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Normal Operating Motor Oil Temperature

posted by  Lord Volvo on  Tue Jan 25 08:50 CST 2005
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last visit: Sat Oct 4 15:55 CST 2014
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Just installed my newest toy - an oil temperature gauge. It's even in Fahrenheit!

I was wondering what the normal operating temperature for motor oil is? I'm assuming it's around 210 degrees since this is the mid-point of the gauge.

Thanks.
--
Mike F - 1984 244 DL - 241,000 miles - Undergoing reconstructive surgery with POR-15








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    Normal Operating Motor Oil Temperature

    posted by  mcduck on  Tue Jan 25 09:03 CST 2005
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    last visit: Sun Sep 9 11:47 CST 2012
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    180-240F, depending on what you're doing to the engine.
    Pretty clever, putting 210 in the middle, huh?
    I needs to be >180 for condensed water to be driven out.
    --
    Jim McDonald








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    Normal Operating Motor Oil Temperature

    posted by  Steve on  Tue Jan 25 08:51 CST 2005
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    Should be very close to the coolant temperature, just under boiling.








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      Normal Operating Motor Oil Temperature

      posted by  david hunter on  Tue Jan 25 10:54 CST 2005
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      last visit: Mon Jun 30 22:10 CST 2014
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      Coolant temp can and does rise above 210 or even 212, that is why we use antifreeze with higher boiling points and that is why we operate the system under pressure. These 2 items raise the coolant boiling point significantly to stop boiling over.

      Parts of the engine around the cylinders, the head and certainly the exhaust manifold operate way above the coolant temp. Oil is always at a higher temp than the coolant, in fact that is why we often see oil coolers such as on the 6304 engines used in the 960's and S90's.
      --
      David Hunter








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        Normal Operating Motor Oil Temperature

        posted by  mcduck on  Tue Jan 25 12:03 CST 2005
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        last visit: Sun Sep 9 11:47 CST 2012
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        On my 740T it took a VERY long time on a cold (this is SF bay area "cold") day for the oil temp to reach even 180F, long after the coolant thermostat was open, and it never came close to the thermostat temp. unless I was flogging it; that's why I have a 940T oil heater/cooler (oil-water heat exchanger). It still takes quite a while, but at least it gets to 120 fairly soon. Turbos like hot, but not too hot, oil.
        In theory, moving parts of the engine are oil-cooled, with the oil transferring heat to the coolant, but usually the engine's under such a small amount of stress the oil needs help.
        I AM running Mobil 1; maybe dino oil's different.








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          Normal Operating Motor Oil Temperature

          posted by  Lord Volvo on  Tue Jan 25 14:23 CST 2005
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          last visit: Sat Oct 4 15:55 CST 2014
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          I have the same experience with my slow-rising oil temp gauge. Today in Ohio the outdoor temp was generally in the 30s. My car is parked in an unheated garage. A 20-minute drive today brought the oil temp barely above 160 degrees.

          I don't push the engine, and drive quite gingerly. That and the outside temp may be factors contributing to the low oil temp reading.

          Then again, I've only had the gauge working for one day.
          --
          Mike F - 1984 244 DL - 241,000 miles - Undergoing reconstructive surgery with POR-15








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            Normal Operating Motor Oil Temperature

            uid 11021's pic
            posted by  dewfpo on  Wed Jan 26 16:27 CST 2005
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            last visit: Thu Oct 23 18:34 CST 2014
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            Where did you tap the sender into?

            DEWFPO
            --
            1998 S90 071,245 and 1995 964 154,100








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              Normal Operating Motor Oil Temperature

              posted by  Lord Volvo on  Wed Jan 26 16:41 CST 2005
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              last visit: Sat Oct 4 15:55 CST 2014
              [RELATED]

              I use the VDO oil drain plug sender. I thought I read once that temps at the bottom of the oil pan were lower than elsewhere in the engine.
              --
              Mike F - 1984 244 DL - 241,000 miles - Undergoing reconstructive surgery with POR-15







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