LS3 Oil Temps?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,262
Likes: 7
From: Kissimmee, FL
LS3 Oil Temps?
What kind of oil temps are you A6, LS3 owners seeing? Did a search but couldn't find too much feedback. It does seem the LS3 runs hotter oil temps than LS2 engines. Thanks! 
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,246
Likes: 130
From: Short Hills, NJ
I'd heard of a few cases where the LS3s ran slightly hotter coolant temps than the LS2s but not sure about the oil temps, could be related though.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,563
Likes: 2
From: Dallas Tx
Leave the DIC on odo and drive the car.
Every new engine that comes out, the chicken littles freak out that the oil actually has temperature in it. Normal. More hp = more heat. Newer engine = more heat. No wonder older, less powerfull engines, run at a slightly lower temperature.
Start car, turn on radio, drive.
Every new engine that comes out, the chicken littles freak out that the oil actually has temperature in it. Normal. More hp = more heat. Newer engine = more heat. No wonder older, less powerfull engines, run at a slightly lower temperature.
Start car, turn on radio, drive.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 125
From: laguna niguel ca
I've got A forged 427, built from an LS3/ls9 motor making over 525rwhp and my oil temps are the same as my LS2 motor. No difference. Normal driving my temps are 208-214 degrees. Not sure why you think they would be higher. If anything I would think mine would be somewhat higher, but there not.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,221
Likes: 899
From: CA
2017 C5 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '08
I have an 08 Z51 stick. When on the roadcourse or hitting the canyons hard, my oil temps get pretty high! I've seen 260+, but the coolants are only 200 to 210...
I may go with a bigger oil cooler for the summer.
JB
I may go with a bigger oil cooler for the summer.
JB
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 12
From: Alpharetta Georgia
After my 160t-stat my coolant temps run ~180deg and my oil temps run ~187deg all the time
. Would honestly like to get the oil temps a bit hotter, but I change the oil frequently to prevent sludging. Ambient temp during evaluation thus far has been anywhere from the 20's to the high 50's. I expect the oil temp to run 5~10deg hotter during the summer with the coolant temps staying pretty much the same.
. Would honestly like to get the oil temps a bit hotter, but I change the oil frequently to prevent sludging. Ambient temp during evaluation thus far has been anywhere from the 20's to the high 50's. I expect the oil temp to run 5~10deg hotter during the summer with the coolant temps staying pretty much the same.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,563
Likes: 2
From: Dallas Tx
I've got A forged 427, built from an LS3/ls9 motor making over 525rwhp and my oil temps are the same as my LS2 motor. No difference. Normal driving my temps are 208-214 degrees. Not sure why you think they would be higher. If anything I would think mine would be somewhat higher, but there not.
Comparing an LS2 to an LS3, it's a good comparison to show more power produces more heat. Very similar engines, cooling systems, tuning paramters, clearances... main diff being one generates about 30 more hp. Power is heat, the oil gets a hair hotter.
But it's no biggie, synthetic can handle temps way hotter than anything mentioned here. Get up into the upper 280's and you'll see a warning, but even then synthetic oil is just starting to sweat. 290sh/300sh, then I'd really say uncle and start cooling things down with either less aggressive laps or added cooling system capacity oil and water.
260 = heck you did that oil a favor, helps cook out the moisture.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 125
From: laguna niguel ca
Your comparing apples to oranges, a modded motor to a stocker. Probably different tuning, stat, clearances ....
Comparing an LS2 to an LS3, it's a good comparison to show more power produces more heat. Very similar engines, cooling systems, tuning paramters, clearances... main diff being one generates about 30 more hp. Power is heat, the oil gets a hair hotter.
But it's no biggie, synthetic can handle temps way hotter than anything mentioned here. Get up into the upper 280's and you'll see a warning, but even then synthetic oil is just starting to sweat. 290sh/300sh, then I'd really say uncle and start cooling things down with either less aggressive laps or added cooling system capacity oil and water.
260 = heck you did that oil a favor, helps cook out the moisture.
Comparing an LS2 to an LS3, it's a good comparison to show more power produces more heat. Very similar engines, cooling systems, tuning paramters, clearances... main diff being one generates about 30 more hp. Power is heat, the oil gets a hair hotter.
But it's no biggie, synthetic can handle temps way hotter than anything mentioned here. Get up into the upper 280's and you'll see a warning, but even then synthetic oil is just starting to sweat. 290sh/300sh, then I'd really say uncle and start cooling things down with either less aggressive laps or added cooling system capacity oil and water.
260 = heck you did that oil a favor, helps cook out the moisture.
