Oil temps... where do you read? What's the temps you see and like...

I always read after cooler at filter mount up top, I see after a hard run 220-230 most... average running it's at 180-190... last season I could not get them above 150-160 no matter what I did... that was after a safer tune was set I can assume cooler piston temps led to less oil temp.

I am adding temp stats this year, I have taps in pans so I thought about loving temp senders there and read what oil in pan was, or maybe just leave as is...

What do you guys do for readings? Where and what's temps? What should it be in pan?

Usual oil flow is out of engine, into filter, then into cooler, returning to engine. The logic is filtering hot oil is more effective than cold. Any temps read in filter housing would be before the cooler. I prefer to read temps before the cooler and not to exceed 260. I always run straight weight 40 or 50 weight oil. The oil temperature needs to get above 212 to boil out condensate and by-products of combustion. Oil thermostats are designed to get the oil temperature up even during light loads to minimize moisture build up. If the oil cooler is large, an oil thermostat is more important.

sounds like you may need a oil thermostat, had the same issue with my old setup, added canton thermostat and temps stayed constant

Buddy's 489's - Hardin t-stat coolers, 190 t-stats, temp at the filter housing, 170 - 190 after the stats open, 210 - 220 after a long, hard run, 20W50 Shaffer's Synthetic.

While we're on the subject does anyone know the pipe thread size on an 1996 Merc. 454 oil filter housing plug? Damn Gaffrig temp. Gauge didn't come with bushings nor the temp. Sending unit (electric). Also what sending units are you guys running? Thanks for any help you can lend.

Keith

A 15w50 at 230 degrees, has same or less viscosity, than a 10w30 at 180 degrees. A 15w40, has similar viscosity at 240 deg, as a 5w20 at 180 degrees. Something to think about

Also, you do not need to get oil to 212, to boil anything out. Theres millions of vehicles, and boats with stock mercruiser 454s, 502s, that never get to 200 degrees, and dont have water in their oil.

You need the sender that's calibrated for your gauge, I think its 3/8 pipe

Bob Teague always recommended to take oil temp readings from the pan as that is where the motor is drawing oil from. Clearly not as easy if the motors are in the boat though.

I pick up my oil temp in the filter housing.

Ken

In the pan on my wet sump engines and in the oil tank on the new dry sump engine.