Major Track Faults of the 370

cossie1600

Let's ask this question. Who still has an intermittent clutch pedal after a high performance clutch fluid swap?

(I am highly aware of how bad the stock slaves are, but you usually won't get your pedal back if that is truly the case)

jeffreyfranz

There is a California company named "Sector 111" that carries a great many track mods for Lotus cars. One such is a gas tank that is baffled somehow to eliminate fuel starvation and resultant lean-running engine damage. To fabricate a one-off would probably be prohibitively costly, but it's a place to start. Good luck.

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boosted180

i havnt read the entire thread, but i used to have the exact same problem in my 240sx. it turned out to be a bad hard line. there was a tiny pinhole leak in it. i replaced the hardlines and problem completely gone.

but first make sure there is no air in your system. after a good bleeding and it still does it, chances are you have a microscopic leak in the system somewhere - in which case, replacing your lines will fix the problem. in my car, the leak was so small there is no way to exactly locate it. but it was there b/c after the lines were replaced the problem went away.

good luck.

Sharif@Forged

I've never had the pedal stick on track, but i have had it stick in the pits. How about you all? The engine and transmission produces an enormous amount of heat, and when you bring the car into the pits, that heat can cook the system.

The heat is the killer, and Nissan hydraulic systems have always been prone to issues with this. I would suggest a stainless line, heat wrap with the best warp money can buy, Motul RBF600 fluid and give that a shot.

This is not a very widespread issue, but it can happen.

Fuel starvation...now that IS very much a widespread issue.

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ducatismo

Just did a Driver's Edge event this weekend in TWS and the fuel starvation issue killed me. Long right hander and into the straights, the car would practically die every time. I felt like an idiot for an entire day until a fellow Z driver let me know about the fuel issue. Never would have occurred to me.

Mike

I had to get towed off of Road Atlanta, I too felt like an idiot.

At Road America, I was getting it with only one dot from full coming out of the carousel!!!!!

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Shamu

So has anyone come up with a solution for fuel starve issue? Where are you safe with fuel level before this starts to become an issue? 1/2 tank safe? Not thrilled with needed to hual around extra fuel poundage!

spearfish25

See Mike's post above. The less aggressive you are, the more LEDs you can have OFF and still be OK. But yes, you can get fuel starvation with nearly a full tank.

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import111

I have done 2 track days in the Z and so far no clutch issues at all for me. Fuel starvation is a huge issue for me. 2 dots from full and I get fuel starvation coming out of long right hand corners.

GZ3

my clutch used to stick all the time at the track, i think its just nissans fluids...they suck....after i put motul in there I cant even force it to happen anymore! its beautiful. As far as fuel starvation, this used to happen in my 350...but not in the 370Z at all.

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FricFrac

Stainless clutch is going to change how the clutch responds/feels not it "going away".

First thing is as others have mentioned to flush your fluid. I'm assuming you know how hygroscopic clutch fluid is and the difference between wet/dry boiling points, etc.

I think the Castrol LMA is one of the best clutch/brake fluid for a performance DD type of car. There are a few slightly better fluids but they are very hygroscopic and should be changed after a day at the track....

http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp...BrakeFluid.pdf

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'09 370Z - '93 300ZX Vert - '83 280ZX - '83 280ZXT -'81 280ZXT stroker - '72 240Z - Stillen CBE, HFC, G3, Grounding Kit, Sways // Swift Spring // H&R 15mm // 5% Tint // Clear Bra //

FricFrac

Good point on the stainless/heat wrap. Stainless will hold heat and transfer it down the line from the metal couplings though. ....but it will also radiate heat from inside the line as well. I think you would have to experiment with both to see which had the greater effect. I personally would go with a heat wrap on the stock rubber line if the intention is to keep heat out.... heat wrap and rubber is going to be the best insulation from heat.....

Another thing that would help a lot is a heat shield and some heat screen matting... I really like the DEI matting as it has both fiberglass insualation and a reflective mylar layer.

I used the DEI matting on the bottom of the heat sheild for my 240Z with tripple Mikuni 44's. Use to boil the fuel out of the floats all the time. Drove to Canby on a 700km drive in one day with the new heat sheild with the DEI and didn't have a single problem with heat! As you can see the heat shield is almost touching the unwrapped headers below.

Attached Images

Heat Sheild.jpg (464.6 KB, 100 views)

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'09 370Z - '93 300ZX Vert - '83 280ZX - '83 280ZXT -'81 280ZXT stroker - '72 240Z - Stillen CBE, HFC, G3, Grounding Kit, Sways // Swift Spring // H&R 15mm // 5% Tint // Clear Bra //

Shamu

Are you guys sure it's fuel starvation issue based on tank? Hard to believe people are seeing fuel starvation with nearly a full tank. That sounds like something else? Is it lack of fuel pressure from fuel pump maybe?

Man I have run nearly empty and pitched the car with no issues yet? Is this a 2009 issue only?

Guess I pohang to get on track to figure this out. Can't believe no one has tackled this if it is truly an issue. I'd love to see video of it with video on fuel gauge.

ChrisSlicks

The fuel starvation is definitely tank related. Very reproducible depending on track layout. You probably won't see it on short tight track autocross as you need 2 things to make it happen. Sustained full throttle (or close to it) and a long sweeping right hand turn (up hill right handers are the worst).

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FL 4Motion

I thought I remember reading a while back that some folks were working on a fix for this issue.

Any idea if there's been any progress (short of dumping the oem fuel tank and moving to an aftermarket fuel cell etc).