how does the 2012 factory oil cooler stand up to track/auto x
 

I have a 2012 z...Did one auto x but the weather has been cool lately so I didn't go over 220 deg.

Does anyone have any clue how the factory oil cooler fares on the track? Anyone have first hand experience on the track with a 2012? Should I plan to install an air to air oil cooler regardless of the factory water-cooled oil cooler?

Is it possible to route the factory oil cooler lines to the front of the car so it can work as an air cooled system and then route through the stock water cooled lines as well? Or is this thinking illogical and not possible...

If I add an air cooled system, do I leave the stock alone and simply add on the air cooled setup?

Lastly, since stock oil cooler is water cooled, if I upgrade radiator, fans, shrouds, and run distilled water/water wetter...will this help lower oil temps since the factory system is water cooled? I'm thinking the cooler the water, the better it can cool the oil?

Thanks!

-Ray

I've never gone over 220 degrees doing an auto x in my 2011 with no oil cooler so you probably never have to worry about that. I will also be interested to hear how the cooler on the 2012 holds up to track use.

As far as I know, no one has really tested it on a track yet. We're still waiting for someone to track their 2012 Z and let us know how the oil cooler holds up.

Two quick questions out of curiosity: (1) what oil do you use and (2) does your Z burn any oil?

we are planning a track day in January, so I will let you guys know what happens.

What company you doing the track with? I usually run with Speedventures...but I saw a private trackday event through this site for SOW in January that I'm really tempted to sign up for (Shift S3ctor).

Since it is winter I may consider doing an event with stock oil cooler, but I'd rather not track unless there are some feedback regarding stock oil cooler and its ability to maintain oil temps.

Also, if we did want to add an air-to-air oil cooler, is the install exactly like 09-11? Do we just ignore the current stock oil cooler and the hoses attached to it?

-Ray

1 - Nissan Ester oil
2 - No (I've only got 6800 miles on the car and the oil has been changed once so far)

We actually only run with about 10-15 cars only, private during the week day either big track at willowsprings or button willow. Pretty much just friends of friends only. Have a few z06, 911 turbo, 2 Gt3's, a few ferrari, g35 supercharged, and a 2010 or 2009 GTR. We usually pay $350 to $400 each.

I think we would bypass the one we have now that is liquid cool through our radiator, remove the oil cooler and just plug it maybe?

I saw willow springs on Dec 17 and 18th or something like that. I just dont want to run with too many cars and have to wait to track all day....

Now that is a true Private event :driving: friends only...nice!

I like having paramedics, tow trucks, corner workers, etc...but it must be nice to only go with friends.

I agree with the waiting around...but when I used to go regularly (years ago)...I usually get tired after 3 sessions and head home early. In fact I don't recall ever driving an entire event (5 sessions max).

Please update us after your event. Also what oil are using? *Side track, but what pads you using for track?

-Ray

How do you like the Nissan Ester oil? Do you plan to keep it or change it out eventually to synthetic?

I'm really liking it...original oil ran completely different (worse) than this one. Changing to this oil felt like I got an intake or something :p car runs so much smoother and revs easier (if this makes any sense at all).

-Ray

We actually have 1 ambulance, corner works usually 3-5, and tow truck, the only optional one is the ambulance the rest have to have it at buttonwillow or willowsprings.

My car is brand new about 1 month old so I haven't taken this one to the track yet. I am trying to figure out what pads I will upgrade too, leaning towards carbotech. Just not sure if I have enough time to upgrade by January.

It seems fine to me. I plan to keep using it as long as my dealer continues to give me free oil changes without charging extra for the Ester oil. :)

Contact Mike Puskar Jr at Carbotech, jr@ctbrakes.com. He should be able to get you set up in plenty of time.

Old school tag.

Can the current air to oil coolers be used on a 2012 with the water to oil. Would the lines connect exactly the same? sorry to thread jack

no, coolant runs to that cooler while oil runs through the one in the aftermarket kits

Not a thread jack, good question and I was wondering the same...if our stock oil coolers are not efficient enough for track...then we'll need to address this question sooner or later.

I think the aftermarket oil cooler can still be used on 2012, but since there is already a factory oil cooler, adding on a oil filter sandwich adapters will push the oil filters even further away (there will be double the thickness between oil filter and block).

Cossie, I'm confused by your post? So you are saying the two lines on the oil cooler (underneath stock oil filter) have coolant running through it?

Please clarify...I thought oil was running in/out of those two lines?

Thanks in advance...please share your resources if possible too.

