Proper Oil Temperature

[karrann]

Hey everyone, this is my first post but I've been read this website for quite a while. So much great info on here!
Anyway, let me start of by saying I have an 2000 Audi S4 with 47000 miles on it. Its my 3rd S4 and I've always used Rotella T6 for my oil changes. Its cheap, easy to find, and great things have been said about it. I am just curious what proper oil temperature are once the car is warm. I recent installed an aux oil cooler and usually see around 195F while normal driving and never see above 212F after repeated WOT runs. From my research this seems to be ideal for the most part. Does that sounds about right? Also curious I read everywhere to lay off the boost before you oil is up to temperature. Just curious how warm should you allow the oil to warm up before getting into boost. My sensor is located in the oil pan. is 150F warm enough for WOT runs? or should I wait for it to warm up further before excessive boost.

 

[901Memphis]

160+F for WOT in my opinion. Giving a little extra throttle will boost your temp if you're driving it gently until now.

Your oil temperature does sound about perfect.

Have you looked into Mobil 1 0W40? It's about $25 at Walmart.

 

[SteveSRT8]

With a high quality syn oil that is a very high temp to wait for.

Might want to heat some Mobil 1 0W-40 on the stove and see how it runs like water at 120 degrees.

IMO with modern oils there is no need for excessive caution.

 

[Corvette Owner]

My oil temperature in my Corvette runs about 20 F higher than the water temperature. Water temperature runs from 180-235 F (red line for water temperature is 250 F).

Chevy specified Synthetic Oil as the factory fill because of the high oil temperatures AND they did NOT want to put in an oil cooler. The book "All Corvettes are Red" details the development of the C5 (1997-2004) Corvette.

 

[threeputtpar]

You have a B5 S4 with only 47k miles on it? I'm super jealous. If you tell me it's a 6-speed avant and a noggy, my head will probably explode.

In the summer, I typically see oil temps in the 200 to 220 range. In the winter, it rarely ever goes above 200. I'm running a stage 1 tune and I'm on the original KO3 turbos.

RT6 is a safe oil to use, but it's really a bit too heavy for the APB engines. Now that Walmart carries Mobil 1 0W040 in the 5 quart jugs, there's really no reason not to use it even if you track the car. Castrol 0w30 and 0W-40 are also good options, but you have to catch them on a sale somewhere to compete with Walmart's prices.

It's always a good idea to have warm oil before getting on the boost. I always wait until the needle on the oil temp gauge starts to move before putting the hammer down. Very rarely do I go WOT, I usually keep it to half to 3/4 throttle up to 5k rpms just because I have a tip trans.

Oh, and pics would be really appreciated!

 

[Nederlander75]

The S4 I had was about the same in CO. In winter Id rarely get above 172F actually. Though, on a wanta be Pikes Peak Hill Climb run I did get the oil to 320F. Id be inclined to use the Mobil 1 0w40 also, though I was running Valvoline 5w40 in mine.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
karran - Welcome to BITOG

As a guide the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart houses many of the Worlds most valuable vehicles. They use a mineral lubricant in many and always warm to lubricant to 80C (176F) before applying load or higher revs

In my Porsche engines the average operating temperature was 85C (185F)

This is the same with more contemporary vehicles where the Germans have seemed to aim for an operating temp of around 85C (185F)

In my heavy diesel engines the Manufacturer's expectations are:

Normal >110C (230F)
Warning via ECM @ 115C (239F)
Power down via ECM @ 121C (250F)

Over all my engines the operating average was 103C (217F)

There was never any evidence of lubricant degradation due to temperature

Using a 5W-40 synthetic lubricant I had 90kkms OCIs and very very long engine life, to at least 2m kms

 

[Jim Allen]

I don't think you can make a 100 % judgement on a suitable oil temp until you have run the oil specs (cSt @ 40C/cSt @ 100C) thru a viscosity calculator. Or you can observe the differences in oil pressure. When oil pressure is around 80-90% of what it will be at your highest operational temps, then you are god to go. I think it may matter some the individual engine parameters but I have reached this conclusion by having a lot of instrumentation on my engine, accurate oil temp and oil pressure as well as a differential pressure setup (two oil pressure gauges with sensors on either side of the filter). In my 5.4L Ford at least, 160 is the minimum pedal-to-the metal oil temp. At that point the oil is thin enough so that the oil filter is largely immune to bypass and the oil pressure has leveled off to something near normal.

