VERY high oil temps on track HELP!!!!

[Ronin 09]

OK then on another note, some of you guys might know, why do race cars in Japan (and all over the world) with RB26 engines leave their spark plug covers off? I have heard that the temps in there can cause the spark plugs to stuff up? So taking it off is a good thing?

Hi Justin,

it is alleged that the cover keeps heat in which over time will increase the intensity of heat cycling on the coil packs. That's why alot of people leave it off... or relocate the coils to the firewall

and easier access to plugs... and lazy

[Ronin 09]

Marcus, just relocate the cooler and maybe whack some ducting on. A decent piece of ally will cost $30 from a good trade hardware store and get good tin snips. For a good high resolution temp guage go to Jaycar electronics. I had to put an extension in mine to reach the front of the engine bay.

Geoff, going to relocate it at some point by centralising it in the vent. Will remove some material from the back of the bar so can mount it there. I want to get a set fast acting of oil pressure, temp and water temp gauges to replace the factory 3 gauge cluster on the centre console, so I can monitor better.

Oil wise, I've given in and will try Castrol R next time

because I can't be bothered draining the oil cooler, how much oil is the minimum to run through the sump as a secondary 'clean out' before the fresh oil goes in? i.e. I will drain the old stuff, put in some new castrol to flush for 5 mins, then drain again and refil entirely with Castrol. Now i realise there will be a mix of old oil and Castrol, but by filling with a 'flush' of Castrol, hopefully will dilute the concentration of the old oil... say 2Ls of flush oil?

[thechief]

I wouldn't be starting the engine with only 2 litres of oil in the sump.

[JGB33]

Was out at queensland raceway other day 35 degree heat ,A guy out there has 33gtr and has a 16 row oil cooler .He is running high flowed turbos dump pipes ,3 and halh inch exhaust and some air induction and he could do 3 sets of 5 laps with about 1 minute break in between each set of 5 laps and his temp stayed at 110 -115 deg all day,every thing else on the motor is stock.He was running motul 300v chrono oil.He thrashed the car all day until midday when the heat was scorching.

[Neil]

Me thinks

At high RPM's the water is travelling to fast through the radiator and not getting a chance to cool down. Gibson's cars used a restrictor in the top hose or the radiator outlet to slow the water down. Try it,,,it might just fix your problem. You might have to play with the size till you get it right though.

Neil.

[RedRocket]

For what it's worth...

Before engine rebuild, cruising oil temps on my 32gtr was around 120 - 130 C

After rebuild with an 8L sump the cruising temp is now stable at 90 C

No other cooling mods on my car, and it solves the oil surge problem aswell.

EDIT : sorry, forgot about the turbo coolant lines that are now connected. this may have influenced the high temperatures I was experiencing before.

[justinfox]

I have FOUND THE PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!

Turns out my oil cooler was working perfectly. It was the stock R32 GT-R oil temp guage that was faulty!!!!!!! MUAHAHAH! NO WAY! Insane huh? My DEFI guages showed, (how's this... ) after 10 (!!!) very hard laps around Eastern Creek that my oil temps only got to 115. And today was a damn DAMN hot day on the track!!! They p[redicted a heat wave today, wasn't quite 44degrees out there but it was damn hot. Most of the time the temp was 100-110. Awesome. So now I have already ordered a new oil cooler, a massive Trust one.. and it turns out that I didn't need it at all as my HKS cooler is damn fine. DUMB ASS or what?!

[Ronin 09]

good to hear (i think), hope that is my problem too

[Duncan]

now, *that* makes sense at last...shame no one thought of it