2012 OEM Oil Cooler - Bust

[Nixlimited]

So I am still breaking my car in, so not totally sure how that figures into this, but I went for a mountain drive today and my oil temperature rapidly got up to about 250 degrees. This was not pushing it too hard, staying under 5500 RPMs, in 55 degree weather, etc. My hope that Nissan had at least improved the oil temp situation is dashed. Not sure what normal operating temps should be, but I am normally below 220 when running around town.

[Felix 808]

Your probably going to see higher temps until the car get some miles on it. Fresh engines are going to run hotter than an engine with a few thousand miles on it. it's all a part of that break in deal. keep us posted though.

[Z_ealot]

Originally Posted by Felix 808

Your probably going to see higher temps until the car get some miles on it. Fresh engines are going to run hotter than an engine with a few thousand miles on it. it's all a part of that break in deal. keep us posted though.

on a side note my 2011 oddly enough has never seen above 240 and thats even pushing it through ortega canyon which makes me wonder if nissan perhaps added the oil coolers to the late build 2011 Z's or if they retuned the engine in some way. I am at just a little over 11k on the odometer myself in case anyone is wondering (yes i know alot of miles, but i love driving my baby )

[bigsix]

This is just one account, but it's not good to hear this. For a 3.7 liter engine, the oil cooler is pretty small.

[TypeOne]

Interesting.

[Mt Tam I am]

Originally Posted by Nixlimited

So I am still breaking my car in, so not totally sure how that figures into this, but I went for a mountain drive today and my oil temperature rapidly got up to about 250 degrees. This was not pushing it too hard, staying under 5500 RPMs, in 55 degree weather, etc. My hope that Nissan had at least improved the oil temp situation is dashed. Not sure what normal operating temps should be, but I am normally below 220 when running around town.

First of all I feel for you, I know high oil temps. I will say that 5500 rpm's is above the 4,000 rpm's recommended for break in. It is hard to stay below 4,000 revs. I hated my first, and later second, 1200 mile break in.

I hope it is just a case of a fresh tight, hot running engine for you. Best of luck.

[UNKNOWN_370]

Originally Posted by Z_ealot

on a side note my 2011 oddly enough has never seen above 240 and thats even pushing it through ortega canyon which makes me wonder if nissan perhaps added the oil coolers to the late build 2011 Z's or if they retuned the engine in some way. I am at just a little over 11k on the odometer myself in case anyone is wondering (yes i know alot of miles, but i love driving my baby )

Funny how these posts are running concurrent with my individual situations. My 09 was flawless and my engine temps never ran passed 240 degrees once I. K&N filtered and synthed the car. This car now, which is an 11; with mild aggressive driving gets hot quick. Filters and synth has helped some but still gets hotter than my 09.
It seems the '12's are going to hit or miss as all Z's do regardless of the cooler. The 34 row NISMO cooler with thermostatic blocking plate seems like the only logical solution to this issue. Nissan I guess was looking for a cheaper solution and got cheaper results?
Break in could have an effect? But, at 55 degrees, temps seems a little extreme for the overall situation.

[kenchan]

i dont have mountains in my area.

[ImportConvert]

Originally Posted by Felix 808

Your probably going to see higher temps until the car get some miles on it. Fresh engines are going to run hotter than an engine with a few thousand miles on it. it's all a part of that break in deal. keep us posted though.

I have not noticed this with my Z06.

[Red__Zed]

Originally Posted by ImportConvert

I have not noticed this with my Z06.

it was very much the case with my 370z. It saw 250+ in pretty mild driving for the first 3-4K, but past that point, it took a good run in the twisties to hit those levels.

[Nixlimited]

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am

First of all I feel for you, I know high oil temps. I will say that 5500 rpm's is above the 4,000 rpm's recommended for break in. It is hard to stay below 4,000 revs. I hated my first, and later second, 1200 mile break in.

I hope it is just a case of a fresh tight, hot running engine for you. Best of luck.

Yeah, I only partially subscribe to the ultra-light break-in procedure. Fact is, I can't go 85 on the freeway and stay under 4000 very easily. I started out under 4000 RPMS, but as I get closer to 1000 miles, I am stretching the band. I think it makes more sense to slowly stretch it out, rather than <4K until 1200 miles and then everything after. I know everyone has their own opinion on break-in so I don't mean to imply that mine is correct.

[UNKNOWN_370]

Originally Posted by Nixlimited

Yeah, I only partially subscribe to the ultra-light break-in procedure. Fact is, I can't go 85 on the freeway and stay under 4000 very easily. I started out under 4000 RPMS, but as I get closer to 1000 miles, I am stretching the band. I think it makes more sense to slowly stretch it out, rather than <4K until 1200 miles and then everything after. I know everyone has their own opinion on break-in so I don't mean to imply that mine is correct.

That is exactly how I broke it in. Under 4400rpm for 700 miles. The next 500, I began stretching up the revs till I was redlining occasionally from 1000 to 1200 miles. I was trying to get the most amount of power out of my engine. And I can now do 13 second quarters practically stock. But my gas mileage average is 17mpg. I guess you have to sacrifice somewhere??? Lol.

[Felix 808]

Originally Posted by Nixlimited

Yeah, I only partially subscribe to the ultra-light break-in procedure.

Personally I believe in a hard break-in (once temps are up). I know it's not a clean room built GTR engine, but Nissan even states in their GTR literature that they run the engine at redline for 10 min straight so it's ready to give full performance on delivery. I have always broke in my vehicles hard with good results, cars,trucks & bikes.

YMMV.

but yeah, get some miles on it & see if those oil temps settle down.