Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 84

Thread: What is your Oil temp?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Pomona
    Posts
    53
    My Cars
    ‘02 BMW M Coupe

    What is your Oil temp?

    I have noticed that on most cars, the gages read right in the middle. On my S54 M coupe the oil temp has never really been right in the middle... after the car warms up my oil temp is somewhere near the 260 line. Is that normal??? Seems a little bit hot to me especially since I’m not really taking the car over 3000rpm on the freeway. Thanks in advance for your input.
    -Russ

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Arida Zona
    Posts
    30,108
    My Cars
    z3
    That seems quite hot to be running normally, you said at highway speeds it does this? Check oil cooler operation? Mine is usually on the low side, I've only seen it get that hot after long spouts of hard driving

    Mine is usually closer to 210/220 fwiw
    Last edited by BimmerBreaker; 01-14-2018 at 01:03 PM.

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Great Dismal Swamp
    Posts
    16,026
    My Cars
    E36/7 E36/8x2 E46 F25
    if it was an S52, I'd guarantee you have an air pocket in the cooling system. Easy check.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Cincinnati, OH
    Posts
    528
    My Cars
    02 Mroady,2007 Z4 coupe
    Way too high. Mine has never gone over 220 and that was driving in 112 heat. Typically it is 190 to 210.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Pomona
    Posts
    53
    My Cars
    ‘02 BMW M Coupe
    Awesome. Thanks for the feedback. Could this be an oil thermostat issue?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Great Dismal Swamp
    Posts
    16,026
    My Cars
    E36/7 E36/8x2 E46 F25
    Cars with no oil cooler don't run that hot in low load conditions, so I would say it's not a thermostat or cooler problem.


    /.randy

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Blairstown, NJ, USA
    Posts
    620
    My Cars
    1998 M Roadster
    Quote Originally Posted by rf900rkw View Post
    Cars with no oil cooler don't run that hot in low load conditions, so I would say it's not a thermostat or cooler problem.
    How hot would the oil get in an S52 engine at 75 mph in 100 degree temperatures? Let's assume the cooling system is in top condition.
    Wayne

    1998 M Roadster
    1994 Honda ST1100--sold
    2017 Yamaha FJR1300ES

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Great Dismal Swamp
    Posts
    16,026
    My Cars
    E36/7 E36/8x2 E46 F25
    It's been a long time since I've had a normal cooling system. As I remember, 230ish. With an S54 filter and oversized radiators, I see 205. Never waivers.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    12,462
    My Cars
    36 Cylinders
    My S52 sees 230ish as well on stock system.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Louisville, KY
    Posts
    4,503
    My Cars
    1997 BMW Z3 1.9L 5MT
    Quote Originally Posted by rf900rkw View Post
    if it was an S52, I'd guarantee you have an air pocket in the cooling system. Easy check.
    Would an air pocket in the cooling system be seen on the oil temperature gauge but not also the coolant temperature gauge? What is the easy check?
    BMW MOA 696, BMW CCA 1405

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Great Dismal Swamp
    Posts
    16,026
    My Cars
    E36/7 E36/8x2 E46 F25
    No. First off the coolant temp gauge is useless. Second, if there is an air pocket in part of the head, how would it transfer heat to the coolant?

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Louisville, KY
    Posts
    4,503
    My Cars
    1997 BMW Z3 1.9L 5MT
    Quote Originally Posted by rf900rkw View Post
    No. First off the coolant temp gauge is useless. Second, if there is an air pocket in part of the head, how would it transfer heat to the coolant?
    I was thinking overheated oil might affect the coolant enough move the coolant gauge a bit.
    I didn't know where the air pocket driving the oil temperature would be. If the air pocket is in the head, and if the head is where the coolant temperature sensor is located, then the sensor would have no coolant to read.
    And I see, as you indicate, that the sensor is indeed in the head:
    "Engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor detects coolant temperature at the cylinder head."
    https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tec...nd_Testing.htm

    That makes me wonder how overheating from loss of coolant can be seen from the temperature gauge. The head goes dry first, and people do report the temperature gauge moving to the red zone.
    Last edited by Vintage42; 01-15-2018 at 10:09 AM.
    BMW MOA 696, BMW CCA 1405

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Arida Zona
    Posts
    30,108
    My Cars
    z3
    The thing is I can't imagine an air pocket getting stuck in the S54 style cooling system with the remote expansion tank setup and then only presenting itself as an issue on highway drives?

    Also curious what oil temps S54 with no oil coolers run at then, since they are apparently not needed? I thought they were fairly important to cooling the S54 in these cars given the limited radiator area exposed to fresh moving air and the higher thermal needs of the S54

    Assuming its *not* an air pocket in the system, what do you think it could be?

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Posts
    3,444
    My Cars
    1999 Z3M, 1999 2.8 Coupe
    Another data point...

