Oil Temp.

[jerry & meri]

On our last trip we had been traveling all day and when I checked
the oil the dipstick was extremely hot. Too hot to touch. Steam came
off the stick as I wiped a rag along it.
I had just switched to a 50w synthetic and the motor hardly uses
oil. The motor was re-built 20k ago. The stick has been calibrated. and
the oil pressure is good.
It was in the heat of the day in the mountains of southern OR. (just
a few steep grades). The water temp stayed good and it never overheated.

Is there an oil temp gauge to keep an eye on this? How big of a
problem is this? I couldn't find anything in the manual, any one know
the troubleshooting? I couldn't find anything in the manual.

What gives?
Jerry & Meri
455 '74 CL

 

[bob mclaughlin]

Jerry & Meri,
The dipstick tube is very close to the exhaust manifold/header. It has
probably moved enough to touch the manifold and that will make the dipstick
extremely hot and even smoke some. Maybe you don't have a hot oil problem.
Bob McLaughlin

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailtowner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Jerry & Meri
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2000 6:59 PM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: GMC: Oil Temp.

On our last trip we had been traveling all day and when I checked
the oil the dipstick was extremely hot. Too hot to touch. Steam came
off the stick as I wiped a rag along it.
I had just switched to a 50w synthetic and the motor hardly uses
oil. The motor was re-built 20k ago. The stick has been calibrated. and
the oil pressure is good.
It was in the heat of the day in the mountains of southern OR. (just
a few steep grades). The water temp stayed good and it never overheated.

Is there an oil temp gauge to keep an eye on this? How big of a
problem is this? I couldn't find anything in the manual, any one know
the troubleshooting? I couldn't find anything in the manual.

What gives?
Jerry & Meri
455 '74 CL

 

[john wright]

When you look at the dip stick as it passes next to the exhaust manifold
you will notice that it is touching the manifold. This will cause the
dip stick to smoke when you wipe it, this is about 10" from the end of
the stick and you will find that this area is somewhat discolored.
Nothing wrong with your oil temp, just the way the dip stick is located
next to the exhaust manifold.

>
> On our last trip we had been traveling all day and when I checked
> the oil the dipstick was extremely hot. Too hot to touch. Steam came
> off the stick as I wiped a rag along it.
> I had just switched to a 50w synthetic and the motor hardly uses
> oil. The motor was re-built 20k ago. The stick has been calibrated. and
> the oil pressure is good.
> It was in the heat of the day in the mountains of southern OR. (just
> a few steep grades). The water temp stayed good and it never overheated.
>
> Is there an oil temp gauge to keep an eye on this? How big of a
> problem is this? I couldn't find anything in the manual, any one know
> the troubleshooting? I couldn't find anything in the manual.
>
> What gives?
> Jerry & Meri
> 455 '74 CL

- --
J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLakers
77 Eleganza II
Michigan

 

[dave lowry]

>When you look at the dip stick as it passes next to the exhaust manifold
>you will notice that it is touching the manifold. This will cause the
>dip stick to smoke when you wipe it, this is about 10" from the end of
>the stick and you will find that this area is somewhat discolored.
>Nothing wrong with your oil temp, just the way the dip stick is located
>next to the exhaust manifold.

Also, the oil will be a little hotter than the coolant and stay that way
for a long time after you shut down. A guage wouldn't tell you any more
than the coolant temp guage you already have.

I suggest you check the oil each morning before firing up. That way
everything is cool, all the oil has returned to the pan (normally takes a
few minutes) and, best of all, you don't have to wipe the stick. Just pull
it up, read it and put it back. The dip stick only needs to be wiped when
oil is still draining back into the pan. The only time I would check a hot
engine is if I had a leak or knew it regularly used a quart every few
hundred miles. You decide what you're comfortable with, but its easier in
the morning. My .02