Oil Temp

[JP-009]

Hope you guys can help me out regarding ‘normal’ oil temperatures.

I drove my Mk1 (1600) to Sydney and noticed 2 things:
(1) The oil temperature sits at around 110 – 120 degrees C most of the time. Occasionally it would go to 130 (when my speed got away from me or when pushing up hills), but came back when I slowed down to 3,600 RPM (4 speed manual).
(2) The water temperature stayed steady the whole time (where it normally sits when driving in town).

Is this ok?

Should I be worried about the 120 / 130 temp? Or should I just keep going and not worry about it?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

JP

[jets]

The only car that I have owned that had an oil temp gauge was a Mk2 GTI. On a warm day travelling at around 110km/hr the temp would go to 110C. That car had a token oil cooler above the oil filter. IIRC when I spoke to someone in the oil industry they said oil was ok up to around 140C but don't take this as gospel but do your own checking.

[Lima]

JP it's been a while since I have had a decent drive in my Mk1 (sadly, although won't be too long now) ... anyway, the gauge would generally hover around 90-110 once warmed up.

Mind, the GTI has an oil cooler, does your have one too?

[Peter Jones]

Mine hits 100°C on the race track but I've got a big aftermarket 7 row cooler.

Pete

[JP-009]

JP it's been a while since I have had a decent drive in my Mk1 (sadly, although won't be too long now) ... anyway, the gauge would generally hover around 90-110 once warmed up.

Mind, the GTI has an oil cooler, does your have one too?

Hi Liam,

No oil cooler. But I hope to get one put in at a later date.

I guess as long as the temp doesn't get above 130 I guess I should be ok.

Thanks for the feedback guys

Cheers,

JP

[gldgti]

my dad just put an oil cooler in his mk1 diesel (non turbo) and has noticedthe WATER temp has gone down a bit! doesnt have an oil temp guage.