THE LARGEST BMW 2-SERIES FORUM ON THE PLANET
2Addicts
2Addicts
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
2Addicts | BMW 2-Series forum Technical Topics Mechanical Maintenance and TSBs: Break-in | Oil & Fluids | Servicing | TSB Typical Oil Temp Range

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      05-21-2017, 09:30 AM   #1
amw896
Major
amw896's Avatar
Canada
583
Rep
1,117
Posts

Drives: 2015 BMW M235i
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ontario

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2015 BMW M235i  [10.00]
Typical Oil Temp Range

Hey All, does anyone have some input on the typical oil temp range? I monitor mine with a scan tool quite a bit and noticed that I typically sit at 242-246F in normal and hard driving. This is at full warm up and I have a 235i with the aux oil cooler. I guess my question is, does the oil cooler only turn on when you hit really high levels, like 260+? I'm also running the factory recommended 0w-30 bmw oil.
Appreciate 0
      05-21-2017, 09:54 AM   #2
overcoil
Major General
3069
Rep
5,577
Posts

Drives: M235i 6spd
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Mid-Atlantic

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by amw896 View Post
Hey All, does anyone have some input on the typical oil temp range? I monitor mine with a scan tool quite a bit and noticed that I typically sit at 242-246F in normal and hard driving. This is at full warm up and I have a 235i with the aux oil cooler. I guess my question is, does the oil cooler only turn on when you hit really high levels, like 260+? I'm also running the factory recommended 0w-30 bmw oil.
I guess much depends in ambient temp, but when I drive hard which is usually a ten-mile warm-up then approx 15-miles of high-rpm, hard braking but nothing above 130mph, I see around 246F. Using the BMW 5W30 oil.
Appreciate 0
      05-21-2017, 11:17 AM   #3
amw896
Major
amw896's Avatar
Canada
583
Rep
1,117
Posts

Drives: 2015 BMW M235i
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ontario

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2015 BMW M235i  [10.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottSinger View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by amw896 View Post
Hey All, does anyone have some input on the typical oil temp range? I monitor mine with a scan tool quite a bit and noticed that I typically sit at 242-246F in normal and hard driving. This is at full warm up and I have a 235i with the aux oil cooler. I guess my question is, does the oil cooler only turn on when you hit really high levels, like 260+? I'm also running the factory recommended 0w-30 bmw oil.
I guess much depends in ambient temp, but when I drive hard which is usually a ten-mile warm-up then approx 15-miles of high-rpm, hard braking but nothing above 130mph, I see around 246F. Using the BMW 5W30 oil.
Ok cool! Yea, I thought ambient would have a bigger impact I guess. I recently put on a new IC and noticed ambient temps have been more stable but no real difference in oil temps.
Appreciate 0
      05-21-2017, 08:11 PM   #4
bryan_G01
Lieutenant Colonel
bryan_G01's Avatar
1165
Rep
1,931
Posts

Drives: like i stole it...
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NY

iTrader: (0)

244f usually. highest was 250f once during a track day at 100f outside.
__________________
www.nybmwcca.org
Current Cars:
1995 M3 Coupe Manual Alpine White
1997 M3 Sedan Auto Cosmo Black Metallic
2018 x3 m40 Auto Grey Metallic
Appreciate 3
      05-21-2017, 08:24 PM   #5
amw896
Major
amw896's Avatar
Canada
583
Rep
1,117
Posts

Drives: 2015 BMW M235i
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ontario

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2015 BMW M235i  [10.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by bryan_f22
244f usually. highest was 250f once during a track day at 100f outside.
thanks Bryan. I thought there would be a bigger difference when city driving vs pushing it.
Appreciate 0
      05-22-2017, 01:11 PM   #6
123Britt
Captain
United_States
287
Rep
863
Posts

Drives: 15 M235i AT
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Madison, Alabama

iTrader: (0)