    S52 supercharged with S54 OC/RAD... I run around 230 normally but maybe hit 250 after a long spirited mountain drive. I've never hit 260.
    Nathan in Denver

    1999 M Roadster, VFE V3 S/C, Randy Forbes Reinforced, Hardtop, H&R/Bilstein, Apex PS-7, Supersprint
    1999 Z3 2.8 Coupe, Headers, 3.46, Manual Swap, H&R/Koni, M Geometry/Brakes, M54B30 Manifold, Style 42

  15. #15
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    SW Florida
    Posts
    12,681
    My Cars
    99-01 M Cpe & Rdts, X5M
    Quote Originally Posted by RAKraus View Post
    I have noticed that on most cars, the gages read right in the middle. On my S54 M coupe the oil temp has never really been right in the middle... after the car warms up my oil temp is somewhere near the 260 line. Is that normal??? Seems a little bit hot to me especially since I’m not really taking the car over 3000rpm on the freeway. Thanks in advance for your input.
    -Russ
    Have you ever done an oil analysis? I'd be curious to learn what the condition of the rod bearings are that coule either A) be a result FROM high temperatures, or B) contributing TO the high readings.

    With a sample pump, the oil can be extracted without requiring it to be drained; you just pull about 4oz. up through the dipstick. Follow instructions on obtaining the best sample; engine hot, sample pulled as soon as engine shut down, etc.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Denver, Colorado
    Posts
    1,922
    My Cars
    MRster / Z4 M4i / X5 M50
    The only time I ever got close to 260 was on the track. With highway driving it stays around 180.
    2002 M Roadster, Steel Gray Metailic, Gray Nappa Leather, Black Soft Top, Steel Gray Metailic Hard Top, TC Kline Double Adj Shocks with H&R Springs, Stromung Exhaust, SSR Type C Wheels. Looking for a new home.

    2022 Z4 M40i, Misano Blue Metallic, Prem Pkg, Driver Assistance Pkg

    2023 X5 M50, Phytonic Blue, Black Extended Merion Leather, Driving Asst Pro Pkg, Park Asst Pkg, Exec Pkg, Climate Comfort Pkg.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Pomona
    Posts
    53
    My Cars
    ‘02 BMW M Coupe
    Well, at this point it’s safe to say that my car runs too hot! I’m thinking that this is something that will be beyond my scope of work. I just had knee surgery so when I get up and moving I’ll be taking the car in... will advise what my mechanic finds. Thanks again everyone.
    -Russ

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Louisville, KY
    Posts
    4,503
    My Cars
    1997 BMW Z3 1.9L 5MT
    Quote Originally Posted by RAKraus View Post
    Well, at this point it’s safe to say that my car runs too hot! ...
    Safe to say the oil is too hot, but does that also mean the coolant is, too?
    It would be interesting to know the coolant temperature, which can be seen on devices plugged into the OBD port (I use a ScanGauge), or perhaps even from a laser gun pointed at various places.
    BMW MOA 696, BMW CCA 1405

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Arida Zona
    Posts
    30,108
    My Cars
    z3
    You can also use the "secret" gauge cluster test to tell you coolant temp in real time... No $$$ or tools required

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Pomona
    Posts
    53
    My Cars
    ‘02 BMW M Coupe
    Coolant gauge has always warmed to dead center. Never waivers. Not sure of the exact temperature, but like I said, it never fluctuates

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Great Dismal Swamp
    Posts
    16,026
    My Cars
    E36/7 E36/8x2 E46 F25
    Dead center means 65C-105C.


    /.randy

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    12,462
    My Cars
    36 Cylinders
    According to default coding values for E36 equipped with S54, the cluster middle point is 85 to 95 on this, so not nearly as big of a buffer as the other engines.

    - - - Updated - - -

    But I haven't read out an actual cluster to see if it truly is programmed to those values.
    (They can be changed, yes)
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Great Dismal Swamp
    Posts
    16,026
    My Cars
    E36/7 E36/8x2 E46 F25
    Errr, according to BMW, the S54 uses an 80C thermostat....

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Arida Zona
    Posts
    30,108
    My Cars
    z3
    Quote Originally Posted by 328 Power 04 View Post
    According to default coding values for E36 equipped with S54, the cluster middle point is 85 to 95 on this, so not nearly as big of a buffer as the other engines.

    - - - Updated - - -

    But I haven't read out an actual cluster to see if it truly is programmed to those values.
    (They can be changed, yes)
    You sure that range wasn't just my car with the debuffered gauge? I thought the stock range was a bit wider

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Louisville, KY
    Posts
    4,503
    My Cars
    1997 BMW Z3 1.9L 5MT
    Quote Originally Posted by RAKraus View Post
    Coolant gauge has always warmed to dead center. Never waivers. Not sure of the exact temperature, but like I said, it never fluctuates
    Once the temperature reaches the beginning of the operating range, the needle stays vertical throughout the range. The gauge is programmed or "buffered" to not worry you with movement. But as the needle remains steady, the temperature is varying, from 170F until overheating begins, maybe around 220F. I enjoy watching it on a ScanGauge mounted on my console, which shows 206F most all the time.
    http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...9#post29496679
    BMW MOA 696, BMW CCA 1405

Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Where is Your Oil Temp Sending Unit?
    By Mr. 5 in forum Track, Auto-X & Drag Racing sponsored by Bimmerparts.com
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 08-04-2014, 09:37 PM
  2. What are your oil temps at?
    By QuestMCoupe in forum 1996 - 2002 Z3 (E36/7, E36/8)
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 08-09-2013, 07:42 PM
  3. What is your oil temperature? 240 high?
    By Jasony0228 in forum 2001 - 2006 M3 (E46)
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 06-04-2010, 09:23 PM
  4. What is your oil temperature during normal driving ?
    By 318daily in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 07-20-2007, 10:01 PM
  5. What is your oil temperature?
    By archyx in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11-09-2005, 03:06 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •