Nissan Motorsports Oil Cooler vs. Stillen Oil Cooler

Josh@STILLEN

Again.. not discounting Z1's info on the temp's.. but having the thermo plate doesn't take any interaction from you, and as noted in the info on the Nissan Motorsports cooler, that a kit without a thermostatic plate should be removed at times of extreme cold temp's, you have security knowing the plate is bypassing the cooler when not needed.

Having control of the temps to not go below minimum operating temperatures is key.. and 160 degrees is lower than you'd like, but taking into account the engine working at a touch higher, acceptable, but an oil cooler can cool the oil too much, keeping the engine cooler than intended, especially when pushing it.. which hopefully any Z owner is bound to do.. otherwise why own it, even if it's a good on-ramp to the freeway at any given point.. regardless of outside temperature

christian370z

Good points, I am not worried at all being in Socal and the thermostatic plate I got from you guys with the 25r kit seems to be doing its job since the oil temp never goes below 160. I think that 160 is high enough to avoid going low enough to be out of the safe operating range with oil that is too cold, especially when using a high quality synthetic oil. I am definitely not inciting anything, you are correct!

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-320whp / 259wftlbs-
SP Rays -- RE-11s -- SpecialtyZ Tune -- Swift Springs -- Stillen 25R Oil Cooler -- Stillen G3 Intakes -- Berk HFCs -- F.I. 12" CBE -- Stillen Sway Bars -- Es14 Spring -- INGS+1 lip -- CF Spoiler -- GTR Start Button -- VLED Parking Lights -- PWJDM V2 shift knob

flashburn

Oh, I totally agree, I think there is little reason not to get a thermostatic plate, regardless of the temperatures. It will always help get up to a safe operating temperature quicker, no matter what the current climate is. Even after my car sitting in the heat of the Florida summer, it still took time to get up to 180 without a cooler.

I just think its important for people to know that when they get an oil cooler that the temperatures reading out aren't correct. It could also be kind of dangerous if your readout is saying something like 260 and is instead over 280, where limp mode should be kicking in (but isn't). Probably something to keep an eye on while on the track.

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Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M
Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

daisuke149

Agreed with people should know. One morning i was driving out at 6 am. Temp outside was 33 and my oil was reading 150...'was worried and went to dustin tomask him to wrap 75% ofmmy cooler in header wrap. Thas when he told me! Big relief tbh.

christian370z

How far off is the factory oil temperature gauge? Is it reading low by roughly 20 degrees then?

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-320whp / 259wftlbs-
SP Rays -- RE-11s -- SpecialtyZ Tune -- Swift Springs -- Stillen 25R Oil Cooler -- Stillen G3 Intakes -- Berk HFCs -- F.I. 12" CBE -- Stillen Sway Bars -- Es14 Spring -- INGS+1 lip -- CF Spoiler -- GTR Start Button -- VLED Parking Lights -- PWJDM V2 shift knob

daisuke149

from what i understand, theres no set difference. depends on the ambient air and the size of the cooler/speeds etc.

flashburn

Yeah, that's my understanding as well, but 20 degrees might be a decent assumption. You can really tell in the case of "low temps", because if you have a thermostatic plate, you will see it get up to around 160-ish easily, and then usually stick around there unless you get stuck in traffic or are driving aggressively. Since it makes it up to around that temperature and sticks there, it seems like the thermostatic plate must be completely opened so it should be actually around 180 degrees. Or at least that's my logic behind it.

Maybe Dustin can chime in and give us a better idea. We really should make it a separate thread and sticky it.

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Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M
Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

lastblueprint

Ok guys where can I buy this thermo plate? I have driven my car and it does sit at 160 degrees.

Now I have seen a couple of installs, here is the booklet Nissan gave to me. Today I took down fenders and bumper well to install fender brace, I did see the dealers install. It’s exactly how it’s in the instruction guide, now my only question is why does it whistle, especially when I push the throttle? Is that normal?
Well here is the instruction guide I received from Nissan.

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2010 370z 40th Anniversary

Dustin@Z1

Nissan Motorsports does not offer a bolt on Thermostatic Sandwich plate. They use an odd thread pitch, low profile -10 AN Port Fitting that threads directly into their sandwich plate adapter.

We offer a conversion kit for customers with the Nissan Motorsports Oil Cooler Kit to convert their lines over to standard -10 AN Fitting. In the kit we also include a Mocal Sandwich plate adapter and (2x) 1/2" NPT Port Fittings.

