how cold is too cold for oil temps?

blackbird

John:
I'm running like 160 when temperatures is in the 30's. OK or no?

IDZRVIT

Below 160 F is considered too cold for the oil to provide proper lubrication.

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atropine

thx for the link on the diy cover, i spent an hour and made one yesterday. today outside temp is 36F, now oil temp is holding steady at 185. perfect!

6MT

That's not cold. Try it at minus 35. I would think you'd have an issue then.

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Andrew

2009 370Z Sport/Touring 6MT sold
2013 Honda Civic Si coupe D/D

Jordo!

I've been thinking for a while now that anyone who does an oil cooler for their DD needs to get a 200* thermostat put on it. That should be about perfect -- neither too cold nor too hot, with room to fluctuate a bit.

If you guys need a block off plate for the 180* temp thermostat in the winter, it's just too cold a temp setting IMO.

Running one without a thermostat unless it is a track only car is probably counterproductive.

Based on anything I've ever read, I wouldn't beat on it until it reaches about 175*-180*. If you start to creep up over 250*-260*, let it cool down.

The 190* F - 220*F sweetspot somebody mentioned is probably about right.

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chuckd05

It's alot easier to Velcro a cover on your cooler than swapping thermo plates in winter and summer .

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sig11

Here was my solution... I went from 160 on 50-60F days (city driving hits 180) to a solid 180 at highway speeds (~220 city driving) at 20-40F days. All it takes is an old cardboard box. It's ugly and mine has melted from driving in the rain but it works. A friend was building me a more permanent cover but I haven't heard from him in a while.


(click for full size)

flashburn

Just make the one in the DIY someone posted above, it's pretty simple, and requires minimal tools. I'm going to be making mine tomorrow or Sunday.

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Jordo!

Why would you guys swap thermostats from winter to summer. Just run a 200*F thermostat all year round

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flashburn

No one other than Chuckd was talking about swapping thermostatic plates, and I think he was just confused. It would just be stupid to do that based on weather conditions.

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atropine

My oil cooler did not come with a thermostatic plate, and I figured that if anyone wouldn't need one it would be me; after all, isn't the Las Vegas area one of the hottest areas in the country? I guess I was wrong, but fortunately making a cover was simple and switching it in and out is a snap.

wilsonp

I'm puzzled that my car never gets over 200 and often shows 180 after ten minutes even back in 70 weather. I don't seeevidence of an oil cooler and the previous owner wasn't the type to mod at all.

I don't think I got over 200 on a two hour highway drive in 70 weather.

Maybe my sensor is off?

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wilsonp

I'm puzzled that my car never gets over 200 and often shows 180 after ten minutes even back in 70 weather. I don't seeevidence of an oil cooler and the previous owner wasn't the type to mod at all.

I don't think I got over 200 on a two hour highway drive in 70 weather.

Maybe my sensor is off?

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2014 Cayman S PDK Sport Chrono White/Black
Was 2009 370Z Touring Sport+Nav 7AT Metallic Black/Persimmon
Was 1991 NSX Auto Black/Black

Jordo!

I don't think I've seen it over 180 - 200 F in temps below 75 F.

When it's closer to 90, absolutely, but rarely over 220.

By the way, by recommending against "beating on it", I'm talking sustained high load, like racing (i.e., keeping it at high RPM's) -- you can certainly get on it hard enough to drive normally before the oil is at optimal temps.

That said, you obviously won't break anything if you do race it before the oil is warmed up, but it will contribute to greater engine wear.

Also, I'd put the minimum temp more like 160 - 170F. Anything below is 160 is way too cold, while closer to 180 is better, and 190 to 210 is probably ideal.

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chii370

well its about six thousand degrees here in guam every day of the year, even when its raining..... its just six thousand degrees and everythings wet. whenever normal commuting at the islands lame 35mph limit "or in my case 60 because i speed NORMAL" the car runs at about 210 to 220, or at least thats what the temp guage on the dash says. i thought it was established that the car goes into retard mode at 220? so why is it good to keep it in the 180-210 range? i dont understand the logic of keeping it so close to the red zone so to speak. wouldnt it depend on what type/viscosity oil your running? theres MASSIVE differences in W values, and in synthetics when even the slighest differences in temp are considered. Is my car running hot? i mean, normal city driving it sits at 210-215, cruising with no gas i can get it to lower, but against a headwind it will hover at 220 and stay there to keep a consistent speed over time.