Idle oil temps of 230-240 ?? Help!

RoshDawg · 11-16-2011, 05:41 PM

*I apologize if this is in the wrong section*

I use Penzoil Ultra, have only 5500 miles on the car.
These temps I'm reporting are from driving on the freeway in 6th gear (not speeding) in both nor-cal and so-cal during summer and spring after an hour or so, with AC on low power.

Should I be using a different oil? Oil filter? Oil spacer? Trust me, I know about all the oil cooler problems with the Z, but I've never heard of people running these temps during daily driving. I am beginning to think I have a lemon oil cooler.
Also, I'm waiting on getting an aftermarket oil cooler as I'm trying to keep full warranty as long as possible, but I may have to.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Masa · 11-16-2011, 05:45 PM

What are the ambient temps when you see those?

I only see temps of 240 in the middle of summer when the outside temp is in the 90's and I am in stop and go traffic. At highway speeds with same summer temps I will see ~220.

Now in the Fall here on the east coast my oil temp rarely goes over 200 when I am on the highway.

DJ-of-E · 11-16-2011, 05:49 PM

if it's today, then ambient temps are around 78-81 degrees.

230-240 is not so bad during our 95 degree hot days. You're not gonna get limp mode unless you went to the mounties and grape vine.

Quote:

I am beginning to think I have a lemon oil cooler.

2009 - 2011 models DO NOT have an oil cooler. ^_^;;

SPOHN · 11-16-2011, 06:07 PM

So are these temps at ideal or freeway? Your title said one thing and the post another?

kenchan · 11-16-2011, 08:21 PM

imho that's kinda high... my 09 Z with 7500miles using mobil1 silver cap is about 200-220 usually. i rarely see 240

LakeShow · 11-16-2011, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

imho that's kinda high... my 09 Z with 7500miles using mobil1 silver cap is about 200-220 usually. i rarely see 240

09 and 7,500miles. Get out on the road and

RoshDawg · 11-16-2011, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPOHN

So are these temps at ideal or freeway? Your title said one thing and the post another?

My apologies I meant idle as cursing speed and low rpm.

Ambient temps are around 80. It never gets too hot that I would need to turn my AC past the lowest power. Ive been needing to turn off AC completely on these warm days and just blast the fan instead.

And 230-240 is NOT rare for me on the freeway. It is very consistent during the day.

Could these constant oil temps damage any engine components over time?

KaienZ34 · 11-16-2011, 10:07 PM

Your fine as long as your under 280.

edub370 · 11-16-2011, 10:25 PM

that is a pretty high temp for normal driving this time of year. i personally wouldnt put penzoil in a lawn mower much less my z. i know some people like it but i have had bad luck with penzoil. (developed crazy lifter tick in my volvo and burned thru that cheap stuff like it was my business. switched to mobile 1 and havent looked back)

UNKNOWN_370 · 11-16-2011, 10:46 PM

Some Z's just drive hotter. Mine hangs out around 220 easily. But I would recommend switching to a high viscosity oil. Mobil1 is acceptable but not optimum. Royal purple, redline, nissan oem, and castrol edge are all outstanding for the Z. If cost is an issue. Castrol edge destroys mobil 1.
Use a high performance air filter like k&n. You will see temps reduce somehere between 10-20 degrees depending on the day.
If you are still in unacceptable temps? Then the next route is oil cooler. But remember that these cars run a little hotter than other cars. For many that are used to 190-215 as a regular running temp in warm weather will feel nervous with the Z unnecesarily. The Z at its normal driving temps will hit 220. When driving hard it will go to 250. If you are beyond this??? Then I would consider going oil cooler.
But better oil and filter should be fine.

RoshDawg · 11-16-2011, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370

Some Z's just drive hotter. Mine hangs out around 220 easily. But I would recommend switching to a high viscosity oil. Mobil1 is acceptable but not optimum. Royal purple, redline, nissan oem, and castrol edge are all outstanding for the Z. If cost is an issue. Castrol edge destroys mobil 1.
Use a high performance air filter like k&n. You will see temps reduce somehere between 10-20 degrees depending on the day.
If you are still in unacceptable temps? Then the next route is oil cooler. But remember that these cars run a little hotter than other cars. For many that are used to 190-215 as a regular running temp in warm weather will feel nervous with the Z unnecesarily. The Z at its normal driving temps will hit 220. When driving hard it will go to 250. If you are beyond this??? Then I would consider going oil cooler.
But better oil and filter should be fine.

This is great advice thank you. If price is not a factor, which oil would you recommend the most? Redline?
Should I also be changing out my LSD oil from Nissan OEM while I'm at it?

Edit: will the filters affect MAF sensors at all or take performance away?

LakeShow · 11-16-2011, 10:56 PM

It's fairly chilly here in NY and I see the temps at 200. I'm not sure how it will be in hot temperatures will be in the summer because I just got the car.

UNKNOWN_370 · 11-16-2011, 11:01 PM

As far as lsd oil. I keep mine oil with the stock one. Don't change lsd oil unless you intend to buy an aftermarket lsd. Changing oil "may" void warranty on that part. I would go with redline or nissan oem or castrol. All are good. Right now I'm running castrol and am happy. I ran oem nissan oil on my 09 and it was great too. Really either of them are excellent. Royal purple is best to use while out of warranty. It has properties that nissan oem doesn't approve of while under warranty.

henry0844 · 11-17-2011, 03:21 PM

once your motor is fully broken in your temps will go down. I personally would not look into changing anything until its fully broken in. just do the routine services nissan recommends, and if after 10,000 miles you do not see a change in oil temps then switch around oils to see what works best for YOUR car.

