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do I need an oil cooler?

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do I need an oil cooler?

hello,
I've got my cabrio back on the road after a few years and using it a bit to get used to all the mk1 quirks again :)

I've got Audi guages and am noticing oil temps getting up to 130 when thrashing it a bit (~5k rpm for a while).  it cools down when I ease off a bit, back to 115-120ish.

so is that normal?  the car has an ABF fitted using a mk2 16v box on 13" wheels, so need to rev a little more than usual for motorway speeds.

any thoughts?
the oil has been in there a while (5 years) but not done many miles due to being off the road.


cheers guys!

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5 years with no oil change? You're joking, right?

Does your ABF have the oil-water cooler, and if so what size radiator does your car have?

Your oil temperatures are far from normal. Have you checked the gauges are reading true?

                                

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ok, I'll get the oil done asap  :redfaced: , as said, have just been getting the car going again…


give me a clue what the oil-water cooler looks like?
I'll try to remember to get a pic of the bay so it's easier to see what's in there.  think it's a normal mk1 rad, the car was originally a 1.8 carb and I think the original rad is in there.  otherwise it's from a GTI (if there's a difference?)

how should I check the guage accuracy?

cheers!

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Its a sqaure thing just above where the oil filter is.

There's at least 5 different types of radiator on the mk1 - kinda need more info on that one.

Unsure best way to check it but matching the sender to the gauge is essential. Which sender is in the engine etc.

                                

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the sender is from an Audi (e80 I think).  I was told at the time it needed to come from a specific audi.

will try to get a number off the rad…

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couldn't see a part number on the rad easily, although it is not VAG.  Thermex or something.  estimate that it's about 2'.

the oil-water cooler is a metal square thing that the filter goes into, about 3" square?  if so, check ;)

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Measure the width of the radiator, that will tell what its from, and more importantly, how effective it is at cooling.

                                

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trisGTI said

the sender is from an Audi (e80 I think).
might have been a bit hasty here - it's the pressure sender that's from the Audi, the temp sender is on the sump plug, think I got that from Big Boys Toys.

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Doesn;t matter where its from, it needs to be matched to your gauge. I dare say there's different Audi ones, and I definitely know that BBT sell different senders, etc. Basically it needs to match your gauge, otherwise the readings will be out. What's the coolant temp like on the gauge? 120 deg C oil going through the oil cooler must have an effect on the coolant temp, after all.

                                

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:( the water temp guage in the clocks doesn't work.  I'm pretty sure it's the sensor but there is an issue there that I need to sort out.  it's on the list…

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TBH Cant help any more, I'd need to see the car and see how quickly the oil temp gauge rises, compated to how gently or not the engine was being used. The kind of thing you get a feeling for but can't explain over the internet.

Basically, if its shooting up in a couple of mins to 120, I'd say faulty gauge rather than overheating oil.

You can sense if an engine's hot or normal when you open the bonnet after a run, but again I can't really type that into an internet.

Getting all the gauges working properly can be thought of as a task within "stage 0" of tuning.

                                

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yeah I get what you're saying.  cheers for the help so far :)

the guage doesn't shoot up, just rises fairly slowly as the car warms up.  the engine feels hot after a good drive.
I'll check on the drive home later exactly where it settles during "normal" driving.

I'll have a go at mending the water temp sensor, as you say that could provide a good clue.
will also change the oil.


what sort of oil temps would you expect to see, on average?  the coolant isn't boiling or anything like that.

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Mine is steady at 90 deg C but rises to 100-105 stuck in traffic. Search engine with appropriate terms would reveal a range of opinions, too.

                                

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mine sits at 95 with a
shcrick  baffled and finned sump
mocal 13 row cooler
+ standard cooler
running semi synthetic 10/40

if thats any help..

Loving any chrome or carbon bits...

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ok, kept an eye on the guage on the way home.
it is settled about here:



it's not really very well marked, does the line between 60 and 130 mean 90c?

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thats too high, i bet its just cos the sensor you have is wrong. the correct sensor is blue collared and an audi only part, vw oil sensor wont work. lucky for you there is a spare oil tapping on the rear of the head, remove the black and fit your sensor there. part number is:
049 919 563 B - oil temperature sender, 1 pin blue, 0-180C - 14.85+VAT

Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



My wiring diagrams and other documents have moved here:

VAG Documents & Downloads

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hey mate - any idea where on the head?
I had a look and can't see anything obvious.

is it above the manifold cover?

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rear passenger side, above the zaust manifold. you'll see a plug in it with an allen head

Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



My wiring diagrams and other documents have moved here:

VAG Documents & Downloads

You'll need to sign into google/gmail for the link to work! (its free!)
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