Max oil temp?

[Oak]

Okay guys & gals, I mowed yesterday for the first time with my 3165 that I'm going to sell to give it some run time. It has less then 400 hours on a working meter and has the Briggs Vanguard 16 HP engine in it. This machine sat unused for a few years outside when I picked it up for the 54" deck and then it sat in my barn for 3 years and never started. I did not pull the engine tins and clean it but now wish I did so I could rule that out. Anyhow, while I was mowing it kind of smelled hot so I grabbed my Fluke IR temp gun and shoot the oil filter and it was at 290*. I then took compressed air and in and all around the engine blew it. Not much came out but some trash did. I then strapped a temp probe on the oil lines going/leaving the filter housing and finished mowing. It still runs above 250* but less then 290*. I'm running 10W30 IIRC as the manual said and run it full throttle. What is the max oil temp that this engine should run at or do I need to check the temp some other way? Thanks.

[R Bedell]

I don't know as if Cub Cadet publishes this specification. Seems what you are finding is too hot.


Maybe working backwards, see what is the recommended oil temperature range of the oil you are using.

[jimbob200521]

Always wondered this myself. I'm not sure if there's a specific degree it's allowed/supposed to run. I know on my M18's and CH, I can't grab hold of the oil filter after I've been working them, too hot to handle, then again, that's to be expected. Air cooled engines rely on oil as well as air flow to keep them cool, so it only stands to reason that the oil will be very hot.

That being said, the most common response you are going to get, and my advice as well, is keep it clean (under the tins, flywheel, etc), keep fresh oil in it, and go baby go.

[red56turbo]

Todd,
Don't know the specs recommended for oil temp either. If the cubs been sitting for a while, either inside or out, I'd be concerned about a mouse hotel in the shrouding. Don't know what you're looking at time wise, but I'd pull the motor and check things out.

[Sam Mac]

Todd

If this is to be believed you are just fine.

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...rotection.aspx

[dvogtvpe]

a Harley runs around 210 oil temp , an air cooled VW will run about the same. these both had oil temp gauges on them and read sump temp. now your typical water cooled diesel will run about 10 degrees hotter oil temp than coolant. I don't think using a temp gun on the oil filter is accurate but you could always hang a oil temp gauge on it if you really need to know. even if you get one of the dipstick style ones.

[Oak]

Thanks guys! I guess I need to pull it and remove the tins to be sure nothing is wrong. I used it yesterday and it ran up to 295* at one point then I removed the side panels and it ran around 260*. I don't like how they almost block the motor cooling off with how they mount the battery.

[Maxwelhse]

What are the ambient conditions when you're seeing 290F? Same as when you get 260F?

That isn't to say 290F is too high (I simply don't know).

[Oak]

I think the ambient was about 85 to 90.

[Maxwelhse]

So, same ambient conditions both temps with and without side panels? I'd leave the side panels off even if 290 is fine. 30 degrees cooler sounds better to me (assuming all else is working fine).