What is a normal hot temperature reading
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 980
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From: Leesburg, Florida
RE: What is a normal hot temperature reading
Some time back I was in a discussion about how much new engine temperatures had been increased, purportedly to make them burn cleaner. When I grew up, coolant theremostats were all 180°F but the "modern" stuff ranged more to the 220°F. I guess we can thank the EPA for this bit of misguided technology. Anyway, I had saved this bit of info and it might relate to what happens to the oil used in our air-cooled engines, though I think this is probably in reference to petroleum-based oil.
"The ideal operating range for engine oil is 180°F through 200°F. While operating within this range, the oil works as a lubricant, coolant, and cleansing agent in the engine. Modern engines generally run with radiator coolant temperatures between 200°F and 220°F with oil temperature ranges between 20°F and 75°F HOTTER. In other words, when the engine is performing flawlessly, the engine oil is already overheating! Oil that exceeds 220°F rapidly loses its ability to lubricate and cool causing accerlerated fatigue and premature component failure."
It's no secret that synthetic oil can handle higher temps without breaking down as rapidly (of which there is lots of threads about that on the forum), and the reason I use Mobile I in my "modern" cagers and Mobile I V-twin in the bike. 210 degrees is no sweat.
"The ideal operating range for engine oil is 180°F through 200°F. While operating within this range, the oil works as a lubricant, coolant, and cleansing agent in the engine. Modern engines generally run with radiator coolant temperatures between 200°F and 220°F with oil temperature ranges between 20°F and 75°F HOTTER. In other words, when the engine is performing flawlessly, the engine oil is already overheating! Oil that exceeds 220°F rapidly loses its ability to lubricate and cool causing accerlerated fatigue and premature component failure."
It's no secret that synthetic oil can handle higher temps without breaking down as rapidly (of which there is lots of threads about that on the forum), and the reason I use Mobile I in my "modern" cagers and Mobile I V-twin in the bike. 210 degrees is no sweat.
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