Oil Coolers location/types for FI Zs.

Aviator44 · 04-17-2015, 10:36 AM

I recently added the AAM Twin Turbo kit to my car and am now looking into methods of combating the ever rising oil temps. Before going FI my oil temp would sit around 180' F cruising at 70-75 mph on a 60' F day. Under the same conditions oil temp now sits around 220' F.

I purchased an oil cooler kit that contains the 34 Setrab core and thermostatic plate. I had planned on placing the core behind the intercooler but in front of the radiator. However, I'm now having second thoughts on if this will even be beneficial. There is already minimal air moving into the engine bay. Using this air to pass through the intercooler, oil cooler, and radiator seems like overkill.

So those with similar setups, did you see a beneficial drop in oil temperatures? Did you mount the core between the intercooler and radiator?

AAM is working on a liquid cooled oil cooler. I have thought about selling my air cooled oil cooler and going this route.

Thoughts?

bullitt5897 · 04-17-2015, 10:40 AM

The Oil cooler should be sandwiched between the intercooler and your radiator. A 34 row cooler will help alot! Also depending on your model and model year you will want to remove the factory cooler if it is present.

It should look like so:

IC --- Oil C --- RAD --- Engine

I have the 4.5L and two 34 row Setrabs tied together and on an 80* day my temps may see 160-180* peak...

bullitt5897 · 04-17-2015, 10:42 AM

Also upgrading your fans and adding a vented hood like the VIS AMS or Terminator will do lots for airflow.

I am using twin 16" SPAL fans and can feel the air being pulled through my intercooler at stand still...

Then again my car sounds like a jet about to take off sitting still lol had one of my buddies think something was wrong with his A/C unit in our caravan at a red light one day and he was like three cars ahead of me... Rolled down his windows and looked back then threw up his hand muahahaha

Chuck33079 · 04-17-2015, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aviator44

I recently added the AAM Twin Turbo kit to my car and am now looking into methods of combating the ever rising oil temps. Before going FI my oil temp would sit around 180' F cruising at 70-75 mph on a 60' F day. Under the same conditions oil temp now sits around 220' F.

I purchased an oil cooler kit that contains the 34 Setrab core and thermostatic plate. I had planned on placing the core behind the intercooler but in front of the radiator. However, I'm now having second thoughts on if this will even be beneficial. There is already minimal air moving into the engine bay. Using this air to pass through the intercooler, oil cooler, and radiator seems like overkill.

So those with similar setups, did you see a beneficial drop in oil temperatures? Did you mount the core between the intercooler and radiator?

AAM is working on a liquid cooled oil cooler. I have thought about selling my air cooled oil cooler and going this route.

Thoughts?

You have a boosted Z without any type of oil cooler? And you're only seeing 220? 220 doesn't concern me too much. That's not what I would consider too hot. And I would avoid a liquid cooler completely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullitt5897

The Oil cooler should be sandwiched between the intercooler and your radiator. A 34 row cooler will help alot! Also depending on your model and model year you will want to remove the factory cooler if it is present.

It should look like so:

IC --- Oil C --- RAD --- Engine

I have the 4.5L and two 34 row Setrabs tied together and on an 80* day my temps may see 160-180* peak...

Are you concerned about the oil not getting hot enough to boil off moisture?

To answer the OP's question, mine is between the IC and radiator, with a Spal fan on it set to turn on automatically when the oil gets over 210 or so.

jwick · 04-17-2015, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullitt5897

The Oil cooler should be sandwiched between the intercooler and your radiator. A 34 row cooler will help alot! Also depending on your model and model year you will want to remove the factory cooler if it is present.

It should look like so:

IC --- Oil C --- RAD --- Engine

I have the 4.5L and two 34 row Setrabs tied together and on an 80* day my temps may see 160-180* peak...

Cruising around on a 90deg day I stay between 190-200 unless I'm really beating on it.

