dan.1337 Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I have a Greddy/Grex thermostatic oil block adapter hooked up to a Mishimoto 19 row oil cooler in my R33 GTS-T. The oil cooler is located in the drivers wheel well with ventilation cut into the splash guard to pull air through it. The issue I'm finding is that my oil temps are very low. On track they sit at 85-90C (previously 120-130C), and on the road in winter they are sitting anywhere between 20-40C (previously 80-90C) with ambient air temps of 8-10C. I paid extra for a thermostatic adapter so I wouldn't have these issues, but have a feeling it could be stuck open. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get my oil temps higher or test the adapter? I don't want to make covers for the cooler as the adapter should be doing this job. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzadub Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 You could run 0-30W? It would be at the right viscosity at the track, and wouldn't be too thick at 20C to be a problem but definitely not ideal. I think you have already tested that the thermostatic valve isn't working, otherwise your oil temperatures should sit at around the opening temperature when idling, just like how a coolant thermostat affects the water temperature. It may be possible that the lines are not connected properly, ie the cooler is not actually connected to the thermostat ports on the sandwich block? Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7335519 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrStabby Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 AFAIK oil pressure the key thing, but yeah 20-40 seems too cold. My HKS kit, which has a thermostat, sits at just above 70 degrees on the stock gauge all the time except at the track. To test coolant thermostats you just put them in a saucepan of tap water on the stove with a thermometer and check the temperature when you see it open. No idea if you could do similar with your oil thermostat, but if its stuck open you should be able to see that when you pull it out. Agree with double checking the plumbing too. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7335785 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dose Pipe Sutututu Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Are you still running the factory water/oil heat exchanger? If not I suggest you do as it keeps the oil temp in line with the water temp. 1 Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7335789 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTRPSI Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Are you still running the factory water/oil heat exchanger? If not I suggest you do as it keeps the oil temp in line with the water temp. This is a very important thing, not only does it pull heat out when hot but it also speeds up getting oil temps higher when cold. Key point being you want oil and water temps about even. Im surprised by the amount of people who remove them and just run a external cooler, with or without a thermostate, the factory heat exchanger will help warm up the oil quicker. One cheap way to know if the thermostate bypass is open is to feel the feed hose to the cooler on a cold day, if its warm and the return pipe is cold, you know its stuck open. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7335998 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dose Pipe Sutututu Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 ^ yep I cringe when I hear/see people doing it to their built motors! Then they will say "well just baby it till it gets to the right temp" during that time most of the west and tear is happening but each to their own right? Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7336129 Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty nm35 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Oil thermostats are designed to 'Leak' oil to the cooler, they never seal completely so the cooler remains warm, to reduce thermal shock when the thermostat does open. I would be leaving the water to oil cooler in place as has been mentioned. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7336256 Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan.1337 Posted July 11, 2014 Author Share Posted July 11, 2014 Thanks for the feedback so far. Pulled out the thermostat to have a look last night and couldn't find anything wrong. The pin inside isn't stuck (was able to move it with a flat screwdriver). I was using a 10w-50 oil but have just put Penrite 10w-40 racing in, so hopefully it's a bit thinner at lower operating temps than the 50 weight. Still using the factory oil/water exchanger as I didn't want to tinker with this and run a pure oil cooler setup. Water temps are around 90C on track but can't remember what they are on street, I think around 80-90C according the the PFC hand controller. Some pics of the adapter I took yesterday: Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7336443 Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty nm35 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Same one I have on mine, notice the piston is slightly open? Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7336722 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTRPSI Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 (edited) What brand is it? I think mine was closed when i tested it, if slightly cracked open it could be a air bleed function so you dont end up having it open and a buch of air enter your motor when you needed oil. I might get it out tomorrow and take another look, its packed in a box somewhere.... Edited July 11, 2014 by GTRPSI Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7336742 Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty nm35 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Grex. I have a new one here also, both stay open slightly. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7336743 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piggaz Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 ^ yep I cringe when I hear/see people doing it to their built motors! Then they will say "well just baby it till it gets to the right temp" during that time most of the west and tear is happening but each to their own right? RB 20's don't have a heat exchanger like the 26's do. They seem to be going ok for the last 25 years. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7337272 Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty nm35 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 They don't have a big front mount oil cooler from the factory either. Evo's do, and they have an oil thermostat. 2 Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7337286 Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan.1337 Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 Same one I have on mine, notice the piston is slightly open? Does your oil temp run cool on cold days even through that small gap? Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7342497 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dose Pipe Sutututu Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Does your oil temp run cool on cold days even through that small gap? Mine is always around 5 to 10 degrees cooler than the water temp on normal days. On the track it's usually in sync Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7342567 Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty nm35 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Does your oil temp run cool on cold days even through that small gap? I have a 30 row oil cooler with a 14 inch thermo that switches in automatically at 80c, I also run the stock water to oil cooler. Most of the time my oil sits around 70 - 80c, even in winter, but I still got the oil up to 140 odd at Sandown on a 30 degree day, after only 3 laps. The water was at 145 though, I probably should have turned the boost down. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7342657 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBox Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 I am about to install a grex thermostatic oil cooler on my 34gtt, Where is this stock water-oil heat exchange? Want to be sure I don't remove/alter it Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7346585 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dose Pipe Sutututu Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 I am about to install a grex thermostatic oil cooler on my 34gtt, Where is this stock water-oil heat exchange? Want to be sure I don't remove/alter it it's where the oil filter sits on.. you'll see water hoses going in/out of it 1 Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7346606 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris32 Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Interesting, I can't see how your oil can get that cold. My car runs a similar sized cooler in the same location without a thermostat and my oil gets up to around 70 in a few kms and settles at 80 for the rest of the drive / until you give it a sustained bootful. Running the Penrite Racing 10 too. What sort of gauge are you running and where is the temp sensor located? Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7346622 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dose Pipe Sutututu Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Interesting, I can't see how your oil can get that cold. My car runs a similar sized cooler in the same location without a thermostat and my oil gets up to around 70 in a few kms and settles at 80 for the rest of the drive / until you give it a sustained bootful. Running the Penrite Racing 10 too. What sort of gauge are you running and where is the temp sensor located? It's because you're still running your stock water/oil heat exchanger My oil temp probe is in the sandwich/thermostat plate If you ever see guys with RB20s with massive oil cooler without thermostats - their oil takes ages to heat up.... (I for one did the same thing on my RB20 back a decade ago, ran an oil cooler without a thermostat - very silly). Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/445486-engine-oil-too-cold/#findComment-7346627 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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