Going to performance driving school. 2010 Z oil temp question

Sharif@Forged · 11-16-2010, 10:48 PM

I'd hate to see you spend the time, money, and effort in doing an HPDE, only to learn that your oil temps reach a critical laps. Given this is your first event, it's unlkely you will see dangerously high oil temps, but if you continue tracking plan on that oil cooler. Nissan has covered engines that have oil coolers, provided the oil cooler didn't fall apart, leak..etc...causing the engine failure.

With regards to your insurance coverage don't take anyone's word on this forum. The only word, is the word of your agent/policy wording. Call them for the answer, as they are the ONLY persons that can answer that question.

With respect to brakes, the biggest area for improvement I see on students from beginners to very advanced students is braking: Primarily, they are not utilizing them to 100% of their capacity. Throw out everything you know about braking and driving on the street. When the brakes are applied I expect my neck to snap forward.

Everyone is always taught to be smooth, but remember you also have to be fast and deliberate with your inputs with the controls. Smooth, decisive, fast.

StealthZ · 11-17-2010, 08:39 AM

Get an Oil cooler... it only helps the car and your ability to be able to push the car with out getting the engine too hot.

SeattleLion · 11-17-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharif@Forged

I'd hate to see you spend the time, money, and effort in doing an HPDE, only to learn that your oil temps reach a critical laps. Given this is your first event, it's unlkely you will see dangerously high oil temps, but if you continue tracking plan on that oil cooler. Nissan has covered engines that have oil coolers, provided the oil cooler didn't fall apart, leak..etc...causing the engine failure.

With regards to your insurance coverage don't take anyone's word on this forum. The only word, is the word of your agent/policy wording. Call them for the answer, as they are the ONLY persons that can answer that question.

With respect to brakes, the biggest area for improvement I see on students from beginners to very advanced students is braking: Primarily, they are not utilizing them to 100% of their capacity. Throw out everything you know about braking and driving on the street. When the brakes are applied I expect my neck to snap forward.

Everyone is always taught to be smooth, but remember you also have to be fast and deliberate with your inputs with the controls. Smooth, decisive, fast.

That's great advice! Thank you so much. This thread has taught me some new and, I think, important things.

jeffreyfranz · 11-17-2010, 03:22 PM

Great thread.

jeffreyfranz · 11-28-2010, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh@STILLEN

An oil cooler is recommended for even a daily driver.. there's no question these cars have oil temperature problems.

If you're concerned about the warranty, have the dealer install it. The Nissan Motorsports is a good cooler, but carries a hefty price tag. Your dealer should also be familiar with purchasing and installing STILLEN products, which covers the same warranty as the Nissan Motorsports version (parts only), but in having a dealer install it, definite good faith. Should shave quite a bit of $$ off the installation.

There have been plenty of consumers and magazine editors that have had trouble with as little as 2 laps on the track, the odds are very good you'll be pushing higher temperatures, and possibly a crappy day with a limp mode situation.

In regards to insurance, it's up to your provider. But I have seen a car totaled at California Speedway with AAA insurance during a driving event, and it was no problem, as it was not a race session (IE no one passing another car), just a high speed instructional event. If you have an issue, that's the route to take, instructional driving training course.

That's a good idea, Josh, I hadn't thought of that. A reasonable compromise: buy it from Stillen, have the dealer do the install, gain a little bit of "good faith" warranty protection with the dealer but save a fair amount of $$$. Josh is always on our side.

worldfamousz · 11-29-2010, 11:01 AM

It all really comes down to the track, temp of the day, and how you drive.
It's always better to be safe rather than sorry, so I would install the cooler for certain, no reason not to.
It would really suck to spend the money on the track day, spend all that time getting out there only to run a few laps, hit limp mode and be done for the day.

also, most of our customers who track occasionally do an oil change before and after the track, due to the oil temp issue, again, for no reason other than to be safer.

I would also highly recomend running stainless steel brake lines for more consistant performance, higher fluid, such as motul RBF600, and better brake pads than the oem. If you do this you should 1) extend the life of the brakes on the track (depending on how you drive of course), and 2) gain a more consistant feel throughout the day for better lap times etc...

JB1 · 12-03-2010, 10:12 PM

I did my first track day with the Z in October, Road America. No oil cooler and no Limp mode in any of the 5 20 minute sessions I did. Of course I was in the beginners group so I didn't go "all out". I also took it easy on the long main straight, I shifted up to 6th to give the engine some time to cool down and to let all the big boys in their Corvettes and Vipers pass me. But the one time I pushed a bit harder for a full lap, the oil temp did come awefully close to the limp mode temp. So based on my experience: you should be fine for your first track day, just keep an eye on your oil temp and keep your revs down once in a while to let things cool down.

Oh, yeah, brakes: you do have to upgrade your fluid and pads. I can happily recccomend the Carbotech XP10/8 pads I used.

But as I want to try a little harder next year, I have started to order the parts for my DIY oil cooler, lines are in, cooler is next, i should be done by the time the snow melts

atropine · 12-05-2010, 01:52 PM

I did my first track day in the 370 yesterday at Spring Mountain. Outside temp was about 65-67 degrees. I installed an AE cooler last week, and I was never able to get the oil temp above 220 on the track yesterday. There is some debate going on and some discussion that the true circulating oil temp in the engine is 15-20 degrees higher than what the sensor is reading (after installing a cooler), so my true temp may be closer to 240 max. For spirited daily driving (just in the last week) it is hard to get it above 190 without a cooler cover in place. The cooler works very well, and adds a lot of peace of mind. I also just swapped out front pads (left OEM lines/fluid/rotors/rear pads) per suggestion of another more experienced 370 driver and I gotta tell you it worked great for what I am doing. Takes all of about 10 minutes to swap out front pads with the Akebono Sport brake calipers. The only problem I had was fuel starvation. I did the first 20-min track session with no problem, and made it about 3/4 of the way through the 2nd 20-min session before experiencing fuel starvation. Fortunately it kept running and I took it easy the rest of the lap into the pits. Fuel was about 5 dots below full at that point. Thereafter I topped off the fuel tank in between each session. Kind of annoying to have to run with so much fuel in the tank.

