oil temp

paigeone

can any body tell me what the normal oil temp is during highway/city during the hot days of summer?

pompey

Mine is usally 220~230 at 90 degrees

Jordo!

There's a few threads on this (inlcuding a very lengthy one), but on the average it should be between 210*F and 220*F when fully warmed up under moderate to high load. A bit less under lighter load.

If you start creeping up over 250*F, give it a chance to cool off a bit (i.e., drive and coast in high gear without giving too much throttle)

I wouldn't beat on it until it reaches at least 180*F

If you regularly see sustained temps over 240*F, I'd consider investing in an oil cooler (several threads on this -- search) -- that said, it shouldn't be an issue unless you track the car hard.

Nissan recommends Ester based oils, which supposedly offer superior protection (less shearing under load) under high temp condtions.

After 5K on ODO, switch to a good Ester based synthetic like Redline for further protection.

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cossie1600

175F this morning in 70F temp, of course I do have a nice oil cooler

Jordo!

Is that the highest temp you see? That's a bit cold, and in the winter you'll probably be running too cold.

Is it a straight cooler or does it have a thermostat on it?

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cossie1600

It gets to 190 when I autox it, 200 was tops in 70F. I do have the 25R, which I think is a little bit for non track users. I have the mocal thermostat adapter.

It's June here in New England, we havent had a day over 80F since I installed the oil cooler. Go figures right...

I agree with you that I will need some kind of block off plate to get the temps up quicker. Matter of fact, I might make one now since I dont have the bottom tray back in yet.

cfleming2226

I see you noted 250, at what temp are you doing damage to your engine ? and is there harm in running a high temp of 220 for a prolonged period? Thanks

darrinps

I have been seeing 210 to 215 at 100 deg ambient here in TX.

I just switched to synthetic (Pennzoil 5w30) and will see if that affects it at all.

KillerBee370

With an oil cooler it tends to regulate the oil temp on the high end. Mine seems to have a ceiling of about 220. It's usually at 220. 230 at the track on a warm day. This is with Mobil 1

Jordo!

My recommendation is as follows:

Drive fairly easy until oil is at least 160*F -- ideally closer to 180*F, after that you can romp on it.

Driving around at sustainted temps between 200* and 225* is normal and perfectly safe.

Some power (a few whp) will be lost over 230*F, although it will still be safe.

If you are seeing temps regularly over 240*F, you aren't hurting the engine per se, but you are definitely losing power, hence my recommendation to see about a cooler.

A few dynos on here suggest 195* - 200* makes best power on the VQ37 -- this suggests that an oil cooler with a thermostat rated right around 200* - 210* would probably be ideal in summer and winter (the 180* F temp oil coolers seem to run too cold in the winter).

Bearing failure is a real possiblity under severe load (i.e., racing) at sustained oil temps greater than 260*F (which is why I said if it goes over 250* to let it cool down), although for short periods, oil temps that high will probably be fine provided a high quality synthetic with good shear properties is used.

In fact, for a well built motor with a really good oiling system (such as a dry sump), temps approaching 280* - 325+*F will probably be fine, at least for short bursts.

However, Nissan clearly feared some shortened engine life there (280*+), so this is probably about when the ECU commands the "limp mode" to reduce power output.

Hope that helps

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paigeone

thanks for all the info. big diff from my other car.

StealthZ

Also besides an oil cooler, I've seen temps lower just to different oils as the engine reacts to them a little different. I just tried some new Pennzoil Ultra 5w30 and from a quick comparison to factory fill it is a good oil. I couldn't pass up a deal for $25 with a pureone filter, I used same size that AK had posted for reference.

j.arnaldo

Hey, Stealth'!, I guess that offer on the Pennzoil + the Pureone's a National thing. PepBoys has it on their "shopper" this week, down here!--'xept down here it's $26, instead. BTW, is Pennzoil an "ester" motor oil? Thank God my Touring Coupe hasn't had the oil temp issue, Greetings!