Just finished my break-in period, does this engine not like to rev?

rsximus · 03-19-2010, 03:08 AM

Just passed the 1200 mile break in period on my solid red 370z, it's been a long 3 weeks that's for sure.

So today I decided to have some fun, floored it in 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

The car is decently quick, doesn't quite feel like 332hp but hey I think the VQ engines always feel slower for some reason than the advertise HP right? Same thing with my sister's G35 coupe back in the days.

On to my concern, I've read a lot of reviews on how the engine sounds like a school bus ect, doesn't like to rev, sounds coarse ect. ect.

I think I would have to agree. This engine is fine puttering around at less than 4k miles but once it reaches to redline the motor sounds like its gonna tear itself apart! It just does not sound very happy at anything past 5k RPMs. Very coarse sounding.

Question is will an intake and nice exhaust system change the character of the engine at all? Maybe make it sound smoother somehow?

Other than the engine, I LOVE the way the car looks and drives. Absolutely beautiful, almost looks exotic.

gumpy · 03-19-2010, 03:57 AM

yeah i have to agree with you, doesn't sound the best past 5k... so i don't rev past it...

it's a shame really... it was almost a perfect sports car... but nissan got the sound wrong...

mattkim85 · 03-19-2010, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsximus

Question is will an intake and nice exhaust system change the character of the engine at all? Maybe make it sound smoother somehow?

Other than the engine, I LOVE the way the car looks and drives. Absolutely beautiful, almost looks exotic.

yes. it will sound like a whole different engine. An intake will get you a nice throaty? sound up at 6-7.5k, and an exhaust will give you a nice growl down low that sounds like a V8. In addition, aftermarket headers and cats would only help make it sound and feel faster.

By the look of your screen name im guessing your coming from a k20?
If so, well so am i, so ill tell you this. First couple weeks of owning the Z i was not enjoying it as much because it wasnt as rev happy as it was and it didnt sound that nice either (compared to the k20). But getting used to all that low end torque and adding on a couple mods like you mentioned it brought back the enjoyment and much more.

m4a1mustang · 03-19-2010, 06:58 AM

Intake and exhaust will help smooth things out. The engine is a lot smoother without restricted breathing... its a big difference!

I agree that the car doesn't feel fast. Power delivery is, well, unexciting to say the least. You just have to trust that its going much quicker than you think it is.

Vegitto-kun · 03-19-2010, 07:26 AM

i havent noticed any revving problems.

I do admit for some reason any speed feels slow.

I tend to feel asleep if I drive 60

hell I drove it at over 120 once.

it just felt like going 70

dangerous though

Matt · 03-19-2010, 07:29 AM

My engine sound/feel was like night and day above 5k (well, throughout the entire band, tbh) once I got new exhaust/HFCs. No words can express how much better it sounds and feels.

I have to say, my biggest disappointment was how coarse/rough the engine felt around 6k, right after break-in. I was so happy to get past break-in, only to be let down by the worry that my engine was about to explode.

If you plan on modding at all, make hfc/exhaust your first mods. Intakes aren't showing a lot of gains, from what I've seen, below the 6-7k RPM range, so it may not be the most "bang for buck" as a daily driver.

As far as being "slow", I think you'll notice the car seems to get a little quicker as you put the miles on it. It felt like I could floor it in 3rd gear and it wouldn't even respond. Now that I'm up around 3k miles (not much compared to other members), I think flooring it would put me into a ditch!

370Zsteve · 03-19-2010, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Intake and exhaust will help smooth things out. The engine is a lot smoother without restricted breathing... its a big difference!

I agree that the car doesn't feel fast. Power delivery is, well, unexciting to say the least. You just have to trust that its going much quicker than you think it is.

Case in point: I'm driving on the Merritt Pkwy in CT the other day, there is a stretch between Westport and Norwalk where there are no exits for about 3 miles, and there are no other cars so I figure "what the hell, can't get much safer than this" so I turn on the radar detector and drop down a gear and floor it. In no time I'm going pretty fast, I figure maybe I'm getting close to 100...so I check the speedo and it's at 130. Holy schit.

Let's just say the power is very linear and that can fool you.

Matt · 03-19-2010, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370Zsteve

so I turn on the radar detector and drop down a gear and floor it. In no time I'm going pretty fast, I figure maybe I'm getting close to 100...so I check the speedo and it's at 130.

370Zsteve · 03-19-2010, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

That's me with my Bunnies! They be groovin' on my hood ornament y0

m4a1mustang · 03-19-2010, 09:06 AM

Lol that's ******* cute, I don't care who you are. Bunnies ftw.

chris410 · 03-19-2010, 09:38 AM

An exhaust really opens up the sound, I was actually shocked at how good my car sounded when I put the exhaust on. Also, the car will actually get faster as you put more miles on the engine. When I first got mine I thought it was "quick" but honestly was a bit disappointed however, seems like since I hit 3000 miles the car got significantly stronger.

