Rev Limiter Sucks Too
 

I got my first experience with the 370Z rev limiter last weekend at an autoX event. Unlike the Porsche GT3 and Corvettes there which bounce off the limiter and maintain power, the stupid Z computer cuts power electronically. You essentially fall on your face as if VDC was activated. Yet another place where the Nissan training wheels aka computer gets in the way. Anyone else notice this before?

Yes.

You should check out Sport Mode on the Brembo equipped 5.0 Mustangs. :icon17:

I believe my C6 did the same exact thing except it cuts in much harsher. The 370 just sort of dies on you, that's why I believe some of the dead engine problem are related to fuel starve.

or how about your learn to shift on time instead of being a typical idiot who forgets to shift and is all RATATATATATATshift.

Your going to lose power no matter what the limiter, the laws of physics dictate it so.

RPMs constant = constant velocity

The way it hits is different which feels weird but the end result is the same.

In auto-x the transitions are so frequent that it is often not worth changing gears for 2 seconds only to have to change back again. Your hands are very busy on the wheel and changing gears at the wrong moment could cause the rear end to break loose.

Get your limit raised with a tune?

Feels about the same in the 370Z as it did in my 05 STi. I also agree with who ever mentioned fuel cut causing engine reliability issues...seems like that could be a problem.

I think that is part of the reason Nissan put in a soft limiter, much less damaging than a fuel cut limiter.

I just don't let it hit the rev limit but it feels much more natural to have a 7,750rpm rev limit after my tune since I can aim to shift around 7,500rpm in the quick gears like 1st and 2nd. But the soft limit is more forgiving without a doubt, just try not to keep running up against it for an extended period of time lol.

Yep, didn't want to waste time with rapid gear swaps. In the heat of things, it felt more like a power cut but it may just be a power plateau. Given that the Z pulls the best above 5k rpm, hitting the limiter is probably more dramatic than in a car that poops out at higer rpm. All things considered, the Z doesn't enjoy being near the redline anyway. Yeah, she's powerful there, but she heats up like no tomorrow. One 30s autoX run and she was at 240F despite my 24row oil cooler. Fortunately, she cools down just as fast.

Yes it's just a plateau. But when all that acceleration goes away suddenly it certainly feels like a cut from within the car as from the occupant perspective there is deceleration due to the fact that acceleration ceased. At my auto-x last week I was riding the limiter for several seconds in a couple of spots as it wasn't worth upsetting the car trying to change gear. It is a weird feeling when the cut happens and it is even weirder how perfectly smooth it holds redline RPM, but it does its job correctly.

And yes technically speaking there is a power cut (engine cuts power to maintain constant RPM), but there is no deceleration of the vehicle itself.

Get an iPhone Autocross app like RaceDataAX and see what is really happening :)

Even something simple like AccelGraph might be adequate.

I have that too ;)

and I agree :tup: