Are you a 100% sure about that???? There is a video on how high the temps can get on street driving. I can imagine someone who is living in a warmer state seeing temps rise and hitting limp mode its built in the ECU.

Please don't blow this out of proportion. No one has reported 280 degrees with street use (go back through the 60+ pages) and if anyone has they probably deserve to be taken off the public highways. . At that 280 point Max RPM's are reduce by approx. 2K. This is hardly a "safety" issue..

Agreed, we have yet to hear of anyone, no matter how insanely they drive, hitting limp mode on a public street. It's probably possible, in a really hot environment, if you could find enough breathing room without traffic in the way or a cop to haul you off to jail, but it's unlikely anyone can do it.

Keep in mind that cruising at highway speeds, even excessive ones, doesn't tend to ramp up oil temps much, as you're getting good airflow and the revs are relatively low. To pull off limp mode on the street, you'd have to be constantly accelerating and decelerating around small streets and corners and keeping the revs way up high, and sustain those conditions for at least 10-15 minutes straight, if not much longer, without ever giving the car a break.

Usually cops, traffic, or general common sense would prevent the limp mode on the street.

That's not to say that the oil temps we see on the street (which aren't high enough to kick in limp mode) under harder driving and/or conditions are healthy, but it's not a catastrophe either.

Yeah, I can *cough**cough* attest to the veracity of that statement. :icon17:

I hit limp mode on the highway during Bullrun last month traveling from Monticello, NY to Pittsburgh, PA. Right on the outskirts of Pittsburgh I couldn't push past 5k RPM and had no idea what the problem was at that time.

However, obviously I was not driving under normal conditions :P The car was also newer, so like other people have said as it breaks in further oil temps have been better at remaining stable. Two weeks ago I drove up to CT for a car show, played tag with a few cars on the way home and didn't have any oil temp issues.

Back in May when heading to Laguna Seca in Monterey CA, two 370Z's in our group including myself hit limp mode. We were on the highway, hot dogging on a warm morning (about 80 degrees). It did not take much or very long for limp mode to kick in.

Note: The car had about 750 miles on the engine.

Since then another very hard run in July on very much cooler day (65 degrees) up through a canyon and both 370Z's did NOT go into limp mode. Mileage on the engine then was about 4000 miles.

Normal day to day driving in the summer time (90+ degrees) the oil temps are 225 - 235 with no high reving or pushing it.

Is there any way we can unsticky this thread now that the people who originally posted this issue have had their cars break in and now it no longer happens? I feel having this posted at the top just causes new owners to panic.

Maybe just having a single post thread that sums up what everyone has discovered:

1. Temps may be high during the initial thousand miles but will decrease as the engine breaks in.

2. On a properly broken in car you will not hit limp mode during street driving.

3. If you track your car you will need to install an oil cooler. If you only plan on autoxing this is unneccesary.

4. And then Nissan's official statement on the matter.

Just a suggestion so we don't have to keep going over this again and again every time someone new joins the board and doesn't want to read though all 60 pages.

Pretty much the same experience here ZForce. Once I got some miles on the car (now at 5000), the temps went down some. I average around 225 at the present outside temps (hot, lol). As others have stated, it is very hard to get to limp mode off the track. If I drive the car in a spirited fashion (it's a Z damn it :icon17:), AND encounter stop and go traffic (no airflow through the car like freeway driving), I can easily hit 250 to 260. It has been quoted here that todays oils can easily handle that, and if you change your oil at recommended intervals, you should have no oil breakdown issues. The more pressing concern to many, is bearing life. The changes in metalurgy by Nissan to be more "green" has reduced the temperatures at which they fail. Most here however claim that 260 will not cause any failure issues. From a longevity standpoint, my concern is how will regularly sustained temps of 250 to 260 effect engine life. From a performance standpoint, my car runs better and seems to pull harder at 180 degrees than 260, so I forsee a cooler in my near future. I don't understand the indignant members here though, that want to get belligerent when people want to discuss this. Maybe it's noob questions that spark that reaction, or a need to be defensive about their cars. I agree though, that if your location relative to outside temps, and your driving style and encountered traffic doesn't result in spikes over the usual 220 to 230, just enjoy the car and don't worry about this.

