LS3 and oil temperature warning on track day

[VR304]

Hey folks,

Did a track day at wakefield park in a mechanically stock E Series R8 LS3 M6, and could only manage 4 to 6 laps at a time before the engine oil temp warning flashed up on the dash and the oil temp gauge reading somewhere between 125 and 150 degrees.

Each time I would pull in and park it to let it cool, either waiting for the next session or rejoining for a lap or 2 at the end of the current session.

I only just bought the car from a Holden dealer so assume (yeah ok) that it had a service when it arrived at their lot (not too long before I bought it from them).

Has anyone experienced this themselves?

I d it and there isn't much mention of an issue with HSVs, but there was of Pontiac G8s with the LS3 in the states experiencing it on track days, and with the suggestion made to use a thicker oil 15W50 as opposed to the recommended fill (0W30?).

Has anybody fitted an engine oil cooler to deal with it?

[gjohnson]

Yep, same thing happened to my cammed, blown maloo mate. Oil temps of 150 on track days. I got a few 5 lap sessions in though before my dash light came on. I use royal purple 10w40 oil all the time and overfill a little for track days. I have fitted an oil cooler but haven't been to track since, oil temp sits 10 deg cooler on highway though. Track days are better in winter, in my opinion, up in qld anyway.
Cheers Greg.

[Martin_D]

These cars need an oil cooler if you intend taking them on the track. Dont let the engine oil get to 150 if you want your LS3 to live a long and healthy life!

[VR304]

Ok great thanks for the info fellas.

I'll have the car gone over by a performance workshop for oil and cooler before I do another track day - it sure was frustrating pulling in after only 5 minutes of a 20 minute session when a 15 year old Prelude on the day could do lap after lap after lap.

[AQICLS3]

These cars need an oil cooler if you intend taking them on the track. Dont let the engine oil get to 150 if you want your LS3 to live a long and healthy life!

What oil cooler do you recommend Martin?

[Martin_D]

We custom make our own oil coolers with lines using JIC crimp on fittings with teflon stainless braided line. You cant overdo this kind of thing enough

[zorro]

Martin just slight deviation to the op, do the VEs have power steering issues on the track, would they warrant a ps cooler aswell?

[1BEAST2NV]

there's only so many coolers u can fit in the front...

[skidmarx]

Tell that to Bugatti!

[Martin_D]

Anything thats used on the track requires a serious amount of cooling
Heres an example of our road car/track day development GTR

Left rear - transmission oil cooler
Right rear - rear differential cooler

Left front - additional transmission oil cooler
Right front - engine oil cooler

Centre front - front differential cooler

Water mist sprays for all front coolers

And of course water cooling for the brakes.

Cant have enough cooling on the racetrack