What should the engine temp be when 1987 328 engine is warmed up?
Not st all trying to be a smartass but wouldn’t it be the temperature of the fan switch operating point in the radiator?
I think I worded the question wrong. Between the speedometer and the tach there are 2 gauges. The upper gauge is oil temp and the lower gauge is water/coolant temp, what should that temp be normally.
Let's leave aside the important question of the accuracy of these gauges, which can be questionned, and the idiosincracies of each car... My '89 GTB usually runs at exactly the 75° degree mark, which is 167° f. This is in normal running, outside of towns, 55 mph crusing speed, no hard driving: her standard operating temp. Her sister, my '89 GTS, runs a tad lower, at about 72° indicated. Driving thru town: I usually cross the same city often, same itineray, for which I have 37 red lights in succession; the fans usually came in action once or twice, with any of the two cars, depending if I have luck with the red lights (some "greens" in succession) or not (all "reds", stopping at each of the 37). The fans should start at about 95°c indicated. (I guess it would be 200° f). The "never to exceed" temp, according to the owner's manual, is 110°c (230°f) at which temp you MUST cut off the engine. In ten years of ownership, I have never seen more than 95°c, the fans come in action everytime the should, and do their job. But the cars are living in a region of mild climate. (There is the old trick of the old days that, if a car seems to run slightly hot, you might open the heating, it will lower her coolant temperature of about 5°c...) Rgds
I live in a hot climate and agree with every word. The 328 has a great cooling system, water temp is never an issue. Oil temp will depend on how hard the motor is being used. Modern oil is good for 300 or more degrees but you will probably never get it that high. 140-175 is far more typical. As far as the accuracy of the gauges, out of all of them the water temp is usually the one you can count on. RPM, speedo and oil pressure not so much.
Remember that the 328 has a ram air oil cooler. (Starboard side scoop.) My oil temps always spiked when I was crawling up and down the (underground) parking lot levels, and in the slow neighborhood streets. Once moving, it'd drop to more "normal" levels.
In Texas even in city heavy traffic in summer I have never seen over 200. That is so far below trouble stage I just ignore it. Running hard at speed or on a track is the highest they ever get and even that isn't high by modern oil standards.
I didn't say it was "dangerous". Just higher than when moving. I mostly noticed because when I have to drive slow to the garage, I wind up turning the engine off hotter than when it's cruising. And idling in the garage can lower coolant (water) temps (because of the fan), but not oil temp. It doesn't run any hotter in TN than it did in MA.
What you said is true. A TR has a massive oil cooler with no thermostat. Driving on a cold day (cold by California or Central Texas standards) the needle will never move. If you stop and idle long enough it will creep up off the peg. I asked an oil company guy a few years ago what the max temp was for their oil. The answer was 100 degrees F below the flash point. For pretty much any good name brand synthetic and many good dino oils that means north of 300 degrees. Our oil temp gauges don't go high enough. If its pegged you might need to slow down, then again, maybe not.
As I've posted previously, my '89 328 was in stop/go traffic (mostly stopped) in Las Vegas at 108F temps for over an hour and the temp needle never got more than a needles-width to the right of the center line on the temp gauge - the point where the fans activate. Wish the air conditioner was as effective as the cooling system! RifleD - My 328 was originally purchased in San Fran. I have the original paperwork, dealer info/sticker, original owner info, etc. I'm not where I have all the car paperwork but I when I get back to the US in mid March I'll shoot the info to you; maybe you know the car!
Which city is this? It can't be Paris due to your annoying ZPA and ZCR. AFAIK there's no Crit'Air for a 328. Best Regards Martin
328's in general runs cool ! my car sits on 75 degrees C water and touches 80 for oil on a warm day cruising on the highway, oil temp will go close to 100 when I drive hard, pull away fast etc and then it will ease again after a few minutes. Few years ago had my thermostat replaced as a precautionary measure. regards Johnny
