Is she running a bit hot?

TokyoCarGuy · 07-12-2015, 09:56 PM

Very hot/humid weather these days, so after some stop and go traffic and long highway cruising the temp gauge is just one click off the middle. Engine is N54 - is this normal, or should i be worried?

KiwiRD · 07-12-2015, 10:19 PM

My oil temperature generally sits just under 110c / 230 f under normal conditions. On a cold day on the freeway it drops to about 220 f and on a hot day sitting in traffic it'll nudge 250 f.

ilicboris · 07-13-2015, 01:33 AM

I have never had it over 250 even when driving hard and I have no oil cooler. One thing to note is when BMW had their old Castrol formula oil, my car would always hit 240-250 in hot and humid weather in stop and go with AC on. My last oil change I got the new BMW Shell oil and my car has been running cooler by at least 10 degrees. Right when I changed it I went for a drive and I was driving lightly and temperature went up to 250. After that first drive I could be driving in 90+ degree weather with AC on and oil temperature is around 220-230.

The last oil change when I purchased the new Shell oil coincided with JB4 installation. Not sure if it is related.

jauloz · 07-13-2015, 02:07 AM

25C out, plus the humidity in Asia. i would say is pretty normal. at least im always at ~120C too

mweisdorfer · 07-13-2015, 03:38 AM

If you are worried about the excessive heat and what it could do to the N54 motor, perhaps run it on 5w-40 instead of 5w-30.

Amsoil for example makes an excellent 5w-40.

timothy2001 · 07-13-2015, 06:17 AM

After a lot of reading on this topic I have determined that what you are seeing is normal.

Normal or not I got a bit uneasy in Houston and as hard as I sometimes drive the car I purchased this and it sure helped cool things down a bit. At the very least I am not obsessed with the temp gauge any more,.

http://www.burgertuning.com/sport_oil_cooler_valve.html

vapore0n · 07-13-2015, 06:22 AM

Normal temperature for hot humid days.

An oil cooler can help out with those oil temperatures, which would then help with the rest of the cooling of the engine.

KNS · 07-13-2015, 08:40 AM

Amazing how hot these engines run and still called normal temps. As mentioned, run 5W-40 if you aren't already.

floydarogers · 07-13-2015, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TokyoCarGuy

Very hot/humid weather these days, so after some stop and go traffic and long highway cruising the temp gauge is just one click off the middle. Engine is N54 - is this normal, or should i be worried?

Engines actually run hotter on the road at steady cruise than in town/city in stop-and-go.

Entirely normal.

David0ff · 07-13-2015, 01:02 PM

these engines have an ECO mode for highway cruising where they run hotter than in town in order to increase efficiency.

mike@x-ph.com · 07-13-2015, 03:59 PM

Looks normal to me

LHR · 07-13-2015, 08:27 PM

I was wondering the same thing my 2010 335xi only had her 3 weeks now and it's regularly just under 250 highway driving w/AC on blast about to do a 1000 mile drive is there any need for concern? I may as well change the oil? although iDrive is saying next oil change in 15,000.

timothy2001 · 07-13-2015, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MindControl

I was wondering the same thing my 2010 335xi only had her 3 weeks now and it's regularly just under 250 highway driving w/AC on blast about to do a 1000 mile drive is there any need for concern? I may as well change the oil? although iDrive is saying next oil change in 15,000.

A hair under 250 is normal in hot weather.

There are millions of threads on oil change intervals (okay maybe 20 or 30) and the consensus is 5-10k miles depending on a lot of factors.

LHR · 07-13-2015, 09:05 PM

And is it normal for the hood to be hot like I probably could cook some eggs over easy.....

vapore0n · 07-14-2015, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MindControl

And is it normal for the hood to be hot like I probably could cook some eggs over easy.....

My guess is the oil was changed very recently, as the I-Drive states that the next change is in 15k.

Also, the hood tends to get hot. You do have 2 turbos running under the hood. The good thing is that the car likes to run the water pump for like a min after shutting the car off. Built in turbo timer.

My whole garage gets really hot after driving home. Great for winter though.
Go for a drive, back to garage, wait 5 mins, wash car in a warm garage bay

Mayuri Krab · 07-14-2015, 08:13 AM

I think I read somewhere in the menu that normal operating temperature is 100-120 deg C.

floydarogers · 07-14-2015, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MindControl

And is it normal for the hood to be hot like I probably could cook some eggs over easy.....

BMW deleted the hood insulation - can be retro-fitted if you like.
The engine air exists through the bottom normally, when the car is moving.

