Just an observation and to see if this is normal but whilst on a long run and towing our caravan I noticed that the oil temp on the mfd was sitting at 110 to 115 degrees C.

Normal driving without towing the temp sits around 85 degrees. I know the engine is working harder when towing so is the temp increase I'm getting normal?

The car is a 2010 170bhp superb diesel and on the long run we just did was getting about 28 mpg, according to mfd.

Thanks

Not saying this is ok, but we saw very similar numbers when towing with our 2014 170CR DSG.

Likewise with our 2010 170 towing our boat over 4000 miles in two years (Cornwall to Toulon twice). Oil temp stabilised at the same level as you even with big hills in hot weather.

I see up to 96-97 *C on the motorway when not towing. I'm not sure that's something to worry about too much if everything else is working properly. Though it may be worth going to fixed interval servicing if this is something you do regularly.

That all sounds reassuring, thanks.

Fixed interval servicing I take it is done on a time period as opposed to a mileage basis?

Only had car 3 months and it was serviced before we got it. If I remember correctly it's been serviced/stamped on a mileage basis, I think?

Belts changed in 2014 at about 50K

Fixed interval is every 10000 miles/16000 km or 12 months. The alternative is variable where the ECU monitors oil quality and recommends a service. IIRC it's mostly based on metallic particle loading.

I've seen mine into the 100's and I don't tow.

I do sometimes have a lead foot though.

Variable servicing keeps track of the number of cold starts and short trips as well, linking it to the predicted oil degradation behaviour too. As I understand it there's no downside to variable intervals provided you service the car when it tells you to.

 

My oil temperature usually stays around 90 degrees, but a bit of pushing on back roads will get it past 100 degrees easily enough.

Edited 19 October, 20169 yr by psycholist

When towing my caravan i've seen my oil temp up at around 110 - iirc it hit 120 when going up the M62 this summer but dropped back to 110-ish when we got over the top going down the other side. As above, without towing i've seen it hit 100+ when pushing it too.

I've hit between 115 and 120degC on German autobahn. It made me to slow down, as I wasn't sure how long I can go on with such a high temperatures.

Mine runs at the same sort of temps around 110 towing the van mines quite a heavy van (1500 kgs) so that would seem normal to me.

if it didn't have a gauge you wouldn't worry about it ;-)

Your'e dead right.

I made a point of not looking at the oil temp on journey home and the car seemed to go so much better!