Thread: Lets talk oil temps on VE

I put in my oil temp gauge last night and went burning around the city for a little while to test it out. I am running 5W30 and no oil cooler. I was bombing around beating on the car fairly hard the whole time and oil temps stayed around 200*F. Ambient temp was around maybe 85-90*F and coolant temp was around 180*F. I am a bit concerned since I am planning on going to the local Lap Battle on the 7th that my oil temps are going to go sky high in the heat that day.
I talked to a national Redline rep. one time and he was saying that 220*F-240*F are safe/normal operating temperatures for synthetic oil and if the temps go higher than that one can run a heavier weight oil which will resist the heat more. Not sure how accurate that is.
Does anyone have any feedback about their oil temps on their ve setups on and off the track?

What kind of gauge? electric? analog?

The ve is not really stable during track conditions without an oil cooler. A heavier oil will end up keeping a safe viscosity under higher temperatures but oil breakdown and possible overheating is going to happen anyways.

Many say just shifting around 6.5 instead of 8 can really help to bring temperatures down, however if you are planning to road race..etc.

Invest in a oil cooler.

Dudeman

I was using Castrol synthetic oil 5W30 and was seeing peak temps of 140degC (280degF) without a cooler, and with a small 13 row oil cooler bought temps down to a peak of 120degC (248degC) on a warm-hot day which with quality oil regularly changed is fine as far as i'm concerend and from everyone i spoke to.

As you were recommended, keeping the temp between 100-110 (212-230)was recommended if possible, but not necessary. Upgrading my cooler would have easily seen the peak temps drop to that range.

All temps measured in the sump.

Water temps were stable, never getting past 92degC/200degF.

Without the oil cooler, water temps started to get out of control as the heat from the oil was raising the water temp on long sessions.

Defi BF series, electronic, tap into sandwich adapter plate.



Damn that is what I was thinking, last night it got up to 210* after just 3 pulls on the highway.



Thank you for the detailed information, very helpful. I am attempting to get a Setrab oil cooler core and necessary parts to install in my ride but not sure it's going to happen by next Saturday

- Are you guys opening the vent and putting the heat on 3 or 4 when you all go on multiple spirit runs? I know it gets hot as heck, but I crack the windows and my gauge stays down when I do this.

Your oil temp gauge or your coolant temp stays down by cranking the heater?

That may help the coolant temp... But that is EXTREMELY dangerous on the track racing where you (the driver) are already going to be hot and sweaty.

interior heating pulls hot air from the engine bay. less hot air in engine bay = cooler temps = very sweaty and stinky driver

You should never rely on your cabin hot air to cool your vehicle in any situation....accept for emergency.

Upgrade your cooling system properly as well as add an oil cooler and your ve will be reliable as they come on the track.

GL

Dudeman