2012 370Z All Models Include Oil Cooler
 

Can anyone confirm what I read recently that all 2012 Zs come with an oil cooler as standard equipment? If so, I'm gonna bombard Nissan USA with complaints, since the 2012s have the same engine as my 2010 NISMO and my oil often runs at 220-230 on the gauge.

It doesn't happen when I am running in 6th gear steady either, but happens mostly when I am in traffic and shifting a lot. On a hot day it's much worse, and running with my Synchro Rev Match makes it worse. I run very good synthetic oil--I tried Royal Purple for a while but it didn't make a bit of difference. I have no modifications on my engine.

I have complained to the dealer repeatedly, even taking a picture of the gauge at 235, and when I said this was abnormally high, I was told it's "on the high side of normal". What ********.

Is this NISSAN finally admitting the oil runs hot on the VQ37?

Will investigate further
 

I have read it in several articles but if you check the Nissan home page there is nothing about an oil cooler in any specification on any model.

Strange.

As to where the oil cooler is located, I would say in front of the radiator. I don't have any on local lots yet to look at.

These are just examples of where it's talked about, I could list about 50.

2012 Nissan 370Z: Standard Oil Cooler, Pricing Unchanged - autoevolution

2012 Nissan 370Z gains Normal Oil Cooler, Base Manual Model Dropped from Roadster Range | Car Review

Nissan Announces Pricing for 2012 370Z Models

There is a picture of it in the link I posted, as well as nissans response.

Nissan's response unsatisfactory
 

So, in effect (by installing an oil cooler) Nissan finally admits the VQ37 runs hot oil, but won't retrofit earlier models. Completely unsat. Let the angry letters commence!

I wonder if a class-action suit is possible. Maybe folks that spent $ on after-market oil coolers can get their money back.

^ they won't retrofit no matter what. The car is not a track car, for daily driver it really does not need an oil cooler. If you want to drive it hard or track it, do an upgrade. That is what they will say, and I kinda agree with it.

The fact it got one in 2012 is just a yearly improvement item. All cars come with updates in the later years. Like the 350Z. It came with 287HP then it was bumped up to 298.

And like the air cabin filter that was omitted in the 2009 model but newer ones got it. That's how it goes.

Would be nice if they did do that upgrade for free on all the Sport/Nismo models though!

:iagree: I know others have seen otherwise, but this is my experience. I do run pretty hot, even under normal conditions. But I stay about 220-230, so i am in the acceptable range.:icon14:

Not a racer
 

I don't race my car on the track, unless I-95 is a track. My engine oil heats up at 20mph and on a summer day it gets pretty bad--245-250 isn't unusual.

230 on the oil gauge isn't in the "normal range" for normal driving. Anyone that tells you that is full of manure. My dealer told me that as well.

I sent an e-mail to Nissan USA and will post their response.

No need to post the response. It will be the same exact letter several people have already posted on here.

I'm actually going to buy the new OEM oil cooler when its available. I've emailed Z1, and he says that it should be an easy retrofit and that he is more then likely going to sale the kit for us 09-11 models.

Thats some good news... Dealers mostly wouldn't have a cue if it was installed after purchase or if the car came that way. Hell, where I am im the only Nismo (370Z) they have ever seen.

You're mad that your car doesn't have the year over year improvements that the '12 does? Are you going to want a class action lawsuit if the '13 nismos get homelink mirrors too?

I agree that the 09 to 11 Z's run hot (oil). BUT, in street driving and stock, they don't overheat and go into limp mode. On track, an oil cooler is required. I knew this shortcoming when I purchased mine and fixed it easily with an oil cooler kit as one of my first mods. I don't expect Nissan to retrofit every improvement they maek on a car, only if something is subject ot a recall for a saftety issue etc.

I agree, I don't understand why so many people get worked up about this. Nissan is a business and they have to consider their bottom line and the fact is most people will never drive their Z's hard enough to require an oil cooler and those that will are a tiny fraction of the market and would probably still need an aftermarket kit. Also, for the target market of the 370Z, lower prices will sell more cars than any other factor. I'm reading posts from people suggesting Nissan should have a recall... what the heck for? Their only obligation to the consumer is a safe car which they have fulfilled... as a business minded individual, if I were Nissan, the only thing I would recall are the oil temp guages so people will stop b*tching. For those with any intent of tracking their car, get a decent performance oil cooler, the OE cooler on the 2012's looks like a POS anyway.

