Actually, 180 is the recomended min temp you have clearance to throw down the go sticks (throttle's). Said another way, in racing and dynoing, many don't recomend going WOT at full load until the oil is at that temp.

Remember, your engine block is an oil cooler too. You have lots of cool water going thru the same metals that are in direct contact with your oil.

Best oil temps ? Many will disagree with exact mins and max's, but most will agree 190-230 are perfect temps to be within.


My 350 with undisclosed power has been run over 5k for a million quazzillion hrs and still fine.

In fact, I ran WOT for 40+minutes being chased by a storm to have to turn around and run the same exact distance being chased by an opposing storm.

No oil cooler.

No oil temp gauge.

Why ?

Shortblock is all original and from '91.

Oil psi (after fully warmed up) does not lose pressure from runnig hard vs cruising. I use Rotella 15w-40.

Other experiences may vary....but I've beat the living crap out of many many factory GM and Merc 350's and have not sent one to the boneyard.

BTW: i cared with my procharged 502.......more with how cold the oil was before I got on the sticks, but obviously hot temp too.

Anyhow, hard to kill a small block...just saying.

I agree with SB on that one. I have seen several small blocks over 1000 hours without more than a tune up still making full power and not burning a teaspoon of oil. They may not make the power of a big block but they are durable as hell.

I always ran straight weight, 40w in non oil cooled motors. Seems to work better at higher rpms.

I thought the first number was winter weight.... Say a 20w-50.

SB Who in your opinion makes a good SBC block adapter and remote oil filter adapter that will accept 1/2" or #10 AN lines?

CV products for the remote oil filter kit and good price as well. The remote mount also has a port if you want to put in an oil temp gauge or oil temp sender or just plug it.

I also agree that oil temps maintained in a marine app of 190 to 230 is a good temp spec.

Back in the day Merc use to recommend straight 40 and If I recall that was even posted on the HP 500 flame arrestor sticker. Volvo Penta and OMC recommended straight 30. .

10 w -40 or 20 w -50 as the W has always stood for winter NOT weight.

Great feed back guys, thanks.

I will let the beating continue until I hear a knocking sound.

LC

If alarms sound oil pressure getting low try 20/50?

Let me rephrase, alarm horn didnt sound, the red light in the gauge lit, but just for a second, I shut down and restarted. Oil psi went up to sub 20psi but would generally gain 10 per hundred maxed out around 45psi.