Those with oil temp. gagues please report

[Alcibiades]

How long does it take for your oil to get to normal operating temperature? (Let's assume average Spring/Fall weather, 60-75 deg. outside.)

I've seen many here say that it takes about 15-20 miles, others say 20 minutes. I wonder if that is not a high estimate. Dr. Haas claims about 20 miles in his articles, but he drives cars with 12-15 qt. sumps. Most of us have 4-6 qt. sumps. On the surface, then, it would seem to take a much shorter time/distance for most of us. Maybe 5 miles/ 10 minutes?

 

[Gary Allan]

It takes about the same time to reach terminal temp just about year round for me. The temp may be different.

I believe Dr. Haas' articles state 20 minutes. The mileage of 13-17 miles or 20 minutes (which ever comes first) would be in agreement with my observations.

Reaching 150-170 (depending on the outside temp) comes up pretty quick. You can tick off degrees easily. From subfreezing to 150-160F is a 9 mile event for me. Now from when I hit 180F ..the upramp starts to slow. The higher it goes ..the slower it gets. It takes me about 16-18 miles to reach (for example) 210F+/- ..and it's truly sustained by the combustion process ..cuz you can leave the four lane and watch the temp drop when you let off the gas and retreat to 190'sF ..as you climb back up to highway speed (I actually drove this far JUST to see how long it took and how high it got) ..it returns to its former state. You gain a tick or two on long inclines.

So, you're experiencing the greatest change in a reasonable amount of time/miles ..but as you apporach a steady state of ingress and egress of btu's through the oil ..the rate of climb slows down a good bit.

I, btw, took the same trip home (bypass around town for highway) on the local route and the "miles to temp" was about the same ...but the time to temp, naturally, was longer. That is, I reached 160F in about 9 miles ..but it took me quite a bit longer to get that far.

FWIW

 

[Palut]

In weather between 30° and 90° it takes me 7.5-8.5 miles to heat my 4.5 qts of oil to 180°.

 

[Gary Allan]

One more point

Anyone with an Audi/VW or any other vehicle with a heat exchanger should have their oil reach coolant temp (or there abouts) in a shorter time frame since coolant temp is normalized long before oil temp is (otherwise).

 

[Inliner]

'89 Audi 100. Takes about 8-10 minutes of driving in 85* weather (morning temps this time of year) before the oil is up to normal temps.