Hi guys, just a quick question. I have never felt the surface temperature of the oil cooler, I decided to feel it last night after a long drive. 90% of the surface area was cold, the only area that was hot was the spot where the oil cooler lines from the engine go in and exit. Is this normal, or is the whole oil cooler supposed to be hot/warm. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hrm... Sounds like the thermostat is busted, it's meant to open when the oil warms up To allow oil through the cooler

 

IDK how cold it was last night up there in the great white north, but the chances are it was cold enough for the thermostat to not be open the whole time.
I don't really know if it just opens, and stays open after warm up, but I don't think so.
You can take it out and test it if you're worried.

 

I have never tested the oil cooler before. Is there a thread on how this is done? Also if the thermostat is busted, can it be replaced or do I have to get a new oil cooler?
Thanks for the help so far guys.

 

the simplest way to test the cooler would be to put an oil temp gauge on the car. there is a thermostat in the cooler, and if you're just putting around the oil actually wont get hot enough to open it.

the thermostat is really easy to change, there is a giant bolt on the bottom of the cooler. take the bolt out and the thermostat just falls out.

thermostat is around $100 new

i suppose you could try one of those infrared temp sensors too

 

I meant remove, and test the thermostat. The FSM, or haynes manual explains how to do it. I think you put it in oil and heat the oil while monitoring the temp, and watching for the t-stat to open at the correct temp.

 

Yeah thanks. The FSM says to heat it to 140 degrees. I guess I will be experimenting today. So if its bad and need to be replaced, where can I look for one. I searched last night for a new one and could not find any thing. I must be searching for the wrong thing, is their another name for the thermostat?
Thanks

 

After some testing I think the thermostat is bad. I took the car for another drive today, recorded the oil temp and oil pressure if it helps. Oil temp - 100 - 105 degrees Celcius and oil pressure 25 psi @ idle and 55 psi under load. Are these numbers normal?
Can someone point me in the direction on where to buy a new one.

 

oil temp too hot, should be like 80c...

any dealership can get the thermostat.

 

U mean Stealership? lolz, 105C Thats HOT. Thats what over 200 Degrees Fahrenheit. Thats hotter than the coolent.

 

Oil temps should stay under 250F. The thermostats rarely fail, unlike the coolant thermostats. Post a wtb in the parts section, surely someone has a trashed cooler they'd be willing to part with the thermostat.

 

mine stays around 80 - 90c for just driving around. but in stop and go traffic it can shoot up to 100 ~ 110c


lol you could always double up the FC oil cooler

 

Highest my oil has ever been was 180*F (82*C if I am correct?), and that was
at Road Atlanta in July!!

EDIT: If you are going to replace the cooler/thermostat, REPLACE the oil at the
same time! Overheated oil is the same as old oil (atleast to me).

 

I have been reading allot about oil temps. People's temps range between 80* and 110*, some say 110* is good some say it's bad. I have also read that 10W-30 (which I use, Royal purple) works best at 110*, I am confused. So I guess, the question now is what temp is safe for the engine and it's internals seals etc.?

 

the racing beat numbers which are in the 80C range, are measure at the INPUT to the engine. if you measure the OUTPUT of the engine it will bet hotter.

we asked jim mederer and he explained that since the engine is using the oil for cooling, you need the oil entering the engine to be low, because you're going to heat it up and then still need some margin before the oil (and the engine) fails.

so if we measure like RB says on the inlet of the engine, if the inlet temp is 80c it is probably really close to 110c on the way out of the motor.

so the RP piston engine 110C number isn't really apples to apples with what we'd normally measure in the rotary

 

^
Makes sense....
I am changing the cooler this weekend, got a better one at a good price. Take the car for a drive and get some numbers.

 

I forgot to update, but my temps are fine now. Nice and low in the 80's (Great year for music)