2012 Model Will Have OIl Cooler

NYBladeZ

Currently in Jamaica Queens as I love waking up at the last second and walking to school. Spent most of my life in Brooklyn, Nassau and Suffolk County while working in the city. I'm all about the 5 boroughs!

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LunaZ

You forgot to mention cabin noise.
I can't believe you actually bought such a piece of crap.



I've said it before, and I'll say it again... Between the magazine articles and the presence of an oil temperature gauge, there's more paranoia about oil temperature than actual occurrences of limp mode.
There seems to be a lot of variation in the temperatures experienced by owners which makes me think that the accuracy of the OEM oil temperature gauge is suspect.
If the car didn't have an oil temperature gauge from the factory, we wouldn't be talking about this as much. As far as the track guys are concerned, they would just install one along with their oil cooler.



Just wait until the Miata doors are offered as standard equipment on the 2015 model!
I could just be talking out my butt here, but I'm pretty sure that some risk of major mechanical failure or a safety hazard has to threaten a large number of cars in order for there to be a recall. It took several fatal accidents and a huge public outcry to trigger a recall on Firestone tyre equipped Ford Explorers. Nobody is dying from limp mode and a few guys flogging their cars to the point that the computer implements a safety measure to protect the engine isn't going to trigger a recall. At the end of the Firestone/Ford Explorer tragedies, it was determined that user error (improper inflation) was partially responsible for the tyre failures that caused deaths. I'm pretty sure that pushing the car to limp mode would be considered the result of improper use of the car by the manufacturer and NHSTA despite what we as enthusiasts think is the "proper" way to use a 370Z.
As enthusiasts, the members of this forum represent a small number of the owners of the 370Zs sold, and amongst the membership, there's an even smaller number of people with oil temperature issues. I don't think it's a big enough issue amongst owners to warrant a recall.

On the other hand, I could see how throwing an oil cooler on the current year's car so that the magazine writers start publishing glowing reviews about the 370Z would be a worthwhile investment in salvaging low sales figures or even boosting interest in the car.

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NYBladeZ

oh and I forgot but I'm sure the track guys didn't the fuel starvation issue, there has yet to be a mass produced affordable solution though I know it is being worked on. Until then, expect to experience significant power loss and being forced to always top off your tank at the track.

With all that said I still love my Z, never going to give her up but she definitely has her flaws, I just think the flaws can be resolved rather easily but I understand people complaining about these "necessary" additions to properly experience their new Z's.

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wilsonp

Does it bother anyone else that some cars never have the problem, and some have it pretty bad? Since we have the fortunate example of the same driver of a 2009 without and a 2011 with, it seems like there must something fairly significant different in individual engines to cause this.

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Jordo!

Like the oil consumption issue... I think there's just a little too much variance in how the engines are being assembled.

Throw in the different theories and applications of break-in procedures and there you go...

Nissan's are pretty well built -- but they ain't quite Toyota or Honda just yet.

Hmm. Even though I don't desperately need it... after all this talk, now I want a Nissan oil cooler too. Wah.

BTW, go to the consumer page for NissanUSA (the link above just forwards matters like this to them anyway) if you want to email them -- just did that myself.

Link--> http://www.nissanusa.com/apps/contactus

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CarsRfun

Wow, it's about time, they were brain dead to leave it out on the earlier models...maybe they were trying to make the car lighter by eliminating it...

spearfish25

Funny that you guys think Nissan will retroactively install oil coolers on 3 years of previously produced cars. It's not like the 2009 models are all sitting in the junk yard. I bet Nissan hasn't had a single repair expense related to the lack of oil coolers (you get limp mode, not a damaged motor). Just a multitude of complaints.

I would agree that the factory installed cooler will be sub-optimal for track work. If they install a 25row oil cooler or bigger, people won't get their engine to operating temp in colder climates...thermostatic plates don't even help with this.

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ihatepotholes

what's a proper size Oil cooler for our Z? given that i don't plan on hitting the track, but i do some spirited driving every now and then. and i live in the north east.

m4a1mustang

A 10-19 row cooler is probably sufficient for street use depending on your climate. Though I wouldn't even worry about adding an oil cooler unless you actually find that your style of driving is getting the temps too hot for your comfort.

