<VV> Oil Temp in the Desert

[James Davis]

I agree with Smitty (not an all together rare 
accordance).  My 5,400 lb Corvair 140 powered 
UltraVan never has had cylinder head temperatures 
above 310 F even in the western mountains at 105 
F ambient.  The engine oil temperatures with a 12 
plate oil cooler with end plates would exceed 330 
F after 30 minutes of full throttle in 3,500 to 
4,500 rpm range (Oil temps measured at the 
alternator adapter).  That is with a 3.89 rear 
gear and a 61 style engine fan and top 
shroud.  It took a 124 sqin x 1.5 inch thick 
plate style external oil cooler with electric fan 
to drop the oil temperatures to the tolerable 
230-240 range.  Trying to push 130 ftlbs of 
torque through a Powerglide for extended periods 
of time cause a similar problem.
Jim Davis


At 12:12 PM 5/22/2008, Smitty Smith wrote:

>     From: PatioMatt at aol.com
>Funny.....
>Smitty Smith tows a trailer with a Lakewood thru 110 F heat over the
>Rockies and survives...
>   ---------------------------------
>   Smitty Says:  So far all I have seen is talk 
> about head temps.  I won't try to explain it 
> except for an excellent deflashing job but head 
> temp has never been a consideration for me 
> under any conditions.  320-330 flat out for 
> hours in extreme heat.  My Spyder with the same 
> head deflashing easily hits 400 on the highway 
> at 70-75.  My concern has always been oil temp 
> and has actually shut me down at times when it 
> was over 100 degrees out.  Temps over 150 at 50 
> mph.  This is with a 60 fan, big external oil 
> cooler, manifold covers off.  Again this is 
> while hauling a hell of a big 1500 lb barn door 
> behind me.  Years ago I ran a late 95 stick 
> shift under the same conditions and had exactly 
> the same story.  Going around the beltway of St 
> Louis one time when it was over 100° the oil 
> went over 150 and I got off the road and killed 
> an hour before continuing.  The cyl temp never went over 320.
>
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