Engine oil temp operating range?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 16,086
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From: Dallas Texas
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Engine oil temp operating range?
I was driving spirited today, then got into some heavy traffic. I noticed the oil temp peaked at 239 Fahrenheit per the digital read. Does that seem to high? 93 lt1
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,708
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From: indy indiana
engine oil does up to 40% of engine cooling. Normal should be around 195 or so to about 200 with normal driving . It will go up with engine temps. it will go up if oil level is way low. I think your reading was pretty much normal. you gonna do that stuff, you might think about an oil cooler.
Last edited by ghoastrider1; Apr 15, 2017 at 03:42 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,391
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From: South Dakota
engine oil does up to 40% of engine cooling. Normal should be around 195 or so to about 200 with normal driving . It will go up with engine temps. it will go up if oil level is way low. I think your reading was pretty much normal. you gonna do that stuff, you might think about an oil cooler.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
On my LT1/LT4 cars the oil temp runs about 10 to 20 degrees warmer than the coolant temperature once the car is fully warmed up.
The LT1/LT4 cars do not have an oil cooler and the oil spec was changed to GM4718M which is a higher heat spec. That is why they recommend synthetic oils that can meet that spec. Mobil 1 meets that spec and was the factory fill.
'91 and before did not have that oil spec requirement and used conventional oil. That is why many had an oil cooler that was included with the Z51 and optional. If the car has an oil cooler, I am not sure how the oil temperature would compare to the coolant temperature, but it may be different than the LT1/LT4 cars.
The LT1/LT4 cars do not have an oil cooler and the oil spec was changed to GM4718M which is a higher heat spec. That is why they recommend synthetic oils that can meet that spec. Mobil 1 meets that spec and was the factory fill.
'91 and before did not have that oil spec requirement and used conventional oil. That is why many had an oil cooler that was included with the Z51 and optional. If the car has an oil cooler, I am not sure how the oil temperature would compare to the coolant temperature, but it may be different than the LT1/LT4 cars.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: Sun City West, AZ
I am running a Lingenfelter 427 all aluminum Dart Block SBC with a water/oil heat exchanger and a Be Cool radiator. On a hot day (100+) autocrossing I never see the water temp get oner 195-200 degrees and the oil temp over 183 worst case. On cooler temp days my coolant runs about 180-185 and the oil 160-170.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 243
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From: Vancouver WA
My 92 has what looks like an oil cooler near the steering rack on the bottom of the car. My digital readouts for oil and coolant usually match within 2 or 3 degrees. I have an aftermarket 2 row aluminum radiator.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 551
Likes: 275
From: Orlando FL - USA
That's slightly high for a street car, but still within acceptable range, especially considering the circumstances. If you track the car at all, you may need an oil cooler, but if this is just a street car and it tops out at 240F, you are fine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
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From: Sacramento California
This article (linked below) is very long and he appears to know exactly what he is talking about. The relevant statement from the article, relevant for the purposes of this thread: "An ideal oil sump temperature range is between 215*F and 250*F."
https://540ratblog.wordpress.com/
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Park City Utah
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2021
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Oil temp ?
Hey I was driving around noticed all my gauges worked pretty good but my oil temp gauge don’t seem to pass 100 I was wondering if that’s normal I drive around in central California it’s about 87 drove around for abt 30 minuets ??
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: Hawthorne CA