Track guys like to run 25+ row, but if you run this on the street you'll have to fab some sort of partial cover for colder months so you can get your oil temps up to safe operating ranges.

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kenchan

yah, this is another side effect im wondering about for those that dailydrive your Z's especially short distances (short as in 10miles or less one trip).

theDreamer

Add boost, helps warm up the oil quickly.

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11Thumper

I have a few questions. Not picking bones with anyone, just want to understand this a little better.

1. Didn't Nissan implement the "limp mode" because they switched to a new "green" bearing material in our engines? I thought I read it someplace and it's possible the limp mode was created as a result of that (material specifications), nothing more.

2. Manufacturing tolerances (especially these days) should be tight enough where variances should not cause engines to operate vastly different from one another. While break-in procedures can vary widely, could that really cause an alteration of the engine's ability to run at normal temperatures?

3. In the case of the owner who has owned both an '09 and '11 model. I'm curious if the '11 model is running higher oil temps because the engine is still fairly new. Has anyone experienced reduced oil temperatures after ~25k miles of usage?

Yesterday I drove from San Jose to San Francisco (about 50 miles) on the freeway in moderate temps and light traffic. My speed was set at 68mph (lots of LEOs around so used cruise control) and I was running pretty steady at 210 degrees the entire time. To me that seems fairly reasonable, however if I get on the car hard it doesn't take long to get up to 240-250 degrees. I've never pushed it over 260 degrees before.

Lug

I've read that Nissan decided to drop lead out a a tri-metal formula a few years back to go "green". As a result, the bearing started showing breakdown at sustained temps over 300 degrees and this is the reason for the 280 degree limp mode. I'll try to find the article.

Edit: problem is mentioned in this article: http://www.modified.com/tech/sccp_08...e/viewall.html

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sucasa

Update.. 10/12

Spoke to Nissan Corporate for over 40 minutes on the phone regarding the 2012 370Z and the fact it has a factory installed oil cooler. Nissan Corp. will be speaking to technical folks in USA and JP regarding possible solutions for 2009 - 2011 owners who are interested in getting a OEM NissanMotorSport or NISMO oil cooler installed by the dealer and getting it warrantied. Granted they feel the engine has fault protection mechanisms in place to not cause engine problems, however, the fact the 2012 has it as a 'default OEM cooler' part tells me Nissan realized it should have been there in the first place. I conveyed this to the Nissan rep.

Currently owners can get an oil cooler installed but no warranty will be provided warranty. Based on my conversation, the Nissan rep was helpful and understood the concern current owners can have, and will be getting back to me next week.

Will keep you posted.

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Cmike2780

I think as long as your not flogging on the engine within those 10 miles, it should be fine.

I would venture to guess it's not gonna be anywhere close to a 25 row cooler. Nissan won't do any retroactive modifications for those of us who have our Z's already, but I do hope we don't get burned for warranty work because we have one installed. If I were to install that very same Nissan branded oil cooler for example, I hope Nissan and the dealership sees it as an approved add-on/accessory that doesn't affect the drivetrain warranty. Yes, they should have thought of it before, and they should do a retroactive for us simply because it's not an upgrade or option that should have been left out, especially for a sports car with a known issue....and they did know this! Otherwise, why have built in countermeasure in the limp mode protocol and install one in the upcoming model. They should help us out....doesn't mean they will, but they def should. Having exprerience limp mode, it does pose a possible danger while driving. Imagine suddenly not being able to rev past 3k rpm's while in stop and go traffic... then the traffic clears and everyone around you is doing 60mph. This happened to me before I knew of the limp mode issue and I can honestly say it was a nerve racking experience. Obviously not as dangerous as a stuck throttle or not having brakes, but there is an element of danger and the possiblity of a crash.

I say we post our concerns on the Nissan Facebook page and let Nissan know we as a community want this done retroactively. We're a big enough community to have some say in this don't you think.

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