OIL TEMPATURE

[KIM-P]

My buggy came with a oil temp gauge with the sending unit attatched to the lower rear of the engine near the crank pulley. Cruising arround at 55 mph brings the temp up to 210-F , running 65 mph brings the temp to 230. Knowing that babbit (the soft material on the bearings) fails at 180 degrees F , these temps bother me. Is this something to be concerened about and what is the max oil temp? Or should I just yank the oil temp gauge out and throw it away?
Im running a stock doghouse oil cooler with a slightly modified engine and 25" tall tires in the back. At 60 mph the tach reads 3200 rpm

[jspbtown]

Couple of things...

How is your timing?

How is your oil pressure?

If your oil pressure is good you might want to try running some 0w20 synthetic oil.

[KIM-P]

Timing is set at 28 degrees at 2500 rpm new oil pump with filter attatched and the oil presure is 45 psi from around 2000rpm on.

[blackthree4me]

my temps are taken at the same place coming out of the oil pump correct
is yours full flowed or going out to a filter ECT.

my temps run 180 normal to 200 on a realy hot day.
230 is too hot i would think.

[KIM-P]

The filter is attatched to the pump. I drove it to work monday and as long I kept the RPMs about 2800 the temp stayed about 205. But the ambient temps were 70 in the am 92 in the pm. the first time I took it to work I kept up with trafic and the temps were 230. It didn't run-on when I turned it off but the oil turned a carmel brown in that trip which is 40 miles one way. I'm thinking that the rear tires may be too short causing the rpms to be too high. I may have rethink my tire decision

[GregR]

what is the timing at 3200? maybe you're timing is advanced just a bit too much.

[jspbtown]

I would try backing the timing off a couple of degrees and see what happens. I would also do a synthetic change. Total cost about $25 and no harm done to the buggy.

[blackthree4me]

can you post picks of the sending unit?
the reason I ask is It could be getting readings from the block temp, Is it (the sending unit) in the oil flow? I have seen them off the side of the block on the pressure port and that wont work.

Mine runs at 3100 rpm 60 MPH any faster and the temps run up to 200
if I slow down temps will ease back down.

also need to look at all the cooling efecincys of your shroud and tins.
more holes less cooling but it does sound like its getting too Hot
there are many articles and coments on that one,so do your research.

Blackthree4me

[KIM-P]

Here's the pics of my oil sender.

The sender and gauge or both more than 20 years old.

[Jack Duncan]

Kim, I thought mine was running hot when the engine was fresh, but I replaced the sending unit and problem was gone. My cooling fan is set to come on at 185 degrees and I have never heard it running. My gauge shows about 180 at operating temp.

[KIM-P]

According to John Muir's 19th edition of the complete idiots repair manual on the bottom of page 369 it states that "Oil temperature should stay bellow 225-F (180 - 220-F is ideal)." I turned the timing back from 28 to 26 degrees @ 3200 rpm. I had modified the fan housing before installing it by welding up all unused holes and removing the heater pipes and welded them up too. I even put new weather striping on the oil cooler. I'm hoping it was the timing that was too far advanced. I'm also running 93 octane gas to keep it from running on. Now just waiting for the weather to dry up enough to go test drive it.