Potential issues for hot upcoming track day?
 

I am wondering what things I should be careful of on my upcoming track day at California Speedway in Fontana on Aug. 10. I'm sure it will be very hot, like 100 or more. I've tracked there before, but it was much cooler. We get four 25min sessions; I have a covered garage space. I'll be running RE-11s, LTH will be installed the day before (Aug 9th), got the oil cooler, all fluids have been upgraded as well. So that gives you all some background, anything I should be weary of? Precautions I need to take?

I personally would go hard for 2-3 laps, back off to cool everything down for a lap. I know people get excited when they see traffic, but that's usually the best time to back off and cool everything down.

When you do the LTH's. Wrap some extra insulation around the clutch line. ;)

Would just installing a SS clutch line do the trick, or still wrap it? Also, I didn't get the ceramic coating on the headers. Will that come back to bite me? If so, maybe Tony can add it.

The insulation is cheap insurance. It won't hurt anything. ;)

if your oil hits 240, start cooling down. The VQ rod bearings cant be trusted past 250 under track loads, and the water likes to start getting warm at that oil temp range also

That is brutal heat and I suggest you have a way to monitor the coolant temps more accurately than just the dots. I also suggest running mostly water instead of the typical 50/50 coolant mix. Don't be too proud to back off for a lap and let some cars pass you while you let the car temps come down.

How many people lost their motor due to oil temp? I have only recall two or three posts about people losing their motor outside of oil consumption.

I don't doubt the diff may get warm pretty fast. Still running the stock unit or aftermarket?

im not specifically just talking about 370 VQ37 motors, VQ's in general from the early 35DE's, the 35HR's and the 37s have notoriously weak rod bearings when it comes to strength at high oil temps on track. 250 is like "you're about to spin a rod bearing if you keep at it" even if your oil is up to spec to survive at and past 250, the rod bearing's construction is not

from my testing, ive gotten rear diff temp to about 200 degrees give or take after 4-5 hot laps at buttonwillow raceway park in Socal during 85-90 degree weather,(300 is diff and or diff bearing kill zone) but this is also with my clutch type LSD, which can produce more heat then the stock Viscous LSD. But at the same time the stock VLSD is more prone to failure under heat at a lower temp then mechanical gear type or clutch type LSDs. general rule of thumb to keep diff from getting pissed, is keep you run session hard laps under 15 mins in 90+ degree heat, and under 20 mins in sub 80 degree weather

If you're getting LTH the day before I really hope you are having the UpRev retuned right after so you don't go super lean with all that flow and detonate like crazy. Adding a few gallons of 100 octane helps at high temps and it wouldn't hurt to have a 95 octane tune done (replace valet?) and run that mixture on track.

Definitely insulate the clutch line. Oil and diff fluid changes before and after track.

Still on stock rear diff (on wish list!), no diff cooler either.

I was wondering about this and that is why I added this info in my initial post. I'm driving up to LA from San Diego and thought I could do a couple things in one trip. That is, go to Fast Intentions and have Tony, the exhaust master, deal with the demon bolt and install the headers, then drive across town to sleep at hotel and enjoy a track day in the morning. I was planning on doing another UpRev tune back in San Diego after the track day. I know not ideal, but will that be detrimental?
As far as octane goes, Auto Club Speedway and CA is very strict with selling it. I know that at the track it can only go into full race set-up fuel systems. They wouldn't sell it to me. Would a one-time octane booster additive help? I'm usually against those silly additives tho. :shakes head:
Again, thanks guys for all your help with these questions. This online community is great! :tup:

Sebastian at SpecialtyZ does the best LA area tunes, and he's local to FI. He can pop a $35 SS clutch line in (you provide) insulate, and dyno-adjust your tune if there's enough time left in the day. There are various gas stations between the valley and the IE where you can get 100 octane. It's not leaded 110 race gas so it's not restricted. I always buy some 100 when at WSIR or BRP but haven't done ACS (I'm allergic to walls) so IDK about their policy on hi-octane unleaded..

I'll repeat what I said about fresh oil and fluids before and after. Seb will back me up.

Earlier VQ also weren't designed to rev to 7500RPM. Once again, how many 370's engine died from rod bearings failure?

Why would you tune for 100 octane for the track given the fuel starvation issue of the 370. You better hope you have a gas pump at the track.

the DE VQs didnt rev to 7500 stock, HR's did though, and HRs have the same rod bearing specs/size at VQ37s. the DE VQ's have a similar contruction but i believe slightly different shape. But if you dont believe me and feel 250+ oil temps is ok for your engine on track, then go right ahead. i honestly dont know, i havent gone around and counted blown from oiling issue 370z's, im just stating that it is a fact, VQ's have rod bearings on the soft side of metal compound making them eager to fail and spin at oil temps past 250.

also, he's not saying tune for 100, he's saying mix some 100 with your 91 to bring your effetive octane rating up higher then whatever octane you are tuned for, since track conditions always run harsher and hotter then any dyno can replicate. its cheap insurance against possible detonation. and your power will stay more consistant through out the day