Major Track Faults of the 370

Push370zzz · 10-17-2010, 06:48 PM

So did my 3rd track event in about 6 weeks and here are my two major problems.

Clutch gets stuck to the floor after about 20 minutes of being out there.
Fuel starvation is KILLING me!! I hate it so much.

Does anybody have any idea how to fix either item? Can somebody give me a definitive answer about how to beef up the lines, fluid, whatever needed to make my clutch freaking work? As it heats up, the catch point gets closer and closer to the floor and eventually it just gets stuck. Am I shifting wrong or does this happen to others?

cossie1600 · 10-17-2010, 07:41 PM

Did you ever flush your clutch fluid with a racing type brake fluid? That would be step one.

Keep the tank full every session, I carry a 5 gallon gas tank as part of my check list

Push370zzz · 10-17-2010, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

Did you ever flush your clutch fluid with a racing type brake fluid? That would be step one.

Keep the tank full every session, I carry a 5 gallon gas tank as part of my check list

The track I goto has a gas station up the road (2 minute drive FROM pit) so that's what I do now, I just would like to be able to run longer than 25 minutes out there at a time. I have not flushed my fluid, should I get a stainless cable too?

daisuke149 · 10-17-2010, 09:21 PM

get the z1 cable and put some motul in there.

I had no issues at the track event I went to. Fluid alone might do it for you too, i believe Mike just changed his fluid and hasnt had issues.

Jordo! · 10-17-2010, 10:42 PM

Maybe a swirl pot for the fuel?

cossie1600 · 10-17-2010, 11:45 PM

Changing the fluid would help, you probably boiled them over. You shouldn't be on track for 25 min. straight in a street car anyway, let it cool down a little. Hot tires+hot brakes+hot engine=slow lap times

worldfamousz · 10-18-2010, 02:53 PM

agreed, take a break after a few decent hot laps.

Motul fluid for your brakes and clutch are the way to go for long track stints.

also, keep an eye on your oil temps, the newer VQs tend to get VERY hot on track days.

spearfish25 · 10-18-2010, 03:04 PM

I'm highly suspicious of these reported clutch issues. Sure, some Zs have bad secondary cylinders that needed replacement, but that has largely been in Zs with aftermarket clutches installed. I can tell you that we just had 3 370Zs on track at Road America running 20-25min sessions and none of us had any clutch problems. Many of the turns require shifting down from 5th to 2nd and then winding it back out to 5th again in the subsequent straights. If we're not having clutch problems there, I can't imagine it's a fluid or mechanical issue (ie it's likely driver related).

daisuke149 · 10-18-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

I'm highly suspicious of these reported clutch issues. Sure, some Zs have bad secondary cylinders that needed replacement, but that has largely been in Zs with aftermarket clutches installed. I can tell you that we just had 3 370Zs on track at Road America running 20-25min sessions and none of us had any clutch problems. Many of the turns require shifting down from 5th to 2nd and then winding it back out to 5th again in the subsequent straights. If we're not having clutch problems there, I can't imagine it's a fluid or mechanical issue (ie it's likely driver related).

You are assuming then that each and every CSC was built exactly the same to be in perfect working order. If we were so lucky on everything that nissan put into this car then no one woul dhave an issues period.

but then some people burn alot of oil
some people have sensor issues
some people have rattles
some have clutch issues
some have gear issues.

Its not a widespread 99% of people will have the problem.. I think Nissan's QC is good enough to prevent that from happening, but every company has issues with a small % of its things.

Think of anything that every went wrong on a car or product of yours. I guarantee you that you will be in the minority compared to people who didnt. Does that mean that you were the problem with it (whatever it was)?

spearfish25 · 10-18-2010, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daisuke149

You are assuming then that each and every CSC was built exactly the same to be in perfect working order. If we were so lucky on everything that nissan put into this car then no one woul dhave an issues period.

but then some people burn alot of oil
some people have sensor issues
some people have rattles
some have clutch issues
some have gear issues.

Its not a widespread 99% of people will have the problem.. I think Nissan's QC is good enough to prevent that from happening, but every company has issues with a small % of its things.

Think of anything that every went wrong on a car or product of yours. I guarantee you that you will be in the minority compared to people who didnt. Does that mean that you were the problem with it (whatever it was)?

Perhaps I didn't convey my opinion well in the first post. The clutch is a relatively fragile aspect of any manual transmission car that will readily be destroyed if improperly used. With the heresay available on this forum, the explanation of a defective CSC is just as likely as driver-induced destruction. Until people post videos of their clutching technique, it will remain a hazy area. I merely stated my suspicion that driver use/misuse may be a factor.

The OP is having a problem that many many other owners who track their Zs will never experience. I don't want people reading the OP's thread thinking that a clutch upgrade is a mandatory part of tracking the Z. It's not.

daisuke149 · 10-18-2010, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

Perhaps I didn't convey my opinion well in the first post. The clutch is a relatively fragile aspect of any manual transmission car that will readily be destroyed if improperly used. With the heresay available on this forum, the explanation of a defective CSC is just as likely as driver-induced destruction. Until people post videos of their clutching technique, it will remain a hazy area. I merely stated my suspicion that driver use/misuse may be a factor.

The OP is having a problem that many many other owners who track their Zs will never experience. I don't want people reading the OP's thread thinking that a clutch upgrade is a mandatory part of tracking the Z. It's not.

ahh yeah agree there.

