Oil temps track conditions - do I need a cooler??
 

naturally aspirated / tuned on e85 NB1 built engine. What’s an acceptable oil temp (using quality oil).

Ran 25 min sessions in 88/90 degree humid day at road america wisconsin this weekend. The oil temps run 245-255F while water 200-205 with properly ducted radiator. I am running a remote oil filter made by Thompson using -AN8 fittings. The sensor is at the oil remote housing and so it’s likely engine oil temp is higher. I started thinking on the small Setrab cooler but the -8AN line on the remote by Thompson are likely too small for the system with the Cooler - thoughts / comments / advice - thanks

Your fine…..especially on e85

I thought e85 runs cooler ?

What oil are you running? Not to turn this into that...

With the Amsoil I run I wouldnt hesitate at 255, I wouldnt get concerned unless I saw over 300 regularly...

Other oils, I might be concerned, but basically any actual synthetic(not a blend) will be fine up until ~300.

Running Amsoil Dominator 15/50
https://www.amsoil.com/p/dominator-1...cing-oil-rd50/

I wouldnt worry for a second about those temps with that oil...

That oil can run at 255F no problem. Breakdown won't occur until nearly 300F. If you do run a cooler in the future, I'd suggest sizing up to -10an lines and running a 212F thermostat so that it can get up to operating temp quickly on your warmup lap(s) and will not overcool either. It seems like good practice to aim for a 215F to 235F window for on track oil temps but I'm sure there are varying opinions on the matter.

Thanks Arca - very good advice. I came across Improved racing take off and remote filter housing which has a thermostat option for 212F. It’s pricey though and will require a creative way to mount the remote somewhere near the radiator on the frame rail.

Improved Racing is very high quality stuff. I have a decent amount of their parts, thermostatic sandwich plate, oil cooler, various fittings, and have their LSA oil pan baffle in my CTS-V as well.

You are in a great range. I wouldn't worry a bit till above 280 depending on oil pressure.

Remember flow is very important as long as pressure is adequate.

At those temps you might look at the new Amsoil Dominator 10w40.

@moti - is the 10w/40 amsoil better than 15w/50 for track ?

I wouldnt call it "better"...

Gotta remember about bearing clearances, HP's and what not....

We, as people who go to the track, tend to go overboard on oil weight because, traditionally, thicker oils tolerated heat better, resisted break down, stayed thicker longer at higher temps, etc... We have been running stuff like 15w50 in order to keep a reasonable viscosity when the oil is REALLY HOT... well outside of "normal" design criteria for say a street car. Well thicker oil robs HP, this has been proven in tests. oil pumps, bearing clearances, etc...

So what you want to do, in an ideal world, is run an oil that will stay at a proper viscosity at the temps your car runs at.

I didnt want to run the Dominator 15w50 in my 01 because I felt it was overall to thick to where my car would likely run oil temp wise. I dont have an oil temp sensor/gauge, but a buddy with a very similar build has never seen over like 250-260 degrees on his car... similar numbers to your car. I didnt think I needed the ability to maintain viscosity at 290-300 degrees so the 15w50 I thought was overkill. I am running 5w50 Signature due to the huge range it can do. Now that the Dominator 10w40 is out, I might switch to that instead as I would rather run a Dominator oil for its extremely high zinc and phosphorous counts..

Amsoil 15-50 can run 300f all day......in my old lemons racer Porsche 928 didn't have an oil cooler & it initially had overheating issues.....the oil would touch 300F.....once we fixed the cooling issue it might touch 275f on a very hot day....

Just watch you oil change intervals in case the E85 is blowing by and diluting the fuel, but you would notice this by increased oil consumption and loss of power.

What are you using to measure oil temps?

I am using SMI accutech with a sender in the hose adapter on my remote oil filter (Thomson remote).

Hi wanted to ask a quick qustion. I've recently installed some Elite10 gauges from Glowshift because they have an audible tone for running into a min or max limit. At what oil temp (high) and pressure (oil) would you all recommend I set these to? Same question for coolant/water temp and pressure?