Dan H.

Seems like our cars tend to see high oil temperatures during track events. That said, what are safe oil temperatures to run at and what temperature should I pull the car in during the session? My car has Mobil1 5W-30. My car running around town is just over 200 degrees on the DIC. I've read about temps as high as 300 degrees which seems to high.

I'm running my first event next weekend and don't want to do any damage. My car is a stock 02Z

JeremyGSU

275+ I would say you are starting to get up there and want to let it cool back down. I saw near 300 when I first got my Z prior to installing an oil cooler.

Even with my Doug Rippie large oil cooler at Sebring in Florida temps I still see 255 or so if I'm running for awhile and pushing it.

I don't think it hurts to hit high temps as much as holding it there. If you start to see higher temps try upshifting early to help keep it down.

Most of my first time students don't get it too high their first day although I've seen it happen.

Socko

I wouldn't pull it in if they get high. Just shift early as started above. I can hold mine around 268-276 if i shift at 5500ish and dont always downshift to aggressive rpm in corners. You aren't going to break lap records but the car is still plenty fast to run that way in novice or intermediate groups.

wtb-z

Oil temps will eventually plateau around 300 depending on how hot it is outside. On my stock car I watch coolant temps, not oil.

Z06ness03

I would never feel comfortable pushing my car into high rpm with oil temperature over 230-240 degrees. Oil begins to get too thin at around 275 degrees and can sheer around the bearings causing metal on metal contact. Actually 260 degrees is considered the beginning of the danger zone by most people. This is one reason why when ever i have the heads off any of my cars i have the combustion chambers and exhaust ports TBC coated.

Dan H.

Thank you for the feedback gents!

GeorgeZNJ

Never worried if the temps were 300 or under. 275-280 seems normal

JeremyGSU

Do you track your car? 230-240 is pretty normal even with an oil cooler if you're doing tracks like Sebring or VIR in the summer.

Z06ness03

I do but I'm in the north eastern part of the country where it doesn't get so hot. But like i said oil can start to sheer at 275ish degrees around the bearings. I'm not saying this will cause you to spin a bearing but can definitely accelerate wear dramatically. Oil is supposed to create a barrier between your bearings and as it heats up it thins. At around 260+ degrees the pressure that is around the thrust load of the bears can cause it to sheer creating metal on metal contact. Personal preference but i prefer to keep my oil temps below 240 and certainly no more than 250. If you're drag racing that's different sense you are giving your car time to relax between short runs. However, road racing oil temps can kill an engine slowly or suddenly. Assuming we are talking about a factory built Ls6 with stock oil pressure and normal oil.