Introduction and Engine Oil Temp Question

[tmaull]

Hey, first I wanted to introduce myself. I just purchased a 1980 911SC a few days ago, and took it out for a check ride this morning, to get a little more familiar with the car. After about 20 minutes of spirited driving, I pulled over, and checked the oil. Right below the full mark, so all good. The OEL gauge was still buried in the red, so I obviously have some checking to do on that sender/connection. The car is fitted with a 1985 Carrera 3.2 engine, and also has an auxiliary oil cooler. The oil never really got close to the 180F mark, even after about an hour of driving. It's a chilly day, but I was a little worried about this and wanted to check. I have included a picture, which shows the gauge about 45 minutes into the drive. It's about halfway between the 120 and 180 marks. Is that normal?



Thanks,
-Tom

[DRACO A5OG]

Depending on Ambient temps, it could be normal. Your wrote chilly so it may be just fine.

What weight oil are you using?

Also, Oel Level is too high. it should be BETWEEN the full and low mark. If or when it goes over 195F your thermostat will open and you will get oel in the intake.

AND WELCOME ABOARD

[Targalid]

Tom,
You show two oil indicators, temperature and pressure. Each depends on what weight oil you are running. Your oil pressure, at 2200 rpm, seems high, though with the indicated temperature and a heavy oil such as 20W50, perhaps normal. It is hard to warm a 3.2 above 180 in winter temps. It takes my engine at least a half hour to reach 180 these days. Indicated pressure, when cold, at 2K rpm, runs between 60 and 80 psi with my new cam oil line restrictors. Your oil level gauge is elsewhere next to the fuel gauge, not shown in your photo, and should not be believed. Check the oil with the engine idling, the car as close to level as you can get, at 180 degrees or higher, using the dipstick in the engine compartment to get an accurate idea of the oil level. Ideally, at the 180, your oil will be above the min mark but not beyond halfway. If it is above halfway between min and max, you are likely to find oil in your airbox as oil can migrate there if you have too much oil in the tank. Good luck with your new car.
Al

[Jdub]

It is possible the takeoff oil temp sender is not the correct item number for the gauge. This might be esp. true if the engine is not native to the SC so check that out.

I guess even on cold days my car will stay pretty much ballpark 180, and get there fairly quickly. Do this: with the car warmed as described, hold each of the oil tubes running up the right side of the car to the cooler. Are they both hot? Either? Maybe one is hot, the other not yet hot. You want both tubes hot so you know the entire oil circuit, engine to cooler to engine, is warmed up.

Now check your oil for its true level, and look at the same time at your gauge. If they match go get a beer.

[tmaull]

Thanks guys. I checked the oil level again this morning on the way to work. It's about halfway between the Add and Full marks. So that looks good.

Targalid, the oil is 20w50 from PO. I'm sure I need to figure out what the best oil to run from now on is, but that's a project for another day.

Jdub, I'm starting to think that both the OEL and the Temp sensors are not working, but I'll try checking the oil tubs on the way home.

Thanks all!
-Tom

[scarceller]

Also I tend to run my oil level at 3/8 full, slightly below 1/2 way on the dip stick. I have found this helps reduce oil feed back into the intake via the breather pipe that goes to the back of the rubber boot at the top of the Throttle Body.

I found that filling the oil more than 1/2 way causes excess oil in that boot and dirties up the TB over time.

[theiceman]

define chilly...

i was out today and drove around for an hour and barely cracked above 120- 130 /.. i wanted to et the il temp up sp i could get the stat open as i am doing my fall oil change . had to drive around in second at 4200rpm for 10 minutes just so it would peak above 180.

So i think you have nothing to worry about ( ambient 10 C today )

[tmaull]

OK so I drove into work this morning, and checked the oil lines running up the right side of the car. Still cold. Drive was approx 30 minutes, mostly highway, with some hard running on the on ramps. Oil is 20w50, and the oil temp gauge read somewhere between 120 and 180, pretty much where it was in the picture in the initial post. Do I need to be concerned? Oil level looks right, but obviously oil isn't getting to the front cooler either...
-Tom

[wolds]

I wouldn't be concerned. If you have confirmed that the gauge is working correctly and indicating that the engine is operating within its normal range then all that the cold lines are telling you is that the thermostat that opens that circuit isn't opening unless the internal cooler(on the engine) cannot keep up with demand. Warren

[osl]

Sounds all pretty normal except that your oil temp and pressure senders in the 3.2 engine dont match your older SC gauges. Still roughly in the ballpark but to get accurate readings you may want to swap either the senders to match the gauges (all SC) or vice versa (all 3.2). On my 85 3.2 (US car) the temp is in degrees C, pressure is in BARs.
Enjoy the car!!