Oil cooler
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 65
From: Wauconda IL
Oil temps can exceed 250 degrees regardless of coolant temperature.
It all depends on load-
In my jet boat, the coolant never exceeds 160 degrees yet I need an oil cooler to keep the engine oil below 250 when I'm running flat out for more than a couple of minutes.
My BMW's oil temp sits at 245 all day long when driven hard or on the expressway but the coolant never exceeds 200.
Don't be fooled by coolant temps-
Oil temp is the true gauge on how hard your motor is working.
It all depends on load-
In my jet boat, the coolant never exceeds 160 degrees yet I need an oil cooler to keep the engine oil below 250 when I'm running flat out for more than a couple of minutes.
My BMW's oil temp sits at 245 all day long when driven hard or on the expressway but the coolant never exceeds 200.
Don't be fooled by coolant temps-
Oil temp is the true gauge on how hard your motor is working.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,573
Likes: 7,015
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Oil temps can exceed 250 degrees regardless of coolant temperature.
It all depends on load-
In my jet boat, the coolant never exceeds 160 degrees yet I need an oil cooler to keep the engine oil below 250 when I'm running flat out for more than a couple of minutes.
My BMW's oil temp sits at 245 all day long when driven hard or on the expressway but the coolant never exceeds 200.
Don't be fooled by coolant temps-
Oil temp is the true gauge on how hard your motor is working.
It all depends on load-
In my jet boat, the coolant never exceeds 160 degrees yet I need an oil cooler to keep the engine oil below 250 when I'm running flat out for more than a couple of minutes.
My BMW's oil temp sits at 245 all day long when driven hard or on the expressway but the coolant never exceeds 200.
Don't be fooled by coolant temps-
Oil temp is the true gauge on how hard your motor is working.
The oil is splashing against some very hot pistons and connecting rods in water-cooled engines.....a cooling unit/even one with a built-in thermostat can't hurt.
Last edited by doorgunner; Jun 1, 2018 at 01:10 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Just start using full-synthetic oil and forget about engine heat being an issue. With 200*F coolant temps, your engine oil is unlikely to run much more than 230*F. But, for your 'peace of mind', synthetic oil is very comfortable up to 300*F.
C3 (and other Chevy) engines have run fine for decades with 200*F+ coolant and NO oil cooler. Unless you are doing a significant about of racing, you are 'imagining' a problem.
C3 (and other Chevy) engines have run fine for decades with 200*F+ coolant and NO oil cooler. Unless you are doing a significant about of racing, you are 'imagining' a problem.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 946
Likes: 211
From: Foothills of the Adirondacks.
Oil temps can exceed 250 degrees regardless of coolant temperature.
It all depends on load-
In my jet boat, the coolant never exceeds 160 degrees yet I need an oil cooler to keep the engine oil below 250 when I'm running flat out for more than a couple of minutes.
My BMW's oil temp sits at 245 all day long when driven hard or on the expressway but the coolant never exceeds 200.
Don't be fooled by coolant temps-
Oil temp is the true gauge on how hard your motor is working.
It all depends on load-
In my jet boat, the coolant never exceeds 160 degrees yet I need an oil cooler to keep the engine oil below 250 when I'm running flat out for more than a couple of minutes.
My BMW's oil temp sits at 245 all day long when driven hard or on the expressway but the coolant never exceeds 200.
Don't be fooled by coolant temps-
Oil temp is the true gauge on how hard your motor is working.
Get the adapter plate with a thermostat. The oil will only flow into the oil cooler as needed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
My engine reaches 240 degrees on extended freeway or toll road speeds.
I'm using an Autometer gauge so I feel confident about the reading.
Guess I'm joining the club?
I'm ordering my oil cooler setup today.
I'm using an Autometer gauge so I feel confident about the reading.
Guess I'm joining the club?
I'm ordering my oil cooler setup today.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
Cooler Installed Yesterday But...
Somehow I got my cooler installed in the front of the condenser/radiator. Went with a 180 thermostatic sandwich adapter at the filter. I had to use a shorter oil filter as my headers are right next to the filter.
This morning I took her for an extended drive at speed. The cooler only cooled the engine oil down about 5 degrees. Not acceptable to me in our heat.
I'm purchasing a cooler with a fan now. I'll mount it on the spare tire carrier. Look for a new thread soon.
This morning I took her for an extended drive at speed. The cooler only cooled the engine oil down about 5 degrees. Not acceptable to me in our heat.
I'm purchasing a cooler with a fan now. I'll mount it on the spare tire carrier. Look for a new thread soon.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 65
From: Wauconda IL
Your car's cooling system does not cool your engine oil directly-
It's a by product of it cooling the engine from the heat of combustion.
I think this is where folks are having challenges seeing how the two fluids can have vastly different temperatures.
Coolant keeps the block and heads cool and the only way your engine oil benefits from this cooling is by contact with the heads/block as it runs down to the pan.
The harder your motor works (or the higher the output and compression of the motor), the hotter the oil will become in relation to the coolant temp.
That is why most HP, turbocharged or truck engines will have a separate oil cooler-
The heat from load these engines generate cannot be kept in check with just the engine's cooling system.
Just my .02
It's a by product of it cooling the engine from the heat of combustion.
I think this is where folks are having challenges seeing how the two fluids can have vastly different temperatures.
Coolant keeps the block and heads cool and the only way your engine oil benefits from this cooling is by contact with the heads/block as it runs down to the pan.
The harder your motor works (or the higher the output and compression of the motor), the hotter the oil will become in relation to the coolant temp.
That is why most HP, turbocharged or truck engines will have a separate oil cooler-
The heat from load these engines generate cannot be kept in check with just the engine's cooling system.
Just my .02
Last edited by ezobens; Jun 12, 2018 at 02:55 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,444
Likes: 970
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
Your car's cooling system does not cool your engine oil directly-
It's a by product of it cooling the engine from the heat of combustion.
I think this is where folks are having challenges seeing how the two fluids can have vastly different temperatures.
Coolant keeps the block and heads cool and the only way your engine oil benefits from this cooling is by contact with the heads/block as it runs down to the pan.
The harder your motor works (or the higher the output and compression of the motor), the hotter the oil will become in relation to the coolant temp.
That is why most HP, turbocharged or truck engines will have a separate oil cooler-
The heat from load these engines generate cannot be kept in check with just the engine's cooling system.
Just my .02
It's a by product of it cooling the engine from the heat of combustion.
I think this is where folks are having challenges seeing how the two fluids can have vastly different temperatures.
Coolant keeps the block and heads cool and the only way your engine oil benefits from this cooling is by contact with the heads/block as it runs down to the pan.
The harder your motor works (or the higher the output and compression of the motor), the hotter the oil will become in relation to the coolant temp.
That is why most HP, turbocharged or truck engines will have a separate oil cooler-
The heat from load these engines generate cannot be kept in check with just the engine's cooling system.
Just my .02
81/82 C3's with the factory installed oil temp gauge routinely will run 250 degrees on the oil temp gauge at the 12 O'clock position on the gauge and 200 degrees water temp.
My 10 C6Z06 runs 210 water temp with 200 degree oil temp BUT it has a factory installed oil cooler................