Want to buy a new 370Z but......
 

Hi all, I've been thinking of treating myself to a new 370Z but having read the many negative comments about high oil temps, even in ordinary driving, and cool weather driving, I'm having second thoughts. I would be using the car as my daily driver, with occasional road trips of around 2-3,000 miles when on vacation. I wouldn't be taking it to the track at all, as I don't have those kind of driving skills, but I do live in the desert southwest (Tucson) and it really does get hot here early in the year, then really gets hot, in the 100's May through October. Anyone care to weigh in who lives in a hot climate and has a 370Z? It does seem strange to me that such an otherwise amazing car could have an issue like this, or is there something I'm not understanding? Thanks!

I have a friend who has a 370Z. He flogs the hell out of it, hadn't changed the oil since it was new (9K miles ago, last we talked), and in general just doesn't care. He has never said it went into limp mode and when asked about oil temps says it never got anywhere above the mid-range or so. This was during the warm part of the year. 75-90% humidity and 95-105*.

Then I have read about some people in Cali having trouble just DD'ing it.

I dunno, but I doubt you will have an issue if you stay off the track.

Honestly don't let this hold you back. Most people have not had issues with the oil temperature when just daily driving. We had 100 degree temperatures here last summer with a heat index of 120 and I never saw temperatures above 220. If you ever do have any issues you can always buy an oil cooler for less than $500 to completely solve the problem.

IMO When it comes to issues from the factory this is not a big one. Easily resolved.

yah ive yet to encounter oil temp issues... not even close.

its a constant 80-90F over where i'm at, so far so good. yeah, its my DD with occasional spirited driving.

Attachment 21384 I am stuck behind a slow driving car. So slow I could take out a camera and use it while driving, and still my oil temp is high.

I had a major problem with oil temps. For the price of an oil cooler, I no longer have any temp issues. It was $880 (smaller and cheaper ones out there) and a great value to me. It turned a major problem into a non issue. This car is my daily driver.

Nothing to worry about unless you are racing every minute in the car.

During the hot summers in Chicago, I would get an average of 220 and would go near 230 if I sit there and heat soak. During highway driving I would drop to about 205-210. I haven't seen anything above 230 yet because I haven't gunned my car yet.

When the weather is about 30-40 degrees I would get a consistant 190-200 on the oil temps.

No issues here either...if you have any worries spend the money on an oil cooler.

Just echoing all the above comments...it's not a huge concern. I live in Southern California, and with all the bumper to bumper traffic and hot summers, my car did fine. I recently added an oil cooler, but by no means was it a necessity (cheap way to ease your concerns ~ $500-850 depending on which one you get). At the end of the day, if you love everything else about the 370Z and this is your only concern - it's a no brainer. Get it and join the club :tup:

If you are purchasing your Z new, from a dealer, then simply make the sale contingent upon the dealer installing the factory oil cooler kit, prior to delivery—if oil temps are your worry.

I hit 240 during a Poker Run back in October, but that's the highest I've seen.

Now that it's cold, it stays around 200 or if I'm flooring it for a bit, 220. In the hotter months, I saw an average of 220 while cruising. I live in Central Florida where the summer averages low 90s with horribly high humidity. So please don't let this small issue hold you back. For the price of our cars, an $800 fix is bight worth it IF needed.

Hey thanks a lot everybody, I'll have the oil cooler kit installed when I get ready to buy, (just need to save a little more money) then no worries at all. You guys are the best!

Like you said, if you are not going to take the car to the track, then there is nothing to worry about. This oil temp issue is just blown out of proportion because now people can see their oil temp in this car. If you put an oil temp on other cars, you would probably see the same result. ;)

x2. bloodo hit the nail on the head. It's only an issue because you can see the temps. How many of these people that say it's a problem have ever had an oil temp gauge in another car? none of them.

If you're not going to track the car, there is absolutely nothing to worry about.

two things to consider:
1/ you would need an oil change after you come back from vacation.
2/ you probably would need to change tires more often than a non-sports car if you are going to use the z as a daily driver.

