Are you guys measuring temperatures from on top of the block or from a sandwich plate on the oil filter? My defis seem to sit around 90C but gets up to 100C after boosting and doesn't come back down again. Quickly rises above 100C if doing some overtaking.
Running an sc42 with no oil cooler.

 

Sounds like mine too,

Also running Sc42 based turbo without oil cooler,

Temps taken from top of the block

 

Hi

I didn't say 140C is the best operating temp, I was saying some oils can cope with 140C without any issues.

100C is the optimal operating temp and you don't want to go too cool as some of the additives in the oil don't work properly until they get to about 75-80C. Depending on the grade of the oil and the quality of the oil used, you can go up to about 150C without the oil being ruined by the heat.

Cheers

Tim

 

we always recommend a thermostatic take-off to ensure min operating temps albeit a cooler is not always required for pure road work regardless of spec.......

 

At what temp would you advise one to be fitted ?

Or if it is other factors what are they ?

 

Could you give me your opinion on when you would advise one to be fitted ?

 

Hi

Depends on the situation really. If the car is used mainly on track and the oil is getting to 130C+ all the time, then it's time to cool the oil down a bit. With some road/track cars, a thermostatic cooler can be very useful as you don't need any extra cooling for the road, but need the oil to be cooled on track.

We often hear of people overcooling their oil. One guy I spoke to on a forum a while ago had a 800bhp Skyline, using a 10w-60 oil, but was getting a low pressure warning. The oil was only getting to about 60C due to a massive oil cooler, which he thought was a good thing, but as it was staying cool, it wasn't flowing properly, preventing the sender from registering a pressure. I think he blanked off part of the cooler, used a thinner oil and it was fine. That was a bit of an extreme example, but we quite often hear of relatively standard cars where the oil isn't getting as hot as it should be and others which could really do with an oil cooler.

Cheers

Tim

 

Okay, for example my cars running a sc42 based turbo and now reaches 110 far quicker than it used to on my vf35,

I usually back off at 110 and allow to cool, due it still being stock internals and 400+bhp,

Your saying 130 is this on stock engine or forged ? (Does this even matter ?)
As i feel on the road id have to really push on for quite a while to achieve this ?

 

What oil are you using?

Cheers

Tim

 

Millers CFS 10w50 from yourself

When I let it warm up with no boost it sits around 90odd

 

That oil is fine for up to about 140C, so you have plenty to go before needing to worry about a cooler.

Cheers

Tim

 

Yea the oil is fine

But would you run a stock engine to those temps ?

If there are no underlying faults and its a good engine would my stock sti block be okay to run at 130 ?

Of course any weak points will be showing up alot sooner.

Having never even seen 120 on the road would you think its safe to say i do not need one ?

 

Hi

130C is pretty minimal as far as metals are concerned, it's going to be way hotter than that in the cylinders, so the engine will be fine at 130C.

I would say there is no need for a cooler in your car at all.

Cheers

Tim

 

Great news,

 

So from my understanding, best bet is to get a thermostatic sandwich plate so it keep the min temp before opening to cool the oil.
What degrees do the sandwich plates open at? Can you get them to open at like 100-110 or so before the point the oil could do with a cool down? Or are the sooner than that.
As from above it seems 120-130c is probably the point where it could do with cooling and prior to that not needed?

 

Edit sandwich stats seem to be 80c only by having a quick look

 

Yea i see where your going,

Have it set for 120 odd so that its only functioning at high temps,

I agree most seam to be around 80

 

Yep. I've seen 1 at 82c but that's it. I'd like a 100c stat so my oil can be at its optimum best before cooling starts.
But I think 80-85c is the minimum requirement for Subaru engine oil, so opening at that on say a hard trackday etc it will open early to maintain it spiking high.

 

I use this:
Mocal OTSP1FHF high flow sandwich plate (options - tappings are 1/2bsp, m18x1.5 or m22x1.5) + an EXTENDED m20x1.5 extension bolt + M-SPA1 spacer.
But, specify the 92-104 degC stat, instead of the standard 80 degree (Mocal call them an element, not a stat). Obviously, it's always partly open, but starts to open further at 92, and fully open at 104.