Oil Temps - What's normal?

[ozi_milhouse]

Hey Y'all,

Took my car to Wakefield a month back and she ran hot towards the end of each run. So i thought i'd best install an oil temp gauge to see what was going on (had a feeling oil was over heating, car runs a turbo and oil was like water after the runs).

So i installed an autometer Metric temp gauge (stop laughing. Not first choice, but previous owner installed an autmeter boost gauge and i wanted to keep the theme consistent). I installed the temp sender in the oil sump plug. The range of the gauge is 60 degrees celcius to 180 degrees celcius.

So normal driving on the street i only read 70-80 degrees celcius. On the track yesterday at marulan it nudged 95 degrees celcius. To me these figures don;t seem right. Either the gauge is reading wrong or the temp sensor being cooled by air flow? I just dont know. Have ordered a sandwich plate and will check the differences in reading once installed. But does anyone know how to check the correct operation of a gauge other than boiling water method? i.e. are there printed resistance levels for different temps?

Justin

[Regie]

95 is alright

When it starts hitting 115-120 u start to worry

[greenMachine]

First, what are the operating limits of your oil (not mine, not your mate's ...)?

Calibrate your gauge/sender second.

Then you will know what sort of problem you have, if any.

[project.r.racing]

The alloy sump is designed to dissperse heat. Those temps could well be spot on for the location of the sensor.

[ozi_milhouse]

Thanks Guys.

SO i installed the sandwich plate and i am now getting a more realistic 90 degree at normal street driving. This is where i expected it. THe sump location must have been cooled by the airflow. Looks like you were spot on project racing.

Now to see how it runs at the track.

cheers

justin