Appraiser

997.1 - 3.6l - 6mt - ~80F avg annual high temp

Assuming each dash represents about 17 degrees. I changed to a lower temp t-stat, replaced with new Porsche coolant 50/50 mixed with distilled water and expansion tank when I did the 3rd rad (adds about a gallon in extra capacity). I run 0w-40 Castrol Edge motor oil.

~6k miles of driving before 3rd rad:
Cruising: 200 - 217
Spirited: 210 - 235
Track: 217 - 240ish

~6k miles of driving after 3rd rad:
Cruising: 183 - 200
Spirited: 200 - 220
Track: 215 - 230ish

My impression is the 3rd rad's extra capacity keeps the temps down on average 10 degrees during 'hot' sessions compared to a factory car.

It is likely the extra capacity + lower temp thermo, which is initiating the front rad cycle sooner which in turn delays the heat build-up, keeps temp numbers compressed in average driving with typical air flow hence the larger relative spread to the factory numbers. Folks sitting in stop/go traffic would see this benefit. The needle takes forever to move.

TheBruce

@nwGTS - yea I was thinking about doing a poll but couldn't figure out how since so many variables.

@wayne - Mine is also heavily dependent on engine load, RPM but less so on outdoor temp. My theory in SF is the roads radiate a lot more heat than the outdoor temp might suggest. So wether its 65 and the wind is blowing or 85 and calm, the road temps might radiate the same heat. Not sure if any truth to it but im going with it...

I think the data above suggests 997.2s run cooler than 997.1s.

For me engine load is the primary factor. I hit 225 every time I go up that long incline to the Golden Gate and then over the mountain into Sausalito. Im not sure how much the 3rd radiator effects temps on the 997.1. I went out with a buddy who has a 3rd radiator on his 2005 and he was running 225 like me after we got to the top of a long incline, however im unsure if it kept his temps lower during the drive. Mine had peaked at 240 prior to that.

Jake Raby commented once that "Motul ran hotter" so my indy told me to try Swepco 15W40, which they say is a magic elixir for 911s. So far ive seen no change.

jamesinger

In Los Angeles I have been seeing:
200f most of the time at temp
up to 225 in bad traffic in over 80f weather and/or spirited driving.

I have not tracked my 997.1 yet but I am planning on doing a 3rd radiator and possibly upgrading the oil cooler(s) as I have done on previous track cars.
On previous builds, upgrading the radiator and oil cooler on the cars did enough to keep temps in a zone where I did not have to think about them a lot during track days.

Car: 997.1 C2S 3.8L
Mileage: 18k
Oil Type: OEM recommended Mobil 1
Avg Outdoor Temp: Los Angeles 70-80f and higher
Oil Pressure:
- @Idle after cold start: 3ish
- @Idle oil temp >2ish
- @High RPM: 4-5
Oil Temps:
- Highway Cruise: 200
- Spirited Drive/Sitting in Traffic: 210
- Max Reported: 225 (Angeles Crest run on a hot day)

My normal drive is from Pasadena to Woodland Hills and back. The drive is roughly 20 miles depending on route. The worst days, the drive is 1.5h sitting almost the whole time barely moving. The best days would be about 35 minutes without sitting. When I am sitting, I notice the pressure is rock solid but the temp will creep above 200 but mellows out once things get moving right away. On days where I just drive in without traffic, if I am driving 75-80mph or so consistently, the temp will be above 200 but well below 225. When I drive up to Newcombs or something on Angeles Crest, it is above 200 and up to 225 depending on how fast it is safe to drive in relation to traffic. If I can get on it without being a nuisance, I will see right below 225 when I am running up the mountainside. If I just bust a U turn and blast back down, on the way down, the temps will go back down because the engine is not working as hard even if the revs are still up.

ADias

Coolant temp is steady at 175F, either very well regulated or fake ECU control; but it can shoot up (I am told) if the coolant gets really hot, and supposedly does it fast.

