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MG MGF Technical - Oil Temperature Readings

I have noted that different cars when driven in a convoy, end up with quite varied oil temp readings.

For example my car runs at an indicated 90ish degrees when fully warmed up and being driven along single carriagay open A roads in a traffic flow that is shifting at about 50 as a cruising speed. On the other hand Roger Bunfords 2000 model year car in the same conditions shows well over 100 degrees.

The same sort of differences continue with higher and lower speeds.

Some feedback on this would be of assistance, especially as some have reported very high readings for less than severe use.

Three readings and two basic facts please.

1, Temp at urban speeds(30 to 40mph)

2, Temp at open road speeds (50 to 60mph)

3, Temp at Motorway speeds (circa 70 to 90mph depending on local laws of course!)

Please also indicate the approx outside air temp and the year of the car.

Rog
Roger Parker

Hi,
a little first input for this good idea:

> 2, Temp at open road speeds (50 to 60mph)
90C +-2 this morning under -3C outside temperature conditions.

reached at around 3000 revs on a boting 25 miles ride to my office.
MPI
built 05/06, 61k km
mods: K&N and Sports exhaust
Oil: 05W40
------------
IMO any data collection should include some more data then introduced by Rog.
1/...
2/...
3/...
4/ outside temperature
5/ Engines age, or first registered
6/ engine type
7/ mileage of the engine
8/ driven rev. range (if applicable, so only according to No. 2 & No. 3
9/ engine related alterations
10/ oil data

Looks like a Survey form, ehyy ? Paul L. ?
------------
dk
Dieter

1, Temp at urban speeds(30 to 40mph)

90C

2, Temp at open road speeds (50 to 60mph)

95C

3, Temp at Motorway speeds (circa 70 to 90mph depending on local laws of course!)

< or = 100C

[Competition 110-120C]

4/ outside temperature

Recorded oil temperatures appear consistent irrespective of ambient temperature.

5/ Engines age, or first registered

Jan 1996

6/ engine type

1.8 MPi

7/ mileage of the engine

42k miles

8/ driven rev. range (if applicable, so only according to No. 2 & No. 3

Full range ;o) Typical cruise rpm 2,500- 3,500 rpm; country roads 4,500-5,500+ rpm ;o) [I tend to hold lower gears...]

9/ engine related alterations

K&N 57i filter + TT exhaust
Oil temps unaffected by filter, marginally higher with exhaust...

10/ oil data

Castrol Mobil 1

Rob
Rob Bell

1, Temp at urban speeds(30 to 40mph)
90 degrees

2, Temp at open road speeds (50 to 60mph)
100 degrees

3, Temp at Motorway speeds (circa 70 to 90mph depending on local laws of course!)
70mph = 110 degrees
120mph = 130 degrees
Stefan Gibney

Forgive my asking, but how can you people be so precise about your oil temperatures. After all the meter only says 60c, 120c, 150c and 170c.

As for me, until recently I thought that the first marking after 60c represented 80c but, the other day, I had the opportunity to see the temperature reading of the testbook and it showed 100c while my meter was right on that second marking. Thus, my oil temperature is most of the time between 100c and 120c, only going above 120 when charging on the motorway (oh yes, and I use fully synthetic oil).

Per
Per

Per,

This is part of the issue. The intermediate markings give a clear guide of the readings, but there are without doubt some displayed variations between cars when used in like conditions. The value will show up when questions concerning the need to consider oil coolers arises.

Rog
Roger Parker

a second one:

> 3. Temp at Motorway speeds (circa 70 to 90mph)
Was up to 100mph ;-)

100°C +-10 this evening under -2°C outside temperature conditions.

reached at around 4000 revs on a (not so boring) 25 miles ride to my home.
MPI
built 05/06, 61k km
mods: K&N and Sports exhaust
Oil: 05W40

Sorry for spliting the input, more is recenly not possible. I haven't a large urban area here to practice a 10 miles run. The neighbours would scalp me.

The above measure is not so 'true' then the one from this morning, because several 'other' cars did not let me ....

Per,
take measures as you are able to read. The absolute accuracy is not so important then the raise. Rog knows what he's talking about.

dk
Dieter

I think that the accuracy of the temp gauge here is of prime importance - there's no control in this experiment that says they're all the same, therefore all the readings are a little suspect. I suppose that the differences between operating conditions may be valid, but I wouldn't bet on it. Sorry to throw a 'pig in the oinkment'.

But fyi, in my recent MOT, it took a good 15 minutes at a constant 3000RPM (+/-) no load for my oil temp to reach 70degC (MOT computer reading) while on the ramp. This was necessary to get the cat to light up before the emission readings , I suspect.

9408 SD 76 (but see other posting on general board)
Hugh

Hugh,

I agree, but I also suspect that the inaccuracy is such as to exceed the reasoanble expected variation from wide based data sources. In the end this is a 'toe in the water' activity from which more accurate tests can be done. This by having cars gauges cross referenced against calibrated gauges to provide a more accurate return on the error factor.

Rog
Roger Parker

This thread was discussed between 22/01/2000 and 25/01/2000

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