My $0.02

On a lighter note, I'm just glad there hasn't been any improvements on the car that I haven't already taken care of... Oil cooler, check... Booming audio with Nav, iPod, Sat, HD and Pandora, check... Rear-view camera, check. If they ever come out with an improved engine then I will be sad. =P

Hey FL 4Motion and Imperial say hello to your buddies at Nissan when you get to work today.

I DON'T CARE what you think about what Nissan Should or Should Not do. Call me Noob, Dork, Selfish A-Hole...whatever you want. Ridicule me until your fingers get tired.

There is Right and Wrong and not putting an engine oil cooler on the 09-11 370z models was wrong. Too many people reported problems for anything else to be true.

I, for one, am going to do everything in my power to fix this. None of you know me even a little bit so ridicule that as well.

I didn't buy a NISMO to mod the heck out of it. I wanted a car that was pretty much modded to begin with. And I wanted a car that was Right.

You are (more) right and Nissan is (more) wrong.

Unfortunately, the complaints don't seem to have enough teeth given that they're not even offering retrofits for a fee.

That kinda irritates me.

They would have lost no money on the deal and would have earned considerably greater customer loyalty. A win-win -- but they didn't do it.

I actually got some phone calls in response to my own "angry" letter, but I didn't bother following up on it once I learned that the offical repsonse is "Sorry. If you don't like it, sell your current Z and buy a new one."

If you get anywhere let us know. Being given the option to pay for a part and its warranty seems more than reasonable to me.

I haven't had my nismo long.. Mine is a 2011 and came with an oil cooler.. Is an oil cooler an option to be installed by the dealer?

Thanks

Post pics of the cooler.

May not be an oil cooler.. Like I said, I just got it a few months ago.. I will get a pic of it but what else could it be? Looks like an oil cooler but may be wrong.

Depends wha you are seeing. Many people assume the ps cooler is for oil.

Confirmed.. It is the power steering cooler.. Thanks for the help.

:tup:

I agree with you, driving around town at low speeds easily brings my oil temps to 240s in the summer. There's is just not enough air flow. If I try and hit the gas a little too much I could get it to 260. Driving on a highway with few traffic lights is about the only situation that doesn't get my car to 240 in the summer.

IMO it's a **** move to say its unnecessary and makes the car more expensive but then to go ahead and put in this "unnecessary" equipment anyway for later models.

I still love my car and I don't mind modding it. I just get the feeling there have been some other short cuts done besides this to make more $$. (Super thin coat of paint for example)

when i was at Z1 last week, they said they will be offering the OEM kit for retrofit soon. yes it will cost money to buy but it's a great OEM option if you don't need the 34 row cooler

How many motors have blown on 09-11 Zs b/c of overheating oil? Answer: zero. In street driving, it's not an issue.

That said, of course the best answer from Nissan would have been to offer a warranteed retrofit that the customer could pay for out of their own pocket if they own an 09-11 and want a warranteed cooler. It's still not the end of the world though.

Prior to the cooler install, driving around the summer last year in FL, I never saw over 230 deg on the street (driving normally, NOT spririted mountain cruse etc). Limp mode is 280 deg btw.

BTW, I'm not ridiculing you, I just get tired of seeing some folks on here feel they are entitled to year over year model upgrades that aren't a safety issue. Nissan could have been "better" about this oil cooler thing, but they aren't screwing over 09-11 owners either.

It almost seems to me that folks would be happier if they HADN't added the oil cooler so we could all just sit around and b!tch about it but no one (ie. '12+ owners) was better off than us.

Hey PJRabbit... Yes I will say hello to my friends at Nissan as I have made friends since my purchase particularly with master techs.

As with most things, you just can't please everybody and there will always be complainers about every little thing. I prefer to be one who is satisfied overall with my purchase and have made the necessary mods to be even more so now than I was when the car was brand new.

