How hard do you drive your Q45?

[elwesso]

Well after the meet today, me and Jesda took the Q out on the back roads, and absolutely thrashed the crap out of it... Slamming on the brakes.. Fred was saying that if you get on a level road at 80+ MPH and let go of the wheel, slam on the brakes, the car will stay straight.. Needless to say, he was right on.. And the rotors could use a trueing, and probably need to flush brake fluid...

We also hit 7300 RPM many times... I really feel bad about doing this, like I have compromised its longevity ESPECIALLY with the notion of a supercharger in the future... I see people on here with many miles, Jesda's Q has 191k (192 if the odometer works ) and its clean as can be inside...

I feel (especially after having one Q45 kick the bucket) that I compromise its longevity everytime she dips down in the redzone.... I did an **extensive** search and got all this stuff saying how solid the VH is.. Read an article and one person quoted that the engine "looked like it was race prepped"... 7300 RPM is very fast for any engine, much more for a V8... I would assume that if we went with FI, we would need to lower the redline to say like 6500 RPM in order to stay safe...

Define safe as effects that do not offset its longevity a lot... Say engine life from 300k to 200k...

I konw i posted this exact thread a long time ago, but its been a long time, and our Infiniti crowd has grown extensively... This isnt for my own good (entirely) but Id like to know how our Q45s are driven..... I feel like every time I throw it in the redzone im gonna hear that thudding again, and gonna be on the side of the road... I highly doubt that with this Q45 though, however a Q45 in my mind has a little more mortality than it did before the death of the first.....

[JT_MONEY_2004]

I've never redlined either Q i owned but have made it to 6000 or so. Not often tho.

[PoorManQ45]

I've only seen the Redline a few times. And that was usually when I was "having fun" in a wet parking lot. So there really wasn't much stress on the engine, as the wheels were spinning most of the time.

Anyway, I do believe that Redlining the Engine too much will lead to a premature failure of some kind. Now, this failure may not be in the engine itself. What will probably fail is/are the peripherals.

[JoshIsSciFi]

I readline usually 3-6 times DAILY... anyone that doesn't, shouldn't be allowed to drive a car of any sort Combustion Engines have been around a long time, and if this marvelous piece of technology that just about everyone on here touts as the greatest achievement ever can't take it, then screw it. I drive my PERFORMANCE-luxury sedan the way it was meant to be.

[ScottJackson]

I rarely get to redline in my Q but get close to it fairly often, like most times I drive it. V8 has little to do with an engine being able to rev. Put a lightweight piston on a strong light rod with a short stroke crankshaft and you can rev as high as your valvetrain will let you assuming you have oil to the bottom end. I don't care much to be picky about bearing clearance tolerances and how the VH is supposedly so incredible because it has bearings sized to the .0001". Any metal put under tension (connecting rod) will fatigue over time and high revs will eventually weaken the rod. The biggest strain is at tdc on the exhaust stroke. That being said, a VH45DE is a relatively small V8 and should be plenty able to live happily at 7000rpm. There's plenty of guys running ford 460s with stock cast cranks and 2 bolt mains to 9000+RPM. That's with a 4.39-4.600" bore and 3.85" stroke. Even though I don't hit redline in the q very much, it doesn't bother me to see the needle there. As for my white-trash '89 camaro with 350, I commonly peg the tach at 7K. I can let up on the gas, hear the engine rev down, and THEN the needle will come off 7K. It has stock cast crank, 2 bolt mains, Eagle 6" I beam rods, Manley forged pistons... pretty basic.

[Jeff Williams]

I have not redlined either Q, or the I30t. I have been over 5,500 several times. I am usually more concerned for the transmission, than the engine.

A 7,300 PM shift is much harder than a 5,500 RPM shift.

I like to "Blow out" the Q's after Evie has been driving around town for a while, but I typically drive the cars lightly.

[Mark86T]

I redline mine almost daily. I have had it drag racing at the track once already & after I swap to the 4.08 gearing I will be back to see the difference. I also plan to autocross it after I do the gearing swap & subframe bushings replacement. I drive all my cars hard. That's why I buy Nissans (now Infiniti as well). No fear here. If it breaks it will be the first one for me in the 35+ cars I've owned. Then it will be rebuilt & driven even harder knowing it is all new.

[GreenQ45a]

I agree with Mark86T

That's why I buy Nissan's & Infiniti Product's

I replaced my Accumulators and bled the Actsus system in my active Q and my ride was still air lockedI drove her HARD real Fu*king Hard over bumps and Long sweeping turnsand boom after work I started her up and the Actsus light was off. and she was alive.

