Ok,
I've posted about this before and read many posts on the subject, but I'm getting more concerned about this. Sorry for this long post. I'll start from the beginning.

When I first got my Z06 last spring I never remember ever seeing oil temps about 200 when just cruising 70-75 mph with the air on. I drove a few long distance trips last summer in very hot temps and it was always 194-198.

In the early fall, I switched to a K&N air filter and also switched the stock airbox cover to the Ecklers high flow airbox cover. It is basically a stock cover with a big hole in the top (about 4"x6"). Since then, I have noticed higher oil temps. I don't really know if this was linked and I really didn't see the increased temps for about 3-4 weeks after the airbox and filter switch but I wanted to include it here for reference.

In January of this year I changed the stock coupler to the smooth silicone coupler. These 3 changes are all I have done as far as performance mods.

In March I noticed oil temps tended to jump higher sooner when doing spirited driving. I would be about 190 and do a couple of 5-6k rpm runs in 2nd and 3rd gear and the temp would go to 212 very quickly. I had never seen it go up this much this fast before. That was when I posted most recently about oil temps. Everyone said this was no big deal so I relaxed.

I got a little more concerned this weekend when I did quite a bit of driving, both cruising and an autocross.
Saturday, we drove about 100 miles early in the morning when air temps were ~55. Oil temp was steady at 203 the whole way. This was higher than my usual 199 and the highest I have seen while cruising. On the way home we did some passing on two lane roads dropping it to 3rd and going to about 5krpm a few times and oil temps jumped to 224. The rest of the way home (60 miles) the oil temp only came down to 214.

That night I removed my home made debris guard and blew out everything I could from the radiator area with air compressor. A lot of small stuff came out, but nothing large blocking the airflow. I also removed the filter and box and blew them out. Just some dust came out.

The next morning drove another 75 miles early (cool morning temps) to my autocross event and oil temp was steady at 203 again. After my second lap (20 min wait between laps) oil tem was at 244 (yes I have an extra quart in). After my session, the car sat in the hot sun with 80-85 air temps for 3.5 hours. On the way home (again 75 miles but in hot 85 degree air temps) the oil temp bottomed out and remained steady at 212. I have never had temps that high for just cruising on the interstate 70-75mph with the air on. Last summer with similar conditions (maybe even hotter in Alabama) temps would hold steady at ~196.

What is going on...?
Is this just a result of the car learning the new air intake setup? Does the extra quart require the engine to do more work thus higher temps?
Just as a side note, my water temps have never gotten above 200 (even during autocross) and are usually pretty steady at 192. Is this the normal water temp? Also, the oil was changed only ~500 miles ago with 5W30 Mobil1. One other note is that I check the oil often and it never burns a drop.

I would appreciate any help, opinions, explanations, or setting me at ease if this it OK and normal. I am not so much concerned that the peak temps are too high. I know the engine runs better at higher temps and all that. I have heard that some people have reached 270-290 on track days. I am mainly concerned that the oil temps while cruising keeps increasing and seems uncommon. Most other posts have people stating cruising temps just below or around 200. I think 212-216 for cruising temp seems high.

All comments are appreciated.

 

sounds pretty normal to me. coolant temp and oil temp are separate. i saw 306 last time at TWS also with an extra quart in. but 212 seems pretty normal for highway, i often can see 230-240 with spirited driving. unfortunately chevy was to cheap to offer an oil cooler as an option.

 

Yes, your car is totally normal. My oil temps are almost the exact same during cruising, and under the different conditions you listed. I do a lot of canyon driving through twisty mountain roads near me with other Corvette owners, and during such spirited driving, especially while climbing up hill on a large mountain, the oil temps routinely get up to 240-250, and the coolant temps can sometimes climb to 220-230 temporarily until the fans kick in. Granted, the ambient air temps where I run are probably higher than what you're used to, usually in the 90's. The ambient air temps do make a difference on not only coolant temps, but oil temps as well.

The highest oil temps I've seen on my Z06 was 300F at Willow Springs at the end of a 30 minute session, and the ambient air temp was just over 100F. According to GM, as long as you're running Mobil 1, there's no problem with that oil temp. Although I would have backed off if it got to 310. IMO, when the oil temps get to 320F, then you need to start getting seriously concerned. Most NASCAR drivers consider 320 oil temps the "red zone" too.

 

I agree. Are you by any chance a hypochondriac? :jester

 

My car is pretty much 195-210 on normal driving, depending on weather and speed. Sounds normal to me.

Dope

 

Thanks guys. I feel a little better.
As I said, I wasn't worried about the peak temps, just that I had not seen average temps this high when cruising. I guess It is finally just braking in good.
Thanks.

 

Relax........mine's in that range too. It really doesn't take a lot of xtra RPM's to goose up the oil temp :thumbs:

 

Sounds normal. I've also seen above 300 on a road course, prior to my oil cooler install. The Z06 always got the oil temps up much higher than my Coupes did (255 from what I recall).

Now about 30 degrees cooler on the track and drops like a rock on the cool down laps (another 30 to 40).

Around town is anywhere from 170 to 195 with the cooler, depending on ambient temps and as long as I get some air flow over it.

 

Doug,
Did this change occur after the low oil light problem was worked on?
Dave

 

:withstupid:

 

Dave,
I had the oil level problem fixed in April. I had noticed higher temps in Feb and March, so initially no. But since having it fixed is when I have noticed the really higher temps this past weekend. Are you thinking while fixing one sensor, they messed up another? I will keep an eye on it, but I feel a little better after hearing that others see these temps. It just seems a lettle strange that they are going up a little over time.

 

on 90 f.+ oat days cruising on the freeway, i run at 190-192 f coolant and 200-205 f. oil temps. this is most 75-100 mph operation with a supercharger and 93 octane gas.

in khaleefohnia during 100 f.+ oat days, in the desert or mountains coolant would run 192 f. and oil up to 220 f.

if you start seeing oil temps topping 240 f., sustained you may need to consider an oil cooler. or have your oil temp sensors tested.

what and where is this home-made debris guard? when did you install it?

 

Just one more voice saying don't worry. Tooling around the canyons out here in So Cal routinely gets me to 220 - 240. I do about a track event a month here in the deserts and I've hit about 290 before backing off. My coupe never got close to these temps (more like 260 at the track tops). Higher reving/lower gearing I guess.

I would suggest though, you might want to spring for an oil cooler. Little pricey, but easy to install. What price do you put on peace of mind ;)