Oil Temperature

[JT09]

I have a 1998 Merc 350 with a bravo 3 drive. I recently pulled the motor and replaced the timing cover. Today I took it out for the first time and it ran great.

After I had run for about 30 minutes at around 3000 rpm, I went down to an idle and looked inside the engine compartment, mainly looking for water leaks.

I put my hand on the remote oil filter and ouch. I didn't have an iR gun to check the temperature, but I couldn't keep my hand on the oil filter for even a second. I felt the oil supply and return lines an they were too hot to touch too. Everything else seemed to be fine, water temp, oil pressure, riser temp.

Is this normal? What is a normal oil temp?

 

[navis]

Re: Oil Temperature

I would wait for Don to let you know, but I would say that is acceptable. You can't touch the block for too long either without burning yourself and the oil shouldn't be any cooler than the block. I would say 200 degrees F (90 celcius) would be a good running temp.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Oil Temperature

Ayuh,... Warm oil is always Hot to the touch....

 

[straubtech]

Re: Oil Temperature

You want oil to get to 212 degrees. This will boil any of the moisture that maybe in the oiling system. Engines will develop condensation and you want to get this out of the engine. In a non modified engine, OEM stock, oil temp is safe up to around 220 to 230 degrees with non synthetic oil. If your running synthetic then up to around 240 to 250.

Oil temp is power but it is also the life of the engine. Running high oil temps for long periods of time decreases the life of the oil and the engine. Oil temp is a good thing to monitor.