DIY No warranty issue Oil Cooler

JP's 370nismo · 10-31-2011, 12:26 PM

Ok, so this one is a little "tong in cheek" kind of write up.I really wanted to the this install my self... but 2 things worried me. 1, removing the front bumper with out damaging anything and 2, Warranty issues with the dealer later on.

So here is my approach.

1) Buy the best oil cooler I could find, GTM's 25 row with thermostatic plate and steel braided hoses. ($623.00 shipped 2nd day air)

2) Con my local dealer to do the install for me. In my case that was Sterling McCall Nissan, I bought the car there and it has been there for all its service ( tire pressure monitor issue, passenger airbag issue, 1500, 4500, and now 7500 mile oil changes.(Ester oil))

The service advisor (Willie Ford) quoted me $250, but I was fairly certain it would be more, since just taking the front bumper off takes 1.5 hrs or so.

I brought my parts and arrange to talk with the shop foreman(I think his name was Neil?) went over the usual.. ports facing up, flip the Nismo damper ,rotate plate to where hoses stick out the least possible, etc...

Also, no matter what GTM says, they are shipping you a cooler and braket that require some alterations to fit properly !!

The dealer got started with the job and then called me when they had the bumper off. The cooler leaned too far forward when you tighten the screws (this has been discussed in another DIY cooler install) and there was nothing to attach the top braket to.

They asked permission to dimple the plastic rail and fix the leaning issue and I took the cooler and hacksawed notches to accommodate the cross beam that runs to the left of the cooler, elongated a screw hole on the bottom bracket and slid the cooler over.

In the end the install was very solid!! No play or vibration issues.

The dealer charged me $348.00 to bring the totall to $971.00

They also noted in their system that the car has a Nismo?! oil cooler and now requires an extra quart of oil.And they now know how to do this install since it was their frist.

So all in all a win win situation in my opinion.

Please see attached pics for a better idea of the install.

Hope this helps.

KevinB · 10-31-2011, 12:34 PM

In the future you should not fear removing bumper. It's a four pound piece of plastic and is very easy to do. I did it in twenty mins first time. The DIY here is very good and the service manual (download if you haven't) has some good diagrams. Any ideas how well your cooler is working for you? Congrats

JP's 370nismo · 10-31-2011, 01:14 PM

Thanks!
The cooler seems to be doing great! But I need some more time to really gage it.The temperature outside dropped 20 degrees the day after I got it back and the temperature on the gage dropped 60 degrees from the usual. it went from 80 degrees outside, freeway cruising at 70 mph, 220 degrees on the gage to 60 degrees outside, freeway cruising at 70 mph, 160 degrees on the gage. the temperature does clim to 180 when car sits idle.
I have not seen it go higher than that.

10-31-2011, 12:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
KevinB Base Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Louisiana Age: 53 Posts: 75 Drives: 09 370z blk m6 Rep Power: 14	In the future you should not fear removing bumper. It's a four pound piece of plastic and is very easy to do. I did it in twenty mins first time. The DIY here is very good and the service manual (download if you haven't) has some good diagrams. Any ideas how well your cooler is working for you? Congrats __________________ 09 6MT MB: Int/Ext LEDs, Stillen G3 + FI test pipes + FI cat back + Stillen sways + Clutch Helper Spring

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10-31-2011, 01:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
JP's 370nismo Base Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: texas Posts: 19 Drives: 370 nismo Rep Power: 14	Thanks! The cooler seems to be doing great! But I need some more time to really gage it.The temperature outside dropped 20 degrees the day after I got it back and the temperature on the gage dropped 60 degrees from the usual. it went from 80 degrees outside, freeway cruising at 70 mph, 220 degrees on the gage to 60 degrees outside, freeway cruising at 70 mph, 160 degrees on the gage. the temperature does clim to 180 when car sits idle. I have not seen it go higher than that.