Some older posts have sort of hit around this issue, but maybe not emphasized it.


I had presumed that with the stock or aftermarket dual oil cooler systems with thermostats, that in winter the warned up engine oil temperature would be safe and in the ball park. But this is incorrect.
A few year ago, a friend upgraded his single unit to a large serial dual oil coolant system. In summer all was fine. In winter his water temps were very slow to reach normal. A new water thermostat did not solve the problem.

I gave him a few thermo sensing strips to place on parts of his engine. It showed that his oil temperatures were very low. Even though oil was bypassing the second cooler, its mass was absorbing a lot of heat from the oil passage.

I then checked my R1 stock system, and I had the same problem.

We both tried blocking our second oil coolers by stuffing a large rag into the inlet duct. This solved his problem and also increased my oil temps to normal.

Each winter we now do this to keep the oil temperature warmer.
Do not know if this is needed for track events or not.

Another thing it helps with, stops or reduced the oil foam in the filer neck as the hotter oil temperature helps evaporate blow by moisture.

 

What latitude are you at? Common winter temps?

 

Thanks for the tip about covering the oil coolers. I recently had to move me R1 in to my heated garage to do some work. It took over 30mins to warm up in -10C temps.

 

My friend with the large dual oil coolers and I both live in the Houston Texas area.
Winter does have many 40-50F days and nights here.

I was running about 140F oil temps with my fully warmed up R1 until I blocked one duct.