Damn I lost my Oil Thread

[PCC]

Oh no - I lost my oil thread about engine temperature, oil coolers etc etc.

May be Ground Hog Day will come around again (and again).

[Philm]

HI Peter,
AS you know I have a ford small block and I sorted the engine cooling perfectly, stays at 90degC both on the street and track.

I have an Earls 13 row wide oil cooler with a Oil thermostat sandwich plate that opens at about 160-180deg F.

I use Penrite HPR 30, a 20W-60 oil.

The oil temp on the track gets to 120degreeC but no hotter. On the street it stays at 90degreeC.



Phil

[PCC]

Hi Phil,

As mine sits at 115C I must be doing track work on the street.

As long as the oil is performing at this temp and the fact that I change it every 4,000 kms I am not too concerned about adding an oil cooler.

Unless I'm dumb (which is a possibility) I have found it hard to find out what the recommended running temperature range is for different oils.

It seems Penrite is proving to be popular, but what is its maximum safe operating temperature before things start breaking down?

[BMK]

PCC

Peter,

Have you tried any of the fuel company sites for information.

'Tell Shell - email us' on the left side usually gets answers.....

www.shell.com.au

[Philm]

HI Peter,
I rang Penrite, 1300 7367 483, and asked a few questions.


For what it is worth, the HPR 30 has a "flash point" of 220degress C.

The answer would be to ask what oils would perform best at a temperature, if you run the oil at 120 degress then may be a HPR 40 would suit you better. You could run a sythetic oil which work better at the higher temperatures.

I think I actually change the oil every 1000kms, after a good track day it is worth changing the oil. As they say oil is cheap but engines are expensive.


Phil

[PCC]

Phil,

I'm getting similar advise from Shell after Bernie's recommendation (what a speedy service). Here is there comments:

"If 115 Deg C is the temperature in the sump then it is far too high. Oils usually run at somewhere in the 85 - 95 Deg C range. Every 10 degrees rise above about 90 HALVES the oil life. So in this case your oil life would be significantly reduced.

I suggest a few steps for you;
1)get the probe looked at as it may be contacting some hot metal 2)check that the oil cooler is appropraite and not blocked (if fitted) 3)try an oil of lower viscisity as this would transfer the heat away quicker

There is no danger that the oil would ignite or burn, but it will degrade and thicken at these temperatures.

I have responded for more information, but it looks like I'll be changing to the lowerer viscosity to see if that makes a difference.

As you say oil is cheap unless you have to buy it in barrels!!