John

I agree with you on this, with the caveat that some of us want the added protection and lower running temps a cooler provides, as stated in my previous post. But that scenerio is different than the sky is falling, and as you state, this causes new or prospective owners to panic first, before reading all the dialogue that exists on the subject.

John

^John, I agree and also want the added protection over the long haul, hence an oil cooler for street use. No harm with a little more engine protection. I and you can relate to this having come from the oil consumption 06 Rev-Ups. So if I tend to be more pro-active its because I have had the last 1.5 yrs experience beating up Nissan over an oil consuming 06 Rev-Up.

As far this thread is concerned, I am for leaving it stickied and keep the discussions going. 62 pages ....Ha...that's nothing to the 200+ pages on the oil consumption thread (OC). I would suggest doing what we did over on the OC thread, which is have the OP update the first page with the current findings on the oil temp issue. Therefore newbs would see the point that has become after 62 pages. But to unsticky it....not...it's too important, you do that and a newb will just open up a new thread, then wadda have? ten gazillion threads of everybody saying the same-o-same-o.

.05 cents...now off the soap box.

If any is interested in the general format, here is what is working on the oil consumption thread as far as updates and a REVISED first post.
MY350Z.COM Forums - View Single Post - RevUp Oil Consumption TSB and discussion

Cheers
Curtis

I'm not saying remove any type of stickied information regarding oil temperature. I just don't really see the point of this thread continuing the way it has been for the past while with it dying until someone new joins and then causing a few members who haven't been that worried to panic.

You could apply what I was talking about early with what you suggested. Keep the first reply of the thread updated with everything that's been found out. My suggestion was to just start a new thread, make it have one reply that contains all relevant information, sticky it and lock it. New people can then read the post and not have to freak out and worry other members in the process.

I like that idea, go for it, unless anyone else has any objections.

Just got back last night from a 320~ mile cruise through the hill country at high pace. I tried to get my car to get hot (4-6k rpm long holds), but the hottest it saw was 210 oil temps. Water stayed below 190 as well.

Track event is next weekend which will be the real test.

Made it to the track finally. Outside temps around 80. My Water never got above 210 degrees but my oil temps did hit 250 degrees. But didn't go higher. I was keeping it in 3rd gear most of the track near redline.

I'm now running a dual-core oil cooler that was custom prepared by Redline Motorsports in Tempe, AZ... using Motul 300v 10-40 and the car is well broken in... Ran today in 110F ambient at Phoenix International Raceway... never got above 250F! I'm now satisfied that my oil temp issues are behind me...

Generally agree with the takeways a few posts ago...

• any track 370z needs a cooler...
• for hotter climates, consider dual core or oversized core... the single core offers from stillen and others were inadequate
• as for autocross, not sure... but makes sense you don't need one for these kinds of short runs
• road going Z's probably don't need one unless you drive aggressively and are in warmer climate...
• finally, nissan screwed the pooch

Wow, all this discussion. I live in West Virgina, and took the Z out today on some country back roads... Drove lively, not insane. Notice the oil temp went up to about 250 or so, the hottest I have seen it climb. The car turned 1700 miles on that drive. The Z is my daily driver, and I commute 120 miles, all highway. The most I see it climb to is 220...
The dealership I purchased it from has a "powertrain for life" deal going on. For the life of your car, the dealership will guarantee your engine. If it dies, and you have gone to them every time for an oil change, they replace your engine. For this reason (I am not really planning on tracking the car), I am not that concerned about the oil temp issue!

Travis,

Glad to hear the dual cooler is working for you.

Hi, i am new to this forum, and currently run a 1995 M3 which i was considering selling to get this car over the 135i, with all the oil & diff issues it is making me think twice about getting one, i am an avid track and autocross driver and love spirited driving when i get the oppotunity, now my car has 125,000 miles on it and hasent had a problem yet even after multiple HPDE events and even more autox, now is this something i should be severly worried about being a resident of florida, or is there anything i can do to help speed up the process and get on nissan to provide factory cooler. i understand i can buy an aftermarket one but i believe a car should do what it is advertised to do.

