Oil temps... is 245-250F "normal"?

[Revelate]

Does anyone else regularly see anything close to 250F oil temps? I have an N54, but would like to hear from N55 owners too.

Just snapped a blurry-cam pic after my daily commute. Kinda worried about the high oil temp, epsecially now that it has gone up about 5 degrees since changing from BMW Castrol Class III (hydrocracked) to German Castrol (Class IV/PAO).

The at-temp oil weight (in this case, SAE30) is based on a 200F oil temperature... does anyone know if oil will continue to thicken as the temperature goes past 200F? If so, I would consider changing to a lower viscosity oil.


Yes I have some performance mods (Dinan Stage 2 ECU, Berk exhaust) but the oil temp hasn't been affected by any mods.

• Started car with warm oil (180F)
• 15 mile commute on 35 to 50MPH arterial roads between work and home
• 22 minute total commute time
• 55F overcast day
• Not pushing the car, shifting no later than 3500RPM, no hard acceleration
• Oil changed 700 miles ago with German Castrol 5W-30 Class IV/PAO Synthetic
• Oil temp reached a hair under 250F at one point before dropping a bit closer to home

[Roshi]

My oil temps are the same as yours most of the time - slightly lower when not sitting in traffic.

[Top Gon]

I'm seeing the same temps on my car also. All I have is DCI and muffler delete

[jkoral]

I have a N54 with PPK, but I generally see 241 to 243 when moving at normal highway speeds (70 to 80mph).

I have seen a max of 255 (so far) on a warm day when stuck in stop and go traffic (rush hour).

This is as reported by the steering wheel, but visually confirmed with dash gauge.

I have yet to drive the car in hot weather or on the track, so I can't comment on that. IIRC, the original owner mentioned that oil temps were the same pre-PPK (~241).

[ErvGotti]

I've seen my temps that high after a 30 min drive, but not at 57F ambient. Also you have viscosity backwards, you want higher viscosity on warmer temps and lower viscosity on winter days. I myself have been using the dealership castrol oil and have had no problems and I've seen temps as low as -5f in the winter to 95f in the summer with lots of humidity.

Oh and mods are Procede, DCI, Mids back exhaust, and FMIC.

[miro2296]

yup is normal

[cwg]

I have a 2011 135i with the N55 - I see the same oil temp - right about the 250 mark all the time, stays very constant once it reaches temp.

[Dackelone]

Yes, normal oil temps OP. Nothing to worry about.

When I first got my car I was using Mobil-1's 0w40 euro blend LL1 oil. The oil temp would be right at 250 'F. When I would really push the car on the autobahn.. temps would go two needle widths over 250. I would say 260-ish.

Then I switched to German spec Castrol RS Edge 0w40 LL4 oil. The temps went down to 242-ish. (I would say my normal oil temp is two needle widths lover than in your pic) Now I rarely get close to 250 'F now. AND... the engine is much quieter on cold starts and overall.

Dackel

[SpeedballTrix]

N54 here: Generally always just below 250 after a decent amount of normal driving (15m+, 1500-3000rpm, <50%thr), generally just above 250 after spiritied driving (3000-5500, <80%thr) and generally around 265-270 after a good amount of hard driving (30m+, 7100rpm, 100%thr).

Moral of the story: You're doing just fine

[Revelate]

Originally Posted by ErvGotti

Also you have viscosity backwards, you want higher viscosity on warmer temps and lower viscosity on winter days.

I appreciate your comments, but I was correct in my statement. I was referring to multi-viscosity oil, which uses viscosity index (VI) improvers to prevent the oil from thinning as the temperature increases. I believe the W grade is tested within a range of low temperatures (50-65F?) depending on the W grade being achieved. The second grade (non W) is the "operating temperature" SAE viscosity which is measured at 210F. Between the two operating temperatures there must be a curve for the viscosity changing between W and SAE.

My question is, does the curve continue as the temperature rises above 210F, or is any temperature >210F always the SAE viscosity? If the curve continues, our cars, which run much hotter than 210F, may benefit from a lower viscosity oil that thickens to a higher-than-advertised viscosity at 250F.

As for everyone else's replies... thank you for allowing me to be normal. I really thought I was running on the hot side, especially since the oil from the factory, which I used until 1700 miles, ran much cooler, around 230-235F. Maybe that was just a fluke.

[Experimental]

I usually see between 230-245F per the steering wheel. I wouldn't say that 250F would be out of the ordinary.

[ilikebmxbikes]

i drove 400 miles today in my 08 - oil temp steadily hung in the same range as your photo.

[SixBanger]

Ive noticed that the normal temp. fluctuates alot. I rarely drive over 3k rpms on a day to day basis, due to traffic and it still fluctuates. I've noticed that the temp has been going up on a couple degrees since delivery and I'm going to raise that concern to my rep next time. I'm thinking maybe he coolant should be flushed out?
Myles

[oman135]

N55 : Exactly the same temp !
Normal

[ErvGotti]

Originally Posted by Revelate

I appreciate your comments, but I was correct in my statement. I was referring to multi-viscosity oil, which uses viscosity index (VI) improvers to prevent the oil from thinning as the temperature increases. I believe the W grade is tested within a range of low temperatures (50-65F?) depending on the W grade being achieved. The second grade (non W) is the "operating temperature" SAE viscosity which is measured at 210F. Between the two operating temperatures there must be a curve for the viscosity changing between W and SAE.

My question is, does the curve continue as the temperature rises above 210F, or is any temperature >210F always the SAE viscosity? If the curve continues, our cars, which run much hotter than 210F, may benefit from a lower viscosity oil that thickens to a higher-than-advertised viscosity at 250F.

As for everyone else's replies... thank you for allowing me to be normal. I really thought I was running on the hot side, especially since the oil from the factory, which I used until 1700 miles, ran much cooler, around 230-235F. Maybe that was just a fluke.

Exactly your using SAE30 now, if you switch to SAE10 or 20 it will definitly not provide the protection a hot running turbo motor will need. You do not want the oil to "thicken" at higher temps because if it thickens to the point where it'll have difficulty getting to where it needs to go only bad things will happen.

[ErvGotti]

"Obviously a 10W-10 motor oil won't have the film strength to prevent engine wear at full operating temperature like a 5W-20, 10W-30 or 5W-30 motor oil for example."

http://www.upmpg.com/tech_articles/motoroil_viscosity/

[Ash83]

This is normal..

[Pol]

Here the same. But expect a lower temp. after having installed the Power Kit.

[Dackelone]

This is where my oil temp stays most of the time. This is with using German Castrol RS Edge 0w40 LL-4 engine oil. When I used Mobil-1's 0w40 LL1 eurpean blend oil.. my oil temos were two to three needle widths higher.

[Freon]

One or two ticks left of 250. It always seems to warm up to that temp and maintain.

[bogart]

definitely normal. mine typically sits right around 250.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Normal. As long as your not exceeding 250 its normal operating temp for these cars.

Thermostat opens gradually in the ~230 range and opens full around ~245F.