spartan8270

As some of you may know the early C6 Z's had an Air to oil cooler and it causes engine oil temp to stay well below optimum temp while street driving. I could never get my oil temp past 175 even on 100+ degree days and it had always bothered me. Also took at least 20 mins of running to get to 150 degrees. Made me wonder if valve guide wear is attributed some to the low oil temps these cars see during street driving. So I bought the factory c6 Z51 block off plate, gasket and bolts and removed the factory cooler. Took about an hour. Pretty simple. Normal driving around town oil temp got up to around 195 and it was about 85 degrees yesterday in VA. Took a couple highway pulls to 160 (in MEXICO) and oil temp never got past 215 which I think is perfect. I always run Mobil One 5w-30. I wont worry about oil temp until I start seeing 260+. Anyways I think oil cooler removal if you dont track your car is a great idea and only cost about $30 for all the GM parts to do it. If I ever track the car I can put it back on.

IansInGarage

Good call, it's important to have oil temp up to get rid of the water and gas that leaks into the oil naturally. I'm not so versed in Z06 territory or options; but wonder why they don't use a thermostat on the oil cooler. It's pretty common on aftermarket setups that are worth their weight.

spartan8270

I believe in 2011 they went to a new cooler setup that runs through the radiator so it brings the oil temp up to temp faster and higher temps.

Unreal

For a street car, or 1/4 mile car, or anything that isn't a heavy road race car, removing the factory oil cooler is a great modification. It does more harm than good for most cars.

reasonable suspicion

I just put the blanket on mine, but this seems to be a better idea so you don't inhibit radiator air flow. Do you have part numbers? How much less oil is needed now?

spartan8270

[QUOTE=reasonable suspicion;1595485046]I just put the blanket on mine, but this seems to be a better idea so you don't inhibit radiator air flow. Do you have part numbers? How much less oil is needed now?[/Q


I still put 8 quarts in it after and its right at the 3rd mark.

plate- 12577903 x 1
Bolts- 11588714 x 2
gasket-12611384 x 1

reasonable suspicion

Awesome, thanks very much

geezel

I also remove the oil cooler on my 2007 and am very pleased with the results.

MTPZ06

Precisely why I upgraded to the ZR1 (water cooled) oil cooler/heat exchanger along with the much nicer ZR1 radiator (larger griffin core, aluminum end tanks).

jayyyw

I recently removed my oil cooler as well. Stays a consistent 200 degrees will cruising on the highway. Highest it's gotten is 230 after driving for ~1hr and taking it to Mexico but cooled to under 220 degrees between runs.

FYI, I sold my stock cooler for $200. I have 0 plans to road race the car so I had no more use for it.

Unreal

220-230F oil temps are great. Hotter oil protects better, and sooner oil temp is up to temp, less wear and more protection.

Apocolipse

Not including extremes of course.

160-240 you are good. Higher or lower tends to start different types of wear issues.

And no cold oil is not why there are valve stem wear issues.

meanjoe

I wrapped my cooler in aluminum duct tape. It will pretty much match the water temp now. So around 200-210 most of the time.

DaOtherOne

Can this be done on jack stands?

meanjoe

I have a Callaway Honker CAI. I just took it off and taped it through the hole I made for it. Not too sure how you get to it otherwise. Maybe just take off the grill, it's right behind it.

1972bluelt1

Did you completely remove the cooler and it's lines from the car?
At 70* mine will run 135* on the highway. That always bothered me.

jayyyw

I did on mine. 95 degree day and my oil temp was steady at 200 degrees on the highway.

JaredW

Yes, right under the nose there is a rubber shroud that's held by 3 bolts, if you remove them you can access the oil cooler easily.

spartan8270

Yes completely removed as well as the lines and installed the OEM parts block off plate

Josh B.

Very happy I went with my ZR1 oil heater.

OP data is cool to read, thanks for sharing.