"Texasoil is the Stepfather to the Q45a" JMS GreenQ45a


Modified by GreenQ45a at 7:40 PM 11/27/2004

[1qckser]

With my JWT chip I redline 1st gear, then the rest I just shift @ about 7000-7100, I then installed my JUN chip and now im hitting the rev limiter every now and then, so all in all a few times a day is good

[pito11213]

Even though JT will not like this I have hit 130 in 3rd gear while racing the old T-bird. I manually shifted and redlined each gear.

I remember while on the way to 130 I made the tires chirp shifting from 2 to 3. I loved it!!!

[elwesso]

Seems like everyone drives them hard... With nil effects...

I recall a post that the engine isnt the problem, its the other sutff... Obviously with my level 10 the transmission isnt going anywhere soon....

[PoorManQ45]

With my JWT chip I redline 1st gear, then the rest I just shift @ about 7000-7100, I then installed my JUN chip and now im hitting the rev limiter every now and then, so all in all a few times a day is good

What is a "JUN chip"?

[1qckser]

http://www.junauto.co.jp/produ...ml?enTop speed limiter removed, 7000 rpm redline

[elwesso]

Id like to hear how dennis has driven his Q over the 270k......

[SUITE E]

I have 138,000 miles on a car that I did not have for the first 100k. I am reluctant to bring it to redline for fear of my piston rings contacting the bore ridge at a high velocity. I must assume there is a ridge. I have blown motors that never saw redlines and they develop ridges at the top of the bore defining the limit of travel of the piston. High reves do stretch and flex the internals and all you need is 2 or 3 thousandths of stretch and you can kiss your rings goodbye. But I am working up to it, slowly.

[DAEDALUS]

I recall that when Greg had his motor rebuilt from a bad valve that there was no discernable ridge, and you could see the cross-hatching on the walls still. Don't recall how many miles though.

[PoorManQ45]

IIRC, there was a study on how hard cars/engines should be driven done awhile ago.

I think the results said that it is better to get close to or reach Redline atleast once a month than to never do it at all. I think they said that the way Most old people drive, slow, and slower, is actually very hard on the engine. As Suite E said, the "ridge" and/or build up will form in the cylinder(s). This build up creates excessive friction when one actually does reach redline.

So, I think that if your car was driven "hard" from the beginning, then continue to drive it "hard". If it was babied from the beginning then you should be a litte more conservative.

But hey, who really cares. If you break/blow the engine, you can buy an entire Used Q45 for about $4500. So, Drive the Piss out of it if you have the money to replace it. If you don't have the money to replace it, still drive the piss out of it and pray that it doesn't blow.

[Jesda]

I put 1000 miles on the Q in the last few days, and redlining on an on-ramp and cruising at 75 seems to have resolved many of my poor idle problems.

If I dont take long drives, my drive to school is less than two miles round trip. Sure, Im not putting many miles on the Q, but I'm abusing it with carbon buildup and short cycles. There arent really any opportunities for redline.

When I was driving 50-150 highway miles a day, the whole car just seemed a lot smoother.

-Jesda

[elwesso]

IIRC, there was a study on how hard cars/engines should be driven done awhile ago.

I think the results said that it is better to get close to or reach Redline atleast once a month than to never do it at all. I think they said that the way Most old people drive, slow, and slower, is actually very hard on the engine. As Suite E said, the "ridge" and/or build up will form in the cylinder(s). This build up creates excessive friction when one actually does reach redline.

So, I think that if your car was driven "hard" from the beginning, then continue to drive it "hard". If it was babied from the beginning then you should be a litte more conservative.

But hey, who really cares. If you break/blow the engine, you can buy an entire Used Q45 for about $4500. So, Drive the Piss out of it if you have the money to replace it. If you don't have the money to replace it, still drive the piss out of it and pray that it doesn't blow.

With the decreasing prices of engines, you can get JDM engines for about 1500.. Which im sure that on an engine with 60k, you should be able to get at least another 60k on it, no matter how you drive it (within reason, assuming you maintain it to specs and don like redline after 5 mins of running)

[Q451990]

Id like to hear how dennis has driven his Q over the 270k......

From previous posts he says redline once a day. From riding with him I believe it. The man loves entrance ramps even more than I do! Oh, and accelerating in the median in front of the Lexus dealership at WOT to "merge"

Heath

[AZhitman]

I recall that when Greg had his motor rebuilt from a bad valve that there was no discernable ridge, and you could see the cross-hatching on the walls still. Don't recall how many miles though.

Correct. That was at 105K (roughly).

There will be NO cylinder wall wear on the VH, as the rings are softer and will wear first. I have sen a 165K VH recently, same condition. No cylinder wall wear.

[elwesso]

From previous posts he says redline once a day. From riding with him I believe it. The man loves entrance ramps even more than I do! Oh, and accelerating in the median in front of the Lexus dealership at WOT to "merge"

Heath

Dang, redlining a 270k Q45 certainly brings some faith..

