[s-cars] Oil Temperature Question-How Hot is too hot

[Manuel Sanchez]

Fellow S-Heads,

I was wondering what oil temperature might be considered too hot for  
our cars during a Driver Ed track session? I usually attend track  
events that are early spring or late fall, so the outdoor  
temperatures are on the cooler side, however "warm" days in April and  
November aren't unheard of.

When I'm pushing the car hard, and it's warm out, I've seen the  
needle get a needles width past what would be analogous to the 3/4  
tank full mark on a fuel gauge, at the un numbered hash mark between  
130 and 170 degree's (150ish). That's the last tick mark before the  
"ludicrously hot" measurement on the oil temp gauge.

It's interesting to see how much of an effect the outdoor temp has on  
the oil temps. At least on my car, cooler track days show up as a  
noticeable measurement (lower) oil temps than if the day were warmer.  
I can't imagine what a summer track day would be like.

I had a instructer once that suggested I back off because the oil  
temp seemed to be to high. Taking it easy did cool things down during  
the session.

Under normal driving oil temps are normal and stay at the 130 deg C  
mark.

My car doesn't have the undertray anymore due to the FMIC and LLTek  
bumper, so the ducting that was there is no longer.


If I need more cooling, is there a "better" answer? Do those little  
electric fans really work or would they get cooked easily due to the  
proximity to the turbo and downpipe? Is a bigger oil cooler core the  
"better" answer? Do those heat sink things that you can wrap around  
an oil filter do anything measurable?

Regards,

-Manny

95.5 ur S6 Avant (mostly RS2'd)