How hot is too hot? (Part 2)

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Nick R

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Well, I managed to get it really hot today. Cutting tall grass, mulching the pile of grass where we dump it since the city won't let us put in on the curb anymore like we used to. What do you think, still too hot? After I noticed it I shut it down for a while until it cooled off :|

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Originally Posted By: Chris142
Is that oil temp or coolant?


Oil temp on the one-lunger 540CC Briggs and stratton on our riding mower.
 
For short periods I don't think that temp would destroy name-brand synthetics, as there are plenty of sporty street cars that get oil temps like that on the track.
 
Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Is that oil temp or coolant?


Oil temp on the one-lunger 540CC Briggs and stratton on our riding mower.


As you know I have the same year Craftsman mower as you. It's much hotter her than NY and I believe my mower never gets close to that temp. I don't have a guage, but I often feel the oil filter an it's no where close to 260 as yours is showing. I believe your guage is way off.I think you are using a 40wt oil so try droping down to a 10-30 synthetic like I use. Of course you like Penz.
 
Mech or electric gauge? Where is the sensor located on engine?
That's hot. I would check gauge for accuracy. Get or borrow a heat sensor gun maybe? Are the air fins clean and open on engine?
 
Whenever I see a gauge peg like that, I first suspect the gauge has failed before I believe the reading. If you have used this equipment under similar conditions and this is the first time your gauge has recorded temps this high, then you may want to independently verify the temperature. Accessories on lawn & garden equipment are notoriously cheap and they are subject to considerable damaging vibration. I'd bet you a quart of your favorite oil that the gauge has failed, and your oil is not really that hot.
 
Originally Posted By: oldhp
Mech or electric gauge? Where is the sensor located on engine?
That's hot. I would check gauge for accuracy. Get or borrow a heat sensor gun maybe? Are the air fins clean and open on engine?


It's a mechanical gauge that goes in the drain hole on the side of the block.

The gauge is accurate, it normally runs around 210-225 depending on outside temp. It was really hot today and it was under very heavy load for a while. Under normal conditions it's doesn't run anywhere near that hot.

The fins are clean and open. It also creeped up to that temp, it didn't suddenly hop there. It crept up over time while I was using it. when I shut it off, let it cool and used it again, this time under much more normal load, and it had cooled off by then quite a bit as well, it was at a normal temp of around 220. It's an automotive temp gauge from Advance, I bodged it into the drain hole on the side of the block with a thread size adaptor that came with it.
 
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The important thing here is that this is the first time it's been used under such severe heavy load. I was mulching the compost pile, and it had the engine very slowed down, even at full throttle, including stalling out once or twice. It was by far the heaviest load I've put on it since we got it. So I'm not surprised it got that hot when it's 90-95 out.
 
This is the highest temp I had seen up until now, and this wasn't under such heavy load as it was today, so I fully believe the 260 reading for that short period of time.

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It could indeed be 260 degrees. Harleys run 250 degrees or so and are air cooled. That is normal operating temp in warm weather. Especially our rear cylinder temp. Mine has slowed down RPMs when it gets real hot. I change oil frequently especially after hot weather rides.
 
Originally Posted By: MolaKule
I think the temp gauge is reading the temperature via heat conduction from the block and not just oil temp.


Well if the block is that hot you can bet the oil is as well...

A thinner oil would be a waste of time and may do damage, with those temp possible I'd never use less than a 40W(a heavy one at that)...
 
ummm... probably a stupid question...anyway to rig up an electric fan...either to a manual switch, or some kind of thermal switch??
 
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I've seen 260F on my generator before. It's beyond a normal oil's ability to perform at those temps. Remember, it's heavily loaded to achieve those temps, exactly when you need your oil to perform... And, 260 is too hot for any conventional, automotive based oil.

FYI, my Lycoming powered Cessna has an oil redline of 245, AND, the FAA only requires the engine to last 100 hours at that temp... AND, that's with straight 50.

I'd be using 15W-50 M1 in that engine.
 
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