High oil temp in trackday!

[tonybyok]

Hi,

last sunday i went to my first track day, my oil temp went up to 140ºc, can anyone tell me if thats normal?
The track whas short and slow, but I think 140ºc is a very high temp for my engine oil. Please help!!!
My car is Corvette C6 Z06 2006.

Thanks

[ottoz06]

Let's see....140C is what in Fahrenheit?.....I'm a little slow now, this may take a second.....times a mutiplier..carry the 7..convert the H20 boiling point...I GOT IT!

284F! WOW THAT IS HOT! You've got something terribly wrong with your car. On a track day my car (oil temp) used to run around 235F-245F when pushed hard for a 40 minute run. Now with my large capacity water cooler I'm always under 220F. The next mod will be a Pfadt oil cooler.

I wonder at what temp does the oil break down and engine damage occur? Or is it that the engine parts expand with the higher temps and that then damage happens? Worn rings, cylinder walls, valve guides, main bearings, and cam bearings. Nothing good there. Is your car still under warranty?

[tonybyok]

Originally Posted by ottoz06

Let's see....140C is what in Fahrenheit?.....I'm a little slow now, this may take a second.....times a mutiplier..carry the 7..convert the H20 boiling point...I GOT IT!

284F! WOW THAT IS HOT! You've got something terribly wrong with your car. On a track day my car (oil temp) used to run around 235F-245F when pushed hard for a 40 minute run. Now with my large capacity water cooler I'm always under 220F. The next mod will be a Pfadt oil cooler.

I wonder at what temp does the oil break down and engine damage occur? Or is it that the engine parts expand with the higher temps and that then damage happens? Worn rings, cylinder walls, valve guides, main bearings, and cam bearings. Nothing good there. Is your car still under warranty?

My car is only 10000miles, its new. And the temp is always right, until i get into the track. my water temp is always under 105ºc, but the problem is the oil temp... could it be because the circuit is a slow circuit, you nearly dont get never over 120mph. But i'll take it to chevrolet, but here in spain, the dont have much idea of these tipe of cars. thats why i'm asking for help here.

thanks a lot...

[DennyM]

Welcome to
What track were you running?
I'll defer to those tracking C6Z's ... but 140c/284f is about what I saw running moderately hard in 30/86 air temps. Then I put in a Ron Davis Radiator with integrated engine oil cooler and a Doug Rippie Motorsports adapter and line kit. My temps dropped 40 degrees to under 245f (~ 118c)

Oil temps will rise faster and higher if you spend more time in lower gears at higher rpm ... when I was hitting close to 290f I went to a higher gear and it helped (not as much fun tho! )

Lot's of "opinions" about how when high oil temps become a problem. Many say up to 300f or ~ 149c. I use 280f/138c as my comfort high end.

[Subdriver]

Have never driven a C6 Z06 so I'm not sure what is "normal" on the track, but will share my C5 Z06 experience.

In a stock C5 Z06 without an oil cooler, temps approaching 300F (150C) are common. In my car with an oil cooler, I typically see oil temps of about 240-255F.

What is concerning is that at 150C, the viscosity of the factory recommended 5w30 (maybe you are using 0w40 over there in Spain) is about 3.1 cSt as compared to about 11 cSt at 100C (212F). 30% of nominal. Ouch.

It is for this reason that I use a 10w40 at the track.

[No Doubt]

Since you haven't driven a C6 ZO6 I'll offer you the opportunity.

[Leman]

Originally Posted by tonybyok

My car is only 10000miles, its new. And the temp is always right, until i get into the track. my water temp is always under 105ºc, but the problem is the oil temp... could it be because the circuit is a slow circuit, you nearly dont get never over 120mph. But i'll take it to chevrolet, but here in spain, the dont have much idea of these tipe of cars. thats why i'm asking for help here.

thanks a lot...

Hello, I got back form a track day yesterday and had no trouble with my Z06 oil temperature, which stayed at around 93C. (Dijon France, I live in Switzerland)

I know this may sound daft, but where have you placed your front number plate. I would take it off completely (plate and support) or move it to the side. In Europe they have a tendency to place the supporting mount in the lower middle intake grille, covering the lower oil radiator.

If you air temperature was high, reducing flow into the engine compartment certainly will not help.

[blkZ06]

In my C5Z06 oil temps around 300-310 were normal on a hot summer day, 20 min session. I usually would pit around then, let it cool a bit then go back out if possible.

I ended up getting a DRM integrated oil/radiator cooler, now they run around 240 max.

[Subdriver]

Originally Posted by No Doubt

Since you haven't driven a C6 ZO6 I'll offer you the opportunity.

When I get back from my summer deployment, I may take you up on that offer.

Hopefully I'll be allowed at a Corvette gathering in my CTS-V.

[jrz1]

284 sounds a bit high for a C6 Z though it's not so high that I'd think something was wrong. I was on track at Roebling this past weekend with my '06 Z and saw temps in the 240-255 range though it was only 80+/- degrees F. I think I recall seeing temps in the 275 range at VIR last July (boy was it hot then).

In my C5 Z I too saw temps hit/pass 300 degrees F so I also added an oil cooler and never saw them pass 260+/- afterwards.

I would simply take Subdriver's advice and run a slightly higher viscosity oil to compensate for the higher temps.

[4wheels]

This is definitely too hot for a 5w-30 oil... I Agree that you should run something like a 5w-40 or 10w-40 at the track, especially in high ambient temperatures. If you are running Mobil 1 5w-30, it will be nearly as thin as water at those temps. Hopefully where you are, the factory oil was the Mobil 1 0w-40 which is slightly better than our US 5w-30.

[weirdpanda]

I see 300 deg all too often on a hot day... Mobil 1 5-30, changed every track day.

[4wheels]

Originally Posted by weirdpanda

I see 300 deg all too often on a hot day... Mobil 1 5-30, changed every track day.

Good thing you change it every track event... I guarantee you that your M1 oil is oxidizing & breaking down under those conditions. Not to mention for most V8 engines of this type, you really want 10-11 CSt or so of viscosity under operating conditions. The 5w-30 M1 is probably 3-4 at those temps.

Mobil 1 is a very good oil, but not great. There are better choices. It's basically a Group 3 oil with a couple % of Group 4 or 5 (can't recall which at the moment) base stock blended in, so it's really not a "real" pure synthetic oil anymore. Last time I looked into the info I found about their additive package was nothing special either. The only M1 that is a "real" synthetic is the 0w-40 European formula, which is made from Group 4 base stock (similar to Amsoil) along with a small % of Group 5 mixed in. The only bad thing about their 0w-40 is they add alot of VII's to it that can shear down under high temps, so it'll need regular changing with track use as well.

I've seen oil analysis from cars pushed with M1 and let's just say I don't run it any more.

[AlohaC5]

Installing a 160 degree Thermostat appears to be a popular upgrade for many vendors/tuners for the C6/Z06 for the very reason you experienced at the track. DeWitts now has a high performance radiator (same one I use) that fits just like OEM. Mike

[weirdpanda]

Originally Posted by AlohaC5

Installing a 160 degree Thermostat appears to be a popular upgrade for many vendors/tuners for the C6/Z06 for the very reason you experienced at the track.

See, this I don't understand, for when a vehicle's coolant is up to operating temp. the thermostat opens up. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. You don't (or shouldn't) drive your car hard until all fluids are up to operating temp., thus it seems unnecessary to have your thermostat open 20 or so degrees (I don't know when the stock one opens) earlier. The things which keep the coolant cool are the radiator and the electric fans, while the thermostat just allows the engine to warm up more quickly.

Bryan