07-12-2015, 09:56 PM	#1
TokyoCarGuy Captain 476 Rep 668 Posts Drives: 2011 AW E90 M3 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tokyo, Japan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 Sedan [1.00]	Is she running a bit hot? Very hot/humid weather these days, so after some stop and go traffic and long highway cruising the temp gauge is just one click off the middle. Engine is N54 - is this normal, or should i be worried? Attached Images __________________ Please visit my automotive website based in Japan: Last edited by TokyoCarGuy; 07-13-2015 at 01:37 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

07-12-2015, 10:19 PM	#2
KiwiRD Captain 165 Rep 649 Posts Drives: 2007 E90 335i M Sport 6MT Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Auckland, New Zealand iTrader: (0)	My oil temperature generally sits just under 110c / 230 f under normal conditions. On a cold day on the freeway it drops to about 220 f and on a hot day sitting in traffic it'll nudge 250 f.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-13-2015, 01:33 AM	#3
ilicboris First Lieutenant 80 Rep 334 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335xi Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Nebraska, USA iTrader: (0)	I have never had it over 250 even when driving hard and I have no oil cooler. One thing to note is when BMW had their old Castrol formula oil, my car would always hit 240-250 in hot and humid weather in stop and go with AC on. My last oil change I got the new BMW Shell oil and my car has been running cooler by at least 10 degrees. Right when I changed it I went for a drive and I was driving lightly and temperature went up to 250. After that first drive I could be driving in 90+ degree weather with AC on and oil temperature is around 220-230. The last oil change when I purchased the new Shell oil coincided with JB4 installation. Not sure if it is related.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-13-2015, 02:07 AM	#4
jauloz Private First Class 34 Rep 172 Posts Drives: E92 335 F01 750 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	25C out, plus the humidity in Asia. i would say is pretty normal. at least im always at ~120C too
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-13-2015, 03:38 AM	#5
mweisdorfer Major General 1996 Rep 6,965 Posts Drives: 2007 Black/Black 335i e90 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Holly, MI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW E90 335i [0.00] 2008 bmw x5 [0.00]	If you are worried about the excessive heat and what it could do to the N54 motor, perhaps run it on 5w-40 instead of 5w-30. Amsoil for example makes an excellent 5w-40.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-13-2015, 06:17 AM	#6
timothy2001 Major 900 Rep 1,202 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 6MT ZCP. SOLD Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: NE Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 M3 E92 [0.00]	After a lot of reading on this topic I have determined that what you are seeing is normal. Normal or not I got a bit uneasy in Houston and as hard as I sometimes drive the car I purchased this and it sure helped cool things down a bit. At the very least I am not obsessed with the temp gauge any more,. http://www.burgertuning.com/sport_oil_cooler_valve.html
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-13-2015, 06:22 AM	#7
vapore0n Captain 41 Rep 670 Posts Drives: 2010 335i Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	Normal temperature for hot humid days. An oil cooler can help out with those oil temperatures, which would then help with the rest of the cooling of the engine.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-13-2015, 08:40 AM	#8
KNS Lieutenant 140 Rep 439 Posts Drives: 128i and Porsche Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	Amazing how hot these engines run and still called normal temps. As mentioned, run 5W-40 if you aren't already.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-13-2015, 01:02 PM	#10
David0ff Combined Applications Group 1057 Rep 654 Posts Drives: Lada Scrapus Trofeo R Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Classified iTrader: (1)	these engines have an ECO mode for highway cruising where they run hotter than in town in order to increase efficiency.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-13-2015, 03:59 PM	#11
mike@x-ph.com BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 32717 Rep 205,989 Posts Drives: 07-335/12-328/18-M4/21-M4CP Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (23)	Looks normal to me __________________ Check out our current sale by clicking on this link! https://x-ph.com/sale/ Phone number 725-221-5267
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-13-2015, 08:27 PM	#12
LHR Private 6 Rep 57 Posts Drives: 2010 335xi E90 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: The Garden State iTrader: (0)	I was wondering the same thing my 2010 335xi only had her 3 weeks now and it's regularly just under 250 highway driving w/AC on blast about to do a 1000 mile drive is there any need for concern? I may as well change the oil? although iDrive is saying next oil change in 15,000.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-13-2015, 09:05 PM	#14
LHR Private 6 Rep 57 Posts Drives: 2010 335xi E90 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: The Garden State iTrader: (0)	And is it normal for the hood to be hot like I probably could cook some eggs over easy.....
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-14-2015, 08:13 AM	#16
Mayuri Krab The Cheap Arse Asian 48 Rep 585 Posts Drives: E90 335i & R33 Skyline GTS-T Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Perth, Australia iTrader: (0)	I think I read somewhere in the menu that normal operating temperature is 100-120 deg C. __________________ 07 BMW E90 335i \|JB4 + MHD Backend Flash (Pump) \|AR Catless DPs\|ER CP + Forge DVs\|BMS DCIs + OCC\|RB PCV valve + cap\| 93 R33 Skyline GTS-T \|SAFC-II piggyback\|3" Turbo Back Exhaust + Highflow Cat\|FMIC\|Boost Tee\|Apexi POD\| Shitty Chinese spec tires = sideways action everywhere
	Appreciate 0 Quote