High Oil Temperature.

Baz · #1 (**permalink**) 01-29-2010, 10:29 PM

I recently did my Brake Test at Oran Park Raceway. It was a stinking hot day. There were three cars being tested that day. Each car took about 2 hours and I didn't get onto the circuit until 1pm, the hottest part of the day. The Engineer gave the Cobra a fairly good workout for the 2 hours while he was doing the tests and the Oil Temperature rose to 150 degrees C. I am not running an Oil Cooler as the one fitted under the snout is connected to my 6L80E Tiptronic Transmission. Would that temperature rise be abnormal on a 6 litre LS2 V8, bearing in mind the days temperature and the workout that the car was receiving?

The water tempertature remained at a constant 80 degrees C all day. No problems in that department.

I would appreciate any help that you experts out there can supply.

Baz

hsv300 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-29-2010, 10:48 PM

Not sure on the oil temp but 120c on the water seems a bit high to me? My LS1 runs around 90c - 95c.

Merv and Sharon · #3 (**permalink**) 01-29-2010, 11:13 PM

My Ford runs water temp at about 85-90C. Oil pressure what was that Baz?

Baz · #4 (**permalink**) 01-29-2010, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merv and Sharon

My Ford runs water temp at about 85-90C. Oil pressure what was that Baz?

Sorry Merv, Incorrect info. My Water Temp was around 80 degrees all day and the Oil Pressure sat on 40 lbs.

Baz

bobcowan · #5 (**permalink**) 01-29-2010, 11:30 PM

Oil is heated by rpm's. I'm not real familier with this test, but it sounds like it get's beat on pretty hard. That's pretty high for oil temp. I would change the oil and not worry about it, unless you plan on repeating that sort of thing pretty often.

Merv and Sharon · #6 (**permalink**) 01-29-2010, 11:53 PM

That sounds better Baz. Oil pressure - I am not sure what that should be on a LS engine but that seems lowish?

Baz · #7 (**permalink**) 01-30-2010, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merv and Sharon

That sounds better Baz. Oil pressure - I am not sure what that should be on a LS engine but that seems lowish?

Merv,

I have to drive the car up to Wyong on the Central Coast next Saturday. The Engineer couldn't do the Noise Test at Oran Park as there were a number of Formula Fords racing around with open exhausts, so we have to do that test plus the full mechanical inspection outside his premises which is situated in a quiet location.

I will be doing around 200 k's that day up and back so I will log all my temperatures and pressures at various times of the journey then put them into this thread for comment.

I'm more concerned about the Oil Temperature than anything else.

Baz

Modena · #8 (**permalink**) 01-30-2010, 04:30 AM

40 sounds ok to me, I think the "danger" minimum from memory would be about 25. I had an oil pressure gauge in my LS1 SS, and I seem to remember (its been a few years) it was always below 50

750hp · #9 (**permalink**) 01-30-2010, 03:05 PM

I found the hotter the oil, the lower the oil pressure. As you were maintaining reasonable oil pressure, hopefully that means the sky high oil temp hasn't done any lasting damage. After a couple of laps of Qld Raceway, my Ford motor's oil temp was at 140+ degrees. An oil-rep mate of mine said it was at the upper limit of the oil. Exactly the same combination on the street never got anywhere near that temp, so I wouldn't worry further if you're not planning any more track time.

*Cobber* · #10 (**permalink**) 01-30-2010, 06:25 PM

LS engine should be running the good old Mobil 1 synthetic 5w30 oil and while 150c is pushing the friendship the only damage will be that the oil will oxidize quicker and it's life ill be shortened somewhat. It's a good idea to drop the oil in a new engine after a couple of thousand anyway to get rid of the manufacture debris. Synthetic oils oxidize much less than a mineral.

A mineral oil at that temperature would be just about stuffed and would require a change. A mineral oil's lie halves for each 10 degree rise above 70c. Automotive oils are packed with antioxidant additives and when exposed to high temps they soon get used up.

If your going to spank it on a track day I would change out to Mobil 1 5w50

Just my two cents but your engineer must be nuts doing a heavy track day to test the brakes before the full mechanical inspection.

