Re-opening Pandora's box? (More on Oil temp).

["Robert K. Kuhn" <kealoha@isisph.com>]

Not wanting to re-open the dreaded "optimal oil temp" thread, but I was
talking with a fella, we'll call him "Spunky" (to protect his identity).
:c)  Spunky mentioned to me that since I was getting "low oil temp's" in
Baby (my '61 Bug; visit David Raistrick's web site
http://www.slurpee.net/~keen/west/darkness.html for the history), it might
not have been a good thing.

Spunky told me that oil lubricates best in the 180 to 212F (82 to 100C)
range.  Below this range and the oil isn't hot enough to burn off all the
nasty contaminates.

By the same token, if the temp is over 230F (110C), said oil begins to thin
and oxidizes.

So, in our efforts to have cool running engines by way of cool oil, are we
in effect "hurting" our engines?

When I asked Spunky what the ideal oil temp should be, 190F was his reply.
This seems to be the ideal temp.

Course, there is no real hard evidence or scientific fact to this magic
temp number, it just sounded like a nice medium.  :c)

This whole conversation with Spunky actually started when we were talking
about a few options regarding an external oil cooler for his GTi.  :c)

Just thought I'd pass this info on.

Robert K. Kuhn (kealoha@isisph.com)
Isis Pharmaceuticals -- Systems Admin/WebSlave

http://www.isip.com/users/kealoha

"Limts were meant to be broken."
                     -- No Fear!