Oil cooler thermostatic plate working correctly?

BobbyLight · 08-04-2016, 12:15 PM

I put on the Z1 oil cooler with thermostatic plate, which to my understanding stays shut until the oil is up to temp. However I have noticed that when I cold start the car, the oil cooler is very warm to the touch after only a few minutes; and well before the oil is up to temp. Is this normal?

Spooler · 08-04-2016, 12:37 PM

Yes, this is normal. The thermostatic plate never fully closes as it was designed to do.

gomer_110 · 08-04-2016, 12:38 PM

Oil cooler thermostatic plates always flow a little bit of oil even when cold and then just fully open once they reach rated temperature. In theory this helps prevent thermal shock to the system.

BobbyLight · 08-04-2016, 01:22 PM

Oh ok, that makes sense. I just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

bleunetizen · 08-04-2016, 08:08 PM

i had this same Q with my stillen kits thermostat.

Not sure about Z1's plate, but for stillen the bypass hole is tiny like 5~6mm (1/4 inch), i think 80% of oil would still circulate regardless of it being shut or open.

for your information, mycar rarely reaches over 80degC (176degF) for street driving and cruise around, which is rather low and my older 350Z had the exact same results without having any thermostat plates so this makes me wonder if stillen plate is providing much help in heating up the oil at all. To test if it was working properly, I dipped my plate into boiling water to watch its behaviour and it was doing what it was supposed to do so nothing is 'broken', just not effective enough i guess.

One good thing I would expect is that it should help the car cool down faster than mre 'effective' thermostats since it will allow it to go lower as it will circulate 'not that hot' oil through to the cooler core, but do we need this thermostat at all then!? haha

Cooling is pretty awesome though, the car reaches 130degC (265degF) quite easily but stays there for long time and cools right back to around 100degC (212degF) during a cool down lap.

For comparison, systems designed by manufacturer (like bmw's M cars etc), they heat up oil to around 90deg rather quickly and stays there. Not sure what is to be called more 'effective' but I was expecting similar results with stillen kit because staying under 80degC (176degF) almost all the time doesn't make me too comfortable..

08-04-2016, 12:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
BobbyLight Base Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 97 Drives: 09 370z BS 6MT Rep Power: 9	Oil cooler thermostatic plate working correctly? I put on the Z1 oil cooler with thermostatic plate, which to my understanding stays shut until the oil is up to temp. However I have noticed that when I cold start the car, the oil cooler is very warm to the touch after only a few minutes; and well before the oil is up to temp. Is this normal?

08-04-2016, 12:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
gomer_110 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Perrysburg, OH Posts: 17,992 Drives: '11 Nismo #528 GM Rep Power: 36941	Oil cooler thermostatic plates always flow a little bit of oil even when cold and then just fully open once they reach rated temperature. In theory this helps prevent thermal shock to the system. __________________ '11 370Z Nismo #528 Fast Intentions \| Stillen \| Motordyne \| Uprev \| CSF \| Zspeed \| Z1 Motorsports \| AST \| Swift \| SPC \| SPL \| Whiteline \| Hotchkis \| Bride \| Schroth \| Robispec \| Cusco \| Nismo \| Volk \| Forgestar \| Hoosier \| RJM '17 Titan Bone Stock

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08-04-2016, 12:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Spooler A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Ga Posts: 13,795 Drives: 2013 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 2684392	Yes, this is normal. The thermostatic plate never fully closes as it was designed to do.

08-04-2016, 01:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
BobbyLight Base Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 97 Drives: 09 370z BS 6MT Rep Power: 9	Oh ok, that makes sense. I just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

08-04-2016, 08:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
bleunetizen Base Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: NZ Posts: 138 Drives: BMW M6, 530i, 370z Rep Power: 11	i had this same Q with my stillen kits thermostat. Not sure about Z1's plate, but for stillen the bypass hole is tiny like 5~6mm (1/4 inch), i think 80% of oil would still circulate regardless of it being shut or open. for your information, mycar rarely reaches over 80degC (176degF) for street driving and cruise around, which is rather low and my older 350Z had the exact same results without having any thermostat plates so this makes me wonder if stillen plate is providing much help in heating up the oil at all. To test if it was working properly, I dipped my plate into boiling water to watch its behaviour and it was doing what it was supposed to do so nothing is 'broken', just not effective enough i guess. One good thing I would expect is that it should help the car cool down faster than mre 'effective' thermostats since it will allow it to go lower as it will circulate 'not that hot' oil through to the cooler core, but do we need this thermostat at all then!? haha Cooling is pretty awesome though, the car reaches 130degC (265degF) quite easily but stays there for long time and cools right back to around 100degC (212degF) during a cool down lap. For comparison, systems designed by manufacturer (like bmw's M cars etc), they heat up oil to around 90deg rather quickly and stays there. Not sure what is to be called more 'effective' but I was expecting similar results with stillen kit because staying under 80degC (176degF) almost all the time doesn't make me too comfortable..