I have seen several post about oil temps and have recently started tracking mine under different conditions. No problems here, I’m just curios as to what brings it up and down. The water temp is obvious and I’m not asking about what makes it go up and down. This is my first motor with an oil temp gauge, so I’m a trying to understand all of the factors that impact it.

Has anyone determined a relationship between oil temp and engine speed/gear.

I know there is obviously a relationship with the water temp, but I have actually seen oil temp go down as water temp goes up (when stopped at a light for instance). But I have also noticed that oil temp seems to go up a little in 6th compared to 5th at the same highway speed. I would think the higher rpms in 5th would push it up, not down. Maybe 5th is better because of less torque resistance and more oil pumping.

Mine is also a little strange in that it stays down below 180 for quite a long time(30 minutes of driving), but once it gets up in the 200 range it seems to stick up in that range and never drop down close to the water temp. The water temp however, hits 190 in the first 10 minutes. I understand this is related to the oils resistance to absorb and release heat as compared to water, but 20 minutes. Is this somehow related to the ls1 having an aluminum block. Would an iron block conduct heat better?

I know this is all trivial stuff. I just like to understand these things for some odd reason.

 

When motor is under load you will see rise in oil temp. Mobil 1 oil does not start to break down until around 400 degress.

 

You want that oil temp to hit around 205, that allows it to properly burn off any condensation, etc., in the oil. I purposely drive around (when just taking it out for a short spin) until I least reach 203 so that I know that oil is at the right temp.

 

Normal oil temp should be between 190 and 240 F, Minimum about 180 and max 270, for most infernal combustion engines, in cars and airplanes.

 

It makes sense that you might see oil temp decrease while coolant increases, in that the job of the coolant is to suck heat out of the block, and therefore out of the oil. As to highway driving, I suspect that what you're seeing can be explained by the fact that in 6th, the engine is operating at a significantly lower rpm, and therefore the water pump is also pumping less coolant. In 5th, with higher rpm, more coolant is being circulated.

These are very dynamic systems, and you'll make yourself crazy if you think about it too much :) . As long as you're operating within a normal range of temps, as noted above, don't worry about it.

 

On a 70 degree day here in Ca, I'll see around 215 oil temp, and 40-45 psi. Coolant at 190. Amsoil 10-30 oil/ filter.
I agree with a previous post. You want the oil temp up there to burn off some built up water content. As long as oil pressure doesn't suffer. :cheers:

 

Go with Amsoil,and forget about temps. It will keep you :cool: