<VV> Running oil temp normalcy

[Bruce Schug]

On Jun 7, 2009, at 2:15 AM, Stephen Upham wrote:

> 	I have an after market temperature gauge that was manufactured to
> measure water but has been placed in service on my Monza to measure
> oil temperature.  The gauge has no outward indication that it is a
> water temp sensor.  The sender is located in the triangular crevice
> on the right half block above and to the right of the top of the oil
> pan near the skid plate.  I also have a dual CHT with the senders
> mounted under spark plugs #'s 3 and 4 and the connections to the lead
> to the cabin located in the engine compartment.    I'm experiencing
> higher than comfortable oil temperatures (265-270 as indicated by the
> gauge) when cruising at 65-70 mph.   It normally operates at about
> 260-265 after having been driven for twenty to thirty minutes in the
> city.   The CHT never got above 250 which I understand could be
> 90-100 degrees off although a handheld temperature sensor monitoring
> the head temp from the wheel well usually reads very close to what is
> on the CHT when measured while standing still (of course).
> 	I took the cover off and blew out the oil cooler (back flushed with
> pressurized air) and have just changed the oil (Brad Penn Racing Oil)
> and a Mobil 1 filter.  I am running the lower shrouds on because of
> the fuel economy issue, but it looks like they will be coming off for
> the summer.  The belt is practically new and adjusted so that the
> alternator fan can be moved with one finger under pressure.  The
> blower bearing is brand new.  The engine seal is in place and in good
> condition and I have Seth's plug wires and all fire wall grommets,
> plugs and boots are new and in place.  I'm not using synthetic oil
> yet as I am within that 5-10 thousand break-in period of allowing the
> engine gaskets to seal before attempting to use synthetic to avoid
> leaks.  I would like to have some opinions as to why it is running so
> hot and if and how that might be dangerous to the life of the engine.


Steve,

What was the ambient air temperature when you made these measurements?

What kind of oil cooler are you using?

What engine is this - a 95? A turbo bored .060?

Your findings seem a little high, but are close to what I experienced  
when my engine was new. You are running with shrouds and, I presume,  
using some type of stock oil cooler.

See: http://autoxer.skiblack.com/schug_cooler.html

If these temps were at 80 degrees or so, they seem in line with mine.  
That's why I use a Mazda oil cooler as detailed on the web page. I  
think if more people used oil temperature gauges, more people would  
see results like you have.




Bruce

Bruce W. Schug
Treasurer & Membership Chairman
CORSA South Carolina
Greenville, SC
Stock Corvair Group
Performance Corvair Group
bwschug at charter.net

CORSA member since 1980

'67 Monza. "67AC140"