You will have to disassemble the two lines in your kit in order to swap out the fittings. The total conversion process only takes about an hour or so to complete.

Here is a link to the kit we offer on our website:
Nissan Motorsports Thermostatic Sandwich Plate Conversion Kit



The kit will run you $150 plus shipping.

There are a few added benefits to the Mocal design over the Nissan Motorsports Sandwich Plate Adapter:

• Fittings on the Nissan Motorsports piece have been shown to leak over time. (Forged fittings with wrong 0-ring groove cut in some models)
• By adding the -10AN to 1/2" NPT Port Fitting. You are introducing an extra fitting. This gives you an added level of protection against damage to the sandwich plate adapter or lines if you accidentally over tighten and damage a fitting.
• The Mocal Sandwich plate is MUCH more compact in design. This allows for "clocking" of the sandwich plate where the lines are no longer facing downward, like in most kits.
• Removal of the oil cooler kit is much faster, since you are not having to remove/re-install the engine oil filter bolt.

I hope that this helps you out and gives you an option for a Thermostatic Sandwich Plate. Let me know if you have any questions.

lastblueprint

So in my case I wont be needing the oil filter bolt, right?

So getting this would make my kit even that much better, lol. OK now the noise, why does it make noise when I push the gas? Its that Normal?

I will be ordering the kit soon, once i do my oil change I'll go ahead and swap it. Thanks for the input.

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2010 370z 40th Anniversary

Dustin@Z1

The noise is normal and not harmful. It happens on both the Nissan Motorsports, Z1, GTM and Stillen kits from my understanding.

The reason we offer the center bolt is just in case you loose, trash or are not returned the factory center bolt when installing the Nissan Motorsports Oil Cooler Kit. Unlike the spin on type sandwich plates used in the Stillen and Z1 Oil cooler kits. The Nissan Motorsports requires that you completely remove the center oil filter bolt, replacing it with the longer OEM Nissan piece.

We have heard cases where dealerships and other like shops trash or fail to return the center oil filter bolt to the customer. This is BAD since the customer will not be able to remove the oil cooler kit and return the vehicle to stock without it.


It is also very likely that the center oil filter bolt is damged when initially removed, if not removed properly.

If you still have you original oil filter bolt and it is in good shape, then no worries. You do not need to purchase an additional piece.

Dustin@Z1

I felt that this may also help answers some questions for those of you in the market looking for an oil cooler kit for your 370z:



I have compiled as much information as I can about all 4 oil cooler kits (2 Stillen; 1 Nissan Motorsports; and 1 Z1). If you would like to have any additional information or correct any possible inaccuracies, please let me know.

ZForce

Thanks Dustin for all this great info and comparison. I will be in touch with you when the time comes to pull the trigger on 2 oil cooler units (for two cars).

How well of an install does the 25 and 34 row work with Injen's CAI?

Josh@STILLEN

Dustin, your information looks fairly accurate.. I'd have to see who the thermo plate mfg is to confirm, but most of the info is correct, except for a couple of things.

The instructions for the STILLEN are for mounting it on the passenger side, and that's because we've written our instructions for maximum compatibility with our other oil coolers, such as the transmission and power steering coolers. We've had plenty of customers mount this kit on the driver side. In that application, no moving of the factory PS cooler is necessary, but we do supply everything to move the PS cooler including new lines in both the Street and Race kit.

Also to note and be fair, we have the stainless steel lines custom made by Goodridge, and while more expensive, this is all Goodridge does, and build a superior line, and haven't even had a hint of a line failure.

The thermostatic plate we use does require a filter with a bit thicker rubber seal on the filter, so the Nissan branded filters will not work, but as you've read aftermarket filters such as K&N for the exact application work fine. Although we still recommend sourcing an equivalent filter to the Fram PH3950, or K&N HP-1005, which is readily available anywhere.

christian370z

I think out of fairness that the Stillen cooler includes long enough lines to easily mount the cooler on the driver's side of the car and retain the factory location for the P/S cooler. Just drill a few new holes in the bracket they supply and it sits right where any driver's side mounted cooler would be with line to spare.

__________________
-320whp / 259wftlbs-
SP Rays -- RE-11s -- SpecialtyZ Tune -- Swift Springs -- Stillen 25R Oil Cooler -- Stillen G3 Intakes -- Berk HFCs -- F.I. 12" CBE -- Stillen Sway Bars -- Es14 Spring -- INGS+1 lip -- CF Spoiler -- GTR Start Button -- VLED Parking Lights -- PWJDM V2 shift knob