thing just sticks. Braking on stock pads was fine but I can see that at a minimum I'll need upgraded pads and fluid once I install an oil cooler and can maintain more aggressive engine speeds.

There was another coupe/sport outfitted with a stillen SC - pretty damn sweet!

Time to search the forums for oil coolers!

red6spd · 06-04-2011, 10:59 PM

Good to hear it turned out well. Yea Nissan messed up with the oil temp issues but its an easy fix.

AlphaSnacks · 06-05-2011, 12:56 AM

Stock pads are decent, but Nismo pads are superb.

Though the car handles very well stock, I feel like Nissan left a lot on the table as far as tightening things up.

red6spd · 06-05-2011, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnold K.

Stock pads are decent, but Nismo pads are superb.

Though the car handles very well stock, I feel like Nissan left a lot on the table as far as tightening things up.

She felt pretty dam tight when I took her on the Dragon. I could only imagine what she will be like with better tires brakes and some suspension mods.

SPOHN · 06-05-2011, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnold K.

Stock pads are decent, but Nismo pads are superb.

Though the car handles very well stock, I feel like Nissan left a lot on the table as far as tightening things up.

First time I've heard of Nismo pads being superb? I feel there's plenty of other options they are far superb to the Nismo's. Especially for the price that Nismo's run.

Dark Sarcasm · 06-05-2011, 08:03 PM

what oil temps were you hitting? I'm in Texas, ambient temps have been consistently in the mid 90's and my oil temp hovers around 220, but I am an aggressive driver. I am hoping I can at least keep the temps below 250 at the track until I invest in an oil cooler.

cossie1600 · 06-05-2011, 10:42 PM

shift at 5 or 6K rpm is probably your only way

supunna_picta · 06-06-2011, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Sarcasm

what oil temps were you hitting? I'm in Texas, ambient temps have been consistently in the mid 90's and my oil temp hovers around 220, but I am an aggressive driver. I am hoping I can at least keep the temps below 250 at the track until I invest in an oil cooler.

I was pushing 280. I wasn't driving that aggressively on my first run since I didn't know the track and it still cut out due to heat by my 3rd lap.

AlphaSnacks · 06-06-2011, 10:46 AM

Hmm, so limp mode comes in at 280-degrees then?

Red__Zed · 06-06-2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnold K.

Hmm, so limp mode comes in at 280-degrees then?

Yes it does. Very weird feeling.

AlphaSnacks · 06-06-2011, 10:55 AM

I can imagine. It happened in my Maxima once 7 years ago...MAF failed. I had to putter at 30MPH to the dealership, car wouldn't rev past 3K RPM.

Mike · 06-06-2011, 04:29 PM

I was hitting 265 today at Road Atlanta in 92 degree weather with a tru-cool 24 row core. Might be time to move up to bigger soon.

SPOHN · 06-06-2011, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

I was hitting 265 today at Road Atlanta in 92 degree weather with a tru-cool 24 row core. Might be time to move up to bigger soon.

Did you hit limp mode?

You think a 34R is big going to be big enough?

GTM has a dual setup. But I don't like having that many lines. http://www.gtmotorsports.com/product...cat=266&page=1

But Sebtrab makes 44 and 50 row coolers. http://www.bakerprecision.com/setrab.htm

Mike · 06-06-2011, 07:04 PM

no limp mode, thats at 280, I think. Just a little bigger should be better. I've run this setup for two years now, and nothing bad has happened, although I'm driving a bit harder now that I have learned the feel of the car, and we have become one, its almost Zenlike

