Oil temp too high?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 87
Likes: 1
Oil temp too high?
2011 Grand Sport Convertible and I installed headers yesterday. Driving around on the highway oil temps hover around 228 degrees...is that normal? I never paid attention to the oil temp prior to header installation. Thanks guys!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,022
Likes: 18
From: Tampa FL (formerly Justinjor)
Tech Contributor
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14
Yep, perfectly normal. Were you driving around on the street? or the highway. If it's around town, that's definitely within spec. If you were driving on the highway at 70+ mph, I'd say it's a tad high, but nothing too crazy. My car stays at 204* when driving to work at 80mph.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 265
Likes: 3
From: Metamora, IL
When cruising after the engine is fully warmed up (can take 20 - 30 minutes) your oil temp should run about 20 degrees above your coolant temp. If you have the OE thermostat, I would consider your oil temp perfectly normal.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,425
Likes: 14
Gosh, in a way I'm a bit envious of these temps.
I have a Z with an oil cooler and it takes forever to get up to temp. I have to keep it in lower gears than what I'd normally cruise around in to try to get it warm. By the time it warms up, I'm already at my destination.
I have a Z with an oil cooler and it takes forever to get up to temp. I have to keep it in lower gears than what I'd normally cruise around in to try to get it warm. By the time it warms up, I'm already at my destination.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2011
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My coolant is at 189 when I'm on the highway and the oil temp at around 225ish...I figured the headers we're giving off more heat but just didn't want to be too concerned that those temps were going to be a problem
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,025
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
According to our retired oil engineer, 5W-30 oil is best between 190'-260'F if you are going to use full throttle. That's a generic number, not Corvette-specific.
The middle of that range works out to be 225', which is right where mine runs on the highway in summer. Of course, it goes up in a hurry once i do get on the throttle.
The middle of that range works out to be 225', which is right where mine runs on the highway in summer. Of course, it goes up in a hurry once i do get on the throttle.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 370
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From: Wellington FL
I would say that 225 is fine but seems to be a tad higher than most. I have a Z51 that has an oil cooler and I also have a 160 degree stat, and mine tends to be about 190-200 on the highway and 205 in town. I don't think the headers contribute much to oil temp, especially on the highway where the airflow carrries the heat out of the engine bay. In town, the headers may end up soaking the bay and bumping oil and water temps a few degrees.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 304
Likes: 1
From: Chandler AZ
Gosh, in a way I'm a bit envious of these temps.
I have a Z with an oil cooler and it takes forever to get up to temp. I have to keep it in lower gears than what I'd normally cruise around in to try to get it warm. By the time it warms up, I'm already at my destination.
I have a Z with an oil cooler and it takes forever to get up to temp. I have to keep it in lower gears than what I'd normally cruise around in to try to get it warm. By the time it warms up, I'm already at my destination.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 604
Likes: 129
I would say that 225 is fine but seems to be a tad higher than most. I have a Z51 that has an oil cooler and I also have a 160 degree stat, and mine tends to be about 190-200 on the highway and 205 in town. I don't think the headers contribute much to oil temp, especially on the highway where the airflow carrries the heat out of the engine bay. In town, the headers may end up soaking the bay and bumping oil and water temps a few degrees.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
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From: Bethesda MD
cover the oil cooler and you'll warm up faster. Doesn't sound like your daily driving needs the oil cooler.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
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From: Springfield MO
The oil cooler sits right in front of the condenser which is right in front of the radiator. Block the oil cooler and you are also partially blocking the radiator. Might not be a problem at 30 degrees ambient, but at 70 degrees, might cause coolant overheating.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,025
Likes: 2,716
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Next best would be to have a durable but easily-removable cover for the oil cooler. Take it off in Spring, put it on in Fall. Maybe someone already has done that.
