Nissan Motorsports Oil Cooler vs. Stillen Oil Cooler
 

Hello everyone,
We have had alot of questions about both the Stillen Oil Cooler kit as well as the Nissan Motorsports unit. The biggest question everyone has been asking us here at Z1 Motorsports is why the Nissan Motorsports unit costs to much more in comparision to the Stillen.

I figured the best way to explain why there is such a difference between the two respective companies kits, I would just do a piece by piece comparision.

The primary thing you will notice about the Nissan Motorsports Kit is that the parts are designed to flow and hold a much larger volume of oil.

Lets begin:

The heart of the oil cooler is the Heat Exchanger itself. The smaller Stillen unit of the Left is nearly 1/2 the size of the Nissan Motorsports unit. Both kits use Setrab Oil Coolers.

http://www.z1motorsports.com/imageGa...oler.sized.jpg


The next biggest difference between the two kits is the Oil Line sizes. Both kits use high quality AN Fittings with Stainless Steel Braided Lines. The Stillen Kit uses a smaller -8 (1/2") size line where the Nissan Motorsports uses a larger -10 (5/8") line.

http://www.z1motorsports.com/imageGa...hole.sized.jpg

http://www.z1motorsports.com/imageGa...ines.sized.jpg


The Oil Filter Sandwich adapters is the last of the major differences between the kits.

The Nissan Motorsports Kit comes with an awesome looking Machined Aluminum piece with smooth flowing channels and machined Heat sink fins.

http://www.z1motorsports.com/imageGa...ich3.sized.jpg

http://www.z1motorsports.com/imageGa...ich2.sized.jpg

http://www.z1motorsports.com/imageGa...ich1.sized.jpg


The Stillen Sandwich Plate Adapter is a cast aluminum piece with a larger oil galley and includes a By-Pass ball in the event that the Oil Cooler gets clogged. The Stillen unit seems to be of either an Earls or Perma-Cool design.

http://www.z1motorsports.com/imageGa...ate3.sized.jpg

http://www.z1motorsports.com/imageGa...ball.sized.jpg

http://www.z1motorsports.com/imageGa...ate1.sized.jpg


We opted for the larger capacity Nissan Motorsports Unit for our 370Z Project car. Since the car will be driven alot both on the road and on the track, we felt it would be worth the investment of a larger oil cooler.

http://www.z1motorsports.com/imageGa...lled.sized.jpg


The Oil Cooler kits are priced as follows:

Stillen - $426.00
Nissan Motorsports - $795.00


The choice really comes down to what the car is going to be used for. If the vehicle is going to be used on a track alot, then I would recommend the Nissan Motorsports Unit over the Stillen.

Holy crap - I dont think that price is justified... a little too much - esp given that the parts are IDENTICAL except just bigger lol

Sorry..i accidentally posted the wrong price. Lol. Its not as expensive. My mistake, I didnt mean cause any heart attacks.

Thanks for the pics, I hadnt seen the NISMO one yet.

will that Nismo unit cause any conflict with the Stillen or Injen CAI design??

The Nissan Motorsports Oil Cooler will not interfer with the Stillen. I m not exactly sure about the Injen kit.

I thought the same thing at first when we got them in. When looking at the picture, you have to consider that the front crash bar is not in place which makes things look out of place.

Thats much better ... still on the high side but I would love to do the oil cooler right :) Nice writeup

What are the dimensions of both of the oil coolers?

Wow, I had no idea the NISMO was so big. If the Stillen larger core cooler is not out before I save enough $ for the NISMO, I might have to snatch up the NISMO.

That is a great writeup on the comparison, thanks Dustin.

I'll probably go with the Stillen since I don't plan on putting my car on the track.

I ll post up the core dimensions later this afternoon. I meant to get them while I had the kits in front of me.

Good stuff. Thanks!

BTW...this is not actually the NISMO oil cooler. There is "NISMO" one offered in Japan. But it is like $1600+. It comes with all of the aluminum air guides, etc. This is the kit the Nissan Motorsports has created for th US market. It is the same as the NISMO, but just does not have the Air Guides.

But we may be working on those.....

Is there a reason why you put the fittings for the exhanger itself on top? What happens when it comes time to change the oil? Do you have a gas purge system?

Most people I've seen install this do it with the hoses coming off the bottom for better drainage?

So is the $795 price the correct price? Or the overprice?

No the $795 is the correct price. I accidentally posted some stupid price of like $1100. I was misreading my sheet.

I have seen kits on other cars installed both ways before too. As far as the purging of the system, the pressure of the oil pump should be able to purge the air. We DID pre-fill the cooler before installation though. I do not recommend installing any oil coolers without doing this.

For anyone installing the Nissan Motor Sports cooler in cold climates I suggest purchasing a Mocal thermostatic sandwich plate (around $100).

I was waiting for the Stillen upgrade, but I think I am about to pull the trigger on the Nissan Motor Sports cooler with a Mocal sandwich plate.

What does the sandwich plate do?

It has something similar to a thermostat in your cooling system. It prevents from over cooling your oil.

Although this post has been about lowering your oil temps with the coolers, it is important to remember that you have to also have to heat your oil and maintain a desirable engine oil temp.

The Mocal unit, as well as other similar products, fluctuates the amount of oil passing through the cooler in order to regulate oil temps. The exact same way a thermostat regulates coolant through a radiator.

In the current configurations, both the Stillen and Nissan Motorsports kits will pump oil through the coolers 100% of the time. This is great during warmer months, spirited driving and track applications. But for those of you in the northern climates where you experience freezing temps, you would have to block the cooler to allow oil temps to come to operating temperature.

