Oil temperature on track

m3gang · 10-03-2021, 08:25 PM

Was wondering if my oil temperature is normal or safe. Went to Thunderhill West this weekend. With ambient temp of 94F, I saw may oil temp gauge went a bit past the 255F line. No limp mode or any warnings though. Still I am wondering if I'll need to upgrade the oil cooler. If I do, what are the options? Thanks

DRLane · 10-03-2021, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3gang

Was wondering if my oil temperature is normal or safe. Went to Thunderhill West this weekend. With ambient temp of 94F, I saw may oil temp gauge went a bit past the 255F line. No limp mode or any warnings though. Still I am wondering if I'll need to upgrade the oil cooler. If I do, what are the options? Thanks

Those temps are fine and well within oem cooler's capabilities. Just shorten your oil change interval once you're doing more tracking days.

Once you're constantly getting redline reduction (needle is close to 300) then it's a necessity. At which point you'll probably want to upgrade the trans cooler too if you're DCT.

DO88 is preferred oil cooler and trans cooler. CSF for everything else.

redpriest · 10-04-2021, 03:43 AM

My engine has been past 270/280 quite a few times. I just change the oil out every 5 track days now

rhyary · 10-04-2021, 07:18 AM

You can review on my YouTube trackday videos (please subscribe) Oil Temp and Oil Pressure

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=28089613

dparm · 10-04-2021, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3gang

Was wondering if my oil temperature is normal or safe. Went to Thunderhill West this weekend. With ambient temp of 94F, I saw may oil temp gauge went a bit past the 255F line. No limp mode or any warnings though. Still I am wondering if I'll need to upgrade the oil cooler. If I do, what are the options? Thanks

255 is fine.

I would not worry unless you see it holding at 255 for a while, then suddenly start to rise further...that is indicative of a cooling system that is overwhelmed. 280-300 is the point where the car will go to reduced power and you need to cool it down ASAP.

I wouldn't worry about a bigger oil cooler until you start doing longer sessions or see that the stock system is unable to keep up.

E34nication · 10-04-2021, 04:11 PM

Mine’s consistently 268-275 during a hard session. CSF oil cooler currently, should probably try out the do88.

I do change my oil after every track day… overkill, but 🤷🏻*♂️

tsk94 · 10-04-2021, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E34nication

Mine’s consistently 268-275 during a hard session. CSF oil cooler currently, should probably try out the do88.

I do change my oil after every track day… overkill, but 🤷🏻*♂️

You're fine. Don't overly worry about it and just drive. Until you're seeing 290+ constantly and as above mentioned, red line reduction/limp mode, you'll be fine. Especially if you're changing oil that frequently.

tdott · 10-04-2021, 09:16 PM

If it doesn't pass the 3/4 mark, you aren't driving it fast enough.

admranger · 10-05-2021, 10:14 PM

You can fix the high oil temps with some black electrical tape over the gauge.

In all seriousness, these temps are fine.

SAMM3Y · 10-05-2021, 10:41 PM

I saw 270 at thill East pretty consistently, with a max of 278 in August when ambient hit 105f max at 3:30pm. I put 100 octane in the car and for the thirty minute open session at the hot part of the day and I saw 258 max. So for the next couple of track days I ran 100 octane. I have d088 oil cooler and csf radiator. Differential hit 280, trans high 230's. Coolant was 230's but dropped on 100 octane too.

m3gang · 10-08-2021, 06:37 PM

Thank you guys for the information. I guess my oil temp is fine then.

E34nication · 10-11-2021, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk94

You're fine. Don't overly worry about it and just drive. Until you're seeing 290+ constantly and as above mentioned, red line reduction/limp mode, you'll be fine. Especially if you're changing oil that frequently.

dogbone · 10-11-2021, 11:19 PM

255....sigh.....that would be nice....

Here's my temps at VIR.....

10-03-2021, 08:25 PM	#1
m3gang Private 23 Rep 50 Posts Drives: BMW E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Norcal iTrader: (0)	Oil temperature on track Was wondering if my oil temperature is normal or safe. Went to Thunderhill West this weekend. With ambient temp of 94F, I saw may oil temp gauge went a bit past the 255F line. No limp mode or any warnings though. Still I am wondering if I'll need to upgrade the oil cooler. If I do, what are the options? Thanks
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10-04-2021, 03:43 AM	#3
redpriest Colonel 2146 Rep 2,527 Posts Drives: 2011 M3/Porsche 992 GT3RS Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 Porsche 911 GT3RS [0.00] 2021 Porsche 718 Sp ... [0.00] 2021 Mazda Miata MX-5 [0.00] 2006 BMW M3 [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [10.00]	My engine has been past 270/280 quite a few times. I just change the oil out every 5 track days now
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10-04-2021, 07:18 AM	#4
rhyary Colonel 1563 Rep 2,869 Posts Drives: 2013 M3 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Albany, NY iTrader: (0)	You can review on my YouTube trackday videos (please subscribe) Oil Temp and Oil Pressure https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=28089613
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10-04-2021, 04:11 PM	#6
E34nication Private 59 Rep 81 Posts Drives: 964/991/D90/G55/LX570 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (0)	Mine’s consistently 268-275 during a hard session. CSF oil cooler currently, should probably try out the do88. I do change my oil after every track day… overkill, but 🤷🏻*♂️
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10-04-2021, 09:16 PM	#8
tdott Brigadier General 3941 Rep 3,986 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South FL / 6ix iTrader: (4)	If it doesn't pass the 3/4 mark, you aren't driving it fast enough.
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10-05-2021, 10:14 PM	#9
admranger Retired Curmudgeon 2985 Rep 4,047 Posts Drives: ‘19 X3M40i, ‘18 m550i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Las Vegas, NV iTrader: (1)	You can fix the high oil temps with some black electrical tape over the gauge. In all seriousness, these temps are fine. __________________ '19 X3 M40 Carbon Black/Oyster, '23 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit, Past BMWs: '18 M550i, '18 330 GT, '16 X5 40e, '11 E90M3, '06 X5 4.4, '03 330i ZHP, '02 M3, '97 Z3 2.8, '95 M3 (2x), '94 530i (manual), '92 525i (manual), '88 M3, '87 325iS
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10-05-2021, 10:41 PM	#10
SAMM3Y Colonel 3085 Rep 2,747 Posts Drives: 2008 m3 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: NorCal iTrader: (2)	I saw 270 at thill East pretty consistently, with a max of 278 in August when ambient hit 105f max at 3:30pm. I put 100 octane in the car and for the thirty minute open session at the hot part of the day and I saw 258 max. So for the next couple of track days I ran 100 octane. I have d088 oil cooler and csf radiator. Differential hit 280, trans high 230's. Coolant was 230's but dropped on 100 octane too. __________________ 9ers
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10-08-2021, 06:37 PM	#11
m3gang Private 23 Rep 50 Posts Drives: BMW E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Norcal iTrader: (0)	Thank you guys for the information. I guess my oil temp is fine then.
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10-11-2021, 11:19 PM	#13
dogbone Colonel 5353 Rep 2,806 Posts Drives: '09 E90 M3 - IB Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: 93 million miles from the Sun iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW E92 M3 [0.00] 2009 BMW E90 M3 [0.00]	255....sigh.....that would be nice.... Here's my temps at VIR..... __________________ Instagram: @dogbone881 YouTube: 7speedM
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