Topic: oil temp vs water temp
in Forum: C4 Engines
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My C4 has an oil temp teading. I've never had a car with oil temp guage. Been told i may have a problem with the radiator if the oil temp exceeds the water temp. What is a normal temp range for my oil??
Thanks John 87C4
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Joined: 3/20/2009
Posts: 611
Vette(s): Black 1979 L-82
Black 1996 LT1
Black 1999 Coupe
oldjohn87 said: My C4 has an oil temp teading. I've never had a car with oil temp guage. Been told i may have a problem with the radiator if the oil temp exceeds the water temp. What is a normal temp range for my oil??
Thanks John 87C4
Is your car a 1987?
350CI?
stock?
First, this is a "loaded question". Coolant temperature and the oil temperature generally stay around the same reading during normal street driving but oil temperature can normally go above coolant temperature depending upon the use of the car, load, car's options, ambient temperature, age of the oil, geographic environmental conditions, and condition of the car. This generalization pretty much holds true for any vehicle. It should be noted that the "normal" oil operating temperature range is much wider than the coolant operating temperature range. So, because of these factors if the oil temp exceeds the water temp, it doesn't mean something is wrong. Chances are that if the engine oil temp is overheating, the coolant temp will happen first.
To better understand your Corvette, you should have some reference materials. I recommend you start with the owners manual. It basically tells you how to read the gauges and what's normal and what's not. You also need to know what options your car has. Check the "RPO" decal inside the the car and see what the codes are for your car via the Corvette Black Book. Whether or not your car has options like the Z51 package (which includes an engine oil cooler, heavy duty radiator, etc...) is all important on understanding how your car is functioning under various situations/conditions and whether or not something is wrong or going wrong with the car.
Also, a factory repair manual is another great reference even if you don't repair the car yourself. It has diagnostic references than can help you from being ripped off on Corvette repairs.
Rts-LT4
Thanks Rts-LT4 for all the info. I love my vette and my library keeps growing. My research has revealled that water temp of 255F is where the alert light comes on. and the oil temp alert light comes on at 330 F. The water temp is something I always watch and most of the time its stays in the 189-190 range and only ocationally gets up to 210. but I still get anxious when it gets that hot.
I have refilled rad with new antifreeze, cleaned, emptied and reiflled the overflow and blew out the junk in the radiator fins.
Thanks....... John
in Forum: C4 Engines
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