Engine Over Heat in Summer?

[rzm3]

Lately in 90-100 deg weather, after 5-6 hot laps at MSR Houston, my engine would give me a warning telling me to drive moderately. (not limp mode) Just wondering how many others have experienced this. I guess the simplest solution is to slow down for half a lap or so and let it cool.

I am not sure if the oil or the water temp triggered this?

One of the overheated runs below.

[klammer]

Have had zero issues come up. Have run 50 min. Sessions on a 90 degree day and nothing. Am still trying to replicate/initiate any problems at the track to no avail. Have a water temp gauge on the car and it never acts up, but the oil temps get up there from time to time. Keep us posted

[Malakas]

Kind of OT, but that is great data! From your EVO4?

[STALKER]

I have run Road Atlanta a few times in brutal summer heat and no over heating warnings or issues. 25 minute sessions though.

[paradocs98]

I've also done 25-30 minute sessions in high-80 ambient temps without an issue (knock on wood). Oil temp gauge gets to about 3/4 max, but holds with no warning lights. Maybe have your radiator and oil cooler checked out? Keep us posted...

[ThunderMoose]

Richard - I don't push it as hard as you, but when I was at TWS in June I was hitting about 270 on the oil temp. We were only running about 8 laps each session with almost 2 hrs of cooling between sessions. I am not sure the Northern guys have an appreciation for the temps we have down. The asphalt is probably 125+ deg F with radiant heat.

[llis]

I got one limp-mode situation over several track days. It was after 15 minutes of cat-n-mouse w a Porsche GT3. The thing is the engine wasn't that hot according to the temp gauge.

One isolated variable: I was trying an aFe Green air filter. Not sure if that was it, but once the engine cooled down I swapped back to the stock air filter and drove more during hotter temps without any warning or anything. Maybe it was just a fluke?

[BimmerRob08]

hmmm? I haven't tracked my M3 here in the SW yet. But on a DD/highway at 95F or higher, my engine runs just a notch to the right past the center line of the temp guage. I can't recall the temp (220F maybe?) But one thing is certain. It's running as hot on daily driving and not pushing it as it did when I tracked at Nurburgring last summer and outside air temps were about 85F. So I'm a bit reluctent to push it in this heat, durring the fall I'll do it for sure. Just don't want to take that chance. Sounds though like others are having no problem in the hot summer at a track so that's comforting.

[11blkM3]

I've had my red line indicator drop on me during hard driving track sessions in 90plus degree weather. This forces me to shift sooner and obviously slows me down. Within minutes the red line indicator returns to normal and I'm driving hard again until the cycle repeats itself. Through all this I've never had an over heat code or warning or slowdown message of any kind. My red line indicator just drops. Thought some of you might find this interesting or have some insight.... Am I damaging my engine?

[rzm3]

Originally Posted by Malakas

Kind of OT, but that is great data! From your EVO4?

Yes.

Originally Posted by paradocs98

I've also done 25-30 minute sessions in high-80 ambient temps without an issue (knock on wood). Oil temp gauge gets to about 3/4 max, but holds with no warning lights. Maybe have your radiator and oil cooler checked out? Keep us posted...

I did tell my dealer to check it out. Except they did not find anything wrong. We'll see if this continues when the weather cools down a bit more.

[AMPowerJ]

No problems here, although I have witnessed this at the BMW PC after the instructors have been drifting with passengers for about 15 mins.

[lucid]

Originally Posted by rldzhao

I did tell my dealer to check it out. Except they did not find anything wrong. We'll see if this continues when the weather cools down a bit more.

I would guess that it should be able to handle 5-6 hot laps in 100 degree weather with the stock oil cooler. I would blast water through the oil cooler (while being careful not to damage it) and clean it thoroughly. Sometimes it "seems" clear, but lots of small gunk can accumulate there.

[rzm3]

Originally Posted by lucid

I would guess that it should be able to handle 5-6 hot laps in 100 degree weather with the stock oil cooler. I would blast water through the oil cooler (while being careful not to damage it) and clean it thoroughly. Sometimes it "seems" clear, but lots of small gunk can accumulate there.

Good suggestion. I will try that.

[Eugene-TAIWAN]

can did I get the data? from BT tool? I have one and I'm wonder how my oil temp. can get effected in this crazy heat & humide enviroment which we have here in south east asia

[jml]

That happens to me pretty often when the ambient is over 80, especially in high humidity. I have water wetter as well. One trick I have learned is to turn the heater on high (make sure the A/C is off, it automatically turns back on). You don't really notice the hot air blowing with the windows open. Seems to make a big difference for me.

[persian54]

I tracked in 110 deg heat on Sunday, and my temps were past the 3rd point but I didn't get any warnings

sessions were 25 minutes i think? Streets of Willow

I was getting 'over heated' lol

[wwjd15]

105F with 20-25 minutes each session, 12 sessions in 2 days, never overheat the engine oil, but the tranny did slow down for a couple of times.
I have ran the engine oil temp over 270F, but the ecu didn't throw me anything though. Any chance that's engine oil related?

[rzm3]

Originally Posted by Eugene-TAIWAN

can did I get the data? from BT tool? I have one and I'm wonder how my oil temp. can get effected in this crazy heat & humide enviroment which we have here in south east asia

It's from my AiM EVO4 logger. You can get it through the SOLO DL as well.

Originally Posted by wwjd15

105F with 20-25 minutes each session, 12 sessions in 2 days, never overheat the engine oil, but the tranny did slow down for a couple of times.
I have ran the engine oil temp over 270F, but the ecu didn't throw me anything though. Any chance that's engine oil related?

I guess it could be the water temp that's triggering the warning. I will look more closely next time. Engine oil is 500 miles fresh.

[Malek@MRF]

I ran in 98* weather at Big willow last month in 20 minute sessions. Toward the end of the day I ran 2 sessions back to back in the same temp and no issues with over heating, power steering or anything. My brakes were far more troubled along with my greasy tires.

[VictorH]

Originally Posted by jml

That happens to me pretty often when the ambient is over 80, especially in high humidity. I have water wetter as well. One trick I have learned is to turn the heater on high (make sure the A/C is off, it automatically turns back on). You don't really notice the hot air blowing with the windows open. Seems to make a big difference for me.

Great idea and very old school. I'm tempted to try this just for fun (I'm in the SE so it's already way too hot)

[MaxL]

Originally Posted by rldzhao

Lately in 90-100 deg weather, after 5-6 hot laps at MSR Houston, my engine would give me a warning telling me to drive moderately. (not limp mode) Just wondering how many others have experienced this. I guess the simplest solution is to slow down for half a lap or so and let it cool.

I am not sure if the oil or the water temp triggered this?

One of the overheated runs below.

Looks like water temp was culprit, not oil temp - oil should be able to handle much higher temperature, but coolant is close to boiling.

[VictorH]

Originally Posted by MaxL

Looks like water temp was culprit, not oil temp - oil should be able to handle much higher temperature, but coolant is close to boiling.

How do you know that? Just asking.
Boiling point of radiator fluid is somewhere in the 225-235F range and radiator systems operate under 10-15 psi pressure which will raise the boiling point another 20F or so. I don't think his radiator fluid is necessarily that close to boiling, but there's no doubt that both the water and oil are pretty darn hot. Oil at 270 is frying hot and if this were conventional oil it would be breaking down. I think it's hard to know which sensor triggered the limp condition, but in mind mind both are running pretty hot.