I just did my first oil change and when I took the rediculously tiny filter off, I saw these two lines going into the filter pad. The line on the right goes to the thermostat housing and the left goes behind the block. Are these coolant lines to warm the oil? This setup does not appear in the 4th gen 3.0 VQ motors.

 

Anyone?

 

I believe they are the oil COOLER lines. Coolant absorbs heat from the oil and goes back to the radiator. Not one hundred % positive though....


ARFF

 

Correct answer!

 

Sounds good, but try this thought, I have a oil temp gauge on my I-30 and even on the hottest day, the oil temp doesn't go higher than 180 degrees F. Coolant temperature if I remember runs into the 220-230 degree range so...., the theory of it being a oil cooler doesn't make sense. Agree?

 

If the lines run to the radiator, then it's an oil coolant line. The coolant thing-a-ma-jig is located in the radiator. The coolant runs much cooler than the oil. So, by running it through there, it cools the oil.

Anyway, I could be WAAAAY off, but that's how they explained it on Horse Power TV.

 

Definitely is an oil cooler... Most street bikes have this set up too.. Mine does...

 

THe oil temp definitely gets hotter than 180 F...can't confirm, no oil temp gauge or ever had one..


ARFF

 

you also have to remember that the temperature readings probably come from sensors mounted in two different areas. Coolant temps are definitely much hotter entering the radiator than leaving, and the same would hold true for oil.

 

Are you certain of the oil temperature? I have a really hard time seeing how the coolant temperature could be any less than the oil temp as the oil gets as close if not closer to the heat source (chamber) than the coolant does. Plus I've never seen oil temp gauge. I've seen oil pressure gauges though.

 

Yes, I'm certain the temp is correct and yes, it is a oil temp gauge. Try looking at some high performance catalogs like Summit Racing, there are gauges for almost anything. The oil and the coolant aren't really any closer or farther away from the heat source, yes you can split hairs and say the oil is near the piston rings, but it is only a small amount of oil whereas the coolant surrounds the cylinder wall and head and absorbs the majority of the heat. The sensor for the temp gauge is in the oil pan BTW.
The lines from the filter do not go into the radiator, if I saw that, then I would be certain it is a oil cooler line, the lines go next to the upper radiator hose at the top of the block and the other line goes behind the block under the cylinder head, both into the engine, not the radiator.