Water temp vs. Oil temp

stevewass · #1 (**permalink**) 04-22-2011, 08:11 AM

So I took my first run last weekend and was my watching my oil and water temps.The water and oil temp came up to 85 and while the water temp never really wavered, the oil temp would go up as i got on the car. It went from 85 to 95 but when I went into 5th gear and the revs came down to 2K the temp would go back to 85.
What is the normal oil temp? Should i expect it to go up if im pushing the car? What is too high or the danger zone?

strictlypersonl · #2 (**permalink**) 04-22-2011, 08:35 AM

Depending on how much the oil pan is shrouded, the oil temperature will usually follow the water temp. After all, the oil flows in the block, not too far from the water. Under load, the oil temp will go up some. The oil flow is what dissipates the heat of friction from all the lubricated components.

It depends on your oil, but the maximum safe (running) oil temperature is in the 280F (~140C) range, and that's far from the oil's flash point. The thing to really watch out for is an unusual rise in oil temperature. It indicates bearing failure. Been there, seen that...

Blas · #3 (**permalink**) 04-22-2011, 08:38 AM

You have a PM

Bxx1 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-22-2011, 10:52 AM

Good question.... now what would be the max water temp before things start to melt. Max relatively safe water temp?

DAVID GAGNARD · #5 (**permalink**) 04-22-2011, 11:40 AM

On my 65 fastback street car,in normal highway and stop and go traffic, water stays on 180, oil, 180 to maybe 190 tops, hard driving, running thru the gears at 6000rpms, oil will easily go to 200 to maybe 210.......on a road course a few times, oil temp will hit 230....

On my race car, race conditions, water stays bewteen 180 and 190, oil will get to 250 or on a long race in the summer,I've seen 275 a time or two.......I'd prefer oil temp to not go over 240, 220 to 230 would be even better........

Engines can withstand high water temps, seen 230 on the water a few times in parades,but once on the open road,it quickly comes down to 180......

David

jwoodard · #6 (**permalink**) 04-22-2011, 03:56 PM

Do you have the oil cooler hooked up on your SPF? That will have a lot to do with different readings. You really want your oil to get up to 100C to help dissipate contaminates in the oil. I usually see about a 10 degree C difference between my oil and water temps with the oil being the higher, under normal driving conditions. Under track conditions the oil will get a little hotter, but not much. Water temp usually runs 85 - 90 C no matter what the driving conditions are.

bobcowan · #7 (**permalink**) 04-25-2011, 10:58 AM

Oil is heated mostly by rpm's. Normla normal cruising and driving, it tends to stay pretty close to water temps. What you're describing is normal.

xb-60 · #8 (**permalink**) 04-30-2011, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevewass

So I took my first run last weekend and was my watching my oil and water temps.The water and oil temp came up to 85 and while the water temp never really wavered, the oil temp would go up as i got on the car. It went from 85 to 95 but when I went into 5th gear and the revs came down to 2K the temp would go back to 85.
What is the normal oil temp? Should i expect it to go up if im pushing the car? What is too high or the danger zone?

I was reading about the Daytona Cobras at Le Mans '64. Gurney and Bondurant were driving CSX2299. An oil cooler line ruptured, so the cooler was bypassed; the car continued for another 8 hours to the finish with no oil cooler and oil temp up around 300 deg F (150 deg C). So, 8 hours at up to 180mph and still strong at the finish - if you don't exceed those conditions, you should be OK!
Cheers,
Glen