Tranny/engine Oil Cooler

[180 wanabe]

Something else that happened on last weeks track day was that my engine temp went up, it was 30deg outside according to the car. This is the 1st time that iv seen the temp go above the normal position. Lucky I noticed it and took it easy straight way. Now I’m wondering if the V35 auto has a proper tranny cooler or if it just uses the radiator to cool the transmission fluid? I’m also wondering if there’s an oil cooler?

If I’m going to keep on doing sprint days in the summer I’m going to need to get or upgrade these

[Daleo]

Something else that happened on last weeks track day was that my engine temp went up, it was 30deg outside according to the car. This is the 1st time that iv seen the temp go above the normal position. Lucky I noticed it and took it easy straight way. Now I'm wondering if the V35 auto has a proper tranny cooler or if it just uses the radiator to cool the transmission fluid? I'm also wondering if there's an oil cooler?

If I'm going to keep on doing sprint days in the summer I'm going to need to get or upgrade these

You'll likely find it's just a heat exchanger in the bottom tank of the radiator, not really enough under duress. PWR do some good kits, and I've been told the Repco trans cooler kit is just a re-branded PWR. You should be able to sort a large one (look for one labelled V8) for less than $150. If the VQ35 is anything like the VQ25det, it may have a water to oil heat exchanger, this is mounted behind the oil filter, and has fluid lines running into it.

The big one may be the need to upgrade the radiator itself, a PWR custom rad will cost around the $850 mark, expensive, but cheaper than an engine if you plan to lean on it regularly.

As an aside, the RE05A box fitted to the NM35 Stagea (yours is a variant of this, I believe) blocks oil flow to the cooler circuit when in tiptronic mode. You may want to do a little research to see if yours does this also.

[iamhe77]

^ On the money.

V35 5-speed does not have an external trans cooler (just the one in the radiator), V35 GT8 does have an external trans cooler.

If you are participating in sprint days in the summer, definitely look at a larger radiator...

[180 wanabe]

Ok so if im hunthing for a larger radiator I can prety much get anything which is for G35/350z as long as its specified as a part for the auto?

[Daleo]

Ok so if im hunthing for a larger radiator I can prety much get anything which is for G35/350z as long as its specified as a part for the auto?

Should be a pretty safe bet .

[180 wanabe]

Actually now that I think about it, If I get a separate tranny cooler do I still have to get a radiator for an auto? or can I just buy one for a manual ?

Considoring the AU$ is pretty strong I jumped on e-bay and found a couple of radiators

Here

and

Here

Iv never been a brand snob hence why I drive a V35 rather and a BMW ... ok ok the price also had something to do with it as well but I know some of you are going to say dont buy that junk from china.

The thing is years ago I was one of the 1st people to buy one of those chinese hybrid intercooler copys and even though lots of people said I just bought a turd they pretty much are accepted now not to mention it worked fine on my 308rwkw 180sx @ 1.7 bar of boost

After a bit more hunting I cam across This one from ASI did a quick google search and foud a few posts on various sites about them with 90% of it being positive. Id also sooner deal with someone in Australia they seem to be based in Sydney even though their products come from china. This one looks like its for a MT but if I get a cooler for the tranny that should fix that problem

Edited October 12, 2010 by 180 wanabe

[180 wanabe]

Also any oil cooler can be used for the transmission/engine oil there is no specific difference between the 2 just whatever they are hooked up to makes them the cooler for that part?

[iamhe77]

Ok so if im hunthing for a larger radiator I can prety much get anything which is for G35/350z as long as its specified as a part for the auto?

G35 - yes

Z33? Well keep in mind that the radiator cap is on the opposite side for the 350z so it may foul in your intake funnel... unless you are running a good pod setup in which case you probably don't need the funnel

Actually now that I think about it, If I get a separate tranny cooler do I still have to get a radiator for an auto? or can I just buy one for a manual ?

Iv never been a brand snob hence why I drive a V35 rather and a BMW ... ok ok the price also had something to do with it as well but I know some of you are going to say dont buy that junk from china.

The thing is years ago I was one of the 1st people to buy one of those chinese hybrid intercooler copys and even though lots of people said I just bought a turd they pretty much are accepted now not to mention it worked fine on my 308rwkw 180sx @ 1.7 bar of boost

After a bit more hunting I cam across This one from ASI did a quick google search and foud a few posts on various sites about them with 90% of it being positive. Id also sooner deal with someone in Australia they seem to be based in Sydney even though their products come from china. This one looks like its for a MT but if I get a cooler for the tranny that should fix that problem

Better to still have the in-tank cooler as it also helps warm up the trans fluid to operating temp in winter.

I originally didn't have an in-tank cooler with my custom radiator - I ran 2 aftermarket trans coolers instead - but it took so long for the trans fluid to come up to temp that by the time it did hit proper operating temp... I was at work... and my trip to work is 65kms one-way lol

One solution is to get a larger radiator, take it and your stockie to a radiator shop and have them install the stock in-tank "cooler" into the aftermarket one.

Should only be around the $120-140 mark.

You won't regret that decision, let me tell you!

As an aside, I have heard nothing but good things about the ASI radiators... mind you, all I have heard is from a very small group of people.

I should add that you will probably need to cut away at the glass composite that the bottom of the radiator sits on to fit one that large.

Also any oil cooler can be used for the transmission/engine oil there is no specific difference between the 2 just whatever they are hooked up to makes them the cooler for that part?

