Oil temperature

[roadrocket]

Hello
I have tried to search for this, but no luck; how hot should the engine oil get? My engine is freshly rebuilt (200 miles done now), and I measure the oil temperature every time I return from a ride. I was told that I should reach 40 degrees Celsius when the engine was run in, but this seem very low. I get 55-60 degrees now, and still does not rev too high or go very fast. What should I expect?

[Triton Thrasher]

I can't see that it matters much frankly, if the engine shows no signs of overheating.

What I'm trying to say is that I can't think of any fault conditions which would be betrayed by a hot oil tank and not by something else first, like pinking, red hot exhaust, smoky fins, burning oil, whatever...

I see a hot oil tank as a sign of a long journey, a hot day, or a small oil tank.

[roadrocket]

Hi Triton
My friend meant that reaching 40 centigrades after a ride was proof of a run in engine. I just came to think that this is not a lot, and that many factors of course play a part.

[muskrat]

G'day Otto.
I agree with TT. The viscosity rating of oil like a 20/50 is 20 at 40C and LIKE a 50 at 100C or similar. I'd be happy in the 60-80C range.
Some interesting reading here. http://www.kewengineering.co.uk/Auto_oils/oil_viscosity_explained.htm
Cheers

[Triton Thrasher]

RR- were I you, I just would't bother measuring the temperature of oil in the tank.

[roadrocket]

TT; OK maybe I should just not worry. But are there any other good indicators of a run in engine?

[chaterlea25]

Hi roadrocket,

But are there any other good indicators of a run in engine

If you have a magnetic sump plug you will find fine dark grey mettalic paste attached to it for the first one to two thousand miles,
It should then stop, indicating the running in is complete

My 2 cents worth
John

[metalflake11]

Miine has wheat coloured exhaust headers, text book coloured plugs and runs perfectly. So.
1/....Oil temp after 50/60 miles is only JUST too hot to keep your hand on the oil tank.
2/....At oil change there is virtually nothing on the sump magnet.
3/....I always use clear pipe up to the rocker feed for this reson, and the oil is still completely clean after 400/500 miles. (Morris straight 40's)

[roadrocket]

Thanks; more miles, and easy on the throttle!