Carnerd

When I had the VF system and the 3rd radiator that came with it (OEM I believe), the car's oil temp always ran at, or slightly over 200 degrees. When I had the VF system uninstalled I had an OEM 3rd radiator from Suncoast installed and noticed right away the cars oil temp was running around 210 degrees. I found this a bit odd driving home at night but didnt think much of it at the time. Today while cruising at 70 on the freeway in 85 degree weather, the car was running around 215 degrees and spiked around 225 degrees...

I got the 3rd radiator to help the car run cooler, especially since it will see a few hot track days this summer... Any ideas on what's going on...?

dasams

The oil is cooled via heat exchange with the water and will always run a little warmer. Can't comment on your observation that the oil is warmer without the VF than with.

slicky rick

Air in system

slicky rick

Bleed the system bro

Luxter

+1, Air pockets in cooling system.
High risk of engine overheating.

USMC_DS1

Those temps look normal with the 3rd rad install. Typical for my car in 85-90degF here in TX. I used to see much higher oil temps prior to the installation of the 3rd rad especially when the ambient temp was in the 100degF+ range and working the car hard... it would get up in the 275degF range. With the 3rd rad I'm seeing 250degF max. So during the heat of summer I'm typically between 225-250degF max now... of course, we'll see 110-115degF in the heat of summer here.

With the VF SC I seem to recall that it used the 3rd rad for the intercooler? I wonder if it also had an oil cooler of some type which may explain the cooler oil temp with VF. Just guessing as I don't have the install manual for it anymore. JIC though you may want to burp the coolant system. There's a burp valve over the coolant expansion tank. Just lift up the metal clip and turn it 90deg then drive the the car for several miles until the engine gets up to operating temp... 200-225degF depending on ambient temp. That should help to release any air pockets within the system. Then turn the metal clip back to the original position after burping. Although I used an Airlift tool to fill my coolant system after my 3rd rad install... I still burped the system JIC. Check with your installer to see if they took this final measure but I think your temps above are normal.

Carnerd

Good to know that even 250 seems to be normal. Thanks

I'll do both, thanks!

Lvt19672

What is an unsafe oil temp?

Luxter

James,
At 275*F your M1 0W-40 (fresh oil that has not sheared yet) is at 7.2 cSt. And at 9.2 cSt at 250*F. Both well below XW-40 range required.
Please consider an alternate oil for your climate if you see those temperatures.
Luke

USMC_DS1

Hey Luke, this is one of those areas where I could use some expert advise re which oils to use. Although I haven't seen 275*F since I installed the 3rd rad I still don't like the idea of 0W-40 MB-1 during the summer season here... as I still see 250*F during those really hot days combined with hard drives. I've reviewed Porsche's list of approved oils often and was considering the use of a 5W-50 oil for the summer season. Would appreciate any insight you might have in this area though.

Oddly Porsche recommends 5W-50 for environments over 25*C but they don't seem to list any 5W-50 oils... that leaves me with 5W-40 instead. Hmmm.

Luxter

I will drop you a note, however it will be far from "expert"
Just a dumb **** wanna be half cooked engineer. Assume that you want to stay with A40 list, correct?

USMC_DS1

Yeah, the A40 list(TSB 1701) was the doc I've been studying. TIA

Carnerd

Here's what my tuner said, "That being said, from conditions of slow to spirited/race driving, 200-250 is absolutely normal and acceptable for a 997.1 using a 3rd radiator and 200-275 without. 200 should be the ABSOLUTE lowest you want ever want your operating oil temperature at as I am at the understanding that you are not even supposed to rev the motor above 4k until at least 190 is reached. This specification may have something to do with the fact that water boils at 212, it is ideal and beneficial to run at least at that temperature in order to remove any water and moisture condensation that has settled in the oil through small leaks in the PCV and compression blow by. Although this moisture is not vented as the PCV is a closed system, it is circulated in gas/vapor form and separated out of the oil. If you had a catch can, you would notice the nasty stuff caught in it is not all oil and usually contaminated with water. So, basically, the oil temps that you are describing are well within the "safe, normal, and recommended" zone. Remember, ideal operating oil temps appear to be right around 210-230 with today's synth oils."

Carnerd

Curious about this as well, for my 100+ degree track days. Thanks!

Macster

Last I checked Mobil 1 5w-50 was an approved oil.