288 degree oil on track - cooling options?

[smokinscooters]

I did a track day today and by the end of every session, my car was running pretty hot. Oil was 284-288 mid way through most sessions. It was a tight track and high in the RPM's in 3rd gear a lot. Shifting to fourth would have resulted in an immediate downshift back to 3rd. I'm starting to get frustrated with the car hitting such high temps every time I do a track day. It was only 85 degrees today, so a cool day by TX standards.

Any suggestions for keeping the oil temps in a reasonable range? With the tight tracks I'm running, short shifting isn't really an option. I saw in another thread that someone suggested switching the oil cooler to the FP350S cooler, which is a reasonable option at $700 but I read that it requires quite a bit of fabrication. Has anyone tried this? Any other suggestions.

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[GTP]

Interesting post, OP.

It sounds like you are running just under Limp Mode temp, and that could be just fine. Maybe it will be better on longer tracks, as you say.

Yes, short-shifting really helps to lower CHT. That means dropping from 7200rpm shifts to 6000rpm for the Coyote, and from 8200rpm to 7200rpm for the Voodoo.

And I get what you say about a short time in 4th only to go back to 3rd. On certain tracks I've experienced that. I was able to run the gear up to redline before the brake zone for a certain corner. But as I got faster, I've had to do the quick upshift and then downshift to prevent rev limiting.

 

[GTP]

As to modifying your car, I have experience with that, too. I designed and installed oil, diff, and secondary trans coolers for my GT. It was a bit daunting at first, but my confidence grew and it became enjoyable by the time I added the third cooler.

I don't own a GT350, but based on my willingness to go "off script" for cooling, I would consider installing a larger oil cooler in the low/horizontal position. I use the Setrab Proline COM 52-12965-01 2-pass cooler, and my temps run steady as tested up to 45min session.

Then I would consider repurposing the OEM oil cooler as a second trans cooler by running a crossover line between the two.

 

[honeybadger]

288 isn't great - but I wouldnt be overly concerned until the car goes into limp mode. What track are you on? Something like Harris hill?

as for oil temps - you'll need a bigger oil cooler. that's pretty much all you can do to keep oil temps down if you can't short shift. I ran the FP350S cooler for a couple years with proper ducting and good hood venting and it lowered my oil temps 25-30 degrees

 

[smokinscooters]

I'm running MSR Cresson in TX. They have 3 configurations - a 1.3, 1.7, and combined 3.1 mile track. The 1.3 is the one that's killing me because I'm at the top of third gear most of the track, dropping into high RPMs in 2nd gear on a tight uphill hairpin. It's really technical so there's just nowhere to get out of 3rd gear. So, basically between 5k and 8k through most of the session. In the 1.7 and 3.1, there are some straights that I can short shift on, which seemed to help.

 

[GTP]

I got bored with my local track because most of the turns use the same gear.

 

[honeybadger]

I'm running MSR Cresson in TX. They have 3 configurations - a 1.3, 1.7, and combined 3.1 mile track. The 1.3 is the one that's killing me because I'm at the top of third gear most of the track, dropping into high RPMs in 2nd gear on a tight uphill hairpin. It's really technical so there's just nowhere to get out of 3rd gear. So, basically between 5k and 8k through most of the session. In the 1.7 and 3.1, there are some straights that I can short shift on, which seemed to help.

Ahh, yah. the dreadful 1.3. I've always struggled have fun on the 1.3. Prefer the 1.7 much more. Probably not much you can do there - speeds are too low. You'll really need more oil capacity and cooling to make much of a difference. My advice would be to just run the bigger tracks with more airflow - they're more fun anyways

 

[smokinscooters]

Gotcha. Off to COTA ;)

 

[honeybadger]

Gotcha. Off to COTA ;)

I don't know if you have a significant other, but if you do, and you need to justify costs, just be like "it's a lot cheaper than modifying the car" and then when they question your sources, just be like "some random dude on the internet said so"

This works on my wife all the time (it works 60% of the time, every time)

 

[smokinscooters]

lol. That is hilarious!

 

[webspoke]

Check AJ Harman's wind tunnel videos. There is some cooling benefit to adding fender vents, canards, and maybe opening the wheel well vents behind the coolers. The 1.3 is just tough for sure to run for extended periods.

 

[K4fxd]

This works on my wife all the time

I just tell her I can spend 1K now or I can blow up the engine and spend 15K plus another 2K to make it not blow up again.

 

[honeybadger]

I just tell her I can spend 1K now or I can blow up the engine and spend 15K plus another 2K to make it not blow up again.

that only works the first time--at least in my experience. she's catching on - she now triples the time and money budget anytime I giver her one. booo

 

[svttim]

I have had the car go into limp mode at Blackhawk farms raceway. I started shifting at 7800-8000 and the temps immediately came down. Since then I have opened up the wheel vents to allow more air through. Ran VIR without any issues but of course its a bit longer track. Still looking at options but for now I change oil after each track weekend

 

[galaxy]

Has anyone installed a real/aftermarket temp gauge yet to see what a true direct reading is compared to the stock gauge readouts?

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