Narrative:

While en route at FL350; the left engine oil temperature was fluctuating from normal indication to increasing peak temperatures towards operating limit of 165 degrees C. Upon reaching the limit; we initiated the engine failure/shutdown procedure per oil temperature high QRH reference. We declared an emergency and descended to driftdown altitude of FL200; shut down the engine and proceeded to the nearest suitable airport. Approach and landing were uneventful. We stopped on the runway while the fire trucks inspected the aircraft and left engine. With an 'ok' from fire captain; we proceeded to the gate.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 FLT CREW EXPERIENCING HIGH OIL TEMP INDICATIONS MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY ENG SHUTDOWN AND DIVERT TO THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE AT FL350; THE L ENG OIL TEMP WAS FLUCTUATING FROM NORMAL INDICATION TO INCREASING PEAK TEMPS TOWARDS OPERATING LIMIT OF 165 DEGS C. UPON REACHING THE LIMIT; WE INITIATED THE ENG FAILURE/SHUTDOWN PROC PER OIL TEMP HIGH QRH REF. WE DECLARED AN EMER AND DSNDED TO DRIFTDOWN ALT OF FL200; SHUT DOWN THE ENG AND PROCEEDED TO THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT. APCH AND LNDG WERE UNEVENTFUL. WE STOPPED ON THE RWY WHILE THE FIRE TRUCKS INSPECTED THE ACFT AND L ENG. WITH AN 'OK' FROM FIRE CAPT; WE PROCEEDED TO THE GATE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.