DIY: Greddy Turbo Aluminum Oil Pan as an additional oil cooling option

wind.zero

Preface
This is just another cooling addition in my fight to lower my oil temperatures in the extremely hot Texas weather. I am running the GTM Stage 1 SC, GTM 25R oil cooler, vented fender lining , and Red Line Water Wetter. Now I have the Greddy Turbo aluminum oil pan. This is an aluminum finned pan with a higher capacity. You do not have to have a turbo setup to install it, but it does require some work to get it installed.

I rate this install as moderate to somewhat advanced. I am sure there are members of the forum who have access to the tools and could complete the install of this item, but I would recommend sourcing a fully equipped shop. Please read the entire DIY so you have some idea of what you might be getting yourself into. My install was done on a NISMO so I cannot guarantee it is identical for the other models, but I would guess it is pretty close.

I did not do this install myself, but I did document it as a DIY for the forum to review regarding the mod. I am not responsible for anything you mess up if you try this mod at home. After watching the shop complete the install, I certainly would not have been comfortable with a DIY given some of the aspects the shop had to do to make it fit seamlessly.

Initial Results

• I have only had the pan on for a day. But on two 80-85 MPH drives from Forth Worth to North Plano (about 45 miles one way) in the heat of the day (100+ degree ambient air temperatures) I saw a 10-15 degree temperature drop on the oil gauge. With the cruise set on ~83 my gauge reported 220 which is low for me in this heat. A few 80 – 110 MPH accelerations and I got temps to rise to 230 but never higher. However, after five minutes of cruising back down at ~83 MPH, temperatures would cool back to around 220 or just slightly lower. This is an improvement for me.
• The pan DOES NOT extend past the cross member like an oil pan spacer so it is not the lowest point
• It increased my oil capacity to ~7 quarts
• This pan clears the oil filter relocation kit for the GTM oil cooler and the GTM Supercharger kit.

Parts Required:

• Greddy Aluminum Turbo Oil Pan for VQ37HR/Z34/Oil Pan/Part # 13525904
• This is the same part number for the VQ35HR as well. IT IS NOT THE SAME PART FOR VQ35DE
• For some reason the Greddy pan did not come with any mounting hardware. I am not sure if this was a mistake in packaging from Greddy or if you are supposed to source it yourself. Jotech is a full service shop so they had the various pieces of hardware to mount the pan.
• Tools to remove and reinstall the oil pans
• Your choice of a method to block off the turbo oil return ports. I had them welded up
• Hondabond HT Sealant Hi-Temp Liquid Gasket or your choice of gasket maker

Pictures of the Greddy Aluminum Turbo oil pan




Ok, now for the install detail. I am sure there are other ways to complete some parts of this, but I did what my shop recommended. There is always more than one way to do everything.

Get the car on a lift and remove the plastic engine under tray. It is held on by several 10mm bolts and clips


Remove the OEM oil pan


This is what it looks like compared to the Greddy oil pan


When test fitting the Greddy oil pan, it was apparent it would not clear one of the mounting tabs for the plastic engine under tray. Even if the tab was bent down, the pan would still not fit. So that was the first dilemma and I chose to have the tab removed. Kenny used a variety of air powered cutting and grinding tools for the removal process. I am not really into cutting things off the car, but it was necessary to fit the new pan. I know the under tray is different for the NISMO but I suspect the regular tray shares the same tab. Someone would have to confirm but I cannot see it being different on the other models.

This is the tab


This is after the tab was removed


This is what was initially cut off on the ground for reference. Then the surface was sanded smooth


Since the pan is for a turbo setup and I am running a supercharger, Kenny welded up the turbo oil return ports.

The before


Here are shots after the ports were welded shut






Clean all of the contact surfaces and the pan very well and use the liquid gasket maker to reinstall the pan


This is the final shot of the pan installed


For GTM Supercharger users with the oil filter relocated, this shows the clearance on both sides






Please rep me if you find this remotely interesting