engine oil thermostat needed?

[Vegas69]

Originally Posted by 71RS/SS396

It does make a difference having a thermostat on the oil. I have the same radiator/cooler set-up as the op and initially had no t-stat but struggled to build oil temps in cool weather while street driving.

I'm not sure I would use what factory engineers do as a model for proper cooling for road course duty. There are very few factory built cars that could handle a 30 minute session on a big road course where the duty cycle is higher than anything it will see in street duty.

Very few pro-touring cars can run 30 minutes all out as well...

The stat sure isn't going to hurt. I just never had any problems with moisture in 7,000 miles. I was a fair weather driver and always ran a detergent oil vs. race oil. I ran dual -12 breathers which likely helped evacuate and many of my miles were combo street/city. Down the freeway in sub 60 weather would definitely make for low oil temps. What's another $200 bucks. ha