Have only had the 2002 since Oct. and have seen engine oil temps in the mid 290s. On a cool/winter day oil is about 250-260. On a warm day -low 80s- temp is in the 280s to 290s after only 10 minutes on the track. Around town its about 220 but who drives a Z06 aroung town??
The real worry is what will happen in the summer when the temp is in the 90s or above.
Manual states that OIL TEMP ALARM will come on at a temp of 320 degrees!!!!!!!! Can't believe the engine will last long under these conditions. Have heard via the grapevine that high oil temps like this are "normal" since GM does not provide an engine oil cooler. Sure I could install a Doug Rippie radiator/oil cooler but there is no doubt the warranty would be gone!

Anyone else experiencing this/any suggestions given that I would like to retain the factory warranty??

 

Dont get their raditor/cooler... the coolant never gets hot anyway. DRM also sells a great, very simple oil cooler... radiator, 2 lines, and an adapter that fits on the side of the block for the oil in/out. No oil filter relocation.
Very simple install... and could be easily removed if required.

 

Tom, your daily driving temperatures don't seem too far out of line. Living in Houston, steady state oil temperatures over 200 are the norm.

The Mobil 1 in your Z won't even break a sweat at 300 degrees. In fact, the oil will be fine long after the engine gives up. However, the consensus seems to be that a good oil cooler and transmission cooler are smart ideas for tracked cars.

The warranty issue is tough. If the GM guys get wind of your racing, you can kiss your warranty good bye. Under the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act, you do have some degree of warranty protection under Federal laws when it comes to modifications. The dealer is still responsible for doing warranty work on all parts of the car that are not affected by your modifications. In other words, interior, AC, suspension and other parts should still be covered regardless of the tranny and oil coolers.

Damned if you do. Damned if you don't. Personally, I would add the tranny and oil coolers to prevent damage rather than depending on the warranty to protect you. If you don't think you have the $$$ to pay for a new engine, I would also suggest less stressful forms of racing such as autocrossing.

My blood doesn't run rich enough to support the possible cost of playing on open track events. I'll limit myself to the autocrosses, a few passes down the 1/4 mile, and keep looking for a good racing cart to get my wheel to wheel fix.

Good luck.

 

[QUOTE] The warranty issue is tough.... Under the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act, you do have some degree of warranty protection under Federal laws when it comes to modifications... QUOTE]

Here is the exact wording:

“No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumers using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name....” (15 U.S.C. 2302(C)).

This only precludes the OEM from requiring you use a specific brand of product as a source of replacement/service materials. This does not preclude the OEM from requiring that all replacement parts meet the original component specifications. Therefore, the OEM can certainly void a warranty based on the use of any component that is not an exact replacement part to the original, that does not meet or exceed the original specifications.

BMW has taken this one step further, by providing all replacement parts and service materials, free of charge, for the duration of its warranty. GM simply requires all replacement parts meet published specifications.

Installing aftermarket components that do not meet the OEM specifications and configuration, are not included in the warranty act.

This is how most OEM's cover mods:

"Warranty does not apply to the following:

Modifications of the vehicle or installation of any performance accessories or components attached to the vehicle which alters the original engineering and/or operating specifications or which result in damage to other original components.... "

For example - Every "cold-air" intake on the market today changes the basic engineering configuration from the stock air-filter. Whether a K&N panel insert meets the conditions or not, depends on whether it can pass the GM test for air filtration specifications (so far not stated in any K&N literature, specifically.)

It sucks, but it's life in these modern times. :cheers:

 

I run the DRM HD Radiator/Engine Oil Cooler and the GM Performance Tranny Cooler. If I was running long track sessions I would add a second GM Performance Tranny Cooler to cool the differential.

If you are going to high-speed race courses, then I suggest your get some coolers and just prepare to cook your engine!