Has anyone changed their T-Stat in a DE-K or 3.0 DE using one from another vehicle, say from a 350z for example? If so how did you do it and how easy is it to do?

 

Now thats funny.

 

What running temperature are you trying to achieve?

How did Nissan get the running temperature of Maxima engines all wrong?

 

How is it funny to upgrade the cooling by using a tstat that opens more. Many other cars do this

 

So it's a flow rate issue?

 

For high performance cars or one thats used on a track it makes sense to run a Tstat that opens up at a lower temperature. The engine can take more abuse when it runs cooler.

 

If the car is just your DD, don't waste your time.

 

That would apply to most mods.

But for the sake of argument, let's assume he tracks the car too.

Dr J

 

Have a Z33 thermostat in my 02. Installed by KRRZ350. I know it's not a 3.0, but kicks in at a lower temp.

 

This is actually a VERY common practice in the 'warmer' states, as we don't have to worry about the 'winter' in our cars - however - with ambient outside temps running over 90oF for much of the year - a cooler running car for a DD is needed. (try being stuck on I-4 in Orlando for 2 hours behind an accident with a stock thermostat ... no you probably won't overheat, but your poor car is being tortured, same scenario with a 10oF cooler thermostat - and you engine is working more optimally at a cooler temp in order that when traffic does start moving again, it's ready to go.

 

Does Nissan not do any hot weather testing?

 

I have no doubt that they do, under 'precise' conditions, which do not exist in the real world traffic, especially the dead stop of traffic behind an accident with some pickups dual exhaust blowing straight into your radiator....

 

Im sure when the VQ was developed it wasnt intended to see boost or 7500 rpm. I see nothing wrong with this.

 

Is there any reason why they use a cooler item in the Z33?

The VQ was designed to be cheaply mass produced, and some of us like our cheaply mass produced engines to run with respect to the way we want and/or desire, whether it be tracking it, beating it down in hot weather. Most on here do not want some some general design that fits the average 4 door FWD solid rear beam axle'd vehicle.




I agree with this.

Watching my ECT go past 200ºF doesn't make me want to drive it much 'harder' than it already is, even if it is just sitting in traffic.

But in the end, a radiator is where the real meat and potatoes of the cooling system is at. Just an FYI, I'm not making out the Z to be Jeebus, but, it has an Al radiator... The design engineers were thinking that the customers for an RWD Coupe might be interested in that sort of thing.

 

I'm sure there is, but I'm quite sure it wasn't a cost issue. Different opening temps don't change the unit cost.

What upgrade thermo do Z33 users install?

 

Not sure where I amde mention it was a cost issue but more so the audience of the platform, i.e.e 'performance' or 'not so much'.

Typically the upgrade that the Z33 users go with is the, IMO, too cool nismo unit IIRC 160ºF.

Jime tried this and wasn't able to get to operating temp and saw some drive ability issues because of it (closed loop/open loop). I still say an upgraded radiator is best bet for adding cooling capacity.

 

Woah. Sounds like if someone was really bent on running that low of a temp, a tweaked ECU (change the closed loop point) would also have to be part of the pic, or it would be running pig rich. An interesting point I hadn't considered.

We certainly agree on the rad. I wonder if the alum rad on the Z is required due to a decreased frontal area, so a better heat transfer quality is required for the given area?

Food for thought.