New R34gt-t

[KaaN- R34GT-T]

Hey all, Just bought an R34GT-T with about 100,000km on it completely stock, its black manual and a coupe, just wondering what are the things i can do to keep it well maintained and in good working condition, for instance hear alot of stories about letting it idle if you smash it for a bit before turning it off, but others say not to. some say drive it off straight away in a cold morning others say to let it sit.

Anyway just looking for some clarification to some common Q and A's and wonder what other tips you guys have for me.

Thanks

[Socrates]

turbos should always be let to idle after they've been driven, im sure gtt is turbo yes?

[Nic_A31]

Turbo's: If you've been belting it hard and then suddenly want to park it up and leave it, let it idle for 30 seconds.

Turbo timers do this automatically for people who drive like that, and for people who want to look cool by having a sick 700rwkw street car that turns itself off after 90 seconds.

30 seconds, TOPS, no matter how long the turbo timer thinks the engine needs to cool down. If you've been driving normally for the last 5 minutes of the drive, don't bother.

Cold starts: Always let the car reach full running temperature before driving it. If the car has been turned off for an hour or two it doesnt really matter, since oil takes hours to cool down but overnight for example, definately run the car for 5+ minutes.

And just service it on time every time, drive it nicely, all common sense.

[KaaN- R34GT-T]

Thanks for your help guys (y)

Anything else I should know just in general ?

Cheers

[RusH_]

you don't need to wait for the car to warm up before driving off, just take it easy until its at normal operating temps, wont take more than 5 mins of light driving and youll be fine.

also change the oil regularly (5000km's)

[(OO)SKYLINE(OO)]

I usually let the car idle for about a minute or 2 just to let the oil and other fluids circulate then drive off. (Cold Start)

Whilst driving, I keep it off boost for about 5 - 10mins and then I give it a boot.

As for cooling down, I get pretty fussy about and give it 3 mins.

Service every 5000km's like what RusH said and fix anything before it gets worst.

[GTR-N1]

I usually let the car idle for about a minute or 2 just to let the oil and other fluids circulate then drive off. (Cold Start)

Whilst driving, I keep it off boost for about 5 - 10mins and then I give it a boot.

As for cooling down, I get pretty fussy about and give it 3 mins.

Service every 5000km's like what RusH said and fix anything before it gets worst.

Ditto...

100,000Km = you're due for a major service + timing belt if it hasn't been done already.

Download off this forum (via search) the manual that tells you what needs to be done at each service.

Use a workshop that has mechanics familiar with Skylines if poss.

[mad082]

Turbo's: If you've been belting it hard and then suddenly want to park it up and leave it, let it idle for 30 seconds.

Turbo timers do this automatically for people who drive like that, and for people who want to look cool by having a sick 700rwkw street car that turns itself off after 90 seconds.

30 seconds, TOPS, no matter how long the turbo timer thinks the engine needs to cool down. If you've been driving normally for the last 5 minutes of the drive, don't bother.

Cold starts: Always let the car reach full running temperature before driving it. If the car has been turned off for an hour or two it doesnt really matter, since oil takes hours to cool down but overnight for example, definately run the car for 5+ minutes.

And just service it on time every time, drive it nicely, all common sense.

have to disagree here. the reason being that the engine takes longer to warm up when just idling, so the car is spending more time with a cold engine, which isn't good, and it wastes fuel. also it doesn't warm up any of the other oils other than the engine oil.

just start it up, let it idle for 10 seconds or so to make sure all the oil, etc has had a chance to get to where it needs to, then drive off normally and keep it out of boost range. within about 2 or 3km the car should be approaching operating temp so you can start to get into it a bit more, but leave it another min or 2 before really giving it the beans.

as for letting it idle after giving it a hard time, you are best off just doing a lap around the block driving like a granny than just letting sit idling for 30 seconds after pulling up from driving it hard. the reason being is that you will get more airflow through the radiator when driving than just idling, so it will cool down better, as well as the fact that the brakes will cool down a bit. if you just pull up and let it idle the brakes aren't given a chance to cool down so you have a hot rotor sitting in between nice hot pads. with no air flowing around them to cool down.

[iseekool]

^ +1

Start it - let it idle for about 15 seconds - you can see the oil pressure build up - Drive off..... take it easy for the first 5 mins.

After a hard run - granny it (warm down) for the last few Ks - also turn off the air-con too - Don't forget it's not only the engine that's hot, but everything else like brakes, trans etc.... and the airflow from driving is much more beneficial in cooling the other components.

[KaaN- R34GT-T]

Cheers for all the advice

there's a lot of shit i didn't know and probably a lot i still don't.

Just wondering because the stock turbo is ceramic is it a good idea to get it changed ?

Is there anything else that should be changed to make the car have better performance without making it grab to much attention ?

I've read into some of the other forums about the different stages of tuning them up, but just wanted to know what you guys have personally done to your cars to make them better all round ?

Also with the HICAS some people say that it makes the car unpredictable and crazy and others say its saved there life. What the go there ?

