huskerhank

I am going to post this in a couple places on here but any help is appreciated. I have a 2003 Z06 that I bought last year. It has 24k miles on it. I am tracking this car and before I took it out(I did drive it back from Baton Rouge to Omaha and oil was just fine), I had a DRM external oil cooler and tranny cooler installed. Both are sitting in front of A/C condenser. I ran Amsoil 10W30 racing oil most of last year and my temps with a 20 minute session would get up to 270 to 280 degrees in 80 to 90 degree weather. So that is very high for having that set up. Over the winter, I went ahead and left in the external, and added the DRM radiator with integrated oil cooler. I took it out last weekend on a 80 degree day and still hit 268 in the afternoon. I am very perplexed. I noticed after I got home, my air dam was a little loose, so I fixed that. My other thoughts are move tranny cooler to the rear and center oil cooler, switch to 15W50 oil and just deal with temps, or spend another $1k and get louvered hood. Thoughts? I know everybody else here that talks about either setup runs 240, let alone having both. Thank you for your help.

RX-Ben

have you cleaned out your condenser and radiator? Also make sure your ducting is tight.

0Randy@DRM

I'm pretty sure I talked to your new mechanic about this. But anyways what air intake system are you using?

240 is a very good goal, but not always possible-depending on driving styles and etc.

Randy

huskerhank

Randy,

yes, I think you did. I am just trying to see what else I can find as another person with your DRM radiator with integrated oil cooler only in his 2004 Z06 runs 240ish. I have a Halltech Venom.

froggy47

Bad sensor reading high?

huskerhank

Thought of that, looking into adding separate gauge.

0Randy@DRM

Intake is not the problem. What kind of water temps are you seeing? It seems a bit high so that is why I'm going to ask a million questions.

Sensor issue is possible.

Randy

crimlwC6

Randy is top notch so listen to him but my question is why are you worried about 270 oil temps? That really isn't a problem for a car that is still running an A/C condensor IMO.

huskerhank

Randy, I am the guy asking people for help, so trust me, I do not mind any amount of questions. They are usually anywhere from 210 to up 220's max. They reason I thought 270 was high was only because it seems other people who have one cooler are running 240. Not that 270 is high, just high for my set up.

rfn026

270 degrees? And the problem is?

Richard Newton
Coolant Temperatures

Hi Volts Z06

There is no reason to have those kind of temps on either oil or water. I had similar issues and before going any further I'd give an Evan's racing water pump a try (assuming you've eliminated all the other obvious possible issues).

Give them a call and discuss your situation. Oil temps do have a direct correlation to water temps and getting down water temps has a big impact on oil temps.

I reduced my water temps 80 degrees with a unit they built for me. While that was a race only unit with no T-stat, I'm sure they can help you with your situation.

crimlwC6

Oil temps are related to rpms, so from track to track and driving style I think you are going to see some wide swings in temps. Just run it, keep an eye on temps and if you go over 290 consistently, deal with the problem.

froggy47

One direct influence on water/oil temps (more so oil IMO) is how hard you are driving the car. If you are playing near the red line lap after lap 270 oil is probably something you need to expect in a (mostly) street car. If the "other guys with the same setup" are short shifting or just shifting at a lower rpm than you are, that will explain 20-30 degf oil temp difference right there, without going any further.

That's why many will do a couple of cool down laps when they see oil temps up there.

Apocolipse

Use good oil and go thicker so you don't loose your film strength at those temps. And of course change more often giver!

RDnomorecobra

Agree with froggy, not uncommon that I will loaf around in 4th for a lap or two if temps get too high. I did add a Ron Davis integrated cooler so its better than stock (c5z), but still mine is a street car and I can get the temps up there if I try hard.

huskerhank

Well, thank you all very much for your input and suggestions. It sounds like based on what I am reading, I am not that far off the normal for what I do. I am driving very aggressive for a mostly street car. High rpm's and half way long sessions. The track I was at last weekend was High Plains Raceway in Denver which has 5 elevation changes and pretty hard on cars. I was probably over reacting some as I am relatively new to this and I just did not want to be doing more harm to my car than I should be. I have also just been very weary of heat. I already changed my oil over long DE weekends, so I should be ok. If anybody has more suggestions, I will obviously take them. I am going to looking into water pump.

LateBreak

LS3 water pump might be a cheap option versus going all the way to an Evans or similar, they're used on a number of high hp engines with good results. JB radiator cooler (Water Wetter) is also helpful, we typically saw a 15-20 degree reduction with JB added in versus straight water, though I assume you're running antifreeze in this car.

In any case, coolant temperature is an easier target than oil temperature, but it will help bring down the oil temperature in the process.

Apocolipse

Does the ls3 have a higher cavitation RPM compared to the others?

dbs1vette

I'm running a 620hp LS3 based 416 in my 04 Z with a Dewitt's radiator and integral oil cooler and in the last 2 race days in March and first part of April with track temps at 75-85 degrees I was seeing 268 degree oil temps. I HAD A CELEBRATION!!!

Using the same engine in a 02 camaro previoualy with a RD radiator and huge by large oil cooler I was regularly over 320 degrees on the oil. I drive pretty aggressive and am running up around 6800 rpm. I run 0-50 Mobil 1 RACE OIL.

When putting the engine in the vette we thermal wrapped all oil lines, headers and anything else that we thought could be a heat source or needed protection from heat. So far, so good, though next weeks race may see temps around 95 degrees so that will tell me more.

crimlwC6

I've heard that GM doesn't really get concerned in race situations if oil temps are under 300. It does thin oil; so not to start an oil thread but run appropriate oil. I had my ls3 c6 over 300 on a few occasions. The LS motors run hotter than most of us think is comfortable, in Phoenix I'd get water temps over 230 just from traffic stop and go. If you want to really lower temps, lay the radiator forward and convert from a bottom feeder to a front feeder. While I disagree with an 80 degree temperature drop, it will, from my experience, drop temps up to 40 degrees on the coolant side which helps with oil temps.