You also might want to check your tune and make sure the radiator fan is adjusted to come on earlier and harder. Mine runs full out all the time with the AC on.

bullitt5897 · 04-17-2015, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwick

Cruising around on a 90deg day I stay between 190-200 unless I'm really beating on it.

You also might want to check your tune and make sure the radiator fan is adjusted to come on earlier and harder. Mine runs full out all the time with the AC on.

I am the same... When I dont push it the car sits between 160-180... I would do block off plates but I can get to them lol

bullitt5897 · 04-17-2015, 10:59 AM

My SPAL controllers run the fans all the time. I will check to see if I can set them higher so it will let temps rise up more. I mean on the dyno after about 10 runs we still hadnt hit 200*

Aviator44 · 04-17-2015, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

You have a boosted Z without any type of oil cooler? And you're only seeing 220? 220 doesn't concern me too much. That's not what I would consider too hot. And I would avoid a liquid cooler completely.

Are you concerned about the oil not getting hot enough to boil off moisture?

To answer the OP's question, mine is between the IC and radiator, with a Spal fan on it set to turn on automatically when the oil gets over 210 or so.

Yeah I do. The car hasn't been driven much at all the last 6 months due to winter. I've had the oil cooler kit just sitting in my garage till I could get the time to put it on. Just cruising on the highway and staying out of boost the oil temp sits right around 220. If I start driving the car hard temp rise over 245 or so. I consider that too hot.

I'll throw the cooler on and also look into fans to see how much the temps drop. I guess worst case scenario is the coolers not enough and I'll have to go another route.

Thanks for the input everyone.

Aviator44 · 04-17-2015, 06:18 PM

Those running SPAL fans, where are you mounting them at? Trying to figure out the clearances.

Chuck33079 · 04-17-2015, 07:16 PM

Mine is mounted directly to the oil cooler core.

bullitt5897 · 04-17-2015, 08:02 PM

Mine are direct OEM replacements and mount to my radiator. I am also Running the GTM 70mm Competition Radiator... It is beastly and we had to fabricate to make it fit.

kentmo280z · 04-21-2015, 09:15 PM

Curious as to those with spal fans, where are you mounting the temperature sensor for the fan? I'm about to purchase a 7.5" fan for my oil cooler that's on the driver side wheel well. I do not have an aftermarket oil pan to hook the sensor into. Looking for other options. .

Juztin · 04-23-2015, 10:51 PM

One option, off to the side, removed the fog light on that side to get more air to it.

Masterbeatty · 04-24-2015, 11:38 AM

^ With it on the side like that I would vent the fender liners to have the hot air a place to go instead of the engine bay. Good job on removing the reflector, functional and looks good.

theDreamer · 04-27-2015, 10:17 AM

My oil cooler is on the driver side just under the headlight, with the GTM SC there is not much space between the radiator & intercooler so the sides are optimal. Plus it does not create another layer for air to pass through.

04-17-2015, 10:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
Aviator44 Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 299 Drives: AAM Twin Turbo 370Z Rep Power: 11	Oil Coolers location/types for FI Zs. I recently added the AAM Twin Turbo kit to my car and am now looking into methods of combating the ever rising oil temps. Before going FI my oil temp would sit around 180' F cruising at 70-75 mph on a 60' F day. Under the same conditions oil temp now sits around 220' F. I purchased an oil cooler kit that contains the 34 Setrab core and thermostatic plate. I had planned on placing the core behind the intercooler but in front of the radiator. However, I'm now having second thoughts on if this will even be beneficial. There is already minimal air moving into the engine bay. Using this air to pass through the intercooler, oil cooler, and radiator seems like overkill. So those with similar setups, did you see a beneficial drop in oil temperatures? Did you mount the core between the intercooler and radiator? AAM is working on a liquid cooled oil cooler. I have thought about selling my air cooled oil cooler and going this route. Thoughts? __________________ www.aamcompetition.com AAM Twin Turbo System

