Operating temperature

[Twinkle]

Hello to all of you.

Recently I purchased a oil temprature gauge, which exchange the oil dip stick.

When riding I noticed that the temperature read 100 degrees Celcius. Normally I thought operating temperatures should be 90 degrees celcius. Should I worry, or is this something not to worry about???

Thanx

[runsilent]

212F or 100C or a little higher is a good oil temp.  Water vapor is a byproduct of an internal combustion engine and the water condensed in the oil needs to be boiled off.  That's why short distance riding/driving in cold weather is considered severe service requiring more frequent oil changes than summer driving.

More important is that the oil doesn't get much above 240-250F when caught in traffic in hot weather with an air cooled engine.  Oil breakdown begins above that temp for many oils.  The oil temp in the top of the cylinders is much higher than that in the sump.  All air cooled engines rely on the oil flow to help with the cooling process.  I've found that my GS engines run cooler in hot weather with 15-40 oil than they did with 15-50 or 20-50 oil due to the better cooling oil flow.

[galahs]

I know this is about racing car engines but it does mention the operating temps of the engine oil.

"Proof of the value of the partnership was never more apparent than at the recent Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 at Bathurst won by HRT's Mark Skaife and Jim Richards. The front radiator ducts of the #1 HRT Commodore collected three plastic bags as the final laps of the event unfolded, raising fears that the engine would overheat and seize.

The following temperatures indicate the stress the engine in car #1 was under:
Oil temp 150+ degrees*
Water temp 117 "
Gearbox temp 125 "
Diff temp 113 "
Power steering temp 93"

*Sensor maximum is 150 degrees; estimated 155 degrees based on water temperature trend.

While water temperature is the critical factor in that 118* is the point where the radiator cap is designed to blow off (thereby losing all the engine's coolant), the fact that the oil temperature reached well in excess of 150* but still protected the engine mechanicals, is testament to the value of the Mobil 1 full synthetic oil.

HRT General manager Jeff Grech made the comment in Motorsport News this week: "I know Mobil is a sponsor, but there is no way anything but a synthetic would cop those temperatures.

"A mineral oil would have fried! It's a bloody good oil!""

[runsilent]

118C=244F
150C=302F
Translating from English to American.   

[galahs]

You mean from the Rest of the World to American 


When will America join us? 

[runsilent]

I think America is waiting for the rest of the world to join them.   

[3imo]

I think America is waiting for the rest of the world to join them.   

uh...yeah..

[Grainbelt]

just moved to canada. I love the metric system, its just so... logical. 10-100-1000. Zero is freezing, 100 is boiling.  Whats not to like?

[galahs]

Typical yanks   


I'd love to get one of these guages to test if synthetic oils run much cooler than mineral oils.

I did a similar test on my cars power steering system and there was a 10 degrees difference in favour of the synthetics.

[LimaXray]

nah we'll never use that metric junk, we here in the USA like our fractions 

[galahs]

just moved to canada. I love the metric system, its just so... logical. 10-100-1000. Zero is freezing, 100 is boiling.  Whats not to like?

Maybe it's just too logical.

Distance measurements are base ten (just like the number of fingers we have! Just like our numerical system)

1000th of a meter is 1 millimeter
100th of a meter is a centimeter
1000 meters is a kilometer

(weights and temperatures are based on water. Again another universal substance we all share)

1 gram = 1 thousandth of a kilogram
1000kg = 1 cubic square meter of water
1000kg = metric tonne

(though due to variables of the density of water based on temperature, altitude and purity, more scientific means have been used to determine these measurements. But the logic behind them is still sound and accurate for most of our humble uses)

[Alphamazing]

(though due to variables of the density of water based on temperature, altitude and purity, more scientific means have been used to determine these measurements. But the logic behind them is still sound and accurate for most of our humble uses)

Yeah, but the variable density of water is crazy small and pretty much negligable in most applications (engineering stuff not applicable). From my thermo book...

The specific volume of saturated (no vapor) water (m³/kg) at 5^oC is .001000, at 15^oC it's .001001. At 100^oC it is at .001043.

[galahs]

Proves the metric system is the way to go 

Come on America, come on! Come on! Come on America come on! (sorry, famous Aussie jingle) 


Why did this thread become all about the metric system? 

[Twinkle]

Because I am in Europe 

Or because most of the forum members are american?

Well either way. I use castrol gps, 10w-50 oil. I think it's a synthetic oil, one thing to find out  .

So probarly nothing to worry about when going on a motorweekend in May.

[RVertigo]

When will America join us? 

Pres. Reagan tried...  Tried and failed.

[galahs]

All you can do is try your best I guess. (Why did he fail so often though?)


Does anyone have engine temperature readings that we can use as a reference?

[My Name Is Dave]

You ever check your oil immediately after a ride? Man, the temperature gauges that are built into my fingers say the engine is hot as shaZam!! Seriously, that thing gets extremely hot. Wear gloves if you're gonna check the oil after a ride, or else...

[galahs]

Not even just after a ride. A whole hour after a ride and mine was still stop. Maybe the fact if was a 40 degrees Celcius outside played its part too