I want to get a feel for a "normal" oil temp for an '88 3.2 with about 80k miles running non-synthetic oil. My temp gauge has four markings and no temps. First marking at 8 o'clock is a wide one. Next marking at 8:30 is narrow, next marking at 9:30 is narrow and final marking at 10 o'clock is at a wide red marking.

Conditions: temps between 80 and 95 degrees, sea level, moving traffic, any gear, a/c off.
Temp: stays within a needle width or two of the narrow marking at 8:30.

Conditions: same but in stop and go traffic.
Temp: between the two narrow marks.

Conditions: same, but in stop and go traffic with a/c on.
Temp: upper narrow mark so I turn the a/c off and temp drops.

So...does this sound normal and how can I tell if my right front fender oil cooler is working? Can't hear any fan sound.

Thanks for your help!

 

anyone? Bueller, Bueller, Bueller....

 

Sounds fine to me!

 

i've heard that the numbers are on the edge of the gauge. kind of under the glass lip. you'll have to get over to the side and look but it gives you the temp.

 

I think these are the standard markings.

 

I havent seen my temps get above 210... I have this exact gauge in mine..

 

Leonard's post is correct. Lean your head toward the right side of the instrument cluster until, with a flashlight, you can see under the bezel at the oil temp gauge. You will see the actual temp numbers on the face of the gauge - they are written in white and are tiny. By what you've posted it sounds like your car is operating well. As a follow-up check, the next time your car is at what you might consider full temp touch the front oil cooler lines in the right front wheel well. They should be (caution!) hot.
Pete

 

Here's a comparison:

The guauges do not share relative positions, and both use different senders.

60C = 140F
90C = 194F
120C = 248F
150C = 302F

So if we think of the two thinner hash marks as 8:00 and 10:00, you want to be no more than a needle's width above 8:00 (194F) in normal driving. 9:00 is 221F, which is hot enough to be concerned about. At 10:00 (248F), you should pull over and let the car cool down. Something's wrong.

 

Um, he's sick

i believe 90-105C (190-220F) is "normal" at least its my car is once its warmed up most of the time

if i sit in traffic for a while it will start to creep above 110c but i've never seen any higher

F = [C x 1.8] + 32
C = [F -32] / 1.8

 

Yeah, I should clarify: there's nothing wrong with 221 if there's an explanation for it -- stuck in traffic, high ambient temps, you're on a race track, etc. But if it's normal cruising and you see it heading up past 9:00, it makes sense to think about what the reason might be.

 

Using the illustrated gauge on the right above, normal driving on the highway or in town I see 90C in the summer and have been seeing about 80-85 in the winter. When I sit in stop and go city traffic for extended periods in the summer I'll see as high as 105C. In the same summer stop and go traffic with the AC on, I'll see 120C. At those temps, the AC air gets warmer and I turn it off. The temp in the stop and go then backs down to 105-110C.

From what I am reading in the posts above, this is ok. I will attempt to get a feel for the right front wheel well oil lines.

At what temperature should the oil go to the front cooler? When the oil does circulate to the front cooler, does this also start the fan in the wheel well or am I totally confused?

Thanks for the help everyone...

 

There are two thermostats. The engine-mounted cooler is served by an internal one, which opens at about 180F (probably 80C, I'm not sure of the exact spec). Then the external thermostat diverts oil to the front cooler when it heats up to 180-190F (probably 85C). The front cooler fan is also triggered by a thermoswitch, but it is set for such a high temperature (248F/120C, I think) that it's almost useless. A lot of guys swap in an alternate thermoswitch (99C/210F) or wire in a manual switch, or both.

Bill Verburg originally scanned this diagram:

 

Thanks Jack

 

Newbie here,

I checked the diagram above and was wondering about the engine mounted oil cooler. Is it in the air flow from the cooling fan? Were is it located?

My '89 Carrera that I just got seems to run cool.(outdoor temps in the 20*-30* range) After about 10-15 mins driving the temp gauge will move up to the top edge of the first white block. During the next 10+ mins it will then move out of the first white block and maybe get 1/3rd of the way to the first line and remain there.

If I then feel the oil lines in the right rear wheel well they are warm. But the lines on the forward side of themostat are cold as are the lines in the right front wheel well. The oil filter is warm but not too hot to hold.

Is this within normal due to the low outside temps?

Also, when removing the oil filter during an oil and filter change does oil run out of filter and spill? I ask because every 911 I've looked at before getting mine is clean in that area (as is mine) and I figured the oil drained into tank from filter therefor no mess. I'm I correct?

Thanks,

David

 

Wanted to chime back in here. I found the primary engine mounted oil cooler. Its amazing what you can see/find when you spend some time laying on your back with your head stuck up in the engine bay.

David