The perfect running temp

[janz]

If you could choose a certain engine temp to run all the time what would it be? How about for an 86 3.2?

[mpetry]

right on the 180 mark. Here in the Pac NW, I see temps over 180 a couple times a year, but many times does not even get there.

81 SC with a Carrera cooler.

One of the cheap tricks you can do is steam clean the engine. Years of accumulated dust and grease form an ideal insulating blanket. Don't forget to steam clean those oil lines and your cooler too.

Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA

[janz]

I added the fan and temp sensor to the oil cooler as those days of over 100 degrees and running the AC in stop and go traffic I was seeing temps of just over 215. Just trying to figure out where I should set the temp sensor to trigger the fan to come on. I have it coming on around 195 which I thought was a good temp to run at. Engine is clean, belt is tight, elephant finned oil lines along with new thermostat by pass for same. There must be a factory spec for preferred operating temp for engine. I went with the adjustable sensor on the oil cooler as when October and November roll around its 40 degrees and don't want the fan running and cooling an already cool engine. Trying to make this idiot proof in case wife takes car she won't have to worry about flipping switches because its getting hot.

[RoninLB]

Originally Posted by mpetry

right on the 180 mark.

I agree 100%


the oil line thermostat going to the front cooler can be replaced with one that opens at a cooler temp. I can't remember what they are set from the factory?
That big dealer in Willoughby Ohio sells them. Can't mention their name here.

[janz]

If I remember correctly the thermostat by pass I put in there opens at 185 so I should probably set the fan to come on at that temp?

[jwakil]

I would imagine the Porche designers would adjust the guage to be right at halfway during normal operation temps. That would be around ~220-230. I think a lot of people (myself included) get overly paranoid about temps. Even the owners manual says that brief excursions into the red are not cause for great alarm If anything they would probably be on the conservative side.

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by janz

If you could choose a certain engine temp to run all the time what would it be? How about for an 86 3.2?

Our '86 runs at 180-210.

We have installed a 210F oil cooler fan thermostat.

210F-Fan on.

195F-Fan off.

On drives to Palm Springs @ 100F our oil temp will activate the fan
keeping the oil at 210-220F.

Factory recommendations on 3.2 oil temps is 180F-210F.

210F to boil off any moisture in the oil.

We use Mobil 1 15-50.

Good luck,

Gerry

[930cabman]

Here in Buffalo, NY we do not have really hot temps, but my 1975 911s and 1987 930 run oil temps in the 230 range most of the time. The 911s made a cross country run last summer at 90 mph and did not miss a beat. I have recently purchased an infred(sp?) temp sensor. What a great tool. I suspect 230 is not a problem with modern oils, I run Castrol 20w-50 generally.
Temps are taken at the tank, seems as the best place to monitor.

Thanks

[gsmith660]

Originally Posted by RoninLB

I agree 100%


the oil line thermostat going to the front cooler can be replaced with one that opens at a cooler temp. I can't remember what they are set from the factory?
That big dealer in Willoughby Ohio sells them. Can't mention their name here.

I believe 200 is the temp from those guys I use a Mocal and my temp stays right at 180 unless its a really hot day and it might go to 190 but I dont need a fan cause I am going real fast usually, the cooler is an old turbotrol from the late 80s

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by RoninLB

I agree 100%


the oil line thermostat going to the front cooler can be replaced with one that opens at a cooler temp. I can't remember what they are set from the factory?
That big dealer in Willoughby Ohio sells them. Can't mention their name here.

Factory is 185F.

[gsmith660]

Originally Posted by 930cabman

Here in Buffalo, NY we do not have really hot temps, but my 1975 911s and 1987 930 run oil temps in the 230 range most of the time. The 911s made a cross country run last summer at 90 mph and did not miss a beat. I have recently purchased an infred(sp?) temp sensor. What a great tool. I suspect 230 is not a problem with modern oils, I run Castrol 20w-50 generally.
Temps are taken at the tank, seems as the best place to monitor.

