Why is 180* The Magic Number?
04-05-2013, 03:10 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
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Why is 180* The Magic Number?
It seems to be the consensus that an oil temp of 180* is mark to hit before going WOT and for warming your oil up to in the winter to get rid of moisture.
Does anyone know where 180* mark came from? I follow this recommendation myself but am curious as to where or how it came about. Will there be damage if you don't warm your oil up to 180* in the winter or before going WOT?
Does anyone know where 180* mark came from? I follow this recommendation myself but am curious as to where or how it came about. Will there be damage if you don't warm your oil up to 180* in the winter or before going WOT?
04-05-2013, 03:42 PM
#3
Team Owner
Those numbers assume that your motor and oil are up to normal operating temps. In other words, the metals are warmed up, tolerances are back to normal, and oil is able to be pumped through the places it is supposed to go without any issue caused by being cold and thick. Think of it this way, how easy can you pour the oil when its a degrees sitting outside all night?
04-05-2013, 03:57 PM
#5
Safety Car
There is no magic number, alot of this is myth from years ago. Oil formulations are way different now than they were 20-30 years ago.
I wont beat on my car right out of the garage, but by the time I am out of the addition the oil temps are well over 100° and I am not afraid to drive it how I need to at that point.
I wont beat on my car right out of the garage, but by the time I am out of the addition the oil temps are well over 100° and I am not afraid to drive it how I need to at that point.
04-05-2013, 03:57 PM
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
04-05-2013, 07:54 PM
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Simplify
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St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
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It seems to be the consensus that an oil temp of 180* is mark to hit before going WOT and for warming your oil up to in the winter to get rid of moisture.
Does anyone know where 180* mark came from? I follow this recommendation myself but am curious as to where or how it came about. Will there be damage if you don't warm your oil up to 180* in the winter or before going WOT?
Does anyone know where 180* mark came from? I follow this recommendation myself but am curious as to where or how it came about. Will there be damage if you don't warm your oil up to 180* in the winter or before going WOT?
04-05-2013, 08:50 PM
#11
Drifting
It's not about the OIL Temperature, its about your bearing and internal component temperature. You want your internal tolerances to be maximized, i.e. thicker oil layer between them before beating the snot out of it. This is all a "theory" of course.
04-05-2013, 09:45 PM
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04-05-2013, 09:57 PM
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St. Jude Donor '13
We have a retired oil engineer who posts here occasionally; he came up with the 180'F number based on the viscosity that will produce in 5W-30 oil. He gave all the centistroke numbers and such to explain his decision, but I just remembered the 180 number.
He also suggested that anything above 260'F would be getting too thin with 5W-30 for best protection, so his recommendation was to stay in the range of 180-260 for best results. He commented that you can make a case for using 190-250 as even better, but it's not like a couple of degrees makes the oil viscosity go crazy.
He also noted that his recommendations were for a generic 5W-30 oil in a generic engine, the Corvette engines using Mobil1 might have different numbers but GM ain't telling.
He also suggested that anything above 260'F would be getting too thin with 5W-30 for best protection, so his recommendation was to stay in the range of 180-260 for best results. He commented that you can make a case for using 190-250 as even better, but it's not like a couple of degrees makes the oil viscosity go crazy.
He also noted that his recommendations were for a generic 5W-30 oil in a generic engine, the Corvette engines using Mobil1 might have different numbers but GM ain't telling.
04-05-2013, 11:36 PM
#18
Anyone checked it at temp with an SSU cup ?I think you will find that they want a SSU # close to 100. Im not saying I know anything about anything Im just takeing a guess in the dark!! ( I will ask next time I have the opportunity at GM ,might be awhile but I will find out)
04-06-2013, 12:39 AM
#19
Le Mans Master
04-06-2013, 02:34 AM
#20
Drifting
If I wait for 180 degrees, I could never go fast. I can drive 100 miles and it still won't get to 180 degrees (Z06). I have noticed that at about 160 degrees the shifting is the smoothest. With a Z06 it's a catch 22, if you don't go fast it won't get to 180.