mitsuowner1991
10+ Year Contributor
- 304
- 7
- Sep 29, 2009
-
West Keansburg,
New_Jersey
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That is the thermovalve (MD103867), not the sensor for the ECU (MD069879). You may have to find the thermovalve from a dealership if you want new or a part out / junkyard if used will suffice. As mentioned, it isn't absolutely necessary for most people anymore.
The sensor for the ECU should be available at your local parts store, RockAuto, or dealership for new.
You don't want your oil temp as hot as possible especially on a turbo car. Just driving you should see 210-220. Racing you'll likely see up to 250*-270, hence the need for a better cooler to keep them from raising higher. Every 10 degrees above that is added wear and breakdown of the oil that you don't need. If you drive your car hard and your oil temps get too high without a cooler, you'll have no way to cool it off besides stopping or slowing down. While racing your oil temps will get way hotter than you driving around some back roads. That's why they use external air coolers because they are more effective.180° will be good in summer. When I lived in upstate NY I ran a 195° in the winter. I believe the ECU starts pulling timing around 203°F.
I would recommend the hottest thermostat you can find that will keep you under 200°F ECT in normal operating conditions. If you can run the 195°F and rarely dip over 200°F then you will be better off that way.
Your engine oil actually likes heat. Not sure on this platform, but on many race cars they want HOT oil temp and cold water temp. Since oil temp is mainly a function of water temp (and other variables) on these cars these cars you don't want to run too low of an ECT. I have seen people run no t-stat and I am willing to bet their oil isnt getting hot enough to work well (120°F - 140°F)
I also see some swapping to external oil coolers and scratch my head... Oil operates better hot. I use the stock oil-cooler/filter housing and have yet to see my oil get above 170°F in extended driving/ repeated WOT pulls. Mobil 1, for example, is stable to 500°F so you are not going to get it "too hot". Since oil flows better hot, I want my oil as hot as I can get it.
... and I just convinced myself to loop the oil cooler hoses...
If someone has a differing view point or data to suggest my logic is bad, PLEASE SHARE! I am interested in learning!