Normal Engine Oil Temperatures for VQ35

[The Critic]

On a normal NA engine, what oil temperatures are to be expected after a short 4-5 mile drive?

Last month, I did an oil change on mom's Altima V6. I drove the car for five miles to warm the engine prior to the oil change. Of those five miles, three miles were from driving in-town at about 40 mph, the remaining two miles were from highway driving at about 75 mph.

When I got back home from the drive, I immediately unscrewed the oil filler cap and drained the oil. After unscrewing the oil filler cap, steam came out of the oil filler hole. Also, the oil that drained out of the oil pan was scalding hot-- it burned my finger tips quite badly.

From my own limited experience, I have never seen engine oil that hot after only a five mile drive. Of course I did not have the tools to measure the oil temperature, but the engine oil did seem unusually hot and I would not be surprised if the oil temperature had been at or near 200F.

Has anyone else experienced such high oil temperatures on a VQ35? Or is it normal for engine oil to get this warm on a NA engine after a five mile drive? Because I certainly don't remember ever seeing my Saturn's oil getting that warm after a short drive...

Thanks.

 

[garlicbreadman]

5 miles is a way long enough for temps to meet operating temps
the oil in my car would be blistering hot after 2 miles but then again i live in 90+ degree weather

 

[Silber Igel]

I'd not be surprised that the OT is close to the opening temperature of the thermostat. On a honkin' engine... long drive.. maybe 220F or so in the pan. That's really pretty normal and what I'd expect... and have experienced.

Recall that OTs depend on where you measure them and there's lots of thought about what its the 'best' measurement location. IMHO, I'd use the pan temperature as it is the reservoir for the bulk of the oil and where the 'cooling' goes on. Spikey temperatures at odd locations don't really tell me much ... except that it's hot at a weird location. I'd expect that. I'm more interested in the temperature of the 'cooled' oil as that's what's circulated to cool off the hot spots.

For comparison, the liquid in a up to temp engine is going to be around 200-220 when the thermostat is fully open. Oil temp will be about the same.

 

[The Critic]

I guess it may just be news to me.

Many automakers state that trips of under 5 miles are considered to be "short trips" and require more frequent oil changes because the oil does not warm-up to operating temperature. Regardless of what they say, the oil was burning hot in five miles!

EDIT: Actually this engine does have an oil cooler. But it's more of a heat exchanger than a cooler. Perhaps this is why the oil was so hot?

 

[2oldtommy]

There are two ways to route the coolant in an internal combustion engine : 1, after circulating through the radiator, the coolant goes back to the lower water jackets and then up through the head and to the top of the radiator. 2,the coolant flows to the head PRIOR to being routed to the water jackets in the block. I believe that most engine s today use #2, as it allows for a higher comp. ratio, (cooler head temp.) and heats the oil to operating temp. much faster. Look where your thermostat is located and you will get an idea of which system you have. ( Any of you BITOGer's with experience in a radiator shop please comment.) IIRC the first modern V8 to use a reverse flow system was the 287 ci pontiac of 1955. FWIW--Oldtommy

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: The Critic

Many automakers state that trips of under 5 miles are considered to be "short trips" and require more frequent oil changes because the oil does not warm-up to operating temperature.

5 miles is considered a short trip because the oil isn't at operating temp long enough to fully burn off moisture and fuel; however, 5 miles may be plenty enough to actually reach the operating temp.

 

[SLCraig]

VQ35's definitely run high oil temps. Although I don't know exact numbers.
It's a warm running engine in general.

I remember when I replaced the oil cooler line on my Maxima, I had only driven the car to the store and back, (something like 2 kilometres) and I had to let the car sit the line was so hot (engine coolant)

 

[LordAbbett]

I had no idea that pontiac did reverse flow cooling in 1955. Of the domestics the first I can recall is the LT1 chevy.

The oil cooler/exchanger should actually shorten the time it takes for the oil to get to operating temps. Once there it will limit max oil temps.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Geez, the oil was scalding hot after a 5 mile drive.

Who would believe it?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
Geez, the oil was scalding hot after a 5 mile drive.

Who would believe it?


Like I said, maybe its just a "duh" moment for me, but on my Saturn it just doesn't get this hot.

 

[BobFout]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
Geez, the oil was scalding hot after a 5 mile drive.

Who would believe it?


Like I said, maybe its just a "duh" moment for me, but on my Saturn it just doesn't get this hot.


I wonder if under-piston oil-squirters are a factor here?

 

[Gary Allan]

If it's a normal sized sump, I think the time to near coolant temp with that exchanger is probably around 8-9 minutes. I imagine it took you that long to do the 5 miles. It would already be in the 160f range anyway I suspect ..or most of the way there.

If it has an accurate coolant temp gauge (not one weighted toward center span) you might see the oil holding the coolant temp locked down at around the thermostat level until it's very near equilibrium.

 

[dparm]

I would expect the oil to get plenty hot after only 5 minutes of driving. The VQ motors don't run abnormally hot but they are big powerful V6s.

My dad's G35 (VQ35) and my mom's EX35 (VQ35HR) both get very warm very fast.

 

[mechanicx]

Those oil-to-water intercoolers speed up oil warmup, especially in summer driving. Without one and in cold weather mild driving, 5 miles may not even get the coolant up to temperature fully.

 

[mechtech2]

Was the AC on?
Low speeds also mean low air flow for the radiator and engine compartment. [more heat retention]
In Summertime , oil sure could get very hot in a short time.
But we have no real measurements.
And oil is hot around the cylinder head compared to the sump.

 

[KrisZ]

5 miles is plenty for oil to get hot. Last Saturday I changed my oil, I only drove about 2.5 miles in city only, no 75mph runs, and the oil was hot, I could not hold the drain plug in my fingers for more that a couple of seconds.

 

[Gary Allan]

You have to think of it in terms of how much thermal energy you've put into it. Those 2.5 miles probably took you more time than doing 6 miles if you were right off the highway. It's a pliable rectangle of time/distance in some x-y axis type thing. Exchangers shorten the event somewhat; at least for the lion's share of it. It's all in herding a mega migration of btu cats. They find a whole new door.

 

[SteveSRT8]

What is 'hot'? How about a number?

With that type of heat exchanger the oil is actually warmed by the coolant in the first few miles.

My car will run 210 in just a few minutes, and I've seen 280 plus at the track. This is due to the oil squirters shooting oil on the piston crowns from underneath.

I'd bet that hot little V6 has them, too.