Notsud 13 · 11-17-2011, 03:41 PM

im from around the same area as you, socal. lately i've been anywhere from 180-200 depending on how i drive. i only see 220-230 when i punch it a few times. i drove home last night around 11pm, about a 10 mile drive and I was well under 200.

11-16-2011, 05:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
RoshDawg Track Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: NM / CA Posts: 981 Drives: '13 911 C2S Rep Power: 14	Idle oil temps of 230-240 ?? Help! I apologize if this is in the wrong section I use Penzoil Ultra, have only 5500 miles on the car. These temps I'm reporting are from driving on the freeway in 6th gear (not speeding) in both nor-cal and so-cal during summer and spring after an hour or so, with AC on low power. Should I be using a different oil? Oil filter? Oil spacer? Trust me, I know about all the oil cooler problems with the Z, but I've never heard of people running these temps during daily driving. I am beginning to think I have a lemon oil cooler. Also, I'm waiting on getting an aftermarket oil cooler as I'm trying to keep full warranty as long as possible, but I may have to. Thanks in advance for any feedback. __________________ \| EVO X MR \| '11 WRX STI \| 370Z SPRT \| 911 (991) C2S \|

11-16-2011, 05:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Masa A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 2,237 Drives: Family Cars Rep Power: 20	What are the ambient temps when you see those? I only see temps of 240 in the middle of summer when the outside temp is in the 90's and I am in stop and go traffic. At highway speeds with same summer temps I will see ~220. Now in the Fall here on the east coast my oil temp rarely goes over 200 when I am on the highway. __________________ BMW 340i Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

11-16-2011, 06:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	So are these temps at ideal or freeway? Your title said one thing and the post another? Randy_lal likes this. __________________

11-16-2011, 10:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
KaienZ34 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: LA. not L.a. Posts: 21,652 Drives: Z34 Tour/Sport Rep Power: 177	Your fine as long as your under 280. __________________ *"These Violent Delights Have Violent Ends"* http://www.the370z.com/members/kaienz34-albums-z34.html

11-16-2011, 10:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
edub370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: KCMO Posts: 3,458 Drives: 09 370z S/T 6MT Rep Power: 19	that is a pretty high temp for normal driving this time of year. i personally wouldnt put penzoil in a lawn mower much less my z. i know some people like it but i have had bad luck with penzoil. (developed crazy lifter tick in my volvo and burned thru that cheap stuff like it was my business. switched to mobile 1 and havent looked back) __________________ 09 370Z ST 6MT//Injen CAI//Greddy CBE//TP//TSW's//Swifts//Stillen lip//Whiteline sways 326whp/268tq Last edited by edub370; 11-16-2011 at 10:27 PM.

11-16-2011, 08:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	imho that's kinda high... my 09 Z with 7500miles using mobil1 silver cap is about 200-220 usually. i rarely see 240

11-16-2011, 10:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
UNKNOWN_370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: ny'r livn in tx Posts: 8,687 Drives: well over 130m.p.h. Rep Power: 14857	Some Z's just drive hotter. Mine hangs out around 220 easily. But I would recommend switching to a high viscosity oil. Mobil1 is acceptable but not optimum. Royal purple, redline, nissan oem, and castrol edge are all outstanding for the Z. If cost is an issue. Castrol edge destroys mobil 1. Use a high performance air filter like k&n. You will see temps reduce somehere between 10-20 degrees depending on the day. If you are still in unacceptable temps? Then the next route is oil cooler. But remember that these cars run a little hotter than other cars. For many that are used to 190-215 as a regular running temp in warm weather will feel nervous with the Z unnecesarily. The Z at its normal driving temps will hit 220. When driving hard it will go to 250. If you are beyond this??? Then I would consider going oil cooler. But better oil and filter should be fine.

11-16-2011, 10:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
LakeShow A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: L.I., NY Posts: 5,307 Drives: Everything Rep Power: 25	It's fairly chilly here in NY and I see the temps at 200. I'm not sure how it will be in hot temperatures will be in the summer because I just got the car. __________________ \|2013 Audi S4\|Ibis White/Black\|S-Tronic P+\| \|2013 370z\|PearlWhite/Persimmon\|Touring/Sport/Nav\|F.I. CBE 18" CF\| \|Sold\|2011 370z\|Gun Metallic\|Touring/Sport/Nav\|

11-16-2011, 11:01 PM	#13 (permalink)
UNKNOWN_370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: ny'r livn in tx Posts: 8,687 Drives: well over 130m.p.h. Rep Power: 14857	As far as lsd oil. I keep mine oil with the stock one. Don't change lsd oil unless you intend to buy an aftermarket lsd. Changing oil "may" void warranty on that part. I would go with redline or nissan oem or castrol. All are good. Right now I'm running castrol and am happy. I ran oem nissan oil on my 09 and it was great too. Really either of them are excellent. Royal purple is best to use while out of warranty. It has properties that nissan oem doesn't approve of while under warranty. Last edited by UNKNOWN_370; 11-16-2011 at 11:03 PM.

11-17-2011, 03:21 PM	#14 (permalink)
henry0844 Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: ventura Posts: 167 Drives: 10 370 base sprt pkg Rep Power: 14	once your motor is fully broken in your temps will go down. I personally would not look into changing anything until its fully broken in. just do the routine services nissan recommends, and if after 10,000 miles you do not see a change in oil temps then switch around oils to see what works best for YOUR car.

11-17-2011, 03:41 PM	#15 (permalink)
Notsud 13 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: SoCal Posts: 353 Drives: '09 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 13	im from around the same area as you, socal. lately i've been anywhere from 180-200 depending on how i drive. i only see 220-230 when i punch it a few times. i drove home last night around 11pm, about a 10 mile drive and I was well under 200.

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