HIGH ENG OIL TEMP DIVERSION TO ALTERNATE PRECAUTIONARY LNDG.

Narrative

DURING CLB-OUT (APPROX FL200) I NOTED L ENG OIL TEMP ABNORMALLY HIGH AND CLBING TOWARD CAUTION RANGE (120 DEGS) CAPT AND I ASKED FOR LEVEL-OFF AT 24O DEGS; AND REDUCED PWR. OIL TEMP CONTINUED TO RISE; EVENTUALLY REACHING 130 DEGS SINCE OPS ABOVE 120 DEGS IS LIMITED TO 15 MINS; WE DECIDED TO DIVERT TO NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT; RDU; AND SET REDUCED THRUST ON L ENG. AT XXXX EDT WE NOTIFIED ATC OF INTENTIONS TO LAND RDU AND DECLARED AN EMER. THEY RESPONDED WELL AND QUICKLY GAVE US LOWER. WE MADE A RAPID DSCNT DURING WHICH WE EXCEEDED 25O KTS BELOW 10000 MSL. ALL CHKLISTS WERE COMPLETED AND A NORMAL LNDG AND TAXI-IN WERE ACCOMPLISHED. WE INFORMED TWR THAT THE FIRE/RESCUE TRUCKS WERE NO LONGER NEEDED. DURING DSCNT; I ADVISED FA'S; PAX; AND ATC THAT OUR DIVERSION WAS PRECAUTIONARY ONLY AND TO REMAIN SEATED. FA'S LATER SAID PA'S WERE CLR AND APPRECIATED. WE LATER LEARNED THAT A FUEL-HEAT VALVE WAS STUCK OPEN; CAUSING OIL TEMP HIGH VIA THE FUEL/OIL HEAT EXCHANGER. THIS WAS THE FIRST LEG OF THE DAY; AND I BELIEVE WE DID EVERYTHING WELL. WE HAD AN ACR B767 CAPT ON THE JUMPSEAT AND HE REMARKED ON OUR GOOD TEAMWORK -- COCKPIT RESOURCE MGMNT TRAINING HELPS.