-Ray

on the 2012 one, coolant runs through it, hence water/oil cooler

the aftermarket ones are oil going through it

I was wondering about this 2012 oil cooler and was thinking that water cooling might be better than air cooling. Since the cooling effect is still working at slow speeds and idle. All my other high rpm engines have been fitted with them. Air cooling seem limited and more oil and space required with more points of failure.

Wonder how much the cooler is from the dealer?

went to willow springs big track yesterday temps maxed out at 255-260

What the outside air temp like? Did you notice coolant temp higher than normal? Doesn't sound promising.

nevermind, saw your other thread (~40 degrees)

no it doesnt, and specially since willowsprings big track is "high speed" track. I don't think this cooler will stand up to buttonwillow. Not sure when I will go to buttonwillow but i'll report back if I do.
My "service engine light soon" turned on also on my last run. Going to buy an obd2 cable online and connect it to the iphone.

I know our oil cooler is water cooled. I'm asking how can coolant run through "it"...what is it? I'm not being sarcastic...I'm very much interested in learning. This is my first Nissan ever owned and I have a lot to learn.

Please share the source of your information if you have it. So if I pull either of the two hoses on the oil cooler lines (oil cooler behind oil filter)...you're telling me coolant will pour out instead of oil?

Thanks in advance!

-Ray

Martin82, thank you so much for the update. This is terrible and not acceptable. Especially since it is winter here. During the summer Willow springs can easily get 100+ degrees and I can't image how much worse/hotter the engine will run.

Guess I'll wait to see the 2012 oil cooler setups. Martin, you going to get an oil cooler soon? I'd love to see other people's setups before tackling this myself.

-Ray

Coolant runs through your oil warmer like it would with a heater core, coolant is circulated by pressure driven by waterpump. The oil warmer setup's been around for ages on many cars, it's nothing special. Do a search on oil cooler leak Miata MR2 and you will read plenty of info on it. Yes you don't have oil lines that you can tap off of easily on your 2012

j

Thank you Cossie, so the oil warmer is behind the oil filter right with the two hoses attached?

I have seen in my honda/acuras similar looking thing behind the oil filter...I know it is nothing new. I just wanted to be sure on the 2012 Z, the two lines that flow in/out of the oil filter (oil warmer) were either coolant or oil.

Thank you for confirming...now I understand exactly whats going on. Those two hoses then need to stay even with the addition of an aftermarket oil cooler since there is coolant running through there.

-Ray

spoke with a guy in torrance, he is building a daytona race prototype of some sort. I asked him about the oil cooler with the 2012 and he said I can just add an additional air oil cooler right after the water oil cooler. Maybe sometime in January I will drop the car off to him, he would also be able to design brake ducts and stuff as well.

yeah they are coolant hoses

260 isn't hot, but 260 in 40* weather isn't looking good.

Is this a hot temp for a track? What is considered hot? What temp does the Z hit "limp mode"?

Also, would our Z's run hotter at autoclub since its a faster track?

260 hits limp mode.

I did an SCCA autox level 1 school in 80 degree temps today. Peak temperature of the day was around 83. Since it was a school we did many runs. With 6 quick runs mostly right on top of each other my oil temp went up to about 245. This was a large course so runs were completed in around 70 to 75 seconds. So it got toasty but not toasty enough to go into limp mode.

Thanks for the info guys.

Has anyone taken a 2012+ to Autoclub speedway? Temps?

I was wondering about this too. Well an oil cooler is a pretty easy mod/fix so...

AAA speedway is the track that led me to stop tracking my car for a while and install an oil cooler. AAA is extremely taxing on your car-all aspects of it. Very high speeds and RPMs. If you want to experience limp mode, AAA can easily do it to your car.

I had an '09 Z and on autoclub it went into limp mode towards the end of the day. it was a trooper for a few heats in the morning.

I now have a 20012 model and since the 2012 models came with an "oil cooler" Nissan claims, I am wondering how it will work at autoclub. I know an aftermarket Oil Cooler is better. I am a casual track day guy, 3-4 times a year. Do about a 2:12 around autoclub. Nothing crazy.

280 hits limp mode...

I regularly autoX with my 2014 and I usually see temps around 230-240 after a run, nothing to worry about there, even on a hot day. I did however go to a track day at palmer motorsports park in MA on friday. Temps were in the mid 80s all day and I ran 4 30 minute sessions. At the end of my 4th session, oil temp was at 275! An oil cooler is certainly going on my car ASAP

2:12's on a cooler day on a '12 + will be OK. Once your times start to drop below 2:06ish, yeah you will hit limp mode no problem, even on an overcast day.

It's really just a decision you have to make depending on like you mentioned, how many days and how hard are you going to go.

Cool! Thanks for the help!