Can't see why not. Just don't over-cool the fluid

Edited October 12, 2010 by iamhe77

[180 wanabe]

G35 - yes

Z33? Well keep in mind that the radiator cap is on the opposite side for the 350z so it may foul in your intake funnel... unless you are running a good pod setup in which case you probably don't need the funnel

Better to still have the in-tank cooler as it also helps warm up the trans fluid to operating temp in winter.

I originally didn't have an in-tank cooler with my custom radiator - I ran 2 aftermarket trans coolers instead - but it took so long for the trans fluid to come up to temp that by the time it did hit proper operating temp... I was at work... and my trip to work is 65kms one-way lol

One solution is to get a larger radiator, take it and your stockie to a radiator shop and have them install the stock in-tank "cooler" into the aftermarket one.

Should only be around the $120-140 mark.

You won't regret that decision, let me tell you!

As an aside, I have heard nothing but good things about the ASI radiators... mind you, all I have heard is from a very small group of people.

I should add that you will probably need to cut away at the glass composite that the bottom of the radiator sits on to fit one that large.

Can't see why not. Just don't over-cool the fluid

Good point on the rad cap I didint think of that one! ill have to make sure I ask anyone I buy a new rad from what side the cap is on!

About the in tank cooler, if I pick up a rad which is for the auto it should also be better at keeping the trans temp cool/@ the correct temp ? or could I simply just buy a cooler with a thermostat?

[180 wanabe]

Well after a fair bit of looking around it seems the only radiator I can find with the rad cap on the right hand side is This one

iamhe77 I can understand fitting the stock rads trans cooler thing to a rad with plastic end tanks but im not sure if this can be done with one that has alluminium ones?

I guess the other thing I could do would be to fit a small oil cooler such as This one which should be better than the stock setup but not my much which would help keep the temps in the normal range whilst not taking forever to warm up?

[Daleo]

Well after a fair bit of looking around it seems the only radiator I can find with the rad cap on the right hand side is This one

iamhe77 I can understand fitting the stock rads trans cooler thing to a rad with plastic end tanks but im not sure if this can be done with one that has alluminium ones?

I guess the other thing I could do would be to fit a small oil cooler such as This one which should be better than the stock setup but not my much which would help keep the temps in the normal range whilst not taking forever to warm up?

A Rad specialist will remove the heat exchanger (by removing the plastic end tank) and installing it in your new rad (by cutting the tank off the rad & then welding it back on) this is no big deal, the tanks have to be welded on in the first place. They then pressure test to check for leaks. With the original heat exhanger in the rad, you will bring the fluid to it's operating temperature faster, and by adding an additional external cooler, you can shed any excess heat: down to the operating temp of the car (80 odd degrees). Only having an external cooler, you cannot control how cool the fluid runs, only how hot, this is less than ideal.

[iamhe77]

iamhe77 I can understand fitting the stock rads trans cooler thing to a rad with plastic end tanks but im not sure if this can be done with one that has alluminium ones?

Easier to do with aluminium end tanks as they can just be cut and re-welded (my stock heat exchanger only just fit in my radiator end tank)

Any decent radiator shop should be able to do this for you.

The reason I went with the stock exchanger is due to the distance between inlet/outlet barbs. The barbs on the PWR units that Race Radiators use are way to close together.

A Rad specialist will remove the heat exchanger (by removing the plastic end tank) and installing it in your new rad (by cutting the tank off the rad & then welding it back on) this is no big deal, the tanks have to be welded on in the first place. They then pressure test to check for leaks. With the original heat exhanger in the rad, you will bring the fluid to it's operating temperature faster, and by adding an additional external cooler, you can shed any excess heat: down to the operating temp of the car (80 odd degrees). Only having an external cooler, you cannot control how cool the fluid runs, only how hot, this is less than ideal.

Edited October 12, 2010 by iamhe77

[180 wanabe]

Ok guys last question you have both been super helpfull!

So say I order this radiator which has the cap on the right side so I can heep my stock airbox setup.

Its for a manual not an auto.

So basically

The rad shop then cuts the bottom tank off

Jams in the heat exchange

Cuts inlet and outlet holes in the end tank and adds barbs for the hoses to connect to

Welds everything back together

Pressure tests

reinstalls

[iamhe77]

Basically.... yes.

BUT I would imagine with a core and end tanks that large, some modification to the support structure on the car will be necessary

(very easy to do, just need a hacksaw blade as it is all that glass composite stuff)

[180 wanabe]

Basically.... yes.

BUT I would imagine with a core and end tanks that large, some modification to the support structure on the car will be necessary

(very easy to do, just need a hacksaw blade as it is all that glass composite stuff)

Are you suggesting that I cut away some of the glass composite stuff to try and bolt the radiator to something metal?

[iamhe77]

No, I am suggesting that you will have to cut away some of the lower support to fit the larger radiator.

Shouldn't be much, and I dare say it will be far less than you are envisioning... more like "shaving" some of the protruding parts of the support.

Get the radiator. Get the heat exchanger installed. Get a small hacksaw blade and try to put the radiator in as is.

If it doesn't fit, look at where it is fouling and shave a little off that and try again etc etc

Seriously, nowhere near as bad as I am sure you are thinking and you will be able to fit it into the stock mounts in the end.

Edited October 13, 2010 by iamhe77