Is water temp or oil temp more important?
It may run slightly warmer in hotter temps, but overall I find that water/coolant is a lot less useful than oil temp. Oil temp on the other hand gives you a true look at the engines operating temperature environment.
Does thermostat affect oil temp?
Registered. The oil cooler uses coolant from the thermostat, so if that’s working normally it’s not a problem with the cooler.
What do I do if my oil temperature is high?
If the oil temperature is too high, problems can arise. When you first start your vehicle on cold mornings, let the car idle for about five minutes until the oil gets a chance to warm up. This way, your engine will run more efficiently and live much longer.
What’s the best way to get the oil temperature up?
The best way to get a car’s oil temperature up is to simply drive it around for a few minutes. Ideally you’d have an oil temperature gauge to tell you when it’s at operating temperature – and oil pressure gauge (lower pressure) would also tell you this information. What’s the danger of running an engine cold? Total engine failure.
How does good oil affect the running temperature?
Really good oil will do this more effectively than others, reducing general running temperatures without needing more cooling capacity, giving the cooling system an easier life. As it degrades, it becomes less thermally efficient. Most modern brand name oils are more than up to the job of dealing with a fairly broad temperature spectrum.
What’s the maximum oil temperature you can put in your engine?
This is not the same as the maximum oil sump temperature allowed for your engine. Both Lycoming and Continental recommend a maximum oil temperature of around 245°F.
What happens if the oil temperature is too cold?
If the engine is way too cold (ie, the coolant hasn’t even come up to temps), it’s not making its ideal power either. VTEC engines actually do not engage VTEC unless the coolant is up to temperature, for example – this is true of many other variable valve timing technologies as well.