Oil Cooler Install in NoVa
 

I'm looking for recommendations on a shop to install a Z1 Motorsports oil cooler. I live near Tysons Corner, and would greatly prefer a shop on this side of the Potomac. I also need a place that won't talk down to/try to fleece me just because I'm a chick. :)

I'm ok with using my local dealership for oil changes and scheduled maintenance, and I got a labor estimate from them last year, but for some reason an aftermarket install feels...different. Maybe it shouldn't?

AAM in Annapolis or P-Tuning in Manassas. I don't believe there is much in the Tysons Corners area. Going to have to make a drive for any decent work on your Z.

Now when it comes to oil changes at the dealer, be careful. I'd take it to an independent shop unless something serious comes up. Get some estimates and post em up and you'll probably get some feedback as to what is reasonable for a shop to install the cooler. Shouldn't take a shop any longer than 1 1/2 - 2 hours to complete the work. That should equate to about $200-240 including shop supplies/disposal fees/taxes. If they even approach $300, run away. There's plenty of people here, especially in your neck of the woods that have done that install and will gladly do it in their garage for far less. Hell, I'll do it. But I'm definitely not close.

Good luck!

I had Rosenthal Nissan in McLean install my Z1 34 row oil cooler. They did an excellent job running the lines. No leaks for the four years I owned it after the install. The service advisor who was there has moved on, but they should still do the install. Good luck!

Annapolis is out of the question, but Manassas isn't horrible and I've heard other recommendations for P-Tuning. They sell Mishimoto coolers, so I wasn't sure if they'd install a Z1. I'll have to reach out to them...thanks!

The dealership estimate I got last year -- just for labor -- was more like $400-500. :eek:

Thanks! That's the dealership I've been using for oil changes and scheduled maintenance for the past 16 months -- I bought the car used -- and is who I got that labor quote from last year. Do you remember what they charged you? I know it was several years ago: did it seem reasonable at the time?

That's awesome. And very rare to find such a dealer.

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I think they charged me for three hours labor. I believe it was at $85 an hour... If that was not the quote, then I am close and yes, I thought it was very reasonable at the time.

BTW. If you have a 34 row Z1 cooler, then I have a blocking plate you can have for free. Just taking up room in my garage. It is bare steel with velcro to attach it to the cooler. It really does help to have it on in the cooler weather. I would drive it in everything but actual snow, so it saw single degrees and still performed well for the oil temps.

I'm getting the 25-row cooler, and I've never heard of a blocking plate: I presume it's to allow the oil to warm up properly in the winter? I do drive my Z in actual snow, so I'll consider adding one in the fall.

Is having an oil cooler in cold temperatures a known problem? Is the plate more of a "must have" thing if my Z is my daily driver?

(I get so frustrated with Nissan sometimes! Make a sports car that can't be tracked without overheating, then the fix to that needs another part because I live in a place that has winter...grrr...)

Thanks!

Good for you for driving it in the snow!

Need a blocking plate = depends... Did you get the sandwich plate from Z1 as well? If it is not too late, I would highly recommend it. The oil coolers from Z-1 work so well that the oil will not get up to a good operating temperature without the sandwich plate and/or the blocking plate. The sandwich plate works as a thermostat that will allow the oil to cycle through just the engine until it warms up enough to open the plate and let the oil start flowing through the cooler and then closes again when the oil gets to cold.

I still used a blocking plate on mine and I had the sandwich plate. It seemed to keep the temperature up better with the blocking plate in. I know Aniceh uses her blocking plate and will sometimes move it to cover only half of the cooler to allow for some temperature regulation.

I can cut down my current one and will happily give it to you to place on your cooler to figure out if it works for you. No charge! Just helping a Z owner out.

Yep. I'm getting:

• 25-row oil cooler
• Thermostatic oil sandwich plate adapter (because the site said, "It is highly recommended that a Thermostatic sandwich plate adapter be purchased when installing an oil cooler onto a street driven 370Z. As important as it is to keep high oil temperatures under control, it is just as important to maintain the proper temperature to ensure the highest possible lubrication.")
• Protective hose wrapping
• Setrab core

After reading about the options on the Z1 site and doing a little research here, those seemed to be the best choices for me.

Also, Z1 called me yesterday to say that their lines are out of stock: they're getting new ones on Friday, and they're a little different than the usual Z1 lines in that they're a little more durable. No additional cost, and hopefully everything will ship tomorrow!

I appreciate it, but I'll pass...at least, for now. :) I'll wait and see what next winter brings, but will know to keep an eye on the oil temp once the outside temps start dropping.

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Sounds like you are getting everything appropriate for the Z!

NP on waiting for winter. I will probably not have the blocking plate then. I'm moving my shop out of the basement and into the garage, so I'm getting rid of my excess parts...

Enjoy the oil cooler.

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I need to make/buy a blocking plate so bad for my 34 row cooler. When going to Zdayz last year, at highway speeds I never broke 190 degrees.

Then it begain to rain and it dropped to 140 degrees :eekdance:

3 Layers of soaking wet painters tape got me back up to 160 degrees, but I can imagine my engine wasnt pleased with me.

You can have mine. No payment needed. I think I may even have extra velcro that you would need to attach it to the cooler. Let me know if you are interested. It is aluminum and fits the Z1 34 row cooler perfectly. If you want it and are going to make it to a MAZOC meet soon, let me know, and I'll try to get it to you.

