Oil temp before nailing it?

[Alex D]

Can you please reference where you read this? Book/article/etc. .....

extensive testing by smokey yunick for G.M. conclusively proved that most engines make the best power in the 220F-240F oil temp range and that oil protects the bearings best at temps in the 230f-250f range,most mineral oils start to break down at about 260f so synthetic oil is the better choice if wide swings in engine temps durring competion are normal with your engine set up. do what you want to, but Ill take SMOKEYs advise gathered from THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF DYNO testing over theory any day!

 

[larryfs]

a more important question is what oil temp do you start backing off the gas.
300* or higher ???

 

[froggy47]

I've seen figures posted of 350 deg f & a little more (racing) and I don't believe that to be a problem temp (we're talking Mobil 1 or equvilant right?)

a more important question is what oil temp do you start backing off the gas.
300* or higher ???

 

[Tom Bryant]

Grumpyvette,

As usual you are a wealth of information. A question about the break-in procedure. After the 15 minute elevated rpm run-in you say to drive it around the block for 90 minutes and then bring it home and let it cool. What would be the best proceedure for those of us firing the engine for the first time in a non drivable chassis? Would we be better off waiting until we have the car roadworthy to fire the engine?

Tom

 

[Ken]

Damn Tom, Grumpyvette posted that last May. I wonder if he even subscribes to this thread still?

 

[Roadfrog]

I don't hit the gas hard until above 190 degrees. I've run the dog out of many fasty cars, have tracked a couple over and over and over, and have never had an engine problem by following this rule.

It's not just the engine oil temp....it's the transmission and differential fluid that count too....IMHO.

 

[froggy47]

I agree w/ Roadfrog re: tran & diff. That's why it doesn't make sense to "warm up" your "car" by starting it & letting it idle in the driveway. Better to start it & wait 10 or 20 secs - a minute tops & then drive off slowly. Keep the revs down til engine oil temp comes up, then have fun.

 

[redc4corvette]

oil temp

I hit it at 165 on the oil and 175 on the coolent

 

[C4DC]

How hot do you get your oil before you do serious revs?

I was usig 160 and figured a good person to ask would be Dave Mc Lellan... Ran into him at the orlando NCRS show autograph session and asked him, and he kind of smirked and said as lond as there is oil pressure, it is ready to go right away. I still wait a while though...

 

[onefast95vette]

If you don't have at least 160 deg and you jam it you're going to damage your motor. Also make sure you have enough pressure. Perfect temp for drag racing is 185 on your coolant, and 180-220 on the oil.

 

[craig0ry]

as long as i got oil pressure i'm good to go!

that's how i've always done it. I start my car, wait about 10 seconds, and then I just wait till I have any kind of reading on both gauges. I don't think anyones ever lost their car for revving while the oil was still "cool". Long term damage maybe, but I don't think it's going to kill you to do it once in a while.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

I did try jumping in it once after about 2 minutes driving time. My lifters floated severely even though the RPM's were still fairly low. I always let it get to full temp ~ 205 before trying to get any serious power out of it now, if you can get power out of an '82.:L

 

[invinceablevett]

I usually let it warm up a little(1min. or 2) then drive slowly for a couple of blocks or more.............My Vette mechanic once had a Grand Sport in for a blown engine.I asked him what happened to it and he told me that the owner got into an argument with his wife and jumped into his vette.He started it up and jumped on the gas.The weather was a little on the cool side and he blew his engine.......talk about an expensive fight .

 

[Patman]

I like to wait until at least 180 before getting on it.

My oil temp never gets very hot though, most days it's only around 200-205 even after driving for a full hour. I've only seen it go as high as 221F in the entire three weeks I've owned it (I've driven 1700 miles though so it's not like I haven't driven very much)

 

[wishuwerehere82]

I just got back from Carlisle. 91 degrees on Friday and Saturday and never got above 205 on the temp gauge after 700 miles. They have real 94 octane down there, not that 93 ethanol stuff we have in NY, it ran great!

 

[chevyaddict]

extensive testing by smokey yunick for G.M. conclusively proved that most engines make the best power in the 220F-240F oil temp range and that oil protects the bearings best at temps in the 230f-250f range,most mineral oils start to break down at about 260f so synthetic oil is the better choice if wide swings in engine temps durring competion are normal with your engine set up. do what you want to, but Ill take SMOKEYs advise gathered from THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF DYNO testing over theory any day!

That is one heck of a long run-on sentence!

 

[wishuwerehere82]

There's a period in there after up .

 

['04 Torch Red]

I prefer it to be above 180F before i nail it.

I agree.....

 

[oldace84]

Even with an after market oil cooler, mine still reaches into the 200's.

Runs great.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Oldace84,

200-205 is normal for the L83 Crossfire.