04-17-2015, 10:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
bullitt5897 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: North GA Posts: 6,831 Drives: Twin Turbo Z34 Rep Power: 3682	The Oil cooler should be sandwiched between the intercooler and your radiator. A 34 row cooler will help alot! Also depending on your model and model year you will want to remove the factory cooler if it is present. It should look like so: IC --- Oil C --- RAD --- Engine I have the 4.5L and two 34 row Setrabs tied together and on an 80* day my temps may see 160-180* peak... jwick and Chuck33079 like this. __________________ *Shop Cars: 2013 318whp Nismo VspecII 370z SOLD, 2009 1000hp+ 93oct 4.0L TT 370z Fast Intentions STAGE 4 #054*

04-17-2015, 10:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
bullitt5897 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: North GA Posts: 6,831 Drives: Twin Turbo Z34 Rep Power: 3682	Also upgrading your fans and adding a vented hood like the VIS AMS or Terminator will do lots for airflow. I am using twin 16" SPAL fans and can feel the air being pulled through my intercooler at stand still... Then again my car sounds like a jet about to take off sitting still lol had one of my buddies think something was wrong with his A/C unit in our caravan at a red light one day and he was like three cars ahead of me... Rolled down his windows and looked back then threw up his hand muahahaha __________________ *Shop Cars: 2013 318whp Nismo VspecII 370z SOLD, 2009 1000hp+ 93oct 4.0L TT 370z Fast Intentions STAGE 4 #054*

04-17-2015, 10:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
bullitt5897 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: North GA Posts: 6,831 Drives: Twin Turbo Z34 Rep Power: 3682	My SPAL controllers run the fans all the time. I will check to see if I can set them higher so it will let temps rise up more. I mean on the dyno after about 10 runs we still hadnt hit 200* __________________ *Shop Cars: 2013 318whp Nismo VspecII 370z SOLD, 2009 1000hp+ 93oct 4.0L TT 370z Fast Intentions STAGE 4 #054*

04-17-2015, 06:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
Aviator44 Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 299 Drives: AAM Twin Turbo 370Z Rep Power: 11	Those running SPAL fans, where are you mounting them at? Trying to figure out the clearances. __________________ www.aamcompetition.com AAM Twin Turbo System

04-17-2015, 07:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29539	Mine is mounted directly to the oil cooler core. __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

04-17-2015, 08:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
bullitt5897 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: North GA Posts: 6,831 Drives: Twin Turbo Z34 Rep Power: 3682	Mine are direct OEM replacements and mount to my radiator. I am also Running the GTM 70mm Competition Radiator... It is beastly and we had to fabricate to make it fit. __________________ *Shop Cars: 2013 318whp Nismo VspecII 370z SOLD, 2009 1000hp+ 93oct 4.0L TT 370z Fast Intentions STAGE 4 #054*

04-21-2015, 09:15 PM	#12 (permalink)
kentmo280z Base Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Akron , Ohio Posts: 199 Drives: '10 370Z Roadster Rep Power: 11	Curious as to those with spal fans, where are you mounting the temperature sensor for the fan? I'm about to purchase a 7.5" fan for my oil cooler that's on the driver side wheel well. I do not have an aftermarket oil pan to hook the sensor into. Looking for other options. .

04-23-2015, 10:51 PM	#13 (permalink)
Juztin Base Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: 505 Posts: 27 Drives: '07 350z Rep Power: 11	One option, off to the side, removed the fog light on that side to get more air to it. swiss370Z, Masterbeatty and KratikosG37 like this.

04-24-2015, 11:38 AM	#14 (permalink)
Masterbeatty A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Whales Vagina Posts: 4,586 Drives: the speed limit... Rep Power: 122867	^ With it on the side like that I would vent the fender liners to have the hot air a place to go instead of the engine bay. Good job on removing the reflector, functional and looks good. __________________ 2011 MB 6MT Masterbeatty journal

04-27-2015, 10:17 AM	#15 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4210	My oil cooler is on the driver side just under the headlight, with the GTM SC there is not much space between the radiator & intercooler so the sides are optimal. Plus it does not create another layer for air to pass through. __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

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