Oil Light Comes On When Hot On Track Days

[TerryF]

Hi there,

I have a BA XR6T with common mods. I have done 4 Track days at QLD Raceway and each one I have had over heating / oil temperature / pressure /oil surge problems.

The coolant temperature gets close to 3/4 on the guage and as the engine oil temperature increases after a while of hard cornering and high engine reving the eng oil light will come on and the computer goes into limp home mode. After 500 metres of nursing it the light will go out and we are back running for a lap if lucky. I get this fault worse on hotter days and the longer I am out there it gets worse as the engine gets hotter. Street driving the temperature is never a problem.

Question - what would you suggest?

Radiator upgrade or oil cooler?

Can anyone reccommend any good suppliers or either.

I am running Castrol Edge 10w60. Would you recommend something different for track days? When the oil is hot it is SO thin.

The last track day in December was 35C and it was the worst its been. One rainy day it wasn't too bad at all.

Thanks for any help.

Regards

Terry

[Rootster]

Not sure if it happens on the turbo six motor but alot of the V8 have that problem,under hard braking and cornering the oil runs away from the oil pump pick up ,one of the other members who takes their car out on a circuit may be able to answer this.We use to replace the sump with a buffled sump and extra oil capacity,this fixed the V8"S Cheers NIck

[typhoon_freak]

try also a colder thermo if your not running one atm.. stock they are 92degree and I dropped mine to 72 degrees.. and I drive around all day and it doesnt move off the first 1/4 mark

[EZ2CME]

I'd be getting an oil cooler if you are doing track days.

[TerryF]

Thanks guys.

Yes years ago we used to have major surge problems with some race cars I played with and did the sump baffling etc. My problem seems more heat related to me though. Well heat and surge. Like when the oil gets so thin it looses pressure.

If it is a surge problem surely others doing track days have had the same problem?? Anyone ??

I think I will put the oil cooler on for starters as it can't do any harm. Do you think that will also bring the over all temperature of the engine down while racing?

Anyone know of reasonable priced kits for T's ?

I thought about the cooler thermostate but really the 72C temperature rating is when they open. If the car is hot while racing it wont close anyway. We were always taught at trade school that engines run far more efficiently when hot (recommended temperature normally close to 100C) so to run it colder may not be a good idea. This is why cooling systems are pressureized so they can run at a higher boiling point.

I always remember when stripping old Holdens, number one cyl was always worn more than the rest because the waterpump kept it cooler. Probably the same with most cars but especially early Holdens. Taxis or other commercial vehicles last longer as they are hot all the time. Its the cold running that wears engines out so I am weary of running colder thermostates.

Thanks for your help guys.

Regards

Terry

[Dagabond]

Sumps a cast unit on these things unless someone does an aftermarket unit it'd be a bloody expensive exercise, they are baffled to an extent...

Oil cooler will help to an extent but I reckon you'll still end up running pretty hot given the conditions you driving in....

Wait for the cooler months to take it out...or move south...

Thread started by Senna_T not long ago:

http://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=51905

[arronm]

My Typhoon overheats after 4 laps of wanneroo track. I have about 320kw. Temp goes past 3/4 and light comes on and dash chimes, as soon as you come off boost ,half a lap its back under half. I have the cooler stat and it will not help you as the heat can not be removed quick enough. What size is your intercooler. You need to increase the efficiency of the radiator. I dont do many track days so I havnt bothered. Maybe you could add an extra row to the radiator. But this will require modification of the fans and condenser. Give NIZPRO a call and speak to Simon he will be able to help you. Arron

[TerryF]

Yes you may be right re QLD heat.

What makes me wonder is there are other XR's on the track and they don't seem to have any trouble.

What do you think about fitting a Oil Accumulator?

Theres a guy out there with a Shelby Cobra Mustang who swears by them. They cost around $300 I think and shouldn't be that hard to fit.

I am very interested in hearing stories from anyone else who does circuit racing.

Does your car over heat and loose oil pressure when hot ?????

Regards

Terry

[TerryF]

Thanks for that info Aaron,

Glad to hear I am not the only one having these problems.

My intercooler is standard at the moment. Its the next mod I may do one day. Do you think a bigger one may keep it cooler?

I did look into a bigger radiator. They are available but are about $850 Trade price. I don't think they can just add another row like some older cars.

I will ring NIZPRO like you said. What State are they in?

Regards

Terry

[beauies]

Nizpro is in melbourne.

NIZPRO TURBOCHARGING

Address:

6/46 Barry st.

Bayswater, Victoria. 3153

Phone:

03 9761 1522

Fax:

03 9761 1533

Email:

info@nizpro.com.au

Ba sumps have baffling already, but have been superceded in later models and you cant get the original ones from ford as a spare part either