So is my engine going to explode?

[MarkC]

Not only will your engine explode, before it does, it will leap out of the engine bay, turn around and slap you with a fan belt and call you a nasty name.

 

[keith]

My '99 GC 3.3L doesn't have an oil temperature gauge. I've driven in 105F in summer and 0F in winter and never seen the coolant gauge move from mid position, any load, AC on or off, any speed. The 3.3L and 3.8L are essentially the same engine. It's a well cooled engine and I wouldn't have any worries about the oil temperature. The transmission might be another story, but I believe that all newer vans (post 2000?) have factory auxilliary ATF coolers. I added one to my '99.

 

[mechtech]

Coolant temp gauges from many mfrs. are regulated to stay in one spot, and can need 30-40 degrees more to start going up.
They don't want swinging gauges to alarm the customers.

 

[Palut]

For comparison consider this:

I drove my '95 Accord 4 cylinder 35 miles in 101° weather last Friday. I drove about 60-70 mph and the oil got up to 230°.

Compared to a minivan and your trip my car weighs less, has a lower drag coefficient, drove slower and for less time in cooler weather. I got about 34 mpg on that tank of gas so I was burning less fuel. The oil still got up to 230°.

I'd assume that your oil got at least that hot.

 

[Matt_S]

quote:

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Originally posted by Palut:
I'd assume that your oil got at least that hot.

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I wouldn't assume that. Sump dimensions, materials and capacity, engine RPM, oil routing, coolant routing, cylinder head temps and the possible presence of an oil cooler could all have an effect on the oil temp. I'd bet it varies more than you might think from vehicle to vehicle.