Phil Usher

Hi Gang,

I was at a track event last weekend in California and it was hot, (over 100 in the shade). While on the track I saw my oil temp rise such that I became nervous.

I always thought that an oil temp over 300 spelt potential disaster so when I saw this temp I quit running the car hard so it could cool down. IOW I went from being a fast mover to a moving obstacle!

However, the oil temp red zone on the S4 doesn't become red until 350 which begs the question: What is a safe high temp for the S4?

Any thoughts?

Cheers ... Phil Usher

LFS4

Ive never been over 270

Phil Usher

Thanks; peviously 270 was the high mark here also. Still, the 350 is the red mark, is it too high?

Nogaro

I sometime see my oil pressure drop to less then 10psi on the track. The oil I'm using is Mobil 1 5w30.

LCP

Wow. 300 was the hottest I'd heard of before. What kind of oil? I assume you were chipped???

JDS

I would hope you were running synthetic oil. If so 320' is do-able but not the best for your car. I would remove all the "plastic" pieces from the engine and run "water-wetter" in the cooling system. Reduce the amount of anti-freeze in the coolant as well. If you are running with a chip make sure your exhaust is as free flowing as possible. Down-pipes really help remove the heat away from the turbos which will also help lower the oil temp. I think we saw 325' on mine running in similiar conditions when I first got the car, but that was before we did all of the above. Still, in 100' heat on a track for any period of time with turbos "cooking" I would not be surprised to see 320' temps. I would say anything over 325' and I would pull in. That would give you a 25' cushion. I would also run 5w40 synthetic to help in those high temps. I no longer do track-days when the temps are over 100'.

Russ Burns

10psi? while idleing I hope. How did the date work out?

Mark Dalen

Is that at speed or at idle? If at idle, you are probably OK, but at any speed you have a problem. Oil pressure required to keep the main & rod bearings 'floating' on an oil film is a function of crank journal diameter and RPM. At moderate to high RPM's, anything under 30-40 psi will likely cause the bearings to run directly on the metal journal (without the oil film). This will result in bearing damage.

Nogaro

I also think there could be something wrong with the hosing of the oil pressure gauges too. When I start the car, its at a woopping 40psi! And slowly dies down to 30psi when warmed.

Nogaro

Very very good =)