what is an acceptable temperature range for water and oil?
I am about to can the dash cluster(and possibly the dash itself) in leu of a set of gauges in a custom panel and want to know what values in real numbers(as the stock vw ones have none)
I think all my gauges are in fahrenheit.
-Owen
Normal coolant temp is between 85 to 95C (185f to 200f) and oil temps should be around 100c (210F).
I can't say for sure what an acceptable engine temp is, but I do have some bitter incite into what an un-acceptable temp is --
Bear in mind that all gauges in cars are not necessarily calibrated correctly, but this is my experience. My TD 356 with it's rear mounted radiator did not ever cool the way I would have liked. It showed between 200 and 220F on it's brand new VDO gauge every day. No matter what I did to the air scoop, ducting, or fan, it just would not run any cooler. After a while, I came to believe that this was a "normal" temp, and decided not to worry about it. Then one fateful day I took it for a long interstate run on a day of 85F temps. This time the gauge went to 230F, and then wouldn't come back down --
By the time I got home it was smoking, and the next day it ran V. badly, then it somehow (I think the cam bearings seized) jumped time and destroyed the head -- the pistons said hello to the valves and broke the cam into 5 pieces, etc. It also sheared the key from the timing pully, making it appear to me as if the crank was broken. Worse, that was the day we were to load the car on the trailer for the trip to Newfoundland to compete in the Targa rally
It's back in the shop now being fitted with dual motorcycle rads mounted in front of the front wheels, and I assure you that I will not stop development this time until it runs at temps less than 210F (on my gauge) in all conditions.
All modern oils are designed by chemists for a specific function within a specific range of parameters. Every report for viscosity I have ever seen rates the oil viscosity in cSt at 100* C, so it would stand to reason that the maximum effectiveness of the oil would be designed to be within a range of that temperature.
I have a steam gauge (simple mechanical gauge) with a 190 F termostat. I ususally see 190 F as my operation temp. Mine is a turbo with the turbo oil/coolant heat exchanger. When I am low on oil, I notice under heavy load I can creap to 200 or even 210 if its stop & go traffic (95% of my driving is expressway so I have yet to connect my fan)
Hope that helps.
All modern oils are designed by chemists for a specific function within a specific range of parameters. Every report for viscosity I have ever seen rates the oil viscosity in cSt at 100* C, so it would stand to reason that the maximum effectiveness of the oil would be designed to be within a range of that temperature.
Yes and at that temp, water that might have got in the oil evaporates and it sucked by the PCV system. Too hot however and you'll coke the turbo when shutting down the engine (although synthetic oil are good at preventing coking).
