More on Oil temp (discussion relating to non-racing engines)

[Toby Erkson <Toby_Erkson@ccm.jf.intel.com>]

When people talk about having cool running engines they are usually talking 
about keeping the engine from overheating.  To operate efficiently an 
engine needs to be hot but not too hot or parts will swell too much and 
produce excess friction and seize/melt.  The stock cooling system is very 
good at using the surrounding air to keep the engine cool and if it still 
gets too warm (starts becoming overly hot) the oil is cooled as well.  The 
cooling air and the oil cooling are well regulated by the stock system.

Now, when someone is talking about having a cool running engine and their 
engine is larger than stock, like mine, then they are expressing a desire 
to try to keep the engine cool like a stock one since the larger engines 
generally generate more heat and thus can overheat more easily than a stock 
engine (notice how nonabsolute I talk).

So, for your question the answer is NO.  Just make sure the oil cooling is 
done before the pressure control/bypass valves i.e. don't put an 
after-market cooler in place of the stock cooler, tap the case like Gene 
Berg explains to get the most protection.
     Toby Erkson, air_cooled_nut@pobox.com
     '72 VW Squareback 1.6L bored and stroked to 2.0L
     '75 Porsche 914 1.8L
     Portland, Oregon, http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/8501/

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re-opening Pandora's box?  (More on Oil temp).
Author:  type-3-errors@umich.edu at SMTPGATE
Date:    10/11/97 9:24 PM

...
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?
...