Potential issues for hot upcoming track day?

RN SHARK

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?

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'09 6sp/Z1/PowerTrix/SPL/Swift/SRP/Whiteline/F.I.LTH&CBE/UpRev by Seb/CJM/Stillen/Ings+1/RJM/TrackSpec/Sparco/Motul/Wavetrac/Coolerworx/Verus/CraftSquare
'14 SRT Grand Cherokee; '08 TL Type-S

cossie1600

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.

Rusty

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

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浪人 - 殺し屋
"The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only"
http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html

RN SHARK

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.

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'09 6sp/Z1/PowerTrix/SPL/Swift/SRP/Whiteline/F.I.LTH&CBE/UpRev by Seb/CJM/Stillen/Ings+1/RJM/TrackSpec/Sparco/Motul/Wavetrac/Coolerworx/Verus/CraftSquare
'14 SRT Grand Cherokee; '08 TL Type-S

Rusty

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

__________________

浪人 - 殺し屋
"The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only"
http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html

clintfocus

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

cossie1600

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.

DR_

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.

SS_Firehawk

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

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clintfocus

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

threeseventy

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.

RN SHARK

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.
Again, thanks guys for all your help with these questions. This online community is great!

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'09 6sp/Z1/PowerTrix/SPL/Swift/SRP/Whiteline/F.I.LTH&CBE/UpRev by Seb/CJM/Stillen/Ings+1/RJM/TrackSpec/Sparco/Motul/Wavetrac/Coolerworx/Verus/CraftSquare
'14 SRT Grand Cherokee; '08 TL Type-S

threeseventy

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.

cossie1600

Once again, I don't disagree with what you said for the most part except the 260F figure is not as concrete as you make it. For one, there just aren't that many bearing failures to support your claim. Two, a good full synthetic is good enough to support 260F without breaking down immediately. Will you be able to go 10K miles at 260F, of course not. Yet for a few hundred miles, I don't see any problems. I have hit 270F many times and I had my oil analysis done at 3000 miles, car had no abnormal materials in the oil.

clintfocus

Like i said, if you are comfortable with operating your 370 at such temps, then that is your decision. Ive given my opinion on the topic, and so have you. Th OP and whoever else reads this thread can make up their own mind whether to follow my advice, or yours. I just tried to put some info out there for people who may not know as well about whats happening while spinning their motors on track. Yes you are correct that there are alot of good quality synthetics out there that can handle 260+ temps, im just of the opinion the VQ shouldnt be operating at that temp under track loads. Call me paranoid.