I've:
Never hit oil temps past 230, driving pretty hard
Never burned a drop of oil
Never had the ECU whine
Never had a rattle that I couldn't easily fix
Never had brake issues

I wouldn't worry to much, there are plenty of other people in my same position too.

^
THIS
Work it into your negotiations and quit worrying about a problem you dont have on a car you dont have.

You really have to flog the engine at high rpm's to throw it in limp mode like on track days. Ambient temperature has very little effect considering the engine is usually around 180-225 degrees. If you are really concerned, an oil cooler is an easy upgrade.

Finally, an oil temp thread :rolleyes: "many negative comments" you say? How many people exactly have you seen with oil temp issues, and not just trolls chiming in?

I live in Phoenix, which if memory serves is the same temp as tucson, if not a bit hotter. Neither in stop n go traffic, nor racing have I had any issues.

nothing to worry about.

My Z is trouble free. Zero oil consumption, never saw an oil temp over 225-230 even flogging it on a hot FL day.

And it's an incredibly fun car.

The one issue I had with my Z -- the imperfectly reading fuel gauge (read one tick below full even when topped off) -- seems to have cleared itself up after switching to Sunoco. In any case, that was a pretty minor problem.

Seriously, this is a great car and well worth the money -- go for it :tup:

EDIT: There's brake issues? :confused:

I live in phoenix. I've had my Z through the blistering 120+F summers. Parked outside sometimes for work and never ever had a problem.

although I think my battery may be losing its charge, but what battery doesn't in phoenix?

Live in Vegas myself where temps are regularly 110-125 during the summer, never had oil temp issues. Even during auto-x or drag in the summer the oil temp stays less than 240

ive only heard complaints about oil temps when ppl track. general consensus is that there are no problems when driving normally on roads no matter where you are. long canyon bombs would classify as "track"

but pretty much no problem unless sustained high rpm

Dude, the purpose of forums is to get help with problems and advice, most satisfied customers just don't post to say I love my car and I'm perfectly satisfied. No car is perfect, and they will all have compromises and problems here and there. I am very impressed with the overall quality and standard of engineering, and I am an aerospace engineer so I know what I'm talking about. The oil cooler was left off to save costs, it's that simple. The engine bay does not get a lot of cooling airflow, thanks to good aerodynamics (Cd=0.29 which is as good as it gets for a road car). oil temp is only a problem if you do track days, and if that is the case, adding the oil cooler will cost you less than the set of tires you'll burn through in one day.

And my car has zero problems with 16k miles, not even a squeek, which is astounding quality control and good engineering.

No worries.
No oil cooler and I've never seen more than 225-ish on the gauge.
No, officer, I don't know how fast I was going.

Well, yeah, kind of, but it really isnt applicable to any kind of street driving. It was more of just a passing comment about a little often seen occurrence, but a problem none-the-less.
:icon18:

I drove my Z nearly 2000 miles the day after I bought it. So far I've put around 3500 miles on my car and I daily drive it. I have only had ONE instance where my oil temps got higher than 220*f. I was pushing the car hard, I expected it to rise.

I read a lot of bad things about the car before I bought one and I have to say, aside from the second thoughts I had about the lack of cargo room or space inside, I've never doubted it. It's a great car for the money and I'm glad I bought it.

I achieve most of the nevers on 6spd's list...

No oil burning
No ECU whine
No rattles
No brake issues

I have never hit 265° but 240 ~ 260 is just two minutes of 2,3rd gear twisties away. Oh and once it hits 240 when I am driving to and from work it does not go back down below that even when cruising at 65 in 6th gear. I will be installing an oil cooler, am just waiting to make sure that the beast does not start any oil consumption.

There are also a lot of people in my position also. But it is a minor niggle that is easily cured with an oil cooler.

Its a great car, its a sports car, noting created by man is perfect, but this car comes close when it is not running hot.

I've never had an issue, even on the hottest days of the summer I never saw it more than 225* regardless of how hard I was driving