High OIL Temp

I am not sure what is normal - but I have been running a ScanTool OBDLink MX Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner being displayed on Verizon pre-paid phone that I only use for this purpose. I leave the OBDLINK plugged on all the time and read the OIL Temp (among others) often. My oil temps (M235i Stock) stay in a tight range (226-230F) while in Comfort Mode in various outside temps.
.
Sport Mode & S+ both lower the oil temp & is an indication that oil is running thru the oil cooler.
.
Just completed a run from Birmingham to Huntsville in 80 deg temps outside in comfort mode (80mph+ for nearly an hour .. Oil Temp display 228-230F.
.
I run 5W-40 PP EURO & a 50/50 BMW Coolant MIX.
.
Over 240F seems HIGH. Tracking would be another story.
Appreciate 0
      05-22-2017, 01:59 PM   #7
amw896
Major
amw896's Avatar
Canada
583
Rep
1,117
Posts

Drives: 2015 BMW M235i
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ontario

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2015 BMW M235i  [10.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by 123Britt
I am not sure what is normal - but I have been running a ScanTool OBDLink MX Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner being displayed on Verizon pre-paid phone that I only use for this purpose. I leave the OBDLINK plugged on all the time and read the OIL Temp (among others) often. My oil temps (M235i Stock) stay in a tight range (226-230F) while in Comfort Mode in various outside temps.
.
Sport Mode & S+ both lower the oil temp & is an indication that oil is running thru the oil cooler.
.
Just completed a run from Birmingham to Huntsville in 80 deg temps outside in comfort mode (80mph+ for nearly an hour .. Oil Temp display 228-230F.
.
I run 5W-40 PP EURO & a 50/50 BMW Coolant MIX.
.
Over 240F seems HIGH. Tracking would be another story.
wow, yours are quite a bit lower than mine. I'm always in sport+ as well so that makes me even more worried. Maybe I should switch to 40 weight. Does yours burn oil at all? Mine so far has not burned any.
Appreciate 0
      05-22-2017, 03:11 PM   #8
123Britt
Captain
United_States
287
Rep
863
Posts

Drives: 15 M235i AT
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Madison, Alabama

iTrader: (0)

OCI 5K & never add between changes

No oil consumption -- but I change every 5k.
.
Heat is a killer and coming from a 07 335i N54 -- I really wanted to understand my normal operating oil temp range - so I got the OBDLink MX -- so now if my oil temps were to rise above 240F -- that would not be normal for my car & style of driving .
.
.
A thinner weight oil should run cooler - but I chose the PP EURO 5W-40 because that is what Shell/Pennzoil recommended for my car & with Alabama temps it seems appropriate. It should be interesting to see what my oil temps are in 100F+ with the A/C ON in traffic this summer.
.
I would be interested to compare oil temps using RL 5W-30 vs PP EURO 5W-40. Being the Ester based RL is superior in handling the heat.

I ran the RL 5W-30 in the N54 with an average of 5deg drop in temps. I do believe that we want temps to be above 220F but below 250F and I would prefer to stay in my normal range 225-230F .
Appreciate 1
amw896582.50
      05-22-2017, 03:51 PM   #9
Liquidpaper
Captain
Liquidpaper's Avatar
United_States
450
Rep
845
Posts

Drives: '15 M235i
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2015 BMW M235i  [0.00]
I have a P3 gauge in my car that I have set to oil temp all the time. Mine will normally run between 244-248 on the street (sometimes drops cooler, but about 80-90% of the time), and on the track actually runs a bit lower (more airflow -- I'm in LA stop and go traffic, so not much air getting to my car on the street).

Normally when I hit my cooldown lap on track, oil almost immediately drops about 10 degrees. The oil cooler in this car is quite robust (with the aux oil cooler). I've only ever seen it hit 250 once, and I was banging into the first gear rev limiter (I was doing drills at a driving school -- dont judge).

Not really sure about people running in the 230s constantly. The car's thermostat does a nice job of keeping the car at optimal temps -- I've done track days with 100+ degrees on track and never had a limp mode problem (heat soak in the charge air is a different story, but oil temps were always fine).
__________________
Appreciate 1
amw896582.50
      05-22-2017, 05:13 PM   #10
orangeglim
Lieutenant
United_States
345
Rep
442
Posts