11-16-2010, 10:48 PM	#16 (permalink)
Sharif@Forged The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 840 Drives: 2009 GT-R, 2010 370Z Rep Power: 18	I'd hate to see you spend the time, money, and effort in doing an HPDE, only to learn that your oil temps reach a critical laps. Given this is your first event, it's unlkely you will see dangerously high oil temps, but if you continue tracking plan on that oil cooler. Nissan has covered engines that have oil coolers, provided the oil cooler didn't fall apart, leak..etc...causing the engine failure. With regards to your insurance coverage don't take anyone's word on this forum. The only word, is the word of your agent/policy wording. Call them for the answer, as they are the ONLY persons that can answer that question. With respect to brakes, the biggest area for improvement I see on students from beginners to very advanced students is braking: Primarily, they are not utilizing them to 100% of their capacity. Throw out everything you know about braking and driving on the street. When the brakes are applied I expect my neck to snap forward. Everyone is always taught to be smooth, but remember you also have to be fast and deliberate with your inputs with the controls. Smooth, decisive, fast. __________________ Sharif@Forgedperformance.com General Manager/Certified Tuner/NASA-PCA-BMWCAA Instructor JRZ RS1's Available NOW...PM me Cobb ProTuner, Uprev ECU Flash, FCON Vpro, Haltech, Motec Certified

11-17-2010, 08:39 AM	#17 (permalink)
StealthZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 356 Drives: '14 GTR Premium Rep Power: 17	Get an Oil cooler... it only helps the car and your ability to be able to push the car with out getting the engine too hot. __________________ Past rides: '07 350Z San Marino blue, '09 370z Brilliant silver, '11 Evo X Phantom Black (felt like a brick but did anything) '13 BRZ Satin white (so much fun) now driving the dream.

11-17-2010, 03:22 PM	#19 (permalink)
jeffreyfranz Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Posts: 139 Drives: '10 370Z PG M6 Rep Power: 15	Great thread. __________________ SLO Car Club

12-03-2010, 10:12 PM	#22 (permalink)
JB1 Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 748 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z sold Rep Power: 17	I did my first track day with the Z in October, Road America. No oil cooler and no Limp mode in any of the 5 20 minute sessions I did. Of course I was in the beginners group so I didn't go "all out". I also took it easy on the long main straight, I shifted up to 6th to give the engine some time to cool down and to let all the big boys in their Corvettes and Vipers pass me. But the one time I pushed a bit harder for a full lap, the oil temp did come awefully close to the limp mode temp. So based on my experience: you should be fine for your first track day, just keep an eye on your oil temp and keep your revs down once in a while to let things cool down. Oh, yeah, brakes: you do have to upgrade your fluid and pads. I can happily recccomend the Carbotech XP10/8 pads I used. But as I want to try a little harder next year, I have started to order the parts for my DIY oil cooler, lines are in, cooler is next, i should be done by the time the snow melts __________________ Black Fangs // Black rear Valance // Berk CBE // COBB post MAF tubes // K&N drop in filters // Setrab Oil Cooler // Stillen Sway bars // Z1 SS brake lines // Stillen brake cooling kit // Harness bar // Last edited by JB1; 12-03-2010 at 10:20 PM.

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11-29-2010, 11:01 AM	#21 (permalink)
worldfamousz Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: so cal Posts: 52 Drives: mazdaspeed3 Rep Power: 15	It all really comes down to the track, temp of the day, and how you drive. It's always better to be safe rather than sorry, so I would install the cooler for certain, no reason not to. It would really suck to spend the money on the track day, spend all that time getting out there only to run a few laps, hit limp mode and be done for the day. also, most of our customers who track occasionally do an oil change before and after the track, due to the oil temp issue, again, for no reason other than to be safer. I would also highly recomend running stainless steel brake lines for more consistant performance, higher fluid, such as motul RBF600, and better brake pads than the oem. If you do this you should 1) extend the life of the brakes on the track (depending on how you drive of course), and 2) gain a more consistant feel throughout the day for better lap times etc...

12-05-2010, 01:52 PM	#23 (permalink)
atropine Base Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Logandale, NV Posts: 39 Drives: 09 6MT Sport/Tour/Nv Rep Power: 15	I did my first track day in the 370 yesterday at Spring Mountain. Outside temp was about 65-67 degrees. I installed an AE cooler last week, and I was never able to get the oil temp above 220 on the track yesterday. There is some debate going on and some discussion that the true circulating oil temp in the engine is 15-20 degrees higher than what the sensor is reading (after installing a cooler), so my true temp may be closer to 240 max. For spirited daily driving (just in the last week) it is hard to get it above 190 without a cooler cover in place. The cooler works very well, and adds a lot of peace of mind. I also just swapped out front pads (left OEM lines/fluid/rotors/rear pads) per suggestion of another more experienced 370 driver and I gotta tell you it worked great for what I am doing. Takes all of about 10 minutes to swap out front pads with the Akebono Sport brake calipers. The only problem I had was fuel starvation. I did the first 20-min track session with no problem, and made it about 3/4 of the way through the 2nd 20-min session before experiencing fuel starvation. Fortunately it kept running and I took it easy the rest of the lap into the pits. Fuel was about 5 dots below full at that point. Thereafter I topped off the fuel tank in between each session. Kind of annoying to have to run with so much fuel in the tank.