Author Topic: What Oil? Possible Oil Temp Prob... (Read 4400 times)

AcSchnitzer318is · « **on:** October 23, 2009, 04:37:24 PM »

... are you other turbo guys running?

Reason I am asking is that after turbo'ing my m42 (9.5psi) I switched to 10w30 from 0w40 (rebuilt motor ~20,000mi). Even with the 10w30 after the engine is warmed up the oil seems really thin to me. Was thinking of swithcing to 20w50 or something to see if that helps. If I check my oil when cold I get a level just below half way between low and full on the dip stick. But if I check it when hot it reads over full and is VERY thin. I always used to check my oil when warm pre-turbo so I am guessing the oil is getting too hot. New to turbo's so if this theory is incorrect please enlighten me.

If changing the oil viscosity won't help I guess I'll have to start looking at a way to do an oil cooler setup... not really looking forward to that if it's the case.

Thanks for any insights.

rob_e30 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2009, 06:27:40 PM »

We had problems with the oil getting too hot with a small oil cooler. I assume we run hotter than most street cars with the amount of time we spend in boost. We went from a Permacool 203 to a 403 (on this page http://www.perma-cool.com/Catalog/Cat_page11.html ) and the problem was solved.

I think you're going to need an oil cooler. You can see pics of our oil cooler here:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2980038/4

kevins08 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2009, 08:37:40 PM »

you should be running an oil with the least change in viscosity possible correct?

JackF · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2009, 04:58:53 AM »

he suggested Redline 15-50 only. Has seemed to work well.

rob_e30 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2009, 08:53:29 AM »

I forgot to mention, we run Mobil 1 15-50

AcSchnitzer318is · « **Reply #5 on:** October 24, 2009, 10:39:42 AM »

Quote from: rob_e30;80328

We had problems with the oil getting too hot with a small oil cooler. I assume we run hotter than most street cars with the amount of time we spend in boost. We went from a Permacool 203 to a 403 (on this page http://www.perma-cool.com/Catalog/Cat_page11.html ) and the problem was solved.

I think you're going to need an oil cooler. You can see pics of our oil cooler here:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2980038/4

Thanks for the help guys... I'll switch to the heavier oil and see what happens. Hopefully this helps because I am running out of real estate quickly since I kept AC. The oil cooler would be hard to locate a home for.

Those oil coolers are sexy too Rob, no pricing on their site though. Where did you route the lines? I was thinking of adding a filter and relocating them to where the AFM used to be, but don't know where I'd find a block off for the old filter housing plate.

Oh ya, one more thing... don't have colder plugs in the car yet. Was tuning with regular autolites gapped at .032. Now that tuning is pretty squared away, besides dyno tune, should I get some colder NGK plugs? What is their purpose? Do they aid in keeping exhaust temps down or???

Thanks again guys.

E30PQ · « **Reply #6 on:** October 24, 2009, 11:51:05 AM »

There's a great article on oil viscosity in the Sept issue of GRM.

Danny707 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 24, 2009, 11:49:18 PM »

I ran 20-50 on that setup, Joe.

Danny707 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2009, 11:50:06 PM »

Also colder plugs make for a more complete burn.

Helps when air is being forced in.

AcSchnitzer318is · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2009, 01:28:12 AM »

Thanks for the responses... and for the info Danny. I'll get some colder NGK's and gap them to .028 just to be sure I don't end up with plug blowout.