Was running the truck on a dyno today,in fact, testing a new exhaust system and oil temp reached 213F. We ran the truck up to 5200 rpm 23 times. When I could, I stole a glance at the DP gauges and never saw them anywhere near a bypass pressure.

 

[karrann]

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
160+F for WOT in my opinion. Giving a little extra throttle will boost your temp if you're driving it gently until now.

Your oil temperature does sound about perfect.

Have you looked into Mobil 1 0W40? It's about $25 at Walmart.


Thats what I usually way for before getting into boost. 160F ish.

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
With a high quality syn oil that is a very high temp to wait for.

Might want to heat some Mobil 1 0W-40 on the stove and see how it runs like water at 120 degrees.

IMO with modern oils there is no need for excessive caution.


I figure with NA cars it might more forgiving but just don't wanna starve my tiny turbos form lubrication.

Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
You have a B5 S4 with only 47k miles on it? I'm super jealous. If you tell me it's a 6-speed avant and a noggy, my head will probably explode.

In the summer, I typically see oil temps in the 200 to 220 range. In the winter, it rarely ever goes above 200. I'm running a stage 1 tune and I'm on the original KO3 turbos.

RT6 is a safe oil to use, but it's really a bit too heavy for the APB engines. Now that Walmart carries Mobil 1 0W040 in the 5 quart jugs, there's really no reason not to use it even if you track the car. Castrol 0w30 and 0W-40 are also good options, but you have to catch them on a sale somewhere to compete with Walmart's prices.

It's always a good idea to have warm oil before getting on the boost. I always wait until the needle on the oil temp gauge starts to move before putting the hammer down. Very rarely do I go WOT, I usually keep it to half to 3/4 throttle up to 5k rpms just because I have a tip trans.

Oh, and pics would be really appreciated!


LOL you guessed it exactly. 6 Speed Noggy, with Alcantra interior. Have you noticed any big difference between Mobil 1 and T6? Im running a custom tube spiking to 20PSI. No Shaft play on the turbine wheels.... yet lol.

And any particular reason you guys prefer Mobil 1 over T6? I'ver hear from peoples experiences on the forums that Mobil 1 thins out much quicker. Any truth to that? Money really isn't an issue when it comes to oil. I'd like to know what is the best oil I can use. Ive heard German Castrol is great but only if its the european formula.

But heres a quick picture of it I had earlier.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: karrann
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
160+F for WOT in my opinion. Giving a little extra throttle will boost your temp if you're driving it gently until now.

Your oil temperature does sound about perfect.

Have you looked into Mobil 1 0W40? It's about $25 at Walmart.


Thats what I usually way for before getting into boost. 160F ish.

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
With a high quality syn oil that is a very high temp to wait for.

Might want to heat some Mobil 1 0W-40 on the stove and see how it runs like water at 120 degrees.

IMO with modern oils there is no need for excessive caution.


I figure with NA cars it might more forgiving but just don't wanna starve my tiny turbos form lubrication.

Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
You have a B5 S4 with only 47k miles on it? I'm super jealous. If you tell me it's a 6-speed avant and a noggy, my head will probably explode.

In the summer, I typically see oil temps in the 200 to 220 range. In the winter, it rarely ever goes above 200. I'm running a stage 1 tune and I'm on the original KO3 turbos.

RT6 is a safe oil to use, but it's really a bit too heavy for the APB engines. Now that Walmart carries Mobil 1 0W040 in the 5 quart jugs, there's really no reason not to use it even if you track the car. Castrol 0w30 and 0W-40 are also good options, but you have to catch them on a sale somewhere to compete with Walmart's prices.