SPOHN · 06-06-2011, 07:07 PM

That's funny

06-04-2011, 10:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
supunna_picta Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 102 Drives: Red 370z Rep Power: 14	Yet another first time track day impression/suggestion Get an oil cooler. That is all. Well, there is a little more... The car is a bone stock 2011 touring sport coupe. The track is the Great Plains Raceway near Denver, about 2.50 miles in length with elevation, undulation, off camber turns, decreasing radius turns and blind turns. Basically a newbie's nightmare. Once you learn the track layout it becomes quite fun and challenging to then learn the line. Temp was mid 80's I think. The Z held up remarkably well in braking and cornering and sucked azz in the rev department due to oil heat issues. I hit about 120mph on the long straight once, but usually would only do 80 in 6th to cool things off so I could spend the bulk of the track in 2nd/3rd for power. It was really disconcerting to deal with rev issues/watching the oil temps, when on a new track trying to learn. Thanks Nissan for building a sports car and not addressing this fundamental issue. I was impressed with the handling of the car which has the impression of being nervous and twitchy to the uninitiated but once you strap on some sack and attack a corner the thing just sticks. Braking on stock pads was fine but I can see that at a minimum I'll need upgraded pads and fluid once I install an oil cooler and can maintain more aggressive engine speeds. There was another coupe/sport outfitted with a stillen SC - pretty damn sweet! Time to search the forums for oil coolers! __________________ 2011 Touring/Sport/6mt \| winter: 2009 WRX

06-04-2011, 10:59 PM	#2 (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	Good to hear it turned out well. Yea Nissan messed up with the oil temp issues but its an easy fix. __________________ 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)

06-05-2011, 08:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dark Sarcasm Track Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Katy Texas Posts: 552 Drives: 11 CTS-V Coupe Rep Power: 15	what oil temps were you hitting? I'm in Texas, ambient temps have been consistently in the mid 90's and my oil temp hovers around 220, but I am an aggressive driver. I am hoping I can at least keep the temps below 250 at the track until I invest in an oil cooler. __________________ wax

06-06-2011, 04:29 PM	#12 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2185	I was hitting 265 today at Road Atlanta in 92 degree weather with a tru-cool 24 row core. Might be time to move up to bigger soon. __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

06-06-2011, 07:04 PM	#14 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2185	no limp mode, thats at 280, I think. Just a little bigger should be better. I've run this setup for two years now, and nothing bad has happened, although I'm driving a bit harder now that I have learned the feel of the car, and we have become one, its almost Zenlike __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

06-05-2011, 12:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
AlphaSnacks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Windermere, FL Posts: 1,618 Drives: '13 XKR-S, '10 370Z Rep Power: 18	Stock pads are decent, but Nismo pads are superb. Though the car handles very well stock, I feel like Nissan left a lot on the table as far as tightening things up.

06-05-2011, 10:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 29	shift at 5 or 6K rpm is probably your only way

06-06-2011, 10:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
AlphaSnacks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Windermere, FL Posts: 1,618 Drives: '13 XKR-S, '10 370Z Rep Power: 18	Hmm, so limp mode comes in at 280-degrees then?

06-06-2011, 10:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
AlphaSnacks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Windermere, FL Posts: 1,618 Drives: '13 XKR-S, '10 370Z Rep Power: 18	I can imagine. It happened in my Maxima once 7 years ago...MAF failed. I had to putter at 30MPH to the dealership, car wouldn't rev past 3K RPM.

06-06-2011, 07:07 PM	#15 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	That's funny __________________

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
MVP Track Time 2011 Midwest Track Schedule	Feffman	Mid Western Region	2	07-29-2011 01:32 PM
2011 MVP Track Time Schedule	Feffman	Track / Autocross / Drifting / Dragstrip	3	07-29-2011 01:31 PM
First time on a track -- Tire question	kkruel55	Track / Autocross / Drifting / Dragstrip	6	04-18-2011 08:10 PM
Track Time Photo's - Monticello NY	Zxces50	Nissan 370Z Photos / Spyshots / Video / Media Gallery	6	08-04-2010 06:56 PM
MVP Track Time 2010 Track Dates and Invitation	Feffman	Track / Autocross / Drifting / Dragstrip	9	06-18-2010 12:21 PM