At this point there is no cooler, and the 2010 has no cooler. Someone posted a pic of the 2010 Nismo, and a cooler was spoted behind the grill. That led to speculation, will the 2010 Nismo have a cooler? Was that just there for the magazines to test drive, as the early cars for 2009 had for the journalists? Who knows at this point.

I love my Z. If I lived in Florida and tracked/auto crossed the car, I would buy one and add an aftermarket cooler, problem solved. I live in SC, and it gets very hot here in the summer. Next spring, I will probably add a cooler and I don't track my car. I never hit limp mode, but I can hit 250 degrees with spirited driving and stop and go traffic. I will feel more comfortable with the longevity of the engine if I add one. I would not let this stop you from buying the car, it is a great machine!

John

Haven't read this whole string, but mine is late year and has an oil cooler stock. Touring edition only, no sport or Nismo.

^^^^ ok come again???


you got a stock oil cooler? me thinks not

I'll grab you a pic. I believe there is a power steering cooler as well. Check your production date, could be a late year change.

I don't drive my car hard often but have run the snot out of it a time or two and never seen my oil go over 230

waiting on pics

Reviewed pics here I guess it is the same. i was thinking mine was on the other side(or both). Still no oil temp issues at all. We ran it at around 135mph for a LONG time on the back roads of TX. Still no bad buildup. Maybe hard stop and run or track with slow corners but no issues with high speed or daily driving.

No it doesn't. Yours has a power steering cooler not a oil cooler.

Now my car is past break-in (1200 miles) and I am seeing reduced oil temps by about 10°F. When the car was brand new it was seeing oil temps about 120-130°F over ambient and now I am seeing 110-120°F over ambient temperature.

Yeah I caught and corrected. It's almost nice not having to care what is under my hood. :) Hadn't looked enough to remember exactly. i was thinking mine had one on both sides.

250 degrees with just spirted driving is pretty high, and with some track temps here reaching into the 90's the size of the oil cooler would prob have to be massive to cope with the added temps.

Has any of the aftermarket guys come up with a larger oil pan that dissipates heat better then stock ?

I don't really know if 250* is really that abnormal for this engine. As per the manual, once it hits 280*, you should stop driving like an ***. Other than that, I think it is fine. I take my Z on country back roads, and drive lively. None the less, I constantly see the temps climb to 240-250 range, but it doesn't go above it. Needless to say, you should also be checking your oil consumption, as I have noticed that the Z loves to burn oil!

:iagree:

Same exact temps for me. 250 is higher than they wanted engines to run yaers ago. Other than the newer metalurgy used in the "green" bearings causing problems at lower temps than in the past, no one has actually given a definitive "yes, 250 for extended periods is ok" answer.

Nice glad someone thought about it, its to bad it leaves the oil pan hanging down though but thats to be expected, anything about the diff like a finned differential cover that adds capacity as well?
Thanks

Mine doesn't. I have over 9K miles and I'm using Mobil 1.

^^Mine doesn't either. I have nearly 18,000 miles on it and also use Mobil 1.

my temps are good. i noticed if they climb a lil bit over 220, i turn the AC on and it goes right down.

My oil temps stay at 220 with nissan ester (same as when it was brand new). 5k miles on it. KN Oil Filter.

But no oil burning though.

Will be interesting to see what happens when i switch to redline

Just started noticing my oil temp hitting 240ish with 90-92 degree outside temp in stop & go traffic. This is after I put in Royal Purple for the second oil change. Have about 6200 miles at the moment. Anyone else notice this with Royal Purple or Redline? I am quite concern about this.

I use Royal Purple and my oil temps are around 220 When ambient temps are around 90...ambient goes much above 95 and my oil temp goes to 240 though. I did not notice a change in oil temps switching from what ever my dealership used to the RP FYI.

Thanks for the reply Import. Have you or will you install an oil cooler in your Z? If you have, notice any difference?

Figure a 20-25 degree reduction with a Cooler. Click the DIY link in my sig and go to the end of the install for observations..