It's always a good idea to have warm oil before getting on the boost. I always wait until the needle on the oil temp gauge starts to move before putting the hammer down. Very rarely do I go WOT, I usually keep it to half to 3/4 throttle up to 5k rpms just because I have a tip trans.

Oh, and pics would be really appreciated!


LOL you guessed it exactly. 6 Speed Noggy, with Alcantra interior. Have you noticed any big difference between Mobil 1 and T6? Im running a custom tube spiking to 20PSI. No Shaft play on the turbine wheels.... yet lol.

And any particular reason you guys prefer Mobil 1 over T6? I'ver hear from peoples experiences on the forums that Mobil 1 thins out much quicker. Any truth to that? Money really isn't an issue when it comes to oil. I'd like to know what is the best oil I can use. Ive heard German Castrol is great but only if its the european formula.

But heres a quick picture of it I had earlier.

Mobil 1 is typically preferred for it's much, much higher viscosity index. That is the oil is thinner at comparable temps to other 40 grade oils below operating temp- a desirable attribute. In operation, it's viscosity is the same or similar to most other 40 grade oils. In some applications it shears, losing some viscosity, though for everyone that I've seen on here, it hasn't proven to be a detriment.

edit: It meets quite likely the most manufacturer's (strict) approvals and it also has a very robust additive package and is well suited for long drains.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: karrann
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
160+F for WOT in my opinion. Giving a little extra throttle will boost your temp if you're driving it gently until now.

Your oil temperature does sound about perfect.

Have you looked into Mobil 1 0W40? It's about $25 at Walmart.


Thats what I usually way for before getting into boost. 160F ish.

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
With a high quality syn oil that is a very high temp to wait for.

Might want to heat some Mobil 1 0W-40 on the stove and see how it runs like water at 120 degrees.

IMO with modern oils there is no need for excessive caution.


I figure with NA cars it might more forgiving but just don't wanna starve my tiny turbos form lubrication.

Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
You have a B5 S4 with only 47k miles on it? I'm super jealous. If you tell me it's a 6-speed avant and a noggy, my head will probably explode.

In the summer, I typically see oil temps in the 200 to 220 range. In the winter, it rarely ever goes above 200. I'm running a stage 1 tune and I'm on the original KO3 turbos.

RT6 is a safe oil to use, but it's really a bit too heavy for the APB engines. Now that Walmart carries Mobil 1 0W040 in the 5 quart jugs, there's really no reason not to use it even if you track the car. Castrol 0w30 and 0W-40 are also good options, but you have to catch them on a sale somewhere to compete with Walmart's prices.

It's always a good idea to have warm oil before getting on the boost. I always wait until the needle on the oil temp gauge starts to move before putting the hammer down. Very rarely do I go WOT, I usually keep it to half to 3/4 throttle up to 5k rpms just because I have a tip trans.

Oh, and pics would be really appreciated!


LOL you guessed it exactly. 6 Speed Noggy, with Alcantra interior. Have you noticed any big difference between Mobil 1 and T6? Im running a custom tube spiking to 20PSI. No Shaft play on the turbine wheels.... yet lol.

And any particular reason you guys prefer Mobil 1 over T6? I'ver hear from peoples experiences on the forums that Mobil 1 thins out much quicker. Any truth to that? Money really isn't an issue when it comes to oil. I'd like to know what is the best oil I can use. Ive heard German Castrol is great but only if its the european formula.

But heres a quick picture of it I had earlier.

Mobil 1 0w-40 is THE most recommended oil in performance applications and there are more than 1 oem that at one point recommended it as the oil to use.
Some very expensive cars use it exclusively and their R&D departments engineered the engines using this oil.
If Porsche and Nissan say its good enough for their top line cars then I wouldn't question it.
I'm a pennzoil guy but rotella t-6 and Mobil 1 0w-40 aren't really in the same class.