Correct. That was at 105K (roughly).

There will be NO cylinder wall wear on the VH, as the rings are softer and will wear first. I have sen a 165K VH recently, same condition. No cylinder wall wear.

So in theory, the VH should lose compression before anything else, correct?

[gniknave]

I don't redline mine as much as I'd like. It's pretty frustrating because all the freeways around here are congested (even on weekends). I usually get up to 6000 before I have to brake for a traffic jam. On an empty freeway I just like to cruise and probably never get over 3000. If it's crowded and I spot an LS400, I'm going to blow it's doors off every chance I get.

For the most part I drive my Q pretty hard because I think that's how Nissans are meant to be driven. If I have to drive 120 miles+ five days a week I'm sure as hell going to have fun doing it. Plus the sound of the engine reving damn near gives me a hard on.

[elwesso]

Hey G.. How many miles you got on your Q?

In all honesty, iknow its been mentioned before, but on the 94+ you dont really need the extra 400 RPM, except it gives you a better shift position after the shift... Its kinda neat to see the needle dip way down there, but other than that its really not that useful....

[gniknave]

211k+...87k on the engine 96k on the transmission.The last owner treated it like total crap before I bought it.

They never did any kind of maintenance what so ever, not even as much as put air in the tires. But they sure did put those chromies on the car and let them rust to all hell before selling me that Q with a dead overheated engine, bashed drivers front window, and rusted chrome wheels...all for $400. Funny thing is she thought the problem was the spark plugs lol (after overheating the hell out of the engine). I went to Nissan Only Wreckers (N.O.W...www.ninfiniti.com) and got a drivers side window like new for $50. Got an engine from Attarco in Berkeley, Ca. for another $650 (I worked at a shop when I got the car), a rack & pinion $250 (you wouldn't believe the markup on those from the dealer...and yes I got it from the dealer with the shop discount), a little touch up paint, a polish, a bra, and wire brushing of the wheels later and you have the Q you see in my sig. Next is the chain guides. I'm thinking of doing them myself, but I'm going to research a little more so I don't run into many complications. ..anyway I know nobody asked about my Q's story but I've never told it before so I figured it was about that time
Modified by gniknave at 7:07 PM 11/28/2004

[pito11213]

Damn how are you guys getting these motors for these low prices? I am scared about getting a junkyard motor in NY because I dont think I would get a good one. Could be wrong though as I know a guy who did get a good one. I would love to go JDM but that is a straight $1500, plus labor and with the low prices of Q's today I may as well get another one.

[elwesso]

211k+...87k on the engine 96k on the transmission.The last owner treated it like total crap before I bought it.

They never did any kind of maintenance what so ever, not even as much as put air in the tires. But they sure did put those chromies on the car and let them rust to all hell before selling me that Q with a dead overheated engine, bashed drivers front window, and rusted chrome wheels...all for $400. Funny thing is she thought the problem was the spark plugs lol (after overheating the hell out of the engine). I went to Nissan Only Wreckers (N.O.W...www.ninfiniti.com) and got a drivers side window like new for $50. Got an engine from Attarco in Berkeley, Ca. for another $650 (I worked at a shop when I got the car), a rack & pinion $250 (you wouldn't believe the markup on those from the dealer...and yes I got it from the dealer with the shop discount), a little touch up paint, a polish, a bra, and wire brushing of the wheels later and you have the Q you see in my sig. Next is the chain guides. I'm thinking of doing them myself, but I'm going to research a little more so I don't run into many complications. ..anyway I know nobody asked about my Q's story but I've never told it before so I figured it was about that time

Modified by gniknave at 7:07 PM 11/28/2004

At least she is in prime cosmetic shape... The nose without the bra looks uber golden...

Pretty good story and goes to show you can play your cards right and get into a Q cheap!!!

Definitely do the guides, and if your iffy, find someone here that could do them..... I know of a few guys that have done them and might be able to do them for you.....

[elwesso]

Damn how are you guys getting these motors for these low prices? I am scared about getting a junkyard motor in NY because I dont think I would get a good one. Could be wrong though as I know a guy who did get a good one. I would love to go JDM but that is a straight $1500, plus labor and with the low prices of Q's today I may as well get another one.

If they have the motors pulled, ask to pull one of the valve covers... That will tell you everything you need to know!

[Altiman94]

I would say it will tell you somewhat the condition of of the motor, but to fully tell you must disassemble the entire thing down to stripped parts. Then you'll really know what's been going on.

[Falkdesigns]

I'd say I come close to redline daily, but since I'm mostly in city traffic, I have to let off before redline. I redline every time I get on the freeway though, and whenever I need to get ahead from a light in order to get over 3 lanes.