Engine oil temp not working when cold

[gsfitzsr]

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Each morning after starting my oil temp reading is <122F and stays there until it heats up above 122F. From that point it appears to work properly. Has anyone experienced this before?

Below is image of my gauge summary just after starting.

 

[JR]

Like the engine coolant temperature, there is a minimum set point the ecm reads and will not show lower. It is somewhat confusing as my Scan Gauge II which is plugged into the OBDII port reads much lower than the EVIC. It reads actual temp.

 

[jhenderson]

Where does your scan gauge pull oil temp. There’s no temp sending unit.

 

[Learjet]

That is a fake gauge like the oil pressure...according to everything I read here. It's based on an algorithm from the engine computer.

 

[JR]

Where does your scan gauge pull oil temp. There’s no temp sending unit.

Im assuming it is using information from the ECT and using some type of formula to come up with the oil temp.

I don't know that it's 100% accurate but it seems to be close. Running empty the oil temp closely follows the ECT. The heavier I run the quicker the oil temp climbs in comparison to the ECT and the longer it seems to hold.

 

[sag2]

Mine does that also, that's why it has the < less than sign.

 

[Ozymandias]

Oiltemp is almost identical to Watertemp because of the internal heat exchanger.

 

[jhenderson]

There is no temp sender. It’s all a big guessing game from Ram. How do you know it’s “ close” when you have no reference? You know when oil temps rise? With low oil volume or seizing bearings. Neither of which will be pulled up through any algorithm. What we’ve been given is more useless information to make us think we’re paying attention and caring for our trucks when we aught to be watching the road.

 

[sag2]

I still can't recall an oil related failure, but I've only been around TDR 15 or so years. Maybe someone will have one in the next 15 years. I'll hold my breath and watch my fake oil temp.
BTW, my Hemi has a real oil temp sender and when towing long grades in summer I have seen 270, but it spends a lot of time in the 260's. Oil samples still are great at 50k, but watching the oil temp stay that high for miles makes you wish you had the fake one.

 

[Ozymandias]

@sag2
My Class 8 Volvo runs 250°F Oiltemp all day long, never below, it has a Thermostat in it to hold it that high for emissions reasons.
Was new to me too.

 

[JR]

I don't have inside information so I dont know how exactly the temp is obtained. Unless you do (have inside information) I think its a little contradictive to say something is 100% made up without anything to support your statement. All I can tell you is I have had a real oil temp gauge on other trucks - my previous one actually- and after watching how it reacted relative to ECT for years this truck matches what I have seen pretty closely. I haven't claimed there was ever a sensor. I haven't made any claims of it being 100% accurate. just saying it seems pretty close from what I have seen. My Scan Gauge reads this, along with the ECT, below the threshold of what is being shown on the EVIC down to just a few degrees above ambient temp so I'm fairly confident it is there for more than just some "made up" foo foo number to make you feel good. You trust engineers to build the truck but don't trust them to provide a temp reading for observation. Kinda strange.
Would I put stock in any one electronic reading, sensor or no, of course not. I dont run my fuel tank down much below 1/4 tank either, and never below 1/8 because I don't trust it enough to run it on the countdown to walking distance.

 

[gsfitzsr]

Thanks everyone for the info. My local dealership is checking into it, so I'll post what they say later.

 

[Learjet]

I don't have inside information so I dont know how exactly the temp is obtained. Unless you do (have inside information) I think its a little contradictive to say something is 100% made up without anything to support your statement. All I can tell you is I have had a real oil temp gauge on other trucks - my previous one actually- and after watching how it reacted relative to ECT for years this truck matches what I have seen pretty closely. I haven't claimed there was ever a sensor. I haven't made any claims of it being 100% accurate. just saying it seems pretty close from what I have seen. My Scan Gauge reads this, along with the ECT, below the threshold of what is being shown on the EVIC down to just a few degrees above ambient temp so I'm fairly confident it is there for more than just some "made up" foo foo number to make you feel good. You trust engineers to build the truck but don't trust them to provide a temp reading for observation. Kinda strange.
Would I put stock in any one electronic reading, sensor or no, of course not. I dont run my fuel tank down much below 1/4 tank either, and never below 1/8 because I don't trust it enough to run it on the countdown to walking distance.

So...what every one has convinced me of....since there is not an oil pressure sending unit...only a switch...and no oil temp sending unit...the oil pressure/Temp numbers are what you would be expected to see under load and actual water temp....it does change like it should...but...everything I have read...it is fake......please don't shoot the messenger.

 

[jhenderson]

Like the engine coolant temperature, there is a minimum set point the ecm reads and will not show lower. It is somewhat confusing as my Scan Gauge II which is plugged into the OBDII port reads much lower than the EVIC. It reads actual temp.

According to your post your scan gauge reads “ actual temp”. I’m asking how without any temp sender.
What’s contradictive about saying the figure is pure algorithm when there’s no oil temp sender. Do you think the ecm gets its info through telepathy? What more do you need to 100% sure? The lack of necessary hardware is proof positive.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Thanks everyone for the info. My local dealership is checking into it, so I'll post what they say later.

There isn’t anything to check in to. You are seeing a normally functioning oil temp reading.

 

[smittyd174]

Mine is the same 50 c or 122 f which I guess they set as the minimum . All appears normal.