Abstract: An engine oil distribution system for an internal combustion engine includes a main gallery and a separate oil gallery for piston cooling nozzles. The separate gallery may be controlled by a control valve that regulates the oil flow. The oil flow to the separate gallery may be controlled by an electronic control module in accordance with the piston cooling needs, for example, varied as a function of the load applied to the engine, or as a function of engine temperature. Preferably, engine temperature is sensed by coolant fluid temperature, or directly measured metal temperature, correlated to the thermal state of the piston.