Modena · #11 (**permalink**) 01-30-2010, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Cobber*

Just my two cents but your engineer must be nuts doing a heavy track day to test the brakes before the full mechanical inspection.

why do you say that Cobber? I reckon it's the perfect place to push the car to the limits to find out if anything is going to break, fail, or fall off, rather than having it break on the road in an uncontrolled environment and potentially cause harm. And as for the oil temp I'm pretty sure the full mechanical inspection is not going to include testing the current lubrication properties of the oil

not trying to have a dig, just my opinion.

OZCOBRA · #12 (**permalink**) 01-31-2010, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Cobber*

LS engine should be running the good old Mobil 1 synthetic 5w30 oil and while 150c is pushing the friendship the only damage will be that the oil will oxidize quicker and it's life ill be shortened somewhat. It's a good idea to drop the oil in a new engine after a couple of thousand anyway to get rid of the manufacture debris. Synthetic oils oxidize much less than a mineral.

A mineral oil at that temperature would be just about stuffed and would require a change. A mineral oil's lie halves for each 10 degree rise above 70c. Automotive oils are packed with antioxidant additives and when exposed to high temps they soon get used up.

If your going to spank it on a track day I would change out to Mobil 1 5w50

M2CW..
Stay away from the good 'ol Mobil 1... the GOOD tuners I've used with LS motors wouldn't go near it given the choice,and with what they MOBIL charge you'd best have deep pockets $$$$$$$$.....I've always used Castrol Edge Sport 10w/60 not always readily available but for me a better choice.

*Cobber* · #13 (**permalink**) 01-30-2010, 07:15 PM

Dig away.

Pushing the car to the limits waiting for things to fall off and break is not a good engineering methodology...... I'm sure Baz has done an exceptional job but it would make more sense to do the engineering inspection before the brake test. How did the engineer know the drive shaft and suspension bolts were done up or even if the seat belt anchorages meet specification?

I'm sure the engineer doesn't work as a part time crash test dummy and would have at least checked these things visually before going out, at least I hope he would have.

Nobody has ever mentioned that the oil is part of the engineering inspection.

Modena · #14 (**permalink**) 01-30-2010, 07:46 PM

sorry, I misunderstood. I thought you were inferring that the track flogging would highlight something which might cause engineering inspection to fail.

Rob. Smith · #15 (**permalink**) 01-30-2010, 10:38 PM

Most engineers do progressive inspections and take note of the builders competency and skills with out making any comments....it's all noted somewhere in his files.

Merv and Sharon · #16 (**permalink**) 01-31-2010, 02:19 AM

Sounds like you are fine then Baz and that the oil temp was due to the conditions that day. As others say, a change of oil could be a good idea. I am sure that the experience at Wyong will be a more relaxed one!

750hp · #17 (**permalink**) 01-31-2010, 02:56 AM

Wow - recommendations from 5W30 to 10W60...! Good luck with that.

I'm glad I can just pour any dirty old 20W50 non-synth cheapo oil in my Ford and be done with it!

OZCOBRA · #18 (**permalink**) 01-31-2010, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 750hp

Wow - recommendations from 5W30 to 10W60...! Good luck with that.

I'm glad I can just pour any dirty old 20W50 non-synth cheapo oil in my Ford and be done with it!

and $800 in Juice oneway for a trip to the West Wyalong Nats from memory in that 'ol Ford...those were the days!!!!

mr0077 · #19 (**permalink**) 01-31-2010, 08:17 AM

Baz, just a thought: The oil temp and coolant temp on mine pretty much follow each other, and your coolant temp was rock solid and normal, making me suspect the gage...you might want to check the oil temp sending unit or gage for accuracy. Also, seems that if the oil got that hot you would have smelled it; any light smoke or odor?

Baz · #20 (**permalink**) 01-31-2010, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr0077

Baz, just a thought: The oil temp and coolant temp on mine pretty much follow each other, and your coolant temp was rock solid and normal, making me suspect the gage...you might want to check the oil temp sending unit or gage for accuracy. Also, seems that if the oil got that hot you would have smelled it; any light smoke or odor?

Yes, Thanks Ken,

I did notice on a couple of occasions, black smoke coming from the exhaust momentarily when the vehicle was started when the engine was hot. I thought it may be because the current engine tune is a bit on the rich side. I could also smell the oil when he came in to pit when the oil temperature was showing 150 degrees C.

Baz