Thanks

WOW before I got the cooler I have, I got stuck in traffic in HI after a concert and my gauge said 250 I think and after that I had massive oil leaks and later found I had pulled some studs. 230 may not be a problem with modern oils but remember that the oil is part of the cooling system for the motor and in water cooled motors 200 is ideal for coolant temp. the oils ideal temp is most times somewhere between 180-200 deg. At the oil tank is the hottest oil you will have if you don't have an external cooler ( the scavenge circuit returns to the tank through the cooler in the fender) the temp gauge on the dash is the coolest oil you have as it is right after the attached cooler and before it goes through any rotating parts. What does your dash say?

[Flieger]

At 230, you need to be running synthetic oil with enough Zinc and Phosphorous in a 50 weight.

Castrol GTX is a poor choice for any 911 engine, let alone at 230 degrees. I used to use it until I switched to Brad Penn. When it came out, it was thin, black, and smelling of fuel. The Brad Penn after a similar time is still clear, green, and oily. My car runs no higher than 190. Usually 180.

The problem with GTX is not the Zn and P, it is the oil itself breaks down to ~30 weight way too quickly. This makes the oil pressure lower and provides less protection to the engine.

[snbush67]

I used Castrol to break in my cams, 20 minutes at 2K and it came out with less viscosity then cat pee. That stuff is perfect for burn in.

[dshepp806]

Completely dependent (relative to) ambient temps.....the ones that surround the car.

The windows offered are good to go.

Best,

Doyle

[mca]

I agree with Doyle. You can not keep your air cooled car at 180 during the summer in Charleston, SC. I have a new engine, elephant finned lines and a Carrera cooler. My normal summer temp is 210. It will climb to 215-220 in traffic since I don't have a fan on my cooler.

In the mild winter I am lucky to see 180.

[db_cooper]

If we assume the engineers at Porsche knew what they were doing, the normal operating temperatures on the oil should be at least 194*f and not much more than 248*f.

On the 86 3.2 the lower white temp mark is at 90*c (194*F) and the upper mark is 120*c (248*f) Oil thermostat kicks in at 185*f, which would indicate an engineering absolute minimum operating temperature.

I don't think the markings on the oil temp gauge are an accident. They are there to inform the driver as to the normal operating range for the engine oil.

A good HDEO will run well at 220-230*f for a very long time.

Poor oil brand and viscosity selection and you may have a problem.

[gsmith660]

+1 I agree totally I know it is apples and oranges but the marine diesels I worked on and the stem turbine oiling both gave the operating range of the oil as 180 to 210

Originally Posted by db_cooper

If we assume the engineers at Porsche knew what they were doing, the normal operating temperatures on the oil should be at least 194*f and not much more than 248*f.

On the 86 3.2 the lower white temp mark is at 90*c (194*F) and the upper mark is 120*c (248*f) Oil thermostat kicks in at 185*f, which would indicate an engineering absolute minimum operating temperature.

I don't think the markings on the oil temp gauge are an accident. They are there to inform the driver as to the normal operating range for the engine oil.

A good HDEO will run well at 220-230*f for a very long time.

Poor oil brand and viscosity selection and you may have a problem.

[janz]

OK I'm pretty sure I have it set to turn on the oil cooler fan at 195 F as I hear the fan running right about that temp. I do know I had no fan running at 165 F so I'm thinking I'm alright. The temps here have been under 83 F so not sure how much this upgrade? will help keeping it from running to hot. As it is now 80 F ambient when the fan kicks on the temp gauge doesn't move upwards at all so I can say for sure I haven't seen above 200 F since I installed the fan. Hotter days are coming back so we'll what happens.
Thanks to all who replied it was a delicate subject.

[dshepp806]

Aside from ambient temps (and obviously so) would be air flow...that is "stuck in slow moving stuff" vs "out on the hiway"...I removed my rear wiper and made use of this console switch (manually) to engage the front oil cooler fan. The sensor is still in place and functional for its setting,....however,..should I encounter any slowdown stuff,..she's manually engaged (by me) once I see 200 degrees. just the rules of the road, for me.

Thankfully, she's been a cool running 3.2L !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best,

Doyle

[wolf]

90-100*C is all I see even in slow traffic in the south of France...