Drives: 2019 M2C
Join Date: May 2016
Location: NC

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2019 M2C  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by 123Britt View Post
I am not sure what is normal - but I have been running a ScanTool OBDLink MX Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner being displayed on Verizon pre-paid phone that I only use for this purpose. I leave the OBDLINK plugged on all the time and read the OIL Temp (among others) often. My oil temps (M235i Stock) stay in a tight range (226-230F) while in Comfort Mode in various outside temps.
.
Sport Mode & S+ both lower the oil temp & is an indication that oil is running thru the oil cooler.
.
Just completed a run from Birmingham to Huntsville in 80 deg temps outside in comfort mode (80mph+ for nearly an hour .. Oil Temp display 228-230F.
.
I run 5W-40 PP EURO & a 50/50 BMW Coolant MIX.
.
Over 240F seems HIGH. Tracking would be another story.
+1. I have almost the same setup. My temps run pretty much in the same range also. I don't think I've hit over 230F on mine since I've been monitoring it with my scantool. Summer is coming up, so I'll be watching out for changes in temps.
Appreciate 2
amw896582.50
123Britt287.00
      05-23-2017, 06:16 PM   #11
123Britt
Captain
United_States
287
Rep
863
Posts

Drives: 15 M235i AT
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Madison, Alabama

iTrader: (0)

Make me wonder how a 30wt oil is the right oil

Quote:
Originally Posted by Liquidpaper View Post
I have a P3 gauge in my car that I have set to oil temp all the time. Mine will normally run between 244-248 on the street (sometimes drops cooler, but about 80-90% of the time), and on the track actually runs a bit lower (more airflow -- I'm in LA stop and go traffic, so not much air getting to my car on the street).

Normally when I hit my cooldown lap on track, oil almost immediately drops about 10 degrees. The oil cooler in this car is quite robust (with the aux oil cooler). I've only ever seen it hit 250 once, and I was banging into the first gear rev limiter (I was doing drills at a driving school -- dont judge).

Not really sure about people running in the 230s constantly. The car's thermostat does a nice job of keeping the car at optimal temps -- I've done track days with 100+ degrees on track and never had a limp mode problem (heat soak in the charge air is a different story, but oil temps were always fine).
I think 220-240F is an optimal range for our M235i N55 -- and this really makes me wonder how a 0W-30 wt oil which is usually calculated at 212F for viscosity - is appropriate. We need a Poll of avg oil temp at 80f --- not very definitive but would be interesting.
Appreciate 0
      05-24-2017, 10:17 AM   #12
amw896
Major
amw896's Avatar
Canada
583
Rep
1,117
Posts

Drives: 2015 BMW M235i
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ontario

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2015 BMW M235i  [10.00]
Did some searching around and it seems 240-250 is pretty normal, some run marginally higher and some a bit lower. This is mostly based on E90 N55 that actually had an oil temp gauge. Looks like once you start breaking the 250's (middle to high) then it's trouble town.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 123Britt View Post
I think 220-240F is an optimal range for our M235i N55 -- and this really makes me wonder how a 0W-30 wt oil which is usually calculated at 212F for viscosity - is appropriate. We need a Poll of avg oil temp at 80f --- not very definitive but would be interesting.
Appreciate 0
      05-24-2017, 05:53 PM   #13
123Britt
Captain
United_States
287
Rep
863
Posts

Drives: 15 M235i AT
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Madison, Alabama

iTrader: (0)

Schwaben Scan Tool

I will compare my S-Scan tool to my OBDLINK MX this weekend. I am betting all our N55's fall within a range (stock engines) and the variations that we are seeing are based on how and where we are reading the oil temps & or even confusion over coolant temps.
.
Regardless the oil temps are what I consider high (above 240) where the concern starts and raises an eyebrow as to the oil spec / viscosity and OCI.
Appreciate 1
amw896582.50
      05-26-2017, 11:32 PM   #14
XutvJet
Major General
5488
Rep
5,334
Posts

Drives: 2011 Cayman Base, 2016 M235
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Kansas City

iTrader: (-1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by amw896 View Post
Did some searching around and it seems 240-250 is pretty normal, some run marginally higher and some a bit lower. This is mostly based on E90 N55 that actually had an oil temp gauge. Looks like once you start breaking the 250's (middle to high) then it's trouble town.
240-250 is quite normal in these cars in daily and hard driving. The temps are quite stable once the oil is fully warmed. As for exceeding 250 degrees, I wouldn't worry about it much. Performance oils like those used by BMW, especially euro formulas, will do just fine even living in the 260 range for short durations. Oil tech has improved massively in the past 10 years.
Appreciate 1
amw896582.50
      05-27-2017, 09:58 AM   #15
aerodavew
Private
United_States
10
Rep
52
Posts

