"Low Oil Temp"
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 705
Likes: 6
From: Endicott New York
Oldtimer
"Low Oil Temp"
My car is stored in my unheated garage every winter as it has been for the last 5 years. I keep it on a "battery tender" but start it up and run it every few weeks during winter storage. This winter as been extremely bitter here in upstate New York, last night it got down to 15-20 below. Today when I started her up, I got the message "Low Oil Temp" first time ever. Even after running it for about 40 minutes today (I get the coolant temp up to 230 and usually get the oil temp to around 200 before turning her off), the oil temp never reached an actual number, the DIC still read "Low Oil Temp".
Does anyone know how hot the oil has to get in order to register an actual number?
Does anyone know how hot the oil has to get in order to register an actual number?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
When the temp is too low when starting you will never get a reading until you've turned the car off and let it sit for a while. For some reason the oil temp doesn't show even if your car is plenty hot. I believe I've seen as low as 20 degrees on the doc though.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 705
Likes: 6
From: Endicott New York
Oldtimer
It's never happened before, and I've had the car through 5 winters. This winter has been the worse though. Oil pressure seemed ok, it was at 40 lbs. I always get an oil temp reading by pushing the "gages" button, but yesterday couldn't get one even after running the car for a while and letting the coolant temp get up to 228-230 until the fans kicked in. ?????
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 136
Likes: 6
From: Lees Summit Missouri
Doesn't seem like that can be very good for the engine... poor circulation especially, right at start up. I think I would wait for slightly warmer temps or put a heat lamp or some other heat source on the oil pan/motor before starting.
Sorry you have to deal with that...
Sorry you have to deal with that...
If you have your car properly stored for winter like I do, don't periodically start up your engine unless you are going to drive it....50 miles or so. Starting up your engine, let it idle until it gets warm and not driving it at all is more detrimental to the engine than just leaving it stored until it is time to drive. The issue is the condensation that you are building up in the engine.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
It's never happened before, and I've had the car through 5 winters. This winter has been the worse though. Oil pressure seemed ok, it was at 40 lbs. I always get an oil temp reading by pushing the "gages" button, but yesterday couldn't get one even after running the car for a while and letting the coolant temp get up to 228-230 until the fans kicked in. ?????
The computer just never resets itself. I saw 19° this morning.
One time I turned my car on and oil temp said low, then drove it for an hour with it still reading low. Parked for about 30 minutes and when I came back out it said 140°, so it just took turning the car off for a bit. Weirdly it always takes more than 20 minutes, if you just cycle the key it will keep saying low.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 79
From: pueblo co
my oil temp works fine in my 03 Z06 ...my car sets in a garage, with right now the temps are 16 degree's outside give or take a few degree's from that..but in the garage my oil temp from a cold start in the garage will be about 60 to 70 degree's..and it will cycle just fine till i get it to operation temp..i know this because i watch my oil temps like hawk
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 705
Likes: 6
From: Endicott New York
Oldtimer
The computer just never resets itself. I saw 19° this morning.
One time I turned my car on and oil temp said low, then drove it for an hour with it still reading low. Parked for about 30 minutes and when I came back out it said 140°, so it just took turning the car off for a bit. Weirdly it always takes more than 20 minutes, if you just cycle the key it will keep saying low.
One time I turned my car on and oil temp said low, then drove it for an hour with it still reading low. Parked for about 30 minutes and when I came back out it said 140°, so it just took turning the car off for a bit. Weirdly it always takes more than 20 minutes, if you just cycle the key it will keep saying low.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
my oil temp works fine in my 03 Z06 ...my car sets in a garage, with right now the temps are 16 degree's outside give or take a few degree's from that..but in the garage my oil temp from a cold start in the garage will be about 60 to 70 degree's..and it will cycle just fine till i get it to operation temp..i know this because i watch my oil temps like hawk
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cesssna10
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 47
From: Big Canoe Ga
dip stick heaters. I dont know if they even make them anymore