To the OP. I recommend that you spend thousands of dollars with attorneys to get this problem solved rather than five hundred bucks for a good oil cooler. In all honesty its not about the oil temps right, but about you getting what you deserve and that you just want to say "I beat'em"? If I may ask what oil temps do you see on your other automobiles, and what kinda problems should I look for with this condition??? If your that worried about it just 1)buy an oil cooler and have the dealership install it 2)Sell your car 3)Buy an oil cooler 4) sell your car 5) etc, etc, etc....

Will seriously have to look into this, if Z1 says it's a great OEM option. :tup:

i should put a * next to that with a subtext of "your mileage may vary" under it. as an OEM part it may be sufficient for spirited driving but if you are, in fact, planning to drive your car on track, you really just need to spend the money on a 34 row cooler and be done with it. i doubt the OEM unit is going to be as robust and in all likely-hood will cost as much or more as the aftermarket options. the only advantage is that the OEM kit is just that, OEM fitment and reliability. not that Z1's aftermarket kits are junk, far from it in fact, just that some people prefer OEM parts when they are available

Thanks for the input. I am still on the fence with air cooled oil cooler or OEM. I do drive spirited and the temps do get up there and I notice hp loss. I will probably not be hitting the track anytime soon. So a 19 row air oil cooler would suffice. I am not so concerned with OEM parts and if the OEM retrofit is going to cost close to a 19 row cooler, then I would rather just go with aftermarket 19 row cooler.

Unless you are tracking it, the water cooled one would be more ideal. Gets the oil to operating temp faster and keeps it there.

Air would be (theoretically) better if constantly pushing it to the limits, as on a track. On the road, it will be less consistent (even with a thermostat) and in the winter tend to keep the oil cooler than would be ideal (hence people relying on block off plates...).

Thanks for the 411. Makes sense to get the oil temp up to nominal operating range fast on cold start ups and then keep it there consitantly when outside temps get hotter in the summer time.

I like this approach and will wait to see what Z1 can do retrofitting the 2012 OEM for 09-11 models and how it tests out.

Just curious, at what outside tempture in degrees, do people in colder regions have to use block off plates?

E-Mail Traffic
 

First salvo fired. I did put the correct VIN into the first e-mail so I don't know what game NISSAN is playing there. I redacted the e-mails somewhat to delete any personal information as well.

Standard manufacturer response, I know. Boring.

I'm not done. I haven't received an e-mail response to my 'first response' e-mail so let the phone calls commence.

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This is a classic example of one of the many things wrong with society. We are NEVER satisfied, and we always demand satisfaction, even when we're wrong.

Your oil temps are not *dangerous*. If they were, you would have a legitimate gripe. But, they aren't, so alas, you do not. Nissan chose to IMPROVE upon their original design with an oil cooler - they did not do so out of fear of engine damage, but to improve upon their design. If this doesn't jive well with you, stop buying cars now because this happens to every single car at some point.

This is really no different than if they improved the intake and gained 5 hp on the model. Would you demand a new intake as well? What you're arguing for is improved performance of the car in general, not a safety feature.

Wrong. At no point in any of my e-mails did I ask for more performance out of the car. I asked for a modification that would keep my oil out of the 240 degree range when driving 10-20mph in traffic on a summer day.

As far as me or anything I say being anything wrong with society, shove it up your self-righteous ***. I served my country in the military for 22 years and have been a taxpayer for going on 30. I vote in every election, own a house, and I have raised two very educated and strong children. I have a right to complain all I want, and I'm doing it the right way.

that's a productive attitude :shakes head:

HKYStormFront
DON'T JUDGE ME!!!


Practice what you preach, sir.

lol touche and good luck to you sir! :tiphat:

:iagree: Some people just feel entitled to everything.

apparently they are? :shrugs: who knew...:rolleyes:

All I got from that was " Dah dah dah, I'm better than you, I have a right to complain". What does serving in the military have to do with being right or wrong?

And yes, you are just asking for improved performance of the car. I'm not talking about performance in the sense of greater horsepower, but in how the engine itself performs at lower oil temps.

I get what you're saying, but you're still wrong. Again, 240* oil temps aren't going to kill your motor. A touch high, yes, but are they dangerous? No. So again.. Nissan doesn't owe you anything. They improved upon their design, but they didn't change something that was necessary.