Fuel starvation, who else?

travisjb

glad to hear AE will be stepping up to build/offer a swirl pot... I think there will be a healthy market for this product... there are at least 3 options I can think of

1 swirl pot
2 gut and replace the fuel system... fuel cell, lines, regulator, pump etc
3 custom in-tank 'can', as discussed on my build journal

#3 would involve building a 4-6" diameter cylinder with baffling that can be put in around the fuel pump and would act as a staging area for fuel and resist the flow away from the pump in right hand g's... just a theory at this point, but the guy posting the idea on my journal designed and built one that went into production on an unnamed GM car... I like it b/c it would cheap - avoiding the cost of the extra pump for a swirl pot

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2009 370Z #104
*For Sale*

ChrisSlicks

Yeah, I think the simple baffle around the pickup could work for most of us. Although if you're building an all out race car you might as just replace the tank and the rest of the fuel system.

Paul@AEperformance

I aggree 100%. Travis is on to something. Defently worth trying that opton first b/c swirl pots and pumps can add up quick.

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Luisdecks

I've had this happen to me twice since I bought my Z and I was just short of half tank. The first time I was entering a freeway ramp to merge into the freeway. The entrance was a nice turn so I dropped it into 3 from 4. I was going about 42 mph when I entered the ramp. I shot out the ramp into the freeway at 75 mph. As soon as I entered the freeway I entered 4 and continued speeding until about 30 seconds into 4th I felt a slight loss of power which then led into losing complete power of the car. Luckily I was still close to the edge so I pulled over and turned off my car. But after it wouldn't want to turn on everything was reading well except my fuel. My fuel guage wasn't reading anything but I knew I had gas. After multiply attempts on turning on the vehicle I had my friend assist me with a 2 gallon gas tank. After I poured the gas into the gas tank it fired right back up with no hesitation. Shortly after I went to chevron to fill her up. She only took 12 gallons out of a 19 gallon tank. I had about 5 gallons in my tank when it shut off on me. The second time I was also entering a freeway but I wasn't speeding into the entrance due to being scared from the first time it shut off. I was going about 30 mph into the entrance when all of a sudden getting into the freeway once again it shut off. Everything felt the same as from the first time. What was strange to me was that I wasn't gunning the throttle at all nor was i taking the turn strong enough were the G force is throwing the car sideways. I run 305/30/19 on my back wheels so grip into a turn is no problem. Since these two incidents I haven't entered a freeway ramp at such high speeds unless I'm full tank or above half. It's been about two months since a situation like this has happen to me again. Could this be the same problem even though I'm not on a track ? I bought my Z used so I didn't know how the owner before me treated the car. I don't really gun the throttle nor toucher the engine. Could this problem still happen to me again ?

Eagle

Yes this sounds like fuel starvation and it WILL happen again. I've done it more times than i care to admit on right turn freeway on-ramps and 90 degree corners. The way to prevent this is to buy the CJM Road Race Pump, try the solution Martin mentioned regarding a 2nd pump on the drivers side or....you could try Z1's kit which uses a bladder called HydraMat.

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alan93rsa

The 944 turbos and 968's have a quasi baffle around the pickup but they will do the same thing you are experiencing with the Z.

For my 944 turbo GT3S car I put in a surge tank. Get a 3.5 to 4" ID aluminum pipe and cut to length for your installation. A 3.5" x 12" tank will store about 0.5 gallons. TIG a plate on the top and bottom and add the connector bungs. I did the following: a line from the fuel tank to the surge tank top, a line out of the surge tank bottom to the fuel rail, a line out of the fuel rail to the pressure regulator, a line from the pressure regulator back into the surge tank top and then a return line from the surge tank top back to the fuel tank. I used braided stainless lines and AN fittings. It really isn't too hard to do.

I'll see if I can get a couple of photos of a friends car who has the same setup and post them.

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Mike

I would appreciate that. Filling up every session is kind of a PITA. My amex card doesn't like it when I use the same pump more than 3 times in a day.

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KillerBee370

I haven't been paying much attention to this until now. I am heading to the track this Friday and I too have noticed with normal street driving, something that I can only describe as "fuel starvation" where the car will studder a bit at lower rpm's after I have hit redline and really got on it. If I push it into higher rpm's again, it will go away and pick up again like I got kicked in the ***.

Is this an accurate portrayal of what you guys are experiencing with the fuel starvation mode? I haven't been paying attention to the fuel tank level during these little episodes as I thought it was a bad fuel filter or something.


Dumb question...

This "fuel starvation mode" is triggered by the computer right? Is it safe to assume that since I already have an ecu tune on the car, that this problem can be addressed with further tuning? (As opposed to putting all that extra and no doubt expensive gear in the car)

ChrisSlicks

The fuel starvation is a mechanical issue, the fuel is pushed away from the pickup by cornering or acceleration forces. The starvation event can sometimes be delayed by a second or two, as you may have enough fuel in the lines to complete the corner but it dies at the end. It's not an ECU problem, although the ECU may prevent the engine from firing unless there is full fuel pressure, where as older models may have allowed the engine to fire.

KillerBee370

Thanks for the clarification ChrisSlicks. Why oh why do they not put the fuel pickup at the REAR of the damn tank?? Ummm Hellloooo

Valentino

New year bump.

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Lou Fusz Nissan | KW V3 | SPL rear camber and toe bolt | OS Giken LSD | Nismo Diff cover | Engine Oil cooler | F.I. TDX Cat Back 18" Resonators | F.I. Resonated Test Pipes | Injen cold air intake | COBB AccessPORT | JWT Clutch Flywheel |

B1nks

I too would love for a shop to take on this challenge.

Valentino

This thread should be a sticky till the problem gets solved.

Or we (hopefully) wait for a fix from Nissan in newer Module Z's and just replace the parts needed.

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Lou Fusz Nissan | KW V3 | SPL rear camber and toe bolt | OS Giken LSD | Nismo Diff cover | Engine Oil cooler | F.I. TDX Cat Back 18" Resonators | F.I. Resonated Test Pipes | Injen cold air intake | COBB AccessPORT | JWT Clutch Flywheel |

import111

Yesterday was my 2nd track day in the 370Z. 1st track day I did not experience any fuel starvation...probably because I kept the tank very full due to the rumors. Yesterday They did a time attack event at the end of the day and I had 3/4 of a tank left and thought, "4 laps is not worth going to the gas station and back, I should be good". I was wrong. Hard fuel cut coming out of right hand corners. I am going to have to keep the tank full at the track until a solution is found for this.

travisjb

I'm still planning to try and work up an inexpensive in-tank solution next 2-3 weeks... hopefully someone else tries the external swirl pot solution and we can compare notes

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2009 370Z #104
*For Sale*