MightyBobo · 03-19-2010, 09:57 AM

You really need to be in the 5K+ area to even feel the true power - just look at the dyno charts. Course feeling or not, you sure wont feel any power below 5K much

Modshack · 03-19-2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

I have to say, my biggest disappointment was how coarse/rough the engine felt

Mine too, and really, the only thing I don't like about the car. While an exhaust and intake will change the sound, it really doesn't change the feel....

spearfish25 · 03-19-2010, 10:19 AM

I'd have to say that my car has more of a feel of a barrier around 4-5k RPM. It's great up to there, then hits that loud unpleasant raucous zone. Then it's like breaking through the sound barrier and she just screams from 5.5k up to redline (pleasantly). For me, it's more of a rough zone at 5k than a bad entire upper end of the RPMs.

Matt · 03-19-2010, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

Mine too, and really, the only thing I don't like about the car. While an exhaust and intake will change the sound, it really doesn't change the feel....

It may be mental, but I don't feel anywhere near the same harshness as I did from the engine.

03-19-2010, 03:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
rsximus Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oxnard Posts: 37 Drives: 2007 335i, 2009 370Z Rep Power: 15	Just finished my break-in period, does this engine not like to rev? Just passed the 1200 mile break in period on my solid red 370z, it's been a long 3 weeks that's for sure. So today I decided to have some fun, floored it in 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The car is decently quick, doesn't quite feel like 332hp but hey I think the VQ engines always feel slower for some reason than the advertise HP right? Same thing with my sister's G35 coupe back in the days. On to my concern, I've read a lot of reviews on how the engine sounds like a school bus ect, doesn't like to rev, sounds coarse ect. ect. I think I would have to agree. This engine is fine puttering around at less than 4k miles but once it reaches to redline the motor sounds like its gonna tear itself apart! It just does not sound very happy at anything past 5k RPMs. Very coarse sounding. Question is will an intake and nice exhaust system change the character of the engine at all? Maybe make it sound smoother somehow? Other than the engine, I LOVE the way the car looks and drives. Absolutely beautiful, almost looks exotic.

03-19-2010, 06:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	Intake and exhaust will help smooth things out. The engine is a lot smoother without restricted breathing... its a big difference! I agree that the car doesn't feel fast. Power delivery is, well, unexciting to say the least. You just have to trust that its going much quicker than you think it is. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

03-19-2010, 07:26 AM	#5 (permalink)
Vegitto-kun A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: USA Posts: 2,011 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 262	i havent noticed any revving problems. I do admit for some reason any speed feels slow. I tend to feel asleep if I drive 60 hell I drove it at over 120 once. it just felt like going 70 dangerous though Last edited by Vegitto-kun; 03-19-2010 at 07:31 AM.

03-19-2010, 07:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
Matt A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Augusta, GA Age: 41 Posts: 1,680 Drives: 2010 Avalanche LT Rep Power: 19	My engine sound/feel was like night and day above 5k (well, throughout the entire band, tbh) once I got new exhaust/HFCs. No words can express how much better it sounds and feels. I have to say, my biggest disappointment was how coarse/rough the engine felt around 6k, right after break-in. I was so happy to get past break-in, only to be let down by the worry that my engine was about to explode. If you plan on modding at all, make hfc/exhaust your first mods. Intakes aren't showing a lot of gains, from what I've seen, below the 6-7k RPM range, so it may not be the most "bang for buck" as a daily driver. As far as being "slow", I think you'll notice the car seems to get a little quicker as you put the miles on it. It felt like I could floor it in 3rd gear and it wouldn't even respond. Now that I'm up around 3k miles (not much compared to other members), I think flooring it would put me into a ditch! __________________ "Any man who can drive a 370z while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the Z the attention it deserves." Albert Einstein....modified.

03-19-2010, 09:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	Lol that's ***** cute, I don't care who you are. Bunnies ftw. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!**

03-19-2010, 03:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
gumpy Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney Posts: 449 Drives: 09 370z white manual Rep Power: 16	yeah i have to agree with you, doesn't sound the best past 5k... so i don't rev past it... it's a shame really... it was almost a perfect sports car... but nissan got the sound wrong...

03-19-2010, 09:38 AM	#11 (permalink)
chris410 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 345 Drives: 10' GT500 Rep Power: 16	An exhaust really opens up the sound, I was actually shocked at how good my car sounded when I put the exhaust on. Also, the car will actually get faster as you put more miles on the engine. When I first got mine I thought it was "quick" but honestly was a bit disappointed however, seems like since I hit 3000 miles the car got significantly stronger. __________________ Chris Current: 2014 WRX Stage I + SPT / 2013 Hayabusa 202HP Former:09 370Z 7-AT PW/Ark Type 2 exhaust/Evo R lip/TSW Nurburgring carbon

03-19-2010, 09:57 AM	#12 (permalink)
MightyBobo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 8,465 Drives: No cars; only bikes Rep Power: 52	You really need to be in the 5K+ area to even feel the true power - just look at the dyno charts. Course feeling or not, you sure wont feel any power below 5K much __________________ I don't own a car anymore.

03-19-2010, 10:19 AM	#14 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	I'd have to say that my car has more of a feel of a barrier around 4-5k RPM. It's great up to there, then hits that loud unpleasant raucous zone. Then it's like breaking through the sound barrier and she just screams from 5.5k up to redline (pleasantly). For me, it's more of a rough zone at 5k than a bad entire upper end of the RPMs. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

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