[schembree]

It's turned pretty cold, temps are hovering around 35F. I've noticed my oil temp isn't even making it onto the temp scale (160F). I've read in some of the other forums that you're not supposed to even put the engine into Sport unless the oil temp is running around 200F. I've been driving the car all night in stop and go traffic and the temp isn't even registering. Is there some risk to damaging engine components?

[SlowM2C]

Well hello fellow Austin M2C owner.

The oil cooling system is on a thermostat it should warm up to temp as normal.

[Megator]

Originally Posted by schembree

It's turned pretty cold, temps are hovering around 35F. I've noticed my oil temp isn't even making it onto the temp scale (160F). I've read in some of the other forums that you're not supposed to even put the engine into Sport unless the oil temp is running around 200F. I've been driving the car all night in stop and go traffic and the temp isn't even registering. Is there some risk to damaging engine components?

Sounds like your journey is too short to heat up the car. It needs a good 15-30min of normal driving to get up to operating temp and like 10 miles before the trans is warm.

If you drive it normally it will not damage anything, the drive mode is irrelevant, only the load and RPMs.

If you do a lot of only short journeys then water that is in the oil does not get a chance to evaporate, reducing the oil's lubricating properties. This can lead to engine damage that takes a while to show up (tens of thousands of miles). If you drive the car one long journey for every 3-4 short ones it should not be a problem.

The oil monitoring system thingy will require more frequent oil changes if you only do short journeys.

[Got f1?]

I'm a fan of any device that gives a more precise oil temp reading. I personally use the P3Cars device mounted in the driver's a/c vent. Not uncommon here in Ohio for the oil temp to be at 40 degrees on start after sitting in the parking lot at work. A short idle warm up of a minute or two gets it up to 80 degrees, then I just moderate my shifting to between 2-3k RPM until 180 degrees. Then up to 4.5k RPM. My work commute is about 7 miles and by the time I get to work, I am up to normal temps at about 215 degrees. All back road/

[DriverDaily]

Takes about 15 mins to get to 90C (194F) for me

[schembree]

So it wasn't even registering last night, even after 30 minutes or so of driving. Today, the gauge is working fine.

[Megator]

Have you coded anything? I find the car a little glitchy after adjusting some things. Never like this though.

[schembree]

Originally Posted by Megator

Have you coded anything? I find the car a little glitchy after adjusting some things. Never like this though.

Nope. Nothing coded. Hard to say.

[Pilot-Z]

Originally Posted by schembree

Nope. Nothing coded. Hard to say.

Weird, if it does that again I'd bring it in. Like everyone else here, I'd say I'm showing at least some gauge movement in ten minutes even in 35°F temps.

[tokki]

Haha 35F... Cute. I daily drive my little M2C in consistent -20C, cold starts, parked outside. You're right the car oil temp will not even get hot enough to register on the meter until much later. You are fine to throw it in Sport/Sport+ anytime, the computer will not allow for burbles until the car is sufficiently warm. There is nothing to worry about, trust me the car is designed for much colder.

[doughboy]

Had a few -5c starts this winter (23f). Car lives outside. but oil temp is up to 90c+ within 10-15 mins no problems.