engine harshness at high revs

VTalumni

Im referring to some articles I read on the internet regarding engine harshness at high rpms. Does this seem to be an issue for anyone? If this is an issue, is it something that can be worked out with different engine tuning (COBB) or is it a mechanical issue?

spearfish25

I haven't driven many other high performance cars, but I did get some time on a track in both an Audi RS4 and an Audi R8. I don't think the 370Z is any more harsh at high revs than either of the Audis. Contrary to what the reviewers say, I like the feel speed and power at high revs which is only supplemented more by some vibration or thunder under the hood...it's exhilarating. Don't worry about those reviews and especially don't let it stop you from buying a 370.

ADmaster71690

I agree. I guess if you have driven many great sports cars, it could bother you a little bit. Some of those reviewers are way too picky - many complained about noise from the wheel wells, and a rough ride, but the 370z had a softer, quieter ride than my Saan 9-3!

RCZ

Our car is very rough at high RPM's...I've been in a few cars that should be rougher per se, but are smooth as silk compared to this. Nissan lost points in the refinement department with this engine...

wstar

I'm guessing you're referring to noise harshness? I agree, but I kinda like it. It sounds very "raw".

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RCZ

everything, its gotta a very coarse feeling to it. Everything vibrates and sounds like its not supposed to be revving that high. Its something I've learned to live with, but it should not be this way. I wonder if its an engine mounts thing....

tbonesteak

i was thinking the exact same thing, but they have 4 mounts including some liquid filled ones right? I can't imagine nissan missing the calculations with the mounts tho....just doesn't sound like something that would happen.

Phimosis

If you take a Porsche flat six or a Chevy LSx V8 to the rev limiter, it sounds like a beautiful, hard working sports car engine that builds like a crescendo all the way to the fuel cutoff, both inside the car and out.

The 370z has a muted exhaust tone that has the overall boring soundtrack of the vq engine that we all know from Muranos, Altimas, etc, but with some of the qualities of the 70's straight sixes. You get that sound up until 5,000 rpm or so when the cacaphony of engine clatter starts to become as loud as the exhaust. An aftermarket exhaust helps that, but overall, it's still pretty noisy under the hood. A similar ammount of vibration is transmitted back through the steering, pedals and shifter, but for me, it's mostly the noise.

frost

Can't take it too personally, with a car as great as the Z, they really have to dig to come up with "cons"

6SPD_FTW

I too like the high-rpm coarseness on the 370Z. Most people that have ridden in the car like it as well. For me, it seems that once you get over 6500rpms is when engine noise is rather intrusive. I don't know, but it would stand to reason that this is partly due to the VVEL. If you think about it, valve lift/duration increases with revs, so essentially, the VVEL allows more and more air/fuel into the engine the higher you rev it, so it would only make sense that more power = more noise.

Either way, it almost has a different character in the high rpms/sounds like a different engine.

The one thing that DID surprise me about the powertrain is how much it sounds like a 4-banger. LOL. The engine just doesn't have the typical V6 smoothness that I was use to from my 2007 Altima 3.5SE. That's comparing apples to oranges, but you'd still expect a slight resemblance considering they're both Nissan V6's. But not so much.

Late,
Trav

RCZ

6SPD_FTW no offense, but your logic is flawed from the start. "more power = more noise" that is not necessarily true.

I hope people dont misunderstand me, I'm not arguing whether i like it or I dont or whether you like it or you dont. All I am saying is that the motor makes a lot of noise and vibration at high rpm. I find reviewers' "pickiness" about the coarseness of this motor perfectly understandable. The motor should NOT feel like its going to spin itself apart at high rpm. There's no excuse for this. For those of you that say "its a sports car, it comes with the terrictory" I beg to differ. The GT3RS is much more of a sports car, almost a dedicated track car and even past 8k RPM that engine is completely smooth.

It may have something to do with the VVEL, no doubt about that.

CBRich

A lot of reviews I've read concerning the VQ engine say the same thing. It's not isolated to our car, it's the VQ in general. It is rougher than other engines and I would love for it to be smoother but you do get used to it.

kevr6

I actually work for an Audi dealership and have driven over a dozen R8s (track training) and a few RS4s along with owning the newest TT model (VR6) and driven all the other RS and S models and those engines are all 10 times smoother at higher RPMs then the Z. I had to get used to that about this car after purchase. But your also paying a huge difference in cost for those cars. That alone keeps me smiling!! I've also noticed that as the break in takes place the harshness subsides a bit.

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KingDavid

I don't know about everything else, but I can agree with that.

zZSportZz

I agree, it feels like the engine is going to slap me in the face past 6500 rpm. I think the reviewers were well in line when they complained about the harshness, picky or not. Lets me honest here. Love the car BIGTIME, but it is harsh.