Temperature Survey

[jhv48]

Ok, for you guys with laser temperature thermometers would you do me a favor.
My oil temp gauge is out of commission and I am running a new engine.
After your engine is good and hot, shoot your remote oil filter (find the hottest point, mine is the top of the rim) next, shoot the oil hose fitting to the block. Next, shoot the front and then back of the oil pan.
I'm trying to see if my figures are normal

My oil pan is about half the temp of the remote oil filter. Seems odd to me.

[Gaz64]

Jim, I can't give you any figures since I don't have an IR thermometer, but nearly all engine oil pans run cooler because that is part of their function. They give up heat from the oil to the airflow under the car.

What temp do you have at the oil filter housing?

[Ron61]

If your oil temperature sending unit is easy to get to, why not just get a cheap gauge at NAPA or some auto supply store and check it at the sending unit with the gauge. I did that for both my temperature and pressure gauges on my old Cobra when I wanted to see if the gauges in the dash were reading about the same. In my case I also got a new sending unit as I wanted to compare it with the readings the old ones were giving.

Ron

[jhv48]

When my oil temp gauge is showing 220 degrees at the remote oil filter location, the hottest part of the remote oil filter shows 195 degrees. At that time, the pan only shows 95 degrees. Is there really that much of a difference between the pan and the filter? Or is the outside of the pan really that much cooler than the oil inside?

[Gaz64]

Jim,

I see your concern, a little odd why such a big difference.

95 F on the pan seems way too cool, you would be able to put your hand on the pan.

Are you measuring the bottom half of the pan where the oil is?

I'd consider the temp at your filter ok. Where is the sender located?

Possibly your gauge has a problem, reads high.

[jhv48]

Yep, measuring the temp at the base of the pan.

My temp sender unit is in the remote oil filter.

[vector1]

I've found with my probably older antiquish gun it also can be effected by the texture, paint or color, material, etc. Don't know if the newer ones are better.

[Dumpling]

Are you taking these temp readings while the engine is running? If so, there may actually not be very much oil in the pan, it would be up in the engine (and filter).

[jhv48]

Originally Posted by Dumpling

Are you taking these temp readings while the engine is running? If so, there may actually not be very much oil in the pan, it would be up in the engine (and filter).

Temps were taken immediately after shutdown after a long run.

Sidepipes read 400 degrees.