Oil temp takes a long time to come up - normal?

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Originally Posted by fastd

How accurate do you think the oil temperature sensor is, especially in cold weather? The reason I ask is that my oil temp characteristics are pretty consistent with what was written above. However, one additional observation: on cool days especially, for example, when my gauge reads 70 degrees and I come to a stop sign, the gauge quickly (within a minute or two) runs up to 80 degrees; if I turn off the car it goes even higher. When I start driving again it will go down to 70 very quickly, on cold days down to 60; all within seconds/minutes. Can the temperature of your entire oil system really change that quickly? Or is it that some parts of your system, or just the air flow on and around the temperature sensor are causing your gauge to move around?

I use mechanical gauges and always check new gauges before installing them by placing the sensor in a pot of water on the stove (wifey just loves this), you can check the gauge up to the boiling point of the water, 212 degrees.........

I have 2 gauges on my race car, one in the oil pan and one in the remote oil filter AFTER the oil cooler.. I've never seen sudden changes in temp as you describe, but will see a slight rise in temp in the oil pan after shutting down the motor for some minutes before things start cooling off on their own, same with the water temp.

David