Tracking question
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2014
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From: Ontario Canada
Tracking question
I need some knowledgeable input on temperature ranges for track days.
I'm running a 2017 Z06/Z07 A8 convertible with stage 3 aero and SS tires. Running on a 2.49 mile track with high speed corners... long high speed straight. I'm short shifting to keep temps under control but not really sure what my upper temp limits should be.
I was maintaining water temps in the @ 220-230 range but saw oil temps quickly getting into the 240's and higher. What should be my upper limit on oil temps? I've read various discussions that seem to indicate 280's are okay and not uncommon... wondering how reliable that info is.
Those of you running these high speed tracks, what are your temps running? Water, oil, transmission, etc?
I'm running a 2017 Z06/Z07 A8 convertible with stage 3 aero and SS tires. Running on a 2.49 mile track with high speed corners... long high speed straight. I'm short shifting to keep temps under control but not really sure what my upper temp limits should be.
I was maintaining water temps in the @ 220-230 range but saw oil temps quickly getting into the 240's and higher. What should be my upper limit on oil temps? I've read various discussions that seem to indicate 280's are okay and not uncommon... wondering how reliable that info is.
Those of you running these high speed tracks, what are your temps running? Water, oil, transmission, etc?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
With an M7 and the Secondary Radiator my oil temps will run in the mid 270s on days with ambient temps in the low 90s. Without the secondary radiator I suspect they would be at least 10 degrees higher. I don't think you need to worry unless they approach 300. Mobil 1 is good for more than 300 degrees especially if you have the 15W50 oil like GM recommends.
Bill
Bill
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 583
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From: Ontario Canada
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 858
From: Cresson TX
The car will shut down when you reach the coolant threshold of 253*. It will typically run up to that temp.
Oil temp, however, stops reading at 312*. The temp sensor does not read past that.
Talking to someone within the powertrain group for the LT4, anything under 300 is acceptable. The oil looses its shear strength in the 330-340* range, and thats usually when catastrophic failure occurs.
Our experiences says we can sleep at night with out silly oil change intervals when we keep the oil temp below 280. In general, bad things happen to metallurgy with sustained temps above 300. This goes for transmissions and rear ends as well.
At some point in your tracking, youll probably lose the throttle. It will not accelerate, and seems weired. You take a cool down lap, and all is fine again. What gives? Thats the intercooler pump shutting down, the Intake air temp reaching a threshold of 250*, and the car shutting the throttle off. This is normal, and has to do with the blower coolant system. There are ways around it, which we have solved with proper system bleeding and blower coolant maintenance.
Please see this thread when we discovered the pump shut down.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-shutdown.html
Oil temp, however, stops reading at 312*. The temp sensor does not read past that.
Talking to someone within the powertrain group for the LT4, anything under 300 is acceptable. The oil looses its shear strength in the 330-340* range, and thats usually when catastrophic failure occurs.
Our experiences says we can sleep at night with out silly oil change intervals when we keep the oil temp below 280. In general, bad things happen to metallurgy with sustained temps above 300. This goes for transmissions and rear ends as well.
At some point in your tracking, youll probably lose the throttle. It will not accelerate, and seems weired. You take a cool down lap, and all is fine again. What gives? Thats the intercooler pump shutting down, the Intake air temp reaching a threshold of 250*, and the car shutting the throttle off. This is normal, and has to do with the blower coolant system. There are ways around it, which we have solved with proper system bleeding and blower coolant maintenance.
Please see this thread when we discovered the pump shut down.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-shutdown.html
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"Keeping You on Track!"
http://www.gspeed.com
877-512-5180
Instagram_Facebook_YouTube
GSpeed C7Z Cooling Development
2014 NASA Texas TT1 Champion
2015 NASA Texas ST1 Champion
2018 NASA TTU & TT3 National Champions
2019 NASA ST2 National Champion
2019 NASA Texas TT2 Champion
2020 SCCA Majors COTA GT2 pole sitter
2020 SCCA Trans Am Road Atlanta SGT Winner
2022 NASA National Champion ST2
2023 NASA National Champion ST2
2023 NASA National Champion TT2
Track Rat
Joined: Oct 2006
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I had a student last month with a Viper and we ended up on the roof after he made a small mistake in a high speed corner. It's amazing how quick it happens. Luckily the car held up well and neither of us were hurt. If we didn't have a roof though things would have been very different.
