Hello:
I have been monitoring my oil temperature for some years now in my 1967
MGB-GT (standard specs, +.030" bore). It is a daily driver with the original
oil cooler as fitted at Abingdon.
I run 20W/50 Castrol and live at 1,200 feet above mean sea level in the
Ozarks of Southern Missouri (USA) at about 37 degrees N latitude. My driving
is exclusively rural on secondary roads with lots of hills and curves. The
car now has logged 282,000 miles since new with one major overhaul at
200,000.
Winters here are usually moderate although below 0 (F) temps are normally
encountered once or twice during the winter. I run a 180 degree F thermostat
year-round. I have made an insulated shroud that completely covers the oil
cooler for winter use. Cold weather temps on the gauge run about 140 F.
During summer operation ambient temps can reach 100 F or more. August is our
warmest month with daily high temps averaging about 95 F. The highest I've
seen the (Stewart-Warner) oil temperature gauge go is about 195F. It
normally runs 160F to 180F. I am measuring the oil temperature at the union
between the return oil line and the engine block.
Those are my half-baked observations on oil temp in my own MGB. YMMV.
Regards,
David F. Darby
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/4598
-----Original Message-----
Mike Gigante said:
> Subject: Re: Oil Coolers
>This argument is easily solved. Buy an oil temperature gauge, install
>it and report the findings to the list for a B driven in "normal use"
>(whatever
>that is). Please also tell us what the average ambient temperature is.
>
>Seriously, if your driving style and the weather around where you are
>are likely to result in an engine which runs quite hot, then an oil cooler
>is a cheap and worthwhile investment. Oil that is too hot breaks down
>and not only provides inferior lubrication but acidic by-products. So
>an oil cooler can be well worth it. If you aren't sure you can put in an
>oil temp gauge!
>
>Note that 100% synthetic oils exhibit this breakdown at significantly
>higher temps.
>
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