Oil temps: 335 comparitive observation.

H2O_Doc

Odd. I used to spend all day at 220°F and above 280° when heavy on the throttle. With a 34 row oil cooler, I no longer have issues. I run Nissan's recommended oil.

Fountainhead

As said here before, I'm not certain that 220F is "damaging" our engine or our oil.
Also someone said probably most cars get that hot on a daily basis but no one ever notices because they're commuting, nothing in a normal commute would ever be noticeable (RPM's around a max of 3K).
I recall reading that the OCI of 3750 is due to our high oil temps? (Assuming Dino oil OCI).

juld0zer

that sounds about right for a late model BMW. They don't go by mileage or time intervals but a Condition Based Service scheme. Basically the onboard computer tells the driver what it needs so depending on your driving style, 15k miles might be possible but it is at the high end of the mileage range for CBS. When the driver presents the key at the BMW dealer, the dealer scans the key and retrieves the service data and that determines what maintenance is required at that point. At least our cars have a dipstick!
Also, of all the 135's, 335's and 535's i've driven, i'm yet to drive one that behaves differently when the oil/water/air is 'hot'. This is with a/c on too

Without sparking another oil debate, i'd say if the oil you use meets the extended service interval requirements of a major OEM then it should be good enough to serve in our car. eg. BMW LL01 (LL04 is for the diesels)

Antistupid

Wow, it seems I need an oil cooler just to drive this Z.

I purchased my Z with 10k miles, had it hit 270 on the way home. Figured they did a **** oil change. Switched to Castrol Edge 5w30 and lowered my normal driving temps to 220ish. Which is this Zs normal 60-70mph temp. I can do one maybe two interstate pulls then have to shut it down ,frown, and go home.

A local guy who has a 135i, heavily modded, runs a consistent 260 @70mph, no idea what it ran stock. same tt v6 as the 335.

Fountainhead

Hi Anti,

What's a "Pull" on the interstate, do you mean sustained high speeds, or downshifts to high RPM gears below/close to speed limit? Trying to understand your conditions. NOLA isn't hotter than FL, and mine's an 09, so my temps in FL on a 90+ degree day aren't hitting above 220, either in hellish stop and go for miles on interstate with AC cranking, or high speeds on interstate, or stop and go driving on days with 95+ heat.

juld0zer

wasn't there a lot of uproar also from the BMW community over the lack of sufficient oil cooling for the 135/335/N54 powered vehicles?

From memory, BMW eventually caved and an additional oil cooler was retrofitted. The engine has an oil to water heat exchanger as standard in the oil filter housing. Retrofits had an extra oil to air cooler mounted in the fender with a louvre near the front of the tyre. Retrofitted models also have two large-ish oil hoses running across the engine from the filter housing to the fender.

Limeybastard

So effectively the 2013+ heat exchanger doesnt really do much. Mine almost gets to 220 also and its a 2014 MY. This is with spirited driving then followed by stop go traffic.

juld0zer

put it this way, if your coolant temp is 100*c then your oil temp cannot be cooler than 100*c. I find that once you get the oil above 90*c it's hard to get it down again no matter how gently you drive after thrashing it. The engine needs to be switched off and rested.

Personally, i still think the oil to water setup is sufficient for most drivers. It's certainly better than nothing

2011 Nismo#91

There's something wrong with your car if you go into limp mode after 1 or 2 WOT pulls.

njobe89

i was coming back from the airport this morning and was driving 70-80mph the whole time and the temp was close to 220.. usually it sits at about 200... highest it got was 240 in stop and go traffic.

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kidkotic2001

Lately here in El Paso, TX. we have had 100+ weather and I have noticed that my oil temp went passed the 240 into the 260 rage I am guessing. About two days ago it went to 280 and above it was 112 and I was driving home I definitely felt that limp mode and it sucked. I wonder with the weather that we are having if this is going to be the norm I don't think i will be able to drive the Z often we are getting this weather all summer long.

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H2O_Doc

I haven't experienced 112°F in my Z, but 90°F and aggressive driving with a 34 row oil cooler hasn't caused any excessive temps. Preciously I sometimes saw 280°F and backed off to get temps down. As many have noted, a block off plate in the winter allows oil temps to get sufficiently warm enough in a reasonable amount of time.

This is why the oil cooler is my favorite mod.

2011_6Spd

I used to hit 230-240F when driving aggressive on the highway in 90-100F weather. Last oil change I went synthetic 5w-30 and it seems to have helped keep oil temps in check. I've driven in 95F weather spirited and have yet to crack 230F. Anyone else notice this. Also it seems most of these higher oil temps are on the 6spds.

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H2O_Doc

I had (perceived) heat problems in both a 6MT and 7AT. Oil cooler got me where I "want" to be. 98°F ambient and hard driving and I never get near the temps I experienced before.

Jordo!

220* F is fine. Try the arc fins for a modest drop -- you really aren't seeing temps that point to the need for a cooler.

Now if you start tracking it -- that might me a different matter, but your range is is safe, if slightly warmer than optimal for max power (and I mean like a 10-15* F drop would be perfecto).

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