Oil temp is load dependent:

On Cali (mild) winters (60F or lower) on normal flat road runs of 20 miles or less, usually close but slightly under 200F; slightly above 200F on longer higher revved runs. On Cali warmer days (70F and higher) always above 200F. On a hot Summer day in stop-and-go traffic (w/AC on) 220/225F (and higher) can be seen - it drops quickly when traffic moves.

On spirited canyon drives 220F is typical. On spirited mountain passes, 240/250F is normal.

I like to see oil at 200F before going over 4k RPM.

Oil pressure very much load dependent on a 997.2, as its secondary oil pump is ECU controlled. As long as the needle moves up under acceleration all is well.

As far as motor oil... Mobil 1 0W40 (factory fill) is probably fine but IMO it should be changed every 5k miles or less and definitely not more than 12 months. I have been using for a long while Motul 8100 Xcess 5W40 which I think is a better oil. I am switching soon to Liqui Moly LEICHTLAUF HIGH TECH SAE 5W-40 (along with Liqui Moly Ceratec treatments every 20k miles) and Liqui Moly MoS2 every oil change between Ceratec treatments. I have been using Liqui Moly MoS2 for a couple of years and the engine is clearly smoother and quieter at idle. I change oil once a year and drive under 5k miles/year. The engine has 34k miles and pulls as strong as on its first day.

DesmoSD

Mine is very similar to yours


Car: 997.1 C2S 3.8L
Mileage: 16,7xx
Oil Type: Motul 8100 5W40
Avg Outdoor Temp: San Diego 65-75F consistant
Oil Pressure:
- @Idle after cold start: 3.5
- @Idle oil temp >200: 2
- @High RPM: 4-5
Oil Temps:
- Highway Cruise: 200
- Spirited Drive: 210
- Max Reported: 225 (canyon run)

ColoradoMark

I hit 270 degrees F on the track in Colorado on a particularly hot summer day. Our thin air compromises cooling systems and their ability to transfer heat.
Since then I've installed a third radiator and things are staying in check.

ocgarza

Just did a 4,000 + mile road trip in the 911 (2009 C4S) into Indiana for the Indy 500 ( very hot, mid to high 90s) and then South Carolina (Charleston, very hot and humid) before returning to my home in South Texas (yeah, hot and humid). My oil temp never got above the 205-210 range on any of the highway driving.
I did drive the Tail of the Dragon in North Carolina and to be honest, was so busy looking at the upcoming curves, that I never checked the oil temp. I use Pentosin High Performance II 5W40 synthetic.

Chris Ferrell

Mine seems to get the hottest in traffic or driving slowly around town (1st, 2nd 3-4k). Also have the third radiator and low temp thermostat. And it's a 997.1 (3.8l)

Driving hard seems to sit around 200-225 (4-7K). Slow traffic is 210-235F (3-4k).

Wayne Smith

On the 997.2 the water gauge is a dummy supplied to make us feel comfortable. It has no business taking up space on the dashboard ... like the redundant speedometer and the fairly meaningless oil pressure gauge!!!

I did see mine rise to 180 one time when the oil got to 260. Otherwise, the on board computer holds it at 175. I confess to ignoring it.

ADias

The pressure gauge is useful. The analog speedometer is there when the digital display fails...

Yes, it is pegged at 'comforting' 175F but it becomes relevant when things go haywire. So all is good.

I routinely scan the oil temperature and the oil pressure.

Meursault88

Oil only goes to 175, water only goes to 200. It's a bit of horse****.

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...p-997-1-a.html

Petza914

You've got your gauges reversed. Water artificially sits at 175. Oil temp is accurate and will go up past 250

Meursault88

You're right. My bad.

Balr14

09 C2S PDK
Oil temp gets up to 200 - 205 occasionally, mostly around 175 though. I try to drive conservatively until both engine and oil are around 175, which takes so long I'm usually wherever I was going by then. I would like to point out the warmest day I've driven in was 78 and it's usually in the 60s.

rileyracing1

06 C4S

Highway cruising in normal mode ~ 195 - 205 F
Tearing up the roads in Sport+ ~ 215 - 225 F
Stuck in $%^W&!! traffic ~ 200 - 225 F

EH !