My only complaint with the Sandwich adapters with the thermostatic switch is that they will have to be replaced eventually like a thermostat in a car. I have not had any experience with the Mocal unit, but I know similar products from companies like Earls and the like are pretty expensive.

My only complaint with the Sandwich adapters with the thermostatic switch is that they will have to be replaced eventually like a thermostat in a car. I have not had any experience with the Mocal unit, but I know similar products from companies like Earls and the like are pretty expensive.[/QUOTE]

The Mocal unit is available from Bat. Inc. for $95.

Should I get two since I'm in Phoenix and temps here avg 110* in summer and 70* in Winter?

Two coolers? Or two sandwich adapters?

I would say no to both questions. 1 Cooler is sufficient and the whole purpose of the thermostat in the Mocal units is to simply aid in controlling oil temps until they reach operating temperature. Once at operating temp, units like Mocal piece are cooling oil in the exact same manner as ones without the thermostat.

The only real benefit of the Sandwich adapters with the thermostat is the fact that oil temps can be maintained at a desired temperature. For you type of climate, I would not think it would be necessary.

And btw...those core sizes I promised!

Stillen = 19 row 13" x 1 1/4" x 5 3/4" = 74.62 sq inches of surface area

Nissan Motorsports = 34 row 13" x 1 1/4" x 10 1/4" =133.25 sq inches of surface area

The height of the cooler is the only size differance. But the fact that it is taller. If you do the math, there is 44% increase in surface area between the Stillen and Nissan Motorsports kits and over twice the number of rows.

Stillen (apperently) has a bigger cooler coming out but it seems to be held up at this point in time. Too bad as I'm going to pull the trigger soon on some sort of oil cooler....

Latest issue of Road & track has an update on their long term 370Z touring/Sport. When they went in for first LOF, "revealed a small leak in one of the hose fittings of our port-installed Nismo oil-cooler(repaired)....Nissan also recommends its Ester oil blend ($12 per quart) to mitigate the inherent noisiness of the 370Z's V-6".
1. Any idea who's oil cooler this is? NISMO or NISSAn Motorsports?
2. I was advised at my dealer to use the Ester oil because of something to do when starting up the car. Anyone really know why? Thanks.

Outperformance Shop has this for sale" NISMO 21300-SS370 2009+ Nissan 370z Engine Oil Cooler $780.00". No picture. Is this the Nissan Motorsports oil cooler?

Appreciate the comparison.

Anyone know how these compare to the GT Motorsports cooler. Is this the same size as Stillen or Nismo, or in-between ???

$795 is high considering I bought dual mocal 25row oil cooler kit with all necessary hardware and -10 lines for my RX7 for $1000.

yeah i think 795 is abit too much.

any idea how much extra oil capacity the nismo will hold ?

Dustin - my car is street only; but I enjoy spirited driving. Had the car since April; ready to do an oil cooler after several months of summer driving and high oil temps. What is the warranty on the Nissan oil cooler? Also, what is the impact on the factory warranty? Can you do the installation; if so what is approximate cost? I live in Atlanta; bought the car at Regal Nissan in Roswell.

The Nissan adapter is a nice piece of work. If you want a thermostat you can buy one and put it in-line with the oil lines. This would require cutting the lines and installing AN fittings. One of the best ones I have seen is the Canton Racing in-line unit. Pricey, but the cheapest upgrade sometimes is the best choice the first time around. I would have used theirs had I kept my Z.

Any oil cooler I have installed in the past has used AN-10 or larger lines.

I should get my Nissan Motorsports oil cooler tomorrow. I'll let you guys know what I think. Im going to Summit Point to road race in a couple weeks so this will come in handy.

YES! It's the Nissan Motorsports oil cooler because Nismo one is NOT released yet. I don't know why they didn't reflect that in that store website :shakes head:

Here you go from MyG37.com

MyG37 - View Single Post - GT Motorsports: GTM Engine and Transmission Oil Cooler Kits!

Also from GTM's website.

GTM Motorsports*::*ENGINE EXTERNALS*::*Oil Coolers*::*GTM HD OIL COOLER FOR VQ

Price $380.

btw: I have also been holding out for Stillen to come out with their upgraded oil coller kit w/ lrgr core. Ready to pull the trigger on GTM or for Modshack cooler that he pieced together for $270 shipped.

http://www.the370z.com/73848-post1.html

Price $270.

What is the ideal temperature range for the motor oil in the 370z?? Thanks.

Dustin,
I just got my Nissan oil cooler kit from you guys. Thanks for the quick fix (btw)....Anyhow, I just noticed its not controlled by a thermostat. I live in Md so it gets cold. Any suggestions on how I can install a thermostat or what I can do so I dont have to remove it or block it off?? Thanks.
Ernie

Seems a shame the Nissan unit does not come with a thermostatic plate, especialy at that price...:shakes head:

For a little over $100 with fittings You can retrofit to a Mocal Thermo plate or add an outboard thermostat. Replacing the plate is the simplest. See the parts list in My oil Cooler install album here:
Oil Cooler fabrication and install album | Ttschwing | Fotki.com

im glad i didnt go with a larger cooler. my temps are down nearly 40 degrees, in all conditions. beating on the car hard, 220 vs 260. cruising on the freeway, 180 vs 220 (i have the stillen). i honestly was not expecting anywhere this much decrease in oil temps.

i wouldnt want to go larger without some type of control, since 180 is pretty cold already..

I agree...My tru-cool is a slight bit smaller than the Stillen (11 x 5.75). With the thermostat it runs 190-195 most of the time. I've yet to be able to get it over 225 no matter how hard I try...which all seems about perfect IMO...