To stock 3.2 engine guys - oil temperature

[Nico911]

Hi guys.

I may be crazy, but it seems like my car is running hotter since she left the garage a few weeks ago for a couple of repairs (nothing to do with this subject though, just suspension bushings, transmission mounts, stuff like that...). I noticed that the oil temp needle was almost horizontal while driving in hot weather, and I'm not sure I saw my oil that hot before...

So, my question is : what is your normal running oil temperature when your 3.2 is all warmed up and driving in hot weather (let's say something around 85 to 90 degrees), driving in the city, but with no heavy traffic. Please give me an idea of the position of the needle, not a precise temperature since the gauge doesn't tell anyway...


Nico

[DRACO A5OG]

Hey Brother Nico,

If the needle is at 9:00 position, in 85-90F, that is pretty normal.

You just do not want to go above the 10:00 position.

Also what is the oil level at that temps and what weight of oil are you using?

Jim

[dentist90]

First thought that crossed my mind was a crushed oil line to your fender oil cooler. Hopefully the shop didn't accidentally lift your car under one of these lines.

[Bill Douglas]

Ah ha, so the snow has melted and the sun is shinning Relax and enjoy

[shaunmbenson]

My 3.2 runs around 9 o clock on such a day. Only closer to 10 in start/stop traffic

[kuba_kuba]

8:30-ish to 9:00 on a hot day.

[jlynch1960]

Did they do an oil change? I noticed mine ran a bit warmer with 10w50 vs. 10w40 on hot days.

[redranger]

Mine never hits 9:00, it's usually about 1/8" above the first mark, maybe a little higher in very hot weather.

[Nico911]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

Hey Brother Nico,

If the needle is at 9:00 position, in 85-90F, that is pretty normal.

You just do not want to go above the 10:00 position.

Also what is the oil level at that temps and what weight of oil are you using?

Jim

Thanks Jim. I'm using 20w50 (15w40) last year and the level is about half way on the gauge, which is pretty accurate.

[Nico911]

Originally Posted by jlynch1960

Did they do an oil change? I noticed mine ran a bit warmer with 10w50 vs. 10w40 on hot days.

No, but they did change the oil on spring. We switch from 15w40 to 20w50.

[Nico911]

Originally Posted by dentist90

First thought that crossed my mind was a crushed oil line to your fender oil cooler. Hopefully the shop didn't accidentally lift your car under one of these lines.

Well, I'm also worried about the oil line. I think I'll check today. But I would be surprised, they are a euro cars specialist here in Montreal and they ofter work on older 911s...

[3literpwr]

Most days I only get to about 8:30 in normal driving conditions. On some hotter days with stop and go traffic, I get to 9:00 or a bit about that in my '87.

[gamin]

Between 8:30-9:00 and almost never above 9:00. The 3.2 runs about 15-20F higher than the 2.2 and the 2.2 has no fender oil cooler.

[dw1]

Mine is an '87 with the standard fender oil cooler and fan.

On 85-90 degree days, it runs in the 8:00 to 9:00 range, with toward the lower range during highway driving and toward the upper during city driving.

Like the others, I've only seen above the 9:00 position during stop-and-go driving in warm weather.

I do see a little difference with the a/c on, but it surprised me how little difference it made. Fyi, I'm running a mostly stock a/c system converted to 134a.

[jlynch1960]

For those who've converted to the numbered faceplate, mine normally runs around 185-190. On hot days or in stop and go, a bit higher. With ac on (stock system converted to 134a) it gets up to about 210 which I consider a noticeable jump, unlike dw1 above. 210 is still shy of 9:00 for reference.

Good thread, I've always been curious about this as mine seems to run a bit cooler than most.

[Arne2]

Mine will run about 9:00 or just a touch higher on days like those, but only with the A/C running. No A/C, never higher than 8:30.

I did convert to a numbered face, but mine is in Celsius. 9:00 is 110°C, which is 230°F. Or thereabouts.

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by Nico911

Thanks Jim. I'm using 20w50 (15w40) last year and the level is about half way on the gauge, which is pretty accurate.

Conventional I assume?

That may be the cause, but noting to be alarmed about.

When I went from part synth to conventional 20W50 my temps went up, but within tolerances, plus the the ZDDP kicks in more efficiently when temps go up.

[Nico911]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

Conventional I assume?

Yes, 20w50 conventional (non synth).

[nettles503]

I run 20W-50 year round, and my temp gauge is always just above or below the 9:00 mark.

[Mark's 86]

My stock 86 runs around the first narrow tick (about the 8 o'clock position) which is 194 degrees fahrenheit. The car runs cooler since I pulled the engine and fixed a few oil leaks (triangle of death) and pulled the oil cooler off so I could clean it as it was pretty caked up with oil residue mixed with dirt from the cooling fan. It used to creep toward the 9 o'clock position in stop and go traffic but now that the engine mounted cooler is working efficiently it only moves up about a needle width from the first tick in stop and go traffic.