I'm considering some options to better cool my Z at the track. Those of you who have installed oil coolers, would you please comment on what kind of temp reductions you have seen? Has anybody tried using a water-to-oil cooler for their 350Z?

I'd also be interested in any real world feedback from those who have installed oil pan spacers (JWT, Altered Atmosphere, etc.) on their cars. Has adding a quart of oil to your total sump capacity significantly altered oil temps on a NA engine?

 

I don't have a Z or track my car (not yet), but I've looked into making my car more reliable for the track. I think both the G and Z have water-to-oil cooler located next to the oil filter.

Since I'm N/A, I've decided to get the APS oil pan instead of getting a separate oil cooler. It'll add 1.24 quarts to the stock capacity and the pan has fins on the bottom to help dissipate heat. Here's a link for the APS oil pan. Hope this helps.

http://store.yahoo.com/sgpracing-sto...hivooilpa.html

 

While a complete oil pan (finned, no less) is an attractive possibility, the cost is much more than the oil pan spacer. Has anybody used one of these APS units in a NA application? I've seen comments listed under FI apps, but those systems produce so much more heat than a NA VQ35DE.

 

Here is my engineering thoughts, yet testing is much more accurate:

If you have more oil (5 quarts vs 4 quarts) it will take more time for it to heat up. Yet, with the same amount of energy input (engine) and the same amount of energy output (oil cooler) you will eventually hit the same high temps. Thus, I believe that just adding a spacer would be good if you are doing short track events (time ?). Yet, if you are looking at going doing long track events (let say over an hour) then you need more cooling. That is where the benefits of the APS comes in. Yet, you could also look at improving your oil cooler.

I have the APS oil pan, yet with the FI I still need more cooling when I go to the track. I am looking at upgrading to the Stillen Oil Cooler. This may be a better alternative to you since you improve cooling and you won't have to pay for an extra quart of oil every oil change!! Yes, the cooler is more money, yet how much is the oil you put in your car cost?

 

I believe Redfoot, a member here, has the APS oil pan on his heavily modded n/a, tracked car. He didn't say much about it one way or the other. Although he said there was a fitting that was just press fit in and that concerned him a bit.

 

If you get the stillen oil cooler, be aware that it does not have a thermostat. You can buy a thermostatic sandwich plate from B.A.T., Inc. or from Nick (at ntechracing). The other option is to disconnect the oil cooler during the winter...otherwise you won't be able to get your oil up to optimum operating temps on cold days.

 

the APS oil pan doesn't actually add 1.25 quarts of oil
APS recommends putting in the stock amount of oil still for FI because something about oil pickup and smoking issues

 

Isn't there a better radiator option that would solve any heating problem ?

 

Well I finally have some info to relate regarding the oil temp issue. My cooling setup is Nismo Thermostat, Koyo Radiator, ARC Oil Pan (7 qt. dry refill capacity), and stock oil cooler. I recently installed a oil temp sensor in my ARC oil pan and gave my Z a good thrashing on Phoenix International Raceway's Grand Am course. Ambeient temps were 35 F to 65 F. My first runs saw oil temps in the low 230s F. My peak oil temp during the day was 258 F. I consider this too high so I'm deciding on what size oil cooler to get.

So as far as an oil pan or spacer alone cooling the oil, I don't think so. It will just take longer to heat up but will get just as hot.

BTW, my max. water temp was 200 F, which happened when I came off track to the pits. So I think the Koyo is keeping the water temps in line, but the stock oil cooler isn't track worthy.

 

I've run larger oil pans on several cars, and even larger transmisson oil pans on a couple trucks of mine, all equiped with temperature gauges. None of them ever made the fluid run any cooler. It would indeed take longer to heat up, but once up to temp, it was always just as hot as before.

The only time I've seen temps drop is by running a quality cooler. If you track your car, consider it an esential investment.

 

So do you have a suggestion for another oil cooler? The Nismo doesn't look any better and it always cost more. And the Stillen parts always fit the Z perfect.

Also, I live in the south, it really never gets cold here. Actually, it is 63 F today and 73 F by Monday!

 

Yes and No. My problem is my oil is used to cool my Turbos, thus I need to cool my oil more.
Although, there will be heat taken away from the block by the radiator which will cool the oil.