oil cooler

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Oil gets well over 300* in the engine at certain points in its cycle. 240* in the pan isn't going to kill it. Yes, it will break down a touch faster, but with a good oil that shouldn't be an issue. It's well within the oil's designed operating parameters.

On the flip side, if you put a cooler in there, during the rest of your normal driving the oil might well be 150-170* and not protect nearly as well as it is thicker, has more resistance to flow, hurts fuel economy, and is not up to it's designed operating point.

There is a reason GM went to the trouble of preventing their cars from running around with mid 100* oil-temps.

Originally Posted by esfourteen

Your "follow GM" solution holds no value here, GM did not just remove the cooler, they designed the engine in a way to keep oil temps inline. For those of us that dont want our oil temperatures in a range where it affects performance and breaks down oil faster, all we can do is run oil coolers with a thermostatic plate.

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Regular 'vette has no cooler. Does just fine with oil temps 220-240 all day long, but hey, you guys blow your $$ however you want. If you feel better getting groceries with an oil-cooler, knock yourselves out.

Originally Posted by esfourteen

That would be great if our cars stayed in the 220-240 range, I could only do that with the AC on. Oil cooler keeps me in the 170-220 range. Are you bored yet? I am.

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

Everyone's situation is different I guess. However, OP has no problem. He was just asking if he should get it "just because".

My friend's 370Z gets the piss beat out of it and is totally neglected and does just fine with CAI and exhaust.

Like you said though, everyone's area is different. Here in the hot humid south it may be better than at altitude, for example.

Originally Posted by esfourteen

I factored in his location (texas is hot as ****, people avoid going outside), and his future mods. An oil cooler is a good investment IMO. I will certainly agree that an oil cooler is not for everyone, but based on what I see here in NY (humid 90's in the summer) with my Z, its a good idea for engine longevity.