[46m3csl]

What are some good mods and steps that you guys have taken to keep the oil temps low? My car has the factory oil cooler but just isn't enough, temps easily get to 260 on wot runs back to back. Many talk about after market oil coolers and radiators does any of that help?

[NOITALL]

260 is perfect. Why would you want to cool it? It's supposed to be hot.

Cheers

[Cory S]

Correct!
A synthetic oil @ 245-265* is the equivalent of a conventional oil @ 210-225*

[VTECaddict]

Do you have an older model year? They changed the scale of the oil temp gauge at some point because people were concerned their oil was getting too hot when it was normal. The old design had the center of the gauge at 210*F so the reading always looked "high" since it was way past the middle at normal temp. The new one is centered at 250*F.

[Gizmo 335i]

I installed an Evolution Racewerks oil cooler in place of the stock unit. Had trouble getting past 220 in August in Florida. Seems impervious to heat soak.

[Antetokounmpo]

I live in Wisconsin.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Dinan oil cooler, not one issue in over 2 years, and it actually runs cooler than 220 all the time.

[bloppitybloop]

I keep a bag of ice on hand at all times.

[Fabb]

As long as you don't constantly get into limp mode, you're absolutely fine. N54/55 are meant to be running hot

[Gizm0]

Have you ever flushed your coolant?

Mine used to run hot too, going to 260-270 on spirited drives. I did a coolant flush and after that, the oil temp rarely ever goes over 250.

[ard5040]

AD Engineering replacement thermostat, $39 + shipping. Temps droppped 15 to 20 degrees. adengineering.net

[brewnami]

BMS oil cooler valve. Dropped my temps 10-15 degrees.

[KNS]

You'll add longevity to your engine by bringing the temps down so a larger or more effective oil cooler is a great idea, particularly if you live in the West/Southwest. I'm not quite getting these guys saying the car likes to run hot or words to that effect. Yes, BMW engineered the car to run at high temperatures (all modern cars do) but when they added an oil cooler (they didn't even think it needed one initially!), it was just large enough to solve the early running issues. Excessive heat is the enemy of a long lived engine.

If I lived in the Northeast or upper Midwest, I wouldn't worry about it, though. If I lived in Arizona, Texas, etc. and ran the car hard I would definitely upgrade the oil cooling.

[NOITALL]

Originally Posted by KNS

You'll add longevity to your engine by bringing the temps down so a larger or more effective oil cooler is a great idea, particularly if you live in the West/Southwest. I'm not quite getting these guys saying the car likes to run hot or words to that effect. Yes, BMW engineered the car to run at high temperatures (all modern cars do) but when they added an oil cooler (they didn't even think it needed one initially!), it was just large enough to solve the early running issues. Excessive heat is the enemy of a long lived engine.

If I lived in the Northeast or upper Midwest, I wouldn't worry about it, though. If I lived in Arizona, Texas, etc. and ran the car hard I would definitely upgrade the oil cooling.

Carefully explain why running an engine colder would be beneficial or add lingevity, please
Thanks.

Cheers.

[fazman]

Originally Posted by 46m3csl

What are some good mods and steps that you guys have taken to keep the oil temps low? My car has the factory oil cooler but just isn't enough, temps easily get to 260 on wot runs back to back. Many talk about after market oil coolers and radiators does any of that help?

I use hand ground unicorn's with each oil change, I also like to use SuperSpecialSlippyOil(TM) keeps my winter temps at 200*F-210*F (Summer time I'm usually around 215*F-*225*F). See also: BobIsTheOilGuy dot Com

[fazman]

Originally Posted by KNS

You'll add longevity to your engine by bringing the temps down so a larger or more effective oil cooler is a great idea, particularly if you live in the West/Southwest. I'm not quite getting these guys saying the car likes to run hot or words to that effect. Yes, BMW engineered the car to run at high temperatures (all modern cars do) but when they added an oil cooler (they didn't even think it needed one initially!), it was just large enough to solve the early running issues. Excessive heat is the enemy of a long lived engine.

If I lived in the Northeast or upper Midwest, I wouldn't worry about it, though. If I lived in Arizona, Texas, etc. and ran the car hard I would definitely upgrade the oil cooling.

If you can have the oil cooler open up once the temp's get closer 210*F that would be better than the stock value of 230*F when the oil cooler get's opened. Also if they could get the TStat to open maybe 10*F sooner... that could make a difference too. But running with the oil cooler fully opened in the winters here at 32*F is probably not a good idea. The motor needs to keep things closed up so those fluids can warm up faster on their own, then cycle in fresh/cooler fluids slowly as a balancing act once the motor is warmed up. You can get away with it in SoCal or other warm areas... but not here in the NorthEast.

[fazman]

Originally Posted by I'm wrong

260 is perfect. Why would you want to cool it? It's supposed to be hot.

Cheers

The hotter the oil, the greater the chances of it breaking down sooner. You want to be at a sweet spot where it keeps the motor at an expected operating temp while at the same time not being too hot that the oil breaks down.

[davidwarren]

Originally Posted by ard5040

AD Engineering replacement thermostat, $39 + shipping. Temps droppped 15 to 20 degrees. adengineering.net

THis is what you want. This opens around 185 I believe. So you still get your engine to warm up (which can be an issue for the BMS thermo delete in winter), but it also keeps you cooler. I have this with a second oil cooler I pieced together in addition to the stock oil cooler.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by I'm wrong

Carefully explain why running an engine colder would be beneficial or add lingevity, please
Thanks.

Cheers.

I never said you want the engine to run "cold". All engines generate plenty of heat and yes, you can even make an engine run too cool, which would not be good. I have two oil coolers on my 911 but I have to block off the front of one of them during the winter so it won't run too cool.

Engines runs best in the 180-220*F range. Contemporary engines simply run hotter, mostly due to emissions and, more recently, with more cars having turbos. Because of this we're seeing oil temps now in the 220-260 range considered normal (during Spring, Summer, Fall). That's actually friggin hot for motor oil. Synthetic oils can handle this heat far better than oils of yesterday but even they start to break down (as fazman states).

[patsbimmer1]

I wish I got to worry about my oil temp's in January... I'm lucky if I hit 180f on my trip to work.

[335NJ]

Leave the 710 cap off for it to vent the heat.

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by I'm wrong

Carefully explain why running an engine colder would be beneficial or add lingevity, please
Thanks.

Cheers.

He states he's wrong, but it seems like he's baiting you... What a sly british trap!