Originally Posted by
sambb
Hopefully one for the Gary - where's the best place to measure oil temp. Is the sump which gives you a picture of the oil return temp the one? Or do you get a better picture of whats going on by looking at the oil input to the engine eg at the oil filter housing? An oil cooler in a wet sump engine cools the oil going into the engine eg post sump/pump doesn't it, which had me thinking that would give the better picture. advice!
It really doesn't matter much where you measure it, if the oil is "too hot" at the hottest place then it's simply too hot, even if it's cooler at the coolest place. I usually measure mine either at the sump or at the oil filter if I'm using a remote filter or the tank in dry sump system. Which is usually a convenience thing, remote filters commonly have spare places for oil temp and pressure sensors. At the sump means welding a fitting in place to take the sensor, unless I use a sensor that replaces the dip stick or sump plug (which is usually too low for a sensor anyway). Most off the shelf dry sump tanks have fittings for sensors, so that's a convenience thing too.
My suggestion would be to choose the most convenient location, the most important reading in some ways is not the absolute temperature, but more what it does over the lap, race, session. If it's constantly climbing, never stabilises then it doesn't matter much what the number is. It indicates that it needs more cooling, which is what is really relevant.
If you are using oil temp as a "stop driving, back off" indicator, then oil pressure is a more reliable reading for that purpose.
Cheers
Gary
Golf Mk7.5 R, Volvo S60 Polestar, Skyline R32GTST
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