Different oil cooler question
 

Gents I'm looking to install either a GTM or Z1 34r oil cooler in the next month as I plan to do some track time this summer at Infineon Raceway which will easily be in the high 80s or above.

My question for you is, when I'm not at the track and am back in the mild temp city of SF (usually mid to high 60s), am I going to have issues with the oil temp not getting up to normal levels?

Has anyone had any issues with this?

I think the Z1 cooler has some sort of hatch system that somehow helps eliminate this but I'm not sure so I thought I'd outsource my Q to the bright minds on here.

Thanks for those who reply with something useful!

get the thermostatic plate and you'll be fine. If it gets really really cold in the winters, you "could" make a block off plate (something to cover half or all of the cooler for the cold). but I havnt had to run a block off at all.

I agree with Dai. either kit will do well for you. I have the Z1 34 row with the thermostatic plate personally and run without a plate all year here in tampa but if i was back north I would have a home made plate made out of alum and held in place with velcro and run with that until the outside temp goes above 80. And to be totally honest unless you are running a supercharger or TT like me a 34 row might be overkill. something smaller will get the job done and save you some cash.

and just so you know the thermostatic plates will allow about 20 percent flow until the oil reaches 180-190 then it will open up all the way so even here in tampa if the temp is around 80 and I am running on the interstate my temps will stay below the 180 mark just because the plates do allow a little flow even if closed. that is why a plate to cover the front of the cooler comes in handy below that.

A lot of guys in the track section said to go 34 since I plan on tracking it and it gets WARM here. Otherwise if I wasn't on the track I'd definitely go smaller. Thanks for the feedback guys.

So the thermo plate opens and closes automatically? I don't have to reach down there and flip it up and down right?

It's all automatic. Most activate at 180.