Most of the time when someone posts something about "hey this happened to me, but i swear i wasnt doing anything wrong" or "I got a ticket but the cop was an *** I wasn't speeding etc" .. the OP is ussually bullshittin a bit. Not saying this OP is, but agreeing with your point spearfish..

Push370zzz · 10-18-2010, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

I'm highly suspicious of these reported clutch issues. Sure, some Zs have bad secondary cylinders that needed replacement, but that has largely been in Zs with aftermarket clutches installed. I can tell you that we just had 3 370Zs on track at Road America running 20-25min sessions and none of us had any clutch problems. Many of the turns require shifting down from 5th to 2nd and then winding it back out to 5th again in the subsequent straights. If we're not having clutch problems there, I can't imagine it's a fluid or mechanical issue (ie it's likely driver related).

Okay well how can I be shifting wrong? I have SRM on the whole time, so I doubt downshifting is the problem and I upshift perfectly with no jerking. What is the technique you guys are using that could be overheating my clutch?

I'm pretty sure it's a temperature problem that is causing it for a couple reasons. It progressively gets worse out on the track, and it goes back to normal after I let it sit for 30 mins or so. Is it was possible that there was air in my system or that the fluid is subpar?

Push370zzz · 10-18-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

Changing the fluid would help, you probably boiled them over. You shouldn't be on track for 25 min. straight in a street car anyway, let it cool down a little. Hot tires+hot brakes+hot engine=slow lap times

It's not even that, if I go out for 20 mins, come out and wait 30 mins my clutch is still acting weird. After about 40-60 minutes of total track time it starts to get stuck to the floor. I'm pretty sure this is a problem with my particular car if people out on Road America/Atlanta (cant remember which but both are WAY more intensive on the car then my track) are doing fine.

memorylasts · 10-18-2010, 05:35 PM

Are you doing a lot of shifting? are you sure your in the right gear for that corner? Maybe your shifting more then you should be, idk how that is possible, but it an idea???????

Are you holding in the clutch to long?

Push370zzz · 10-18-2010, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by memorylasts

Are you doing a lot of shifting? are you sure your in the right gear for that corner? Maybe your shifting more then you should be, idk how that is possible, but it an idea???????

Are you holding in the clutch to long?

Nope, there are only 9 shifts on each lap. I shift the same each lap, and run consecutive lap times within 0.5-1 second of each other. There is no way to go around this track without maybe cutting one more shift because I'm each gear I shift into for at least 3 seconds (which is 2nd gear, and I'm only in 2nd once on the whole track). I clutch in, gear up, drop clutch at right RPM. How could I do anything differently?

10-17-2010, 06:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Push370zzz Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: NE Age: 39 Posts: 649 Drives: cars Rep Power: 17	Major Track Faults of the 370 So did my 3rd track event in about 6 weeks and here are my two major problems. Clutch gets stuck to the floor after about 20 minutes of being out there. Fuel starvation is KILLING me!! I hate it so much. Does anybody have any idea how to fix either item? Can somebody give me a definitive answer about how to beef up the lines, fluid, whatever needed to make my clutch freaking work? As it heats up, the catch point gets closer and closer to the floor and eventually it just gets stuck. Am I shifting wrong or does this happen to others? __________________ Range Rover Sport Supercharged Nissan 370z Touring + Sport

10-17-2010, 10:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 418	Maybe a swirl pot for the fuel? __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it.

10-18-2010, 03:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	I'm highly suspicious of these reported clutch issues. Sure, some Zs have bad secondary cylinders that needed replacement, but that has largely been in Zs with aftermarket clutches installed. I can tell you that we just had 3 370Zs on track at Road America running 20-25min sessions and none of us had any clutch problems. Many of the turns require shifting down from 5th to 2nd and then winding it back out to 5th again in the subsequent straights. If we're not having clutch problems there, I can't imagine it's a fluid or mechanical issue (ie it's likely driver related). __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

10-18-2010, 05:35 PM	#14 (permalink)
memorylasts A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,125 Drives: Cars... Rep Power: 17	Are you doing a lot of shifting? are you sure your in the right gear for that corner? Maybe your shifting more then you should be, idk how that is possible, but it an idea??????? Are you holding in the clutch to long? __________________ somewhat-journal-thingy

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10-17-2010, 07:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	Did you ever flush your clutch fluid with a racing type brake fluid? That would be step one. Keep the tank full every session, I carry a 5 gallon gas tank as part of my check list

10-17-2010, 09:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
daisuke149 My *** is famous! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alpharetta, GA Posts: 4,849 Drives: 2013 Boss 302 PW Rep Power: 31	get the z1 cable and put some motul in there. I had no issues at the track event I went to. Fluid alone might do it for you too, i believe Mike just changed his fluid and hasnt had issues.

10-17-2010, 11:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	Changing the fluid would help, you probably boiled them over. You shouldn't be on track for 25 min. straight in a street car anyway, let it cool down a little. Hot tires+hot brakes+hot engine=slow lap times

10-18-2010, 02:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
worldfamousz Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: so cal Posts: 52 Drives: mazdaspeed3 Rep Power: 15	agreed, take a break after a few decent hot laps. Motul fluid for your brakes and clutch are the way to go for long track stints. also, keep an eye on your oil temps, the newer VQs tend to get VERY hot on track days.