Temperatures: oil and water. Why measure both?

[robroy]

Good evening,

While looking at lots of gauges online lately I've noticed that both oil and water temperature gauges are produced.

Why measure both? What good is an oil temperature reading if you've already got the water temperature?

Thanks very much!
-Robroy

[FORDification]

Oil temperature probes usually screw into the oil filter housing area to measure oil temp after it goes through oil cooler and right before it goes to oil pump. These are typically used with air-cooled engines, since obviously there's no water to measure. It might serve to give you an early warning if you've got bearing problems, for example, since any heat rise will show up faster than with a water temp gauge. On a street-driven truck, they're really not necessary and is pretty much useless information, especially when using today's hi-tech synthetic oils. IMO as long as you've got a good water temperature gauge, you'll be just fine.

[robroy]

Hi Keith! Thanks very much for answering my question; your answer makes complete sense. I forgot about air cooled engines!

-Robroy

[willowbilly3]

They are also used on race cars. When we raced on the dirt ovals we had both and they do not read synonymous with each other. Oil temp might go over your max and not the coolant, or visa versa. Keith is right, not really needed on a street car.

[robroy]

Hi WillowBilly3, thanks for your post. That's pretty interesting! It sounds like a lot of gauges to watch when you're in a race!

-Robroy

[Jake11]

Keep "in block" temp below 260*. 220* or below is good. Above 260* bad things happen.

[willowbilly3]

Hi WillowBilly3, thanks for your post. That's pretty interesting! It sounds like a lot of gauges to watch when you're in a race!

-Robroy

Too many. , they were more for the pit guys to look at when he came in. I read a story once about a crew chief that put tape over the gauges so the driver wouldn't be looking at them and thinking. I used to tease drivers about that when they started fretting.