And do the cops give you guys a lot of attention when your driving yours whether you have a skyline or not, do they pull you up and give you tickets anymore then usual ?

Thanks agian

[mr turbo]

also just spend a bit of time on here looking round reading all kinds of stuff and you pick up lots of stuff info ect, i no i have, even if your looking at buy a mod/part have a look on here 9 times out of 10 you find a lot of info about what eva your thinking about buying,

good luck with car mate.

[Nic_A31]

have to disagree here. the reason being that the engine takes longer to warm up when just idling, so the car is spending more time with a cold engine, which isn't good, and it wastes fuel. also it doesn't warm up any of the other oils other than the engine oil.

just start it up, let it idle for 10 seconds or so to make sure all the oil, etc has had a chance to get to where it needs to, then drive off normally and keep it out of boost range. within about 2 or 3km the car should be approaching operating temp so you can start to get into it a bit more, but leave it another min or 2 before really giving it the beans.

as for letting it idle after giving it a hard time, you are best off just doing a lap around the block driving like a granny than just letting sit idling for 30 seconds after pulling up from driving it hard. the reason being is that you will get more airflow through the radiator when driving than just idling, so it will cool down better, as well as the fact that the brakes will cool down a bit. if you just pull up and let it idle the brakes aren't given a chance to cool down so you have a hot rotor sitting in between nice hot pads. with no air flowing around them to cool down.

Your points will be taken into cosideration

I think 10 seconds is too little before you can put the engine into a situation where RPMS will vary and pump oil faster/slower. With clumps of cold and warm oil, surely reving it up will mix circulating oil and have some nasty effects. I'd think 30-60 seconds. Especially for automatic transmissions (not applicable here, but anybody who's cold started an auto and just driven will know what I mean)

Cheers for all the advice

there's a lot of shit i didn't know and probably a lot i still don't.

Just wondering because the stock turbo is ceramic is it a good idea to get it changed ?

Is there anything else that should be changed to make the car have better performance without making it grab to much attention ?

I've read into some of the other forums about the different stages of tuning them up, but just wanted to know what you guys have personally done to your cars to make them better all round ?

Also with the HICAS some people say that it makes the car unpredictable and crazy and others say its saved there life. What the go there ?

And do the cops give you guys a lot of attention when your driving yours whether you have a skyline or not, do they pull you up and give you tickets anymore then usual ?

Thanks agian

R34s have ceramic turbos ?

Even Ceramics are fine under factory setup boost, they can handle a little more and should die unless you've got a blocked blow off valve.

HICAS is only a problem if you're trying to slide it around corners, even then it doesnt take a genuis to learn how it feels and work around that, and I'll speak no more

And yes, expect to be pulled up alot more than if you were driving a Camry, just keep your car legal and be polite+/mature+/smart and you'll be fine.

[mad082]

as nic_a31 said, generally the hicas will only cause an issue if you are driving like a dick, but having said that, i had no issues with it when using my r33 on the skidpan, and some of the speeds on the flying loop were quite high (well at least the speedo read quite high, what the front wheels were traveling at was somewhat slower, LOL).

as for changing the turbo, yes the ceramic turbos are a bit of a weakness of the RB motors, but to change to a steel wheeled turbo generally requires other mods to go with it, so it depends on how big your bank balance is.

[KaaN- R34GT-T]

Its not that big haha

Well thanks to everyone for there advice I think to get my head around the Hicas il do what mad said and take it round the skidpan just so i know which way its gonna go if it does slip.

Have you guys had many problems with people breaking into your car ?

and does servicing cost a lot ?

Cheers

[RusH_]

$70-120 for oil, depending on if you go semi or full synthetic, $7-10 for a filter

Plugs vary depending on if you go copper, platinum or iridium, copper is around $3-4 ea, the others vary i believe between $20-$35ish ea

grab a new sump plug washer every few services too, wouldnt be more tha $5 for a pack of a few

[GUN_METAL_GTR32]

remove the hicas

upgrade the coilpacks like right away, skylines seem to be cursed to have the coilpacks die at around 100k

oil change every 5000 ish

get a good high flowing exhaust something jap or a custom

that should do u for now

have fun and congrats on the purchase

[RusH_]

Don't necessarily need to change the coilpacks, i've had my 34 since it was at 64k, its now at 140k and i havent had an issue

[lachlanw]

yeah dont buy coil packs if they arnt f**ked . mine are fine . 120k 10 psi all day everyday

hicas is fine . as youll drive your car youll learn to feel when its working and when its not . and it only works over 80 kays . not for parking like i hear some people say lol

[GUN_METAL_GTR32]

hicas is unnessasry in my opinion plus i think it can be a lil dangerous especially if ur doing 3 gear drifting

[KaaN- R34GT-T]

Well driven it for about 300 km now and jesus they fly.. I felt my face getting pushed into the headrest at close to 7000, handles like a dream.. but unfortunatly its got me wanted more and more parts to make it faster and better looking.. Is this the life of skyline ownership ?