[JD007]

Hi, I’m a little confuse with the temperature gauge of the oil of the car, it’s first bimmer, X3 sdrive28i N20 LCI 17’, 55k miles, and previously coming from Hyundais, Toyotas, mainly Asian cars, so the thing is, when driving in city, not pushing the car hard much even in awful traffic the temp is always in 1/4 of the gauge , I’m assuming on 195 F, but when a push the car hard (pedal to the metal&#129304, or in highway, even if it’s on comfort or sport mode it climbs up, to 250 F, has never pass from that.

The confuse and worrisome is, if this is normal behavior?, like a said, I’m coming from Asian cars that they measure coolant temps and are very constant, only if there is something wrong with the car, the temp gauge climbs up, normally stays in the middle of the gauge, the X3, never has pop an error, I’ve been repairing some things, and connecting ISTA, and doesn’t show nothing regarding the temps of the car, so please enlighten me on how to read the oil temp gauge!

[JD007]

Normal driving

[JD007]

Fast driving, pushing gas!

[JD007]

Another thing, in last pic, it’s doesn’t go all the way to 250 F, I’m assuming it’s because I’ve change oil, and oil is new, I’ve change from castrol edge European formula 5W-40 to Liqui Moly Molygen 5W-40, and the oil change was with 5k miles on, running with Castrol, before I change the oil, it wil go up to 250 F

[JD007]

Coolant, I’m using roshfrans coolant, since there’s no BMW OE for the moment, this roshfrans is what an indie shop very well respected one recommends

[mwat]

Looks normal to me based on my experiences with my X3 w/ the N55.

[slowblackx3f25]

I had the same questions when I got my 17' x3 N20.

I plugged in my Bluetooth OBII scanner and the temp reads below 70c or 140F.
AND please note this is ENGINE OIL temp... different from what other cars show (non-BMW cars)

my scanner pulled 20-30c as COLD engine oil temp, as I drive 15minutes +, it'll eventually go over 70c and the needle moves... this is dependent on the ambient temps as well. I'm in Canada and we are seeing cold months so it doesn't move past 70c at all unless I get on the freeway...

[n55david]

Normal oil operating temps are about 220 to 250f.. it will very if you're inna cold climate.

This is all normal.

[JD007]

Another thing I have notice, is that when a ramp up the car, after driving it fast and needle temp goes toward 250 F, I can smell a very peculiar scent, like brake pads but not too hard, or like brake fluid, I don’t know how to describe it well, I generally drive with air condition in A, and when that scent comes, I put the air con in M, and it goes away, I know that M recycles the cabins air, shuts the exterior air flow to go inside, so I don’t really know from where is coming that scent, maybe the turbo??? ��*���� or the transmission???, in the hood since shutting the air flow???, has some one experience this?

[Jolbex]

I dont get your concern clerly, but just for info: modern engines behave much differently than old ones. Due to eco normatives engines run hotter in city and easy driving then when pushed hard. So coolant and oil readings can be somehow confusing (not following the old logic pattern).

[JD007]

Normal driving, in trafic, temp in 190 F, aggressive driving, very fast, temp goes up to 250 F, is that normal?, that basically my concern, and that when I drive fast, I can smell something like brake pads or brake fluid

[JD007]

And well since mwat and n55david said that’s normal behaivor, we’re ok there, only concern left is that smell

[slowblackx3f25]

Originally Posted by JD007

And well since mwat and n55david said that’s normal behaivor, we’re ok there, only concern left is that smell

you need to visually inspect the brake pads and check brake fluid level.

I replaced all four brake pads and rotors and done numerous brake fluid service since owning my 17' X3.

I still keep an eye and NOSE out for weird smells.

[slowblackx3f25]

Originally Posted by JD007

And well since mwat and n55david said that’s normal behaivor, we’re ok there, only concern left is that smell

turns out it's your upper-lip giving out that smell

[n55david]

Originally Posted by JD007

And well since mwat and n55david said that’s normal behaivor, we’re ok there, only concern left is that smell

The smell could be a bunch if things but if you don't know the smell of things it makes it difficult. Next time you spell it. Pull over, get out and smell near each wheel (could have a caliper that's sort of stuck) or pop the hood and smell in the engine bay. Worst case.scenario you should bring it in and have the brakes checked. I have a feeling that you have a caliper issue as when I had a frozen one on my daily driver I could smell it..

[JD007]

I did pop the hood and smell around but didn’t find a thing, I will give it a nice speedy run and check the hood and wheels

[kevink1]

FWIW, doesn't matter what time of year. For my 2015 X3 diesel it is always at the mid mark. Right on when I had my original instrument cluster, maybe half a needle with below since.

Oh, except one time a few years ago when I was stuck in a very long traffic jam in Wyoming in August. Then it went a little above it.

[tracer bullet]

Some years back in this forum section there was discussion about normal temps. One thing determined was that the 4 and 6 cylinders ran at different temps, apparently by design. Just something to keep in mind when comparing, do like for like as for engines and not lump all X3's together. I wouldn't be surprised if the diesels perhaps run at some 3rd temp the gas engines don't.

[JD007]

tracer bullet could you have the link of that thread??

[tracer bullet]

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1538801

[JD007]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1538801

Thanx tracer bullet, it seems that for the N20 are normal temps, it’s more clear for me know!

[tracer bullet]

Cool. That thread had some silly bickering, then had a lot of useful info, then went back to silly bickering again. But some useful information in it.