I think Modshack might have done a thread on a cover, but I can't remember. I know a few people here have made them.

thanks, I'll do a search when I get home form work.

For mine, I just measured the dimensions of the front of the cooler, then went to a hardware store and bought a sheet of thin (1/16" I think? maybe less) aluminum that was a bit larger, and cut it down to size with tin snips.

Then I got some tough velcro tape strips (keep in mind the heat of the oil cooler vs the glue here!). I put the spiky side of the velcro in two vertical strips along the front side edges of the cooler, and I put the fuzzy part of the velcro along all four edges of the blockoff plate (the top and bottom edges just being to prevent vibration against the cooler).

I have to remove my undertray to add/remove the blockoff plate, but it's pretty much a seasonal thing anyways, so you can do it during an oil change or whatever. Just put it on for the winter a few weeks ago, and other than track days it won't come off until sometime in March probably, once I start noticing higher oil temps on the street.

You said it best with heat being the most cause of hp loss. Good Point UNKNOWN. Not a lot of people get that one

I got a thermostatic plate designed to stay at 180. There are some for 200 but if you pick up a piece of aluminum and cut to size on the cooler, you can drill holes and allow to regulate temp. IF you don't have the thermostatic plate you should block it off entirely. I have 1/4in holes drilled in mine in a 1''x1'' pattern across the cooler. With the temps in the low 40's it hasn't gotten below 180 because of the blockage of air and the thermostatic plate. It isn't hard to fabricate. There is a tutorial about this in the engine and drivetrain section.

I have the thermostatic plate. I'll just pay more attention to my temps and make sure it's getting up to 180.

Even with a 180F thermo plate on your oil cooler, you'll probably still need a blockoff plate for the front. Mine's only a 19-row Setrab, w/ 180F thermo plate, and I still use a full blockoff plate (no drilled holes, full-size) in the winter down here in SE Texas. Without the blockoff, a mid-december highway drive (especially at night) can suck the oil temps down to ~150-160 and hold them there.

Do you need to remove the bumper to install/remove the block-off plate? That was a big pain when installing the oil cooler.

You're going to want your oil warmer than 150-160. Staying closer to 200 is ideal and not exceeding 220 for optimum performance. Cold oil is worse for your engine than hot oil.

My car runs at 200 in this 50 degree weather when not even pushing it. I have not yet driven in the summer time.

If you haven't bought K&N filters? Buy some. Also use a high grade synthetic like nissan oem, castrol edge or redline oil. You will see your temps drop another 10-15 degrees.

all great ideas and posts.wanted to share this from this mornings commute.
outside temp read 49 and driving conditions were perfect and safe.

so anyway i've got the 7AT. im running along at about 55-60. and feel the need for a little kick so pull the stick over to the left and with a quick 1,2
pull back with the shifter im in 4th and gradually give it the gas and this thing
pulls like a spotted axx ape! look down and oh crap im at 90. so i back off of
course its a public road. anyway sorry to ramble..

but that is why i bought the 370 for that feeling!

I will definitely invest the filters. Will an intake help much or not really? I'm do for my first oil change soon and I have free oil changes but I don't believe they work for synthetic oil. Is the Nissan Ester oil good or not really? Sorry I'm a noob on oil.

now I'm going to be constantly checking my temps on my drive home

Argh, I just monitored my oil temps on my 38 mile drive home form work. Temps outside were in the low to mid 60s according to the Z. I never broke 165 degrees while on the highway. I only got close to 180 when I was off the freeway at one point and in side street traffic. After getting back onto the freeway, my temps dropped back down to just over 160. So how bad is it for my engine to be only a5 160-165 for 38 miles?