Drives: 2014 M235i
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Columbia Mo

iTrader: (0)

How long does it take the oil to warm up in city driving?
Appreciate 0
      05-27-2017, 11:36 AM   #16
amw896
Major
amw896's Avatar
Canada
583
Rep
1,117
Posts

Drives: 2015 BMW M235i
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ontario

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2015 BMW M235i  [10.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by aerodavew View Post
How long does it take the oil to warm up in city driving?
Depends on ambient but I would say at least 10-15 miles.
Appreciate 2
      06-12-2017, 04:09 PM   #17
amw896
Major
amw896's Avatar
Canada
583
Rep
1,117
Posts

Drives: 2015 BMW M235i
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ontario

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2015 BMW M235i  [10.00]
Thought I would update since we had a scorcher here today, almost 40D Celsius! I'm mighty impressed with the cooling system on this car. I was at 120 IAT and 245 degree oil temp in traffic, then I got her on the highway, had some space so I started ripping her. The Wagner IC dropped the IATs almost immediately to high 90s, coolant temps went from approx 225 to 175 and oil temps dropped from 246 to 215! They stayed at these temps roughly for the entire highway run, a good 10miles before I had to get off again. I was kind of hoping the temps would stay a bit lower while in city traffic but it is what it is I guess.
Appreciate 0
      06-12-2017, 10:06 PM   #18
rightrudder
Private First Class
50
Rep
157
Posts

Drives: 2017 BMW M240i
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Not sure what the actual oil temps are, but I read somewhere that the less aggressive the driving mode, the higher the temps. So EcoPro will be the hottest, all other things being equal.
Appreciate 0
      06-13-2017, 07:08 PM   #19
amw896
Major
amw896's Avatar
Canada
583
Rep
1,117
Posts

Drives: 2015 BMW M235i
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ontario

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2015 BMW M235i  [10.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by rightrudder View Post
Not sure what the actual oil temps are, but I read somewhere that the less aggressive the driving mode, the higher the temps. So EcoPro will be the hottest, all other things being equal.
This is true, i drive almost entirely in sport+ so all of my recorded temps are in that mode
Appreciate 0
      07-01-2017, 02:23 PM   #20
MarcoZandrini
Major
United_States
439
Rep
1,251
Posts

Drives: 2018 M240i
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Virginia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by amw896 View Post
Depends on ambient but I would say at least 10-15 miles.
The consensus is the engine reaches its full operating temperature at about 10 miles of continuous driving.
Appreciate 0
      07-01-2017, 02:42 PM   #21
pikcachu
Major General
pikcachu's Avatar
1398
Rep
5,262
Posts

Drives: M235i (F22 Red angel)
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: undisclosed

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcoZandrini View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by amw896 View Post
Depends on ambient but I would say at least 10-15 miles.
The consensus is the engine reaches its full operating temperature at about 10 miles of continuous driving.
Something interesting I realized today is that if you go to the vehicle info - service - measure oil level, if the car is not at operating temp, the start measuring oil will be grayed out

One this advantage is that you need to be in P or N for it to work. So if you are moving you can't check cause it will be grayed out cause it's in D regardless if oil is at operating temp or not
Appreciate 0
      07-03-2017, 02:06 PM   #22
bryan_G01
Lieutenant Colonel
bryan_G01's Avatar
1165
Rep
1,931
Posts

Drives: like i stole it...
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NY

iTrader: (0)

[QUOTE=pikcachu;21897031]Something interesting I realized today is that if you go to the vehicle info - service - measure oil level, if the car is not at operating temp, the start measuring oil will be grayed out
/QUOTE]

This is how i found out what operating temp was, using my torque pro app + waiting for it to become available.
__________________
www.nybmwcca.org
Current Cars:
1995 M3 Coupe Manual Alpine White
1997 M3 Sedan Auto Cosmo Black Metallic
2018 x3 m40 Auto Grey Metallic
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:20 AM.




2addicts
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST