ZPOST
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   ZPOST > BMW Z4 Technical Talk > Track / Autocross / Dragstrip / Driving Techniques
  TireRack

SUPPORT ZPOST BY DOING YOUR TIRERACK SHOPPING FROM THIS BANNER, THANKS!
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      04-18-2011, 08:21 PM   #1
chanzs
Private
10
Rep
55
Posts

Drives: 2006 Z4 M Coupe
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: HK

iTrader: (0)

Safe oil temperature

Hi all,

Whats the common oil temps you guys see on track? Mine almost never climbs over the center marking (210F) on the street but climbs to ~230 after 1 lap and stays just under the three quarter marking (~250) after. Is this a safe level and is the factory gauge even accurate at all? I did not note any warning lights coming on for water temp. My car is entirely stock. Thks.
__________________
2006 Interlagos Blue Z4 M Coupe
2011 Starlight Black Exige S
2011 Montego Blue 323i
1996 Repsol Honda NSR250SP
Appreciate 0
      04-18-2011, 09:11 PM   #2
onelove
Track Head
onelove's Avatar
United_States
24
Rep
503
Posts

Drives: 07 Z4M
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Orlando,FL

iTrader: (0)

Mine normally sits between 210-230 (currently 85-90 degree ambient temperatures outsite) when I'm giving the old girl a beating.
__________________
2004 Porsche GT3 |White
HRE R40 Monoblocks | KW Clubsport Suspension | RSS Lower Control Arms and Suspension Links | GT3RS Wing and Front Bumper | Cup Car Lip | Euro GT3 Seat | GMG Half Cage | Europipe Exhaust | EPL Tuning
Appreciate 0
      04-18-2011, 09:34 PM   #3
r4gs
Viper Driver
Singapore
36
Rep
1,311
Posts

Drives: F-16
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Singapore

iTrader: (2)

^i've never seen temps over the middle marker (210 *F) even at the track with ambient temps of 90*F.
Appreciate 0
      04-18-2011, 09:52 PM   #4
onelove
Track Head
onelove's Avatar
United_States
24
Rep
503
Posts

Drives: 07 Z4M
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Orlando,FL

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by r4gs View Post
^i've never seen temps over the middle marker (210 *F) even at the track with ambient temps of 90*F.
I was at 210 for some time, now that I've really started pushing the car on sticky tires the oil temps are rising slightly. I'm haven't been too concerned but come Sebring this summer I expect them to get in an area where I may get scared and then I'll start looking at oil cooling options or sit out the months were it's 100+ down here and humid.
__________________
2004 Porsche GT3 |White
HRE R40 Monoblocks | KW Clubsport Suspension | RSS Lower Control Arms and Suspension Links | GT3RS Wing and Front Bumper | Cup Car Lip | Euro GT3 Seat | GMG Half Cage | Europipe Exhaust | EPL Tuning
Appreciate 0
      04-18-2011, 09:54 PM   #5
Shereef_Osman
Second Lieutenant
Canada
16
Rep
232
Posts

Drives: 06 Z4MC & 89 325is
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Toronto, Ontario

iTrader: (6)

Daily driving my temps are around 90 C, but at the track, they are consistently 120 C (just under 3/4).
Appreciate 0
      04-19-2011, 05:31 AM   #6
chanzs
Private
10
Rep
55
Posts

Drives: 2006 Z4 M Coupe
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: HK

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shereef_Osman View Post
Daily driving my temps are around 90 C, but at the track, they are consistently 120 C (just under 3/4).
Thats exactly what I'm experiencing. My oil was changed approx 3 mths before the 2 day track event. Swapped it out right after just to be safe, oil was definitely on the dark side. Approx 2,500kms from 3 mths use.
__________________
2006 Interlagos Blue Z4 M Coupe
2011 Starlight Black Exige S
2011 Montego Blue 323i
1996 Repsol Honda NSR250SP
Appreciate 0
      04-19-2011, 10:04 AM   #7
runnerx
Second Lieutenant
runnerx's Avatar
United_States
16
Rep
266
Posts

Drives: 06 M roadster; 06 330i 6spd
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Bay Area, California

iTrader: (0)

mine always a bit north of 210 after 20~25mins of hard driving (usually 75~90F)... I wouldn't be comfortable if mine is at 250 mark, you may want flush the coolant first.
__________________
2009 BMW X5 4.8i
2006 BMW ///M Roadster 6spd manual

2006 BMW 330i 6spd manual - gone
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--bIgrh8ES_s/TxSUCvOmDUI/AAAAAAAAPh0/OOjwrRZtta0/s912/z4mcomparo.jpg
Appreciate 0
      04-19-2011, 10:24 AM   #8
The HACK
Midlife Crises Racing Silent but Deadly Class
The HACK's Avatar
1817
Rep
5,337
Posts

Drives: 2006 MZ4C, 2021 Tesla Model 3
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Welcome to Jamaica have a nice day

iTrader: (1)

245º F.

Actually, oil operates best between 180º F to about 270º F. Depending on the oil used, above 300º is when you need to really start worrying.

But sustained high oil temperature isn't good. If you consistently see oil temp over 240º, you need to start shortening your oil change intervals because oil's service life basically halves for every 10º over 210.
__________________
Sitting on a beat-up office chair in front of a 5 year old computer in a basement floor, sipping on stale coffee watching a bunch of meaningless numbers scrolling aimlessly on a dimly lit 19” monitor.
Appreciate 0
      04-19-2011, 10:37 AM   #9
Shereef_Osman
Second Lieutenant
Canada
16
Rep
232
Posts

Drives: 06 Z4MC & 89 325is
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Toronto, Ontario

iTrader: (6)

I don't think it is a coolant issue, been tracking my Z for over 3 years and it has always been very consistent, regardless if it was after an oil change or a coolant flush, temps were always inbetween 1/2 and 3/4, and always leaning more towards 3/4.

I usually change oil after every 3rd track event.
Appreciate 0
      04-19-2011, 01:07 PM   #10
esqu1re
Lieutenant Colonel
esqu1re's Avatar
41
Rep
1,855
Posts

Drives: M Coupe
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: East Coast

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shereef_Osman View Post
I don't think it is a coolant issue, been tracking my Z for over 3 years and it has always been very consistent, regardless if it was after an oil change or a coolant flush, temps were always inbetween 1/2 and 3/4, and always leaning more towards 3/4.

I usually change oil after every 3rd track event.
May I ask why you change it so often? Is the oil becoming bad from the heat (I thought synthetics handled heat quite well) or just becoming dirty / becoming contaminated? Thanks.
__________________


///M Coupe: RPI Scoop, OE Strut, CDV, Volk RE30, SS Brake Lines, Stromung Exhaust
Appreciate 0
      04-19-2011, 01:12 PM   #11
Shereef_Osman
Second Lieutenant
Canada
16
Rep
232
Posts

Drives: 06 Z4MC & 89 325is
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Toronto, Ontario

iTrader: (6)

No scientific reason, just being anal. As Hack said, I have heard that heat cycling your oil does break it down a lot faster than normal, so it's just a good safety measure for me. Is it too often? Probably, but I'd rather be on the safe side. Also when we do our lapping days, it's pretty addictive, on a 4 hour session, I'll be out there pretty much 3 of those 4 hours going hard.

Having said that, I know people who change their oil after every track session, so maybe I'm not that anal, lol.
Appreciate 0
      04-19-2011, 02:44 PM   #12
runnerx
Second Lieutenant
runnerx's Avatar
United_States
16
Rep
266
Posts

Drives: 06 M roadster; 06 330i 6spd
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Bay Area, California

iTrader: (0)

LOL I used to change oil after every track event... now I do it every 3 events or 7500 miles
__________________
2009 BMW X5 4.8i
2006 BMW ///M Roadster 6spd manual

2006 BMW 330i 6spd manual - gone
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--bIgrh8ES_s/TxSUCvOmDUI/AAAAAAAAPh0/OOjwrRZtta0/s912/z4mcomparo.jpg
Appreciate 0
      04-19-2011, 08:00 PM   #13
chanzs
Private
10
Rep
55
Posts

Drives: 2006 Z4 M Coupe
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: HK

iTrader: (0)

Swapped engine oil, tranny and brake fluids after 2 day track event. I am anal.
__________________
2006 Interlagos Blue Z4 M Coupe
2011 Starlight Black Exige S
2011 Montego Blue 323i
1996 Repsol Honda NSR250SP
Appreciate 0
      04-20-2011, 01:54 PM   #14
esqu1re
Lieutenant Colonel
esqu1re's Avatar
41
Rep
1,855
Posts

Drives: M Coupe
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: East Coast

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by chanzs View Post
Swapped engine oil, tranny and brake fluids after 2 day track event. I am anal.
Wow. Yeah. I'd like to think our fluids could survive a 2 day track even w/o much degredation...

But, at least you know you have brand new/fresh fluids in there afterwords.
__________________


///M Coupe: RPI Scoop, OE Strut, CDV, Volk RE30, SS Brake Lines, Stromung Exhaust
Appreciate 0
      04-26-2011, 10:14 PM   #15
mfanatic325
///M-fanatic
mfanatic325's Avatar
Taiwan
192
Rep
3,885
Posts

Drives: '01 911 Turbo
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cupertino, CA.

iTrader: (23)

Hehe by all means, swap fluids as much as your wallet allows =P
Quasi-jokes aside, it all depends on severity of use. But I personally do 3 track days and quite a bit of street driving before flushing out my motor oil. Shit's expensive!!! $90 is the cheapest I've found
Appreciate 0
      04-27-2011, 11:08 AM   #16
mfanatic325
///M-fanatic
mfanatic325's Avatar
Taiwan
192
Rep
3,885
Posts

Drives: '01 911 Turbo
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cupertino, CA.

iTrader: (23)

haha I have access to lifts for free, so I just let it drain regularly. Takes me 20-30 minutes total, because putting the car up on a lift takes a bit of time
Appreciate 0
      04-27-2011, 11:15 AM   #17
Serious
1M advocate
Serious's Avatar
United_States
213
Rep
878
Posts

Drives: 2018 S4. 2011 M3. 2012 S1000RR
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Seattle

iTrader: (0)

check the level, high oil temps often indicate over filling.
__________________
2012 BMW S1000RR
2011 BMW M3
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:30 AM.




zpost
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST