oil cooler necessary ?

marathonmann

Hey guys, I've already searched and read a lot about the high oil temp issue our cars have. I'm getting ready to take my stock 09 Z to the track in a few weeks and have to ask, Is the oil cooler absolutely necessary to take the Z on a track ? I am a novice and won't be running brutally hard, but if there is any chance of damaging the engine, I will probably postpone my track day and get the oil cooler. Thanks for the help

JARblue

Absolutely you will need an oil cooler. Unless you are planning for a short track session.

After three laps at COTA, my 2011 had oil temps over 250F. After a 15 min break and then three more laps, I had temps around 290F. This wasn't a track day per se, and I was prepared to stop when the car let me know it was done for the day.

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SouthArk370Z

I don't track my car but, as hot as it runs with normal/spirited driving, I can't imagine hitting the track without some extra cooling. YMMV

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sixpax

I got hot enough at about 17 laps that the RPMs cut way down (to like 3,000) so coming out of turn 10 at Summit Point back on the gas and no power ... I about got ran over by a pair of CTS-V's they thought I had missed a shift or something ... and I didn't think I was being all that hard on the car. Better safe than sorry and slap an oil cooler on there

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NORAIN

I just put a Z1 34 row on for an up coming track day. Before at an auto x with 20 sec. runs I was at 250+ degrees. I would put one on if I were you. It has dropped the temp 30 degrees around town during spirited driving.

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cossie1600

You can short shift and it would prolong your session greatly.

DR_

If it is your first track day ever you will be fine. I instruct guys all the time without oil coolers (in Texas) and it isn't until your 2nd or 3rd event that you start pushing the car hard enough to really get into the danger zone. IMO do the track day, and then get the cooler before your 2nd event.

marathonmann

Yeah, thats what i thought. Thanks for all the input guys. Driving it home from work today I noticed the oil temp between 200 and 220 and I really wasn't hammering on it. I guess I'll start looking at oil coolers...any suggestions ? This is an expense i wasn't counting on when I bought the car recently so hopefully it's not too costly with labor to install. Someone has used one on EBAY from a G37 sport edition which he claims will fit the 370Z. I guess it's a factory part they put on the G37's. Less than $100 shipped

Chuck33079

Don't buy that one. The only way a G37 got a factory oil cooler would have been the same POS oil to water unit they put on 2012+ Zs. Buy a real oil cooler. I'd make sure to get a thermostatic sandwich plate instead of a regular one as well. Do it right the first time. And if you're mechanically capable of changing oil, you can handle the oil cooler install no problem.

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sixpax

That was the first time I went two years ago ... was just answering the OP. I added an oil cooler prior to going again.

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marathonmann

Ok, thanks for the tip on the G37 unit. Also, this will be my second time at the track (1st time with a Honda S2000) Plus I did a lot of Auto-X in my younger days. I'm not a pro by any means, but i wanted to run fairly hard and not have to worry about going into limp mode and ruining my day. Sounds like the cooler is inevitable even if I only attend a couple track days per year

sixpax

I wouldn't use that thing. Get a good one.

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newtonova822

I have a 14 370z in No Va and a 70 degree day had temps to 200+ in traffic no hard driving.

Has anyone added the oil pan spacer to increase oil quantity?

Suggestions on number of rows?

Thanks
pearl white 370z sport

H2O_Doc

I'm in Alexandria and hard driving around town got my Z pretty hot wanton often; hot enough that I just punted and got a 34 row cooler here from another member (they never had it installed and I got the used price). Oil temps not a problem at all now. It's the last mod I'd give up on the car.

Used oil coolers come up regularly as there periodic part outs.