Stock Sport Ray's with TPMS sensors and OEM Bridgestones (fronts have plenty of tread and the rears are a little more worn). Whole set for $700 (I can throw in two more slightly damaged Stock Ray's wheels only, for $750 total)

Front license plate relocation kit and camera mount from P-Tuning. The camera mount was used, and provided a great view from my Sony Action Cam mounted there, but I never mounted the lic plate (NIB). ($60 for the set)

A Weathertech roll-up 370Z windshield cover. (Free to a good home if Misnomer doesn't want it.)

34 row oil cooler blocking plate. (Free to a good home if Crux doesn't want it.)

I might have some other parts, I'll have to check.

I got rid of a cargo net, redline oil, Nissan ester oil and Z1 red MAF tubes at the meet this past weekend.

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You can see what it looks like at 2010 Nissan 370Z | WeatherTech TechShade custom fit sun shade sun visor cars, trucks, SUV, CUV, minivan | WeatherTech.com Though it is not shown there on a Z. But the fitment and the look is well represented there.

That would be awesome! I have work this weekend, but next weekend I should be free.

Thank you!

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I can make sure it is available for the FFX meet next weekend. See you there.

Nope, eastwest2300 can have it if he wants it. :)

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Hey girl! Do it yourself. Block off a few hours on the weekend. Look up the DIY. it is very thorough and full of specific details. Most importantly, it gets you familiar with your Z! If I did it, so can you!

That is uber badass, a woman that can work on their own car...

Nah, it's not my thing. :) But good on ya for doing yours yourself, and thanks for the encouragement!

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Aside from aftermarket tires, yes.

(The previous owner put in a dual pop-charger air intake system, but to my knowledge that's the only thing he changed.)

If it were up to me I wouldn't mod the car at all, but I do want to track her -- and take her up the NJ Turnpike over Memorial Day weekend -- without overheating, so it seems that the oil cooler is necessary.

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Should be around 180 for a 2 hour job


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What part of "I want to track her" wasn't clear?

(You get that the Turnpike comment was a joke, right?)

Other than making sure the oil warms up enough on cold days, what "pain" factors are you talking about?

Thanks!

When u go to a bigger oil filter use a pureolator and some filter mags! :D


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Ok, then..anyone? What are some downsides to having an oil cooler, other than the "might need a blocking plate in cold temps" thing?

You'll always have a quart of old oil floating around in your system unless you install it upside down and purge the lines each time you do an oil change. I've heard of a few people getting away with it but there is a chance that it will not work very efficiently as the entire cooler may not completely fill with oil. That could have various effects. Air compresses easily. If you punch it your oil pressure should go up but if the cooler if half empty then it may compress the air inside and not keep oil flow consistent and pressurized as it should be.

Shoulda got a '12. lol. jkjk. I don't know of anyone reporting any serious issues with their oil having the cooler installed the correct way and never getting a complete drain during an oil change. Shouldn't be anything to worry about.

Other than than, just normal maintenance such as checking the lines periodically and making sure no leaks have developed. If any of the lines begin to fray, order new ones and change them immediately. Shouldn't have a problem with that using the coated lines.

I also used a laser-heat checker thingy to check my cooler's oil temp independently from the gauge inside. It was somewhat informative and showed me I had even temps from top to bottom and that was a good indication of flow.

If you are going to track it, do the brakes too. Stainless lines and fluid. Get a set of pads for the track. Get a kit together so you can change the pads when you get there (super easy on a sport model). And for the love of all things sacred get rid of the pop-chargers. They are robbing you of power. Aside from that, you don't need to touch anything else.

Good luck!

As long as she has a thermostatic plate for this area she should be fine. I was bone stock a year ago and just sitting in the parking lot <cough, cough> I mean 66 during the summer would push it to 220 and up. Scared the is outta me. Like no..... baby.... please don't run a fever. Mommy will take care of you!

So I called Z1 and got some Tylenol. I mean an oil cooler. Being that it gets cold AF during the winter (and even on the 1st day of spring ) it keeps her even keel!

The fact that you work on your own car is fricken awesome..:icon17: Im just like you, I love working on my Z and my honda s2000.

Thanks, Tigger and EmilZ! All of my research pointed firmly to "track = oil cooler," but I never saw any mention of potential downsides. I think (hope!) I got the right/best options from Z1.

And yeah, my oil temp got up to 250-260 one day last summer just driving from Baltimore to DC. No fun driving with one eye on the gauge! (Hmm, maybe the "NJ Turnpike on Memorial Day" thing wasn't as much of a joke as I thought... ;))

Tigger, some follow-up questions if you don't mind:

Yeah, I'll definitely do the brakes and upgrade the brake fluid. Car and Driver also recommends brake-cooling ducts, but I've seen conflicting opinions on those. Plus I'm not going to be at VIR or living at the track or anything: I'll take her to one or two FATTs at Summit Point this summer, and might finally try an autocross event (maybe). I just want to be able to do that without overheating or going into a gravel pit. What do you think about brake-cooling ducts? Overkill?

I wasn't willing to put in a blocking plate myself, but you think I'm gonna change my brake pads at the track?? :p

I know it's sexy for a woman to work on her own car -- and probably more appropriate for this forum -- but that just ain't me. I don't have a garage or any storage space, and have never been mechanically inclined. I don't feel like I couldn't do it, I'm just not interested. But I try to be educated about my vehicle and I do my best to take good care of her, and I don't feel the need to pretend to know more than I do.

I've also heard conflicting opinions about those. The previous owner did leave me the original parts...how much power we talking about?

Misnomer, I'd be happy to install the oil cooler kit for you at half the cost of any dealership quote you can get. I've done 5 of these now. Bring your car to Sterling, hang out, and I can answer all of your track questions.

This is my car at VIR this weekend.