Z1 Oil Cooler Kit 25 vs. 34?

[x10370zx]

Trying to (finally) get the car track ready for next year and looking to pull the trigger on a Z1 oil cooler kit. My question is simple - 25 row vs. 34 row... I'm about 50/50 on this so here's my thinking for each. Let me know what you'd recommend!

Reasons I'm leaning toward 25:
-Cost
-My car has never gone over 220 deg when driving hard (street), even on 100+ degree days in TX
-I will only be doing track days 3-4 times a year at most

Reasons I'm leaning toward 34:
-Temps can be over 100 in TX in the summer
-Possibility of 25 row not being as effective during a hot day at the track - this is probably my biggest concern/most important of all

So in summary, is the 25 row "enough" for a TX summer with 3-4 days of track use?

Thanks in advance!

[Chuck33079]

Get the 34. Do you really feel like swapping it out if it turns out to not be enough?

[TerribleONE]

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

Get the 34. Do you really feel like swapping it out if it turns out to not be enough?

I agree. Especially if you will be hitting the track.

[zakimak]

If cost is your concern, then an overheated engine at the track will cost a lot more than the 34 row cooler. Buy the 34 cooler and be done with.

[x10370zx]

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

Get the 34. Do you really feel like swapping it out if it turns out to not be enough?

Definitely not! No doubt I want to do the job right the first time however, I wanted to make sure that the 34 wouldn't be overkill. Appreciate the response.

[x10370zx]

Originally Posted by TerribleONE

I agree. Especially if you will be hitting the track.

Thanks - looks like the 34 is the way to go.

[x10370zx]

Originally Posted by zakimak

If cost is your concern, then an overheated engine at the track will cost a lot more than the 34 row cooler. Buy the 34 cooler and be done with.

Looks like 34 is the consensus so I'll go with that. Cost is only a concern in the sense that I don't want to buy something I don't need. If the 34 isn't overkill (which it sounds like it isn't) then I'll definitely go that route. Agree with you that it's better to be safe than sorry. Appreciate the response.

[zakimak]

Depended on your weather, 34 row can be overkill on the street. Up here in Canada, I had to block off some portion for street use. On the track though, there never an issue of over-cooling. Remember, it is always easier to increase heat than to reduce it.

[H2O_Doc]

Originally Posted by x10370zx

-My car has never gone over 220 deg when driving hard (street), even on 100+ degree days in TX
!

You must be doing something wrong. Are you sure you're mashin' the skinny pedal? Both my Zs get hotter than two rats screwin' in a wool sock if I so much as think of accelerating. I thought 220° F was the point at which you turned the block heater on to thaw the thing out.

In all seriousness, I'm thinking of getting an oil cooler for street use (albeit the li'l one). I think for you, I'd get the big-o one.

Once global warming really gets crankin', you'll need the bigger one anyway. Go big.

[Wonka2581]

I have a 25 row, but I dont track I just street and Autocross, it works perfect for me. Now if I start tracking I might upgrade.

[x10370zx]

Originally Posted by zakimak

Depended on your weather, 34 row can be overkill on the street. Up here in Canada, I had to block off some portion for street use. On the track though, there never an issue of over-cooling. Remember, it is always easier to increase heat than to reduce it.

I'll definitely have to block it off for a few months out of the year. Last week we had lows in the 20s which is rare but it happens. Who am I kidding though, when it's that cold I don't drive it anyway!

I like the logic and agree - no such thing as over-cooling for the track.

[x10370zx]

Originally Posted by H2O_Doc

You must be doing something wrong. Are you sure you're mashin' the skinny pedal? Both my Zs get hotter than two rats screwin' in a wool sock if I so much as think of accelerating. I thought 220° F was the point at which you turned the block heater on to thaw the thing out.

In all seriousness, I'm thinking of getting an oil cooler for street use (albeit the li'l one). I think for you, I'd get the big-o one.

Once global warming really gets crankin', you'll need the bigger one anyway. Go bigh.

LOL - I swear I give it absolute hell and it still stays pegged on 220! After reading about everyone having trouble with this I did a double take behind the grill to make sure the owner before me didn't add one (got my 40th with about 5K miles on it b/c the guy's wife got prego and had to trade it in for a Maxima... talk about bittersweet!).

Anyways - I'm going to take your and everyone else's advice and get the big dog. Makes the most sense down here in TX and especially when tracking. If it gets a little chilly I'll block it off. Now I say bring on the global warming - I'll have the 34 row to keep me cool

[x10370zx]

Originally Posted by Wonka2581

I have a 25 row, but I dont track I just street and Autocross, it works perfect for me. Now if I start tracking I might upgrade.

Thanks - that's good to know. I talked to a few guys who have done some of the specific track days I'm considering for next year and they said you can run hard 20-25 or even 30 mins at a time, so after hearing that the 34 is a no brainer. I'm afraid I'd be asking for trouble if I used anything else.

[RN SHARK]

I track and I have a 25 row. No problems so far, oil temps got up to 250 once during a track day at California Speedway when it was 105 out. But if I really thought about it earlier, I probably would've gone with the 34 row.

[x10370zx]

I just read that the Setrab Series 6 is a bit taller than the Series 9, so irrespective of rows it sounds like I'll need to make sure I get a Series 9 core - especially because I'm running a stock bumper and I'm not too keen on cutting holes in it to let more air in.

This brings me to my next question (albeit maybe a stupid one)... looking at pics of the 34 row it looks fairly tall, so will the extra rows even do me any good if they're hiding behind the bumper?

Can anyone who has either a 25 row or a 34 row comment on this i.e. how much (if any) of the cooler being blocked by the stock bumper?