What is the normal operating temp for the oil/ What is the proper RPM shifting
 

What should the oil temp be while driving? is 180-200 to high?? It doesnt go past 210, and it doesnt go up to 200 all the time, but some times it does. Does this have to do with my driving??

When leaving a light in first gear during normal driving conditions,(not flooring it to take somebody) when should I shift to 2nd?? 3600 RPM, 4000 RPM?? Now getting on a freeway, shifting threw the gears, whats the highest my RPMS should go?? I know dont take it beyond the Red Line.I know/heard P cars dont like being shifted or driven below 2000 RPM. Im just trying to drive this the best way it likes to be driven.

your oil temps are fine. my car likes 3 to 5 k.

Hi Bill,
You're lucky to be driving your car, we're still waiting for Spring here, about another 2 weeks. Ditto - oil temp is A-OK.
Shift before 4000 until warm, and then 5000 to 6000 for regular driving and 7000 for more aggressive - this is from memory waaaaay long ago before winter. :)

if the temp gets up above 250 then it can cause problems from my understanding.
3-5 for normal driving also, freeway onramps.......6k:D

also if you don't know the importance.......if the fan belt ever breaks (the alt. light will illuminate if this happens) shut her down immediately, driving for 3 minutes can cook your engine without the fan spinning, your oil temp should also indicate this destruction but by then it's usually too late.
my .13

Im lucky to be driving my car in many ways Rob.. Which is the correct saying here: You have to wait until your presure gauge, (Picture below, the fuel gauge, that oil pressure gauge). is past the half way mark, before you drive away, so that way the gauge isnt resting in the red zone, or you can start it up, and drive away, but just start off slow.

Thanks bell. I didnt know that about the fan belt. Ill make sure and pay attention to that. THANKS

you have to watch too when the sun is at your back, the alt. lamp will get your attention at night but during the day it's harder to see.
i use the old "shade the guage with your hand" technique when needed, i took a 2300 mile trip last year to fine tune this technique......it works well:D

Bill, Ya got you on that!
Oil pressure should come up right away? I always warm my car up before actually driving away, let the oil temp gauge move. Then drive until temp reaches 180, then you're good to go.

Bye the way...... clean your room! (saw those pics, cool but tons of stuff everywhere - Ha ha) I'll post some pics of mine one day soon on that thread too....

OK, see the the first gauge, the one that has the fuel indicator,in that same gage, to the right, what is that?

Ya, I really need to clean my room..,..,.,havent had time lately, with have 2 jobs and all.

That is the oil level in the oil reservoir. It is only "semi-accurate" when the car is fully warmed-up (10 min or more) and at idle. On the freeway, it will drop down as the oil is circulated.

It is only "semi-accurate", still check your dipstick every couple weeks (when the engine is at idle and warmed) until you understand your oil burn rate.

Ok, so as the car warms up, that gauge moves upward, as I see it do. And yes it drops down as Im flying on the highway. I check the dip stick once a week. On the dip stick, how far should I let it down from the Max mark?? Inbetween the max and 3/4 mark?? Should I keep it at the Max mark at all times?

Pilot,

As all have said here already. You can also getting alot of information on this board using the Search function as most of these topics have been covered in detail.

The dipstick should be almost in the middle between Min & Max. This prevents oil from slopping around the system during spirited driving.

Read the owners manual, get some books, drive and have fun!

Make sure the engine is warmed up and running when you check the oil. On mine, when the oil level is at the bottom line on the dipstick, a quart will bring it back up to the middle, i.e. halfway between the two lines.

On the CIS cars there is a oil vent/breather tube from the top of the oil tank over to the airbox. If the oil level is too high oil spills into the air box and gets sucked into the fuel injection (what a mess). With that comes a lot of blue smoke from the exhaust. Keeping the dipstick level in the middle on a fully warmed engine will prevent this from happening. Oil will expand a lot from cold to hot. The alternator light should come on when you turn the ignition switch to the on position and should go out after starting. That lets you know the bulb works. The oil level guage will indicate a level that is just an estimate of the tank level at idle and warm. If it doesn't show any rise then it is definately time to check with the dipstick. I can tell when it is time to check the distick just by watching the guage after the car is warm and at idle. It is only a guesstimate.

Thanks for all the info guys. It really helps.