Oil cooler for 2014, still needed?
 

I heard horror stories about older Z's needing an oil cooler system, but then I hear, maybe, that they fixed these issues and a 2014 Z is fine as is. but of course the dealer recommends a cooler. What's the consensus on this? Waste of money or go for it? I don't drive on the track but I do want power and reliabilty.

I thought the 2012+ models all came with some kind of basic oil cooler already.

If you don't drive too aggressively (track, autox, etc), then I don't think it's needed, unless it gets blazingly hot in your area often.

You answered your own question!! :icon18:

They come with a heat exchanger, not an oil cooler. Difference = what nissan gave us doesn't help much.

What they gave you is a bandaid. Ambient air will do a better job than warm coolant.

I have a 2009 and I don't have an oil cooler because I don't really track it. I do some spirited driving and the oil is fine. You don't need one unless you track or autocross as previously stated

:iagree:

Not true. If you're in a warmer climate it's very easy to see oil temps that are too high just from commuting. Not even spirited driving.

Yeah I guess since I am freezing my nuts off in the northeast I haven't had that problem. :)

Meh, I live in Texas and I've been fine. Of course, I don't drive as crazy as I used to, but I don't baby the car either.

You don't routinely see temps over 220 degrees?

I live in SoCal and my temps on stock 13 sits at 200 around town stop and go. The temps drop to about 180 while cruising on the FW.

I had a 2012 and now have a 2014 and agree with the above. I put an oil cooler in.

I track my car and never saw 260.

You're not trying hard enough... :p

i heard horror stories about newer Z drivers. :ugh:

When I was in Texas I was hitting 250f in stop go traffic on a regular basis.. Even if I wasn't going into limp mode, I still don't want a car to run that hot oil temp. Not only are you losing hp at those higher temps, but I'm assuming the oil is going to break down alot faster. Once I installed an oil cooler, 180-200 was the norm.

I also live in texas and with 15 minutes of spirited driving I see temps over 240. I ordered the FI new oil cooler so my baby will stay coool no matter what type of driving.

I have a 34 row cooler on my 2010, on the highway i see temps at or around 180 depending on outside temps (50+) and the block off plate off.

Sure. But that's not a problem. Anything North of 250 and I start getting worried. Below that shouldn't be an issue.

I've read different articles stating that ideal oil temperature is between 220-240 degrees, depending on your application. Some people say even higher. Some say lower. As long as I don't go into limp home mode, I don't worry about it. I change my oil frequently and use a good quality oil.

That's probably too cool as you want to get the oil above 212 degrees to get all the water out of it.

220 is a healthy temp and that's where my Z is on a hot summer day motoring her pretty hard. no cooler needed for my driving at least. ive not seen it go over 230F

Same here for my '09 (although the temps stay at 200 on the fwy).

Never seen temps over 230. And it only got there from sustained illegal speeds between Dallas and Houston or Texas to Arkansas. 220 is usually where it holds to and that's no oil cooler and still quick driving.
I wouldn't mine having one for drag strip days that way I can be closer to 200 deg. So not a bad idea but remember you will probably have more maintenance issues to look for with one, like leaking lines etc.

My temp sits between 180 and 220 depending. But what about an August drive to Vegas? Or driving for 20 hours? Maybe it is not critical but it would help at least a little?

will you have an August drive to Vegas....???

will you have a drive for 20 hours...???

I go to Vegas every August. And I want to drive to Tampa, and back, so yes.

If you don't track it you don't need it, limp mode doesn't happen till 260*+. Limp mode doesn't mean you broke something it's just the car's fail safe so you don't break it.

180*-220* is normal operating oil temps, if there was no gauge most people would never even think about oil temps or see any problems. The 350z ran really close to the same temps, no gauge no issues go figure.

So lets end this thread as there are tons and tons and tons of them.

Track you car or boosted=need oil cooler, if not THERE IS NO NEED. :tiphat:

i live here in vegas. i always fret a bit when the temp gets up to 220, as it does regularly in the warmer months (230 max, so far) and even in our moderate winter it will climb to 220 slowly with just a bit of spirited driving for a short drive...

when on the FW it will drop...in fact, when i ran down to tony's for my pipes the temps REALLY dropped, to the point where i wondered if something was wrong...maybe it was, since it's so far below optimum running temp...

it was on a fresh change of redline. btw, my oil always darkens too soon, methinks...

Z1 stated the temp you see is the oil leaving the cooler. Its going over 212 in the motor. The question is are you driving long enough to heat up and vaporize moisture. Short trips possibly not.

can someone introduce the "search" button to the OP, there are many of his questions could be answered by that. :icon17:

Exactly. Modern oils will run all day long at 250 degrees without breakdown.

The search button SUCKS.

Advanced search work for me every time, it may take a little while to find what you want. It's better than opening more and more duplacite theads that admin will combine into the others like it any way.

BINGO... nailed it. So many people miss the fact that an internal combustion engine has H2O as a by-product of the combustion. Water in the oil is a contaminant and has to be removed by heating the oil to at least close a temp of 212... a temp of at least north of 180°F on your gauge after a cooler install is where you want to be as the gauge reads the oil temp out of the cooler. Going into the cooler, it should be about 20°F hotter, which means water condensation in the oil is being vaporized out.

Good read jcosta...:tup:

I was seeing above 260 degrees at the track even with a 25 row on my 2010. I went to a 34 row over the winter but had to develop a complete shroud for the cooler (in addition to the thermostat) to get the temps up in the winter months. I imagine I will need to run a partial shroud on the street even in the summer to keep the temps up where they need to be. I will be interesting to see.