Tracking the Z questions
 

I want to take my car to the track but worry that I should wait until I upgrade all of the known issues first. I have a 2012 sport model, did any of the known issues get fixed by this point? Fuel starvation and oil temps would be the main concerns. Brakes? Would hate to go out and go limp out there. Seems silly that 3-4 yrs of known issues and Nissan never addressed them.

Fuel starvation, no.
Oil temps, kinda, but no.
Brakes, no.


Fixes:
Expensive and a hassle, OR, fill the tank.
Oil cooler
Get better pads/rotors, but maybe more importantly, better fluid

It's just as silly as the forum has been around for 4 years, but the same questions are still being repeated asked instead of searched... :ugh2:


Big things:

Oil Cooler, if you have a 12 you have a very basic cooler which would suffice for your first few runs until you really push it. Then you're going to want to look at upgrading.

Brakes will suffice for your first runs, again as you become more skilled and push harder, the important parts are the Pads and Fluid. Upgrade those and you will be alright.

Fuel starvation is mostly solved by making sure to fill up after every run.


Everything other then that is specific to your situation and concerns/ability. :tiphat:

If you are going to track or drive in heat, you will need an oil cooler.

Brake upgrades- sport models, the Akebonos are great brakes. Just upgrade with better pads,brake lines and high temp fluid. If you have enough money 2 piece rotors are also great. If your on a budget, just make sure you have new pads before you go to the track. I wore through a pair in 2 days. Brake fluid will bake and your stock lines will get hot. (I'm pretty aggressive , so I'm a worse case scenario .

Fuel problem, Top off after every heat to ensure you have no fuel issues. Hard right sweeping turns will especially do it.

There are lots of write ups on the forum. It might bother everyone to see the same questions but I don't mind giving my 2 cents. I've learned a lot from the people and forums.

If it is your first time ever at the track then just change the brake fluid and you will be fine. You will be pretty slow your first time out so you won't be pushing your car hard enough to damage anything. You basically get one free pass and then after that you will be fast enough to need to start upgrading.

This is your first time. Go out have fun, if you run into any issues, you know what they are, and you'll know what you need to work on before the next event. Get the car out there, get a feeling for it.

Thanks for all of the replies. I've seen many posts on the topic, so it's not that I didn't search. But what I didn't see was the topic in relation to a 2012 MY or later. Seems that most posts were based on 09 and 10. I was hoping that by 2012, they would have addressed these issues. But apparently not. That's too bad. Thanks again.

First time out. Look, listen and learn. Ask questions about the track, tips, and pointers, and have fun. As your skills increase. Then start to change things to match. :driving:

All of this.

If someone in your group of friends or whatever is pressuring you to go fast, you should not invite them to your next event.

Lap times and all that shouldn't be part of your first few outings. The goal should be to make the entire experience as low pressure as possible, otherwise you run the risk of ruining the entire experience for yourself. (My first event was kinda ruined by that sort of thing, along with a mechanical failure)

you can also follow this thread if you will be coming up to Los angeles to track, buttonwillow, willowsprings, chuckwalla, acs, etc...
http://www.the370z.com/southern-cali...rack-meet.html

As far as 2012, just don't track in the summer and ur fine with stock cooler, you will need to do more frequent oil changes. If you never tracked before just go out there and you will have fun. Feel free to come out when we go out... we go TOO often....

Only track time I've had wasn't in my car. It was the Ron Fellows class at Spring Mtn in Nevada. Great class! Learned a ton. Also gave me a profound appreciation for the Corvette. I'm hoping to take the Z there to compare my lap times. :icon17:

hahah, come out to the tracks I posted, the Z does very well.