Thread: VE Oil Temperature Concern on the Track

I was tracking my car (NX with a stock VE) last weekend and noticed that after 5+ minutes of racing the oil temperature was between 250-260 deg F (measured in the oil pan just above the drain plug). I was wondering how high is high, please consider the following conditions:

- Mobil 1 10w-40 was used
- Air temperature was around 15 deg Celsius (59 deg F)
- Coolant was at 180 deg F at all times (Stanza pulley helped)
- Oil pressure stayed at 80-90psi most of the time during acceleration
- RPM band was between 3.5K - 7K (frequently shifting at 6.7K which was actually 400 rpm higher than what the consult showed after the runs)

As a reference, during highway drive the oil temperature is 170-180 deg F.

Is this a safe temperature or should I increase the viscosity of oil (10W-50).
Also what is the drain interval for oil changes at the track that you guys go by, I did around 120km at the track (15 min sessions followed by cool down which I took advantage to cool down the brakes plus cool down the oil to 220 deg F before parking the car for another 10 min between sessions) on the weekend and considering changing the oil every 1500 km running at the track. Let me know your opinions, thanks.

What you need is an oil cooler. Not heavier oil. The oil temp. is high, what is strange is the 59*F temps. and the high temp. I would not want to see your oil temp at 80* ambient.
VE's do run hotter on the oil temp. While DE's will see higher water temps. I recommend at least a 19 row oil cooler and 10w-30 syn oil. Every other race weekend is good to change the oil, unless you are running 1.5 hr. enduros.

Thank you, I was looking forward to your recommendation as you are one of the few that really race the VE.

cross-post to an excellent discussion on same topic:

Cooling issues - SR20 Forum

get an oil cooler and make it a good one, Mike K had 2 very good recommendations.

it's on my to-do list but less urgent as my DE's oil does not run hot, although my track sessions are 30 minutes or less, not 1.5 hrs

NX rad, flush water, stanza pulley are a cheap way.

Or Koyo and oil cooler if doesnt help.

My water temp are perfect, I am talking about the oil temperature.

Well, what do you guys consider too hot for oil temperature??

In the mean time take a cool-down lap or two. This tends to happen to VEs that spend a lot of time above 7krpm and take hard lateral gs. Does that sound like your car? Oil cooler should help a lot.

I hope Mike K. or anybody else does not mind the quote.

"220 in the upper hose is pretty hot, this is around 235 in the OEM location which is about the maximum semi safe temperature for an SR. An SR blows up right at 230 in the upper hose and around 250 degrees in the OEM location and may get hurt below this point. Oil temps above 250 degrees start to soften bearings and bearing have a really good chance of getting damaged at over 300 degree. Its pretty easy to hit oil temps over 300 degrees in a turbo se-r. You will hit it in a few laps under california summer conditions"

Thats a race proven fact. The same goes for the VE's too.

Correct me if I'm wrong - The bearing damage is due to the oil film thickness being insufficient to protect the bearings, but I belive the temperature for bearings starting to "soften" depends on the viscosity and quality of oil 5W30 will start affecting bearings at lower temperature than 15w50 oil (assuming same type or quality of oil).

I am currently hitting 240-245 deg F for the oil during the 15 min session with water being at around 190 deg F - I also a cool down lap to bring oil temp to 220 before the car "rests" between the sessions (I mainly use it to cool down my brakes).