Ls3 track day oil temp
08-02-2015, 01:26 PM
#1
Ls3 track day oil temp
Just hit up road atlanta this weekend and had a great time...I noticed the engine temps would hit 260 on harder driven laps. My would back off to keep it around 250-255 with lower gear revs. My question is what is a safe range to operate in and when does the high temp warning come on if there is one?
08-02-2015, 03:57 PM
#3
Drifting
Wow, 260? what were your tranny temps? I've hit over 225 engine oil temp in Dallas stop-n-go traffic.. that makes me nervous!
Last edited by SpeedUp; 08-02-2015 at 04:01 PM.
08-02-2015, 05:24 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
I've seen the oil temp hit that 260 when tracking. No biggie. Just make sure you do your cool down lap, park it with the hood open, and have your e-brake disengaged. The car will run the fans as needed even when off. Around town driving has the oil temps higher than before my track day at 206; quick oil change should solve that.
Good practice would be to have the oil changed and your brake fluid after a track day. I should be doing both before the seasons over.
Good practice would be to have the oil changed and your brake fluid after a track day. I should be doing both before the seasons over.
Last edited by KnightmareCS; 08-02-2015 at 05:27 PM.
08-02-2015, 09:33 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
Your car will never ever overheat in every day driving, even aggressive street driving. Those days are long gone. We have electric fans that are the equivalent of driving 40-50mph. We have really efficient radiators. If your car is overheating, you're either running from the cops or something is wrong with your car. I'd actually be hard pressed to get oil temps over 275 on the street, even on purpose.
My oil temps top 275 and even 285 sometimes. that's when I cool it down. I still have plenty of oil pressure so it's fine.
08-04-2015, 05:00 PM
#9
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '13
We have a retired oil company engineer ("LDB", I think) who once posted that the desired oil temp in a generic engine with generic 5W-30 oil, was 180-260 degrees F.
Only GM knows if the LS2/3 with Mobil1 5W-30 is different, and they ain't tellin'.
Does OP have the oil cooler that come with Z51 stick shift or GS stick shift?
Only GM knows if the LS2/3 with Mobil1 5W-30 is different, and they ain't tellin'.
Does OP have the oil cooler that come with Z51 stick shift or GS stick shift?
08-04-2015, 06:45 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
generic being generic synthetic or dino juice?
08-04-2015, 06:53 PM
#11
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C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
My 07 manual recommends adding a QT of oil for track use. Helps prevent oil starvation during hard cornering.
Not needed for dry sump eng.
Not needed for dry sump eng.
08-04-2015, 08:46 PM
#12
Drifting
260 is fine May consider a slightly more viscous oil in hot temps. on track. 5w30 M1 is not the best for roadcourse use. May look at something like a 5w40 depending on hot pressures.
08-04-2015, 08:56 PM
#13
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St. Jude Donor '13
generic being generic synthetic or dino juice?
I believe it was based on conventional (dinosaur) oil. Being as the Mobil1 is also a 5W-30; the viscosity should be similar at any given temperature, but a synthetic is said to provide better lubrication/protection at any given viscosity. How much better, I don't know.
I believe it was based on conventional (dinosaur) oil. Being as the Mobil1 is also a 5W-30; the viscosity should be similar at any given temperature, but a synthetic is said to provide better lubrication/protection at any given viscosity. How much better, I don't know.
08-06-2015, 11:53 AM
#14
08-06-2015, 12:03 PM
#15
Drifting
I disagree on the premise that the oil viscosity should provide a 30W equivalent up to the maximum temperature. In other words, it will never thin more than a 30W dino oil. The engine specs say that it wants 30W oil so increasing viscosity for the highest demand usage doesn't make sense to me.
08-06-2015, 12:11 PM
#16
We have a retired oil company engineer ("LDB", I think) who once posted that the desired oil temp in a generic engine with generic 5W-30 oil, was 180-260 degrees F.
Only GM knows if the LS2/3 with Mobil1 5W-30 is different, and they ain't tellin'.
Does OP have the oil cooler that come with Z51 stick shift or GS stick shift?
Only GM knows if the LS2/3 with Mobil1 5W-30 is different, and they ain't tellin'.
Does OP have the oil cooler that come with Z51 stick shift or GS stick shift?
08-06-2015, 01:47 PM
#17
Tech Contributor
260* is fine. If you consistently see above 300*, then you need to think about driving technique and/or better cooling.
08-07-2015, 09:55 AM
#19
08-07-2015, 03:18 PM
#20
Le Mans Master
It's really not RPM, but the amount of power the engine is putting out. If anything RPM can help by pumping oil faster. I keep rpm up but drop loan substantially. That seems to get me the best result in cars and bikes.