Minimum Oil Temp Required

[dtaylor]

I am hearing that at least 180 degree F oil temp is required for at least 1/2 hour of engine operation to burn off all the water in your oil.

Is this true?

How important is this year around?

If I can only run my engine in the winter at 160 deg F max, will I build up water in my engine oil and cause corrosion?

Dave T.

[Russ McCutcheon]

It is important, you can install a shutter from Van?s or just tape off half or so of your oil cooler in the winter. If it where mine I would do one of these to get the temp up over 180F.

[AlexPeterson]

No hard fast rules. There is always water in the oil, the only question is how much. No magic temperature for the oil, but if the oil temperature is below the dew point of the exhaust blow by, you will be adding water to the oil. If it is above, you will be removing water. I am not sure of the dew point of exhaust gas, but I recall it being in the neighborhood of 140F.

Perhaps others more knowledgeable of this value will chime in. The larger the temperature spread between the exhaust dew point and the oil temperature, the faster the reduction.

[rocketbob]

Originally Posted by AlexPeterson

No hard fast rules. There is always water in the oil, the only question is how much. No magic temperature for the oil, but if the oil temperature is below the dew point of the exhaust blow by, you will be adding water to the oil. If it is above, you will be removing water. I am not sure of the dew point of exhaust gas, but I recall it being in the neighborhood of 140F.

Perhaps others more knowledgeable of this value will chime in. The larger the temperature spread between the exhaust dew point and the oil temperature, the faster the reduction.

Just yesterday I changed my oil after doing some formation flying with some friends. I normally tape over the oil cooler in the wintertime to keep the oil temps up, but didn't get around to doing it until yesterday. For the duration of the flight, the oil temp was no hotter than 165F. I cut the filter to inspect it, and was surprised to find little silver looking things floating around in the oil. I use automotive filters and they have an anti-drainback valve, so there's a pint or better that stays trapped in the filter. The little silver things turned out to be droplets of water.

[LifeofReiley]

If you're flying a Lycoming engine, no less than 180 for at least 30 minutes, Twice a month!!

[trib]

Hey RocketBob, what kind of oil filters do you use?

[terrykohler]

For max. life, the Lycoming manuals suggest oil temp at cruise to be 165 to 220 Fahrenheit.

[rocketbob]

Originally Posted by trib

Hey RocketBob, what kind of oil filters do you use?

Napa Gold 1515

[Steve]

I usually tape off the front side of my baffle mounted oil cooler around Thanksgiving. The plane lives in a warmed (60F-ish) hangar. It was 15 degrees here in northern Utah and we decided to fly put for lunch. My oil temp never got above 160, probably closer to 150 (bottom of the green arc).
That's how it is. I've got a cool running engine. Summer oil temps rarely get above 190.

[avi8tor50]

About to tape off my oil cooler. Was wondering what type of tape folks use.
Doesn't the heat of the engine and oil cooler melt the glue of the tape and cause it to slip off? I was considering using aluminum foil tape. Do you just tape off the front of teh baffle where the opening is behind the #4 cyliinder? Does anyone tape around the back of the oil cooler?
Any photos would really be appreciated!

Peter K
9A-99 hrs