skxf430

Does the base model C6 Z06 with 1LZ package with NO Z51 package have the upgraded oil cooler?

Thanks for any info.

Jawnathin

Don't think you can have a Z51 package on a Z06 in any year.

But it was my understanding that all 2011+ C6 Z06s had the revised oil cooler regardless of packages.

The Carbons/Z07s had a beefier radiator, but no change to the oil cooler.

Mark923

skxf430

Got it!!!

I appreciate the info.

skxf430

I just checked and my base model Z06 does not have an oil cooler. Unless, I am blind I don't see it. I just see the radiator and tranny cooler but that's it.

I was just at the track, and saw oil temps in the 295 to 300 range. I will probably need to find a solution before my next event.

Bill Dearborn

All Z06s came with an oil cooler, tranny cooler is in the radiator.

Bill

skxf430

Hey Bill,

The only cooler I can readily see on my car is behind the radiator and the lines look like they flow into the steering wheel reservoir.

Where else should I look for the oil cooler???

Ludedude

Depending on the year, the oil cooler may not be visible since it can be an oil to water cooler, not oil to air, and is located to the lower left side of the block and not in the traditional behind the grill location.

I don't recall what year the changeover was but my '08 for example has the cooler up front behind the grill. This works fairly well as yesterday, with temps in the 90s and running 30-40 minute sessions, I saw max oil temp at 248, water temp at 212.

All years have the fluid to air power steering cooler behind the radiator.

skxf430

My car is a 2013. Looks like I might just go with a dedicated radiator and oil cooler. The ambient temperature was only 85 degrees yesterday, and my oil temps were pushing 300 degrees. Most of our summer days will be over 100 degrees in the coming months.

Ludedude

We have a 2011 Z at work, it's been running oil temps in the 280 range for the last week with the stock oil to water cooler. We're looking at the integrated larger rad and oil cooler combo as well.

Our summer temps are well into the 100-110s so it's a little extreme here too.

AzDave47

If you have a 2013 Z06, then you have the oil cooler that is a heat exchanger on the left side of the engine next to the oil filter and that heat exchanger is fed by water from the radiator. If you were seeing 300* oil temp you have a problem as the water/oil cooler is much more efficient at cooling the oil than the 2006-9 air style cooler. The heat exchanger style also gets the oil up to a good 200* working range quickly whereas the older style leaves us with 140-160* oil temps on the street and gets to 260-280* for road circuits.

Most forum members with the new style oil cooler report about 230* max oil temps on road circuit use, even at high ambient temps.

Maybe you have a sensor malfunction, but you really need to check it out if you are getting 300* oil temps, there is something wrong and it would not be that there is no oil cooler on the Z06, any model.

AzDave47

My 09 with the same cooler will see 260*+ even at 70* on road circuits with street tires and the stock LS7. I think my results are more typical than yours as I would have been happy with oil temps under 250*. I'm running M1 0W-40 now due to the 260* oil temps at the track. They get to that temp within 10 minutes, I generally use 6500 rpm shift points.

Ludedude

I'm actually surprised at the relatively low temps being reported in my car. Not complaining mind you, but I was expecting results closer to yours here in Vegas. I'm running the 5W-30 that came in the car from the dealer, but since I'm due for a change before my next track day I'm going to go to Redline 10W-30 I think.

On road courses I push the car pretty hard, shift points are between 6500-6800 and also on street tires (RE-11s) with Bilstein shocks.

Since I purchased my car used, and I've found evidence of a few performance related mods, it may be that I have an aftermarket cooler on the car but don't have a reference to see if that's the case. My water temps are also on the cooler side when running hard I think, although they're perfectly normal in the 190 range on my work commute (25 miles one way). Oil temps run about 170 on that same drive.

I will tell you though, that our 2011 Z with the new style cooler reports the same high temps as the OP.

Bill Dearborn

For track operation it can be hard to determine whether the oil temp readings are equivalent from one driver to another. Oil temp is very dependent on the amount of power being produced at the time which is direct result of how much throttle opening the driver is achieving. At higher skill levels more WOT or near WOT operation is seen which means the oil temps will be higher for that driver whether the car is being driven on street or sticky tires.

My 08Z will see oil temps of ~260 degrees at the Glen on a hot summer day in the cold spring and fall days the oil temps are about 20 degrees cooler although the ambient temp can be 30 to 40 degrees cooler.

Bill

AzDave47

Hi Bill, I agree. I ran a Taurus at WG and did two 2:05.6's just learning the car. Of course it was a Nascar Laughlin chassis Taurus with a 9:1 CR 358 with 605HP and a Richmond Road Race tranny

I'll miss WG, Mosport and Mt. Treblant, but there are some nice tracks out west here, too. My first Z06 drive was at Montecello, have you ever run there? Do it if you haven't.

X25

I do also have a 2013 Z06 (2LZ F55), and I do have the water-to-oil cooler.

At the track, I see oil temperature plateau around 270 degrees. Granted, it is not dangerously high, but it's still higher than I thought it would be. My 2006 Z06 when I owned it years ago usually climbed to 260 degrees, and so did the Grand Sport I owned last year.

When I looked up for the radiator at GM replacement parts for 2013 Z06 catalog I see two radiators:
(1) w/o performance package: The price is about $300.
(2) w/ performance package: The price is around $1100.

Is it possible that we do have water-to-oil cooler, but a smaller radiator? Or does having the water-to-oil cooler mean we have the performance package radiator (that comes with Z07) as well?

skxf430

My Z06 is a base model 1LZ without F55 so I don't believe I have the performance package radiator.

AzDave47

Yes, very likely you have the smaller radiator. All the newer Z06's have the water/oil heat exchanger, but only some have the larger radiator. It comes with one of the extra packages (Z07?) but certainly not standard.

X25

Do you think I can just replace the radiator with the performance package version? I'd love to see a sizable drop in oil temps

Another issue is price: The cheapest performance package (Z07) radiator I can find is $983 from GM parts direct. The Dewitts radiator for Z06/ZR1, 1139009Z has a list price of $895 and I can buy it for $760. If the Dewitts radiator is cheaper and better, I should go that route, but John from Dewitts told me that their radiators do not have a big impact on oil temps; go figure...

MTPZ06

If you've got that new of a car, and you're looking to keep your warranty in tact, I suggest you go to your local dealer to cut a deal on the GM upgraded radiator...it's actually a ZR1 radiator. Going with a Dewitts may result in a warranty issue if you ever have any engine issues, overheating, etc, down the line. They may catch it; they may not...but if it's me, I wouldn't risk it if I wanted to keep my warranty in tact.