Ran my just acquired 2005 350Z Track for first time in a SoloSprint event on weekend at Shannonville, Ontario. After 6 laps of the practice session there was smoke (not just heat haze) coming out of back of engine compartment - passenger side between back of motor and firewall.

No obvious problems with car and water temp gage was no higher than normal road driving. Never ran more than 3 hot laps at a time after that and the smoke problem did not recur, but there was still an awful lot of heat coming off the back of the engine after a 3 lap run (we were running the higher speed track, so cooling/air flow during runs should be pretty good). Wheels/brake rotors very hot and contributing to heat buildup.

I see from other threads that cooling can be a problem, but I am mystified by the fact water temp gage was normal, which seems at odds with the temperature at the back of the engine compartment.

Car came with an aftermarket grill in the front which can come off and maybe improve air flow. No other 350's at track to compare with. The noticeable hot spot is passenger side between firewall and back of motor. Not quite as much heat coming up driver side at firewall, but that may be nothing more than less space there for heat to come up. Front of engine compartment was nowhere near as hot. Top of the engine was no hotter than normal steet driving.

Never seen this much heat come out of the engine bay at the track before from a variety of other unmodified vehicles (Z28, Vette, Saab 9-3, Civic). Any of the other cars I could thrash around the track for 6 or 7 laps with the only significant heat build up in the wheels/rotors.

Anybody else experience this? Any suggestions beyond removing the aftermarket grill. I have seen references to removing the rear hood seal, but not convinced this will not impact air flow negatively around motor.

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

Make sure the grill isn't block air flow.
Take out the front licence plate.
Make sure the under tray is correctly in place.
What's the water level saying ?

You autoX guys aren't moving throught enough air at the relatively low speed you run... Try a full road course next! Aha!

 

I could be way off on this but...

You said you just acquired the car and it's an 05' so this means you got it used? Could it be that the previous owner never really got on it and the motor had some crap towards the back, like dust, oily stuff and who knows what else? Then with the heat of the autox session it burnt off and produced smoke?

If it only smoked that one time, it could very well be it.

 

car gets hot, but i dont think it is anything abnormal. I abused the crap out of my car too