Roadracers, what engine Oil are you using?
03-09-2009, 03:37 AM
#1
Roadracers, what engine Oil are you using?
I have been faced with a major problem concerning my oil temp and pressure. I ran Mobil 1 0W30 and 5W30 and within three-Four hard laps I'm reaching 275F oil temp which in turn will massively drop my oil pressure (30-35psi at red line).
I'm wondering if this problem could be from the oil not being able to cope with the high temps. Does the oil have boiling points? Maybe different oils will cope better with higher temp and provide better pressure.
What are you using and how is the oil you are running reacting to higher temps? Is your pressure dropping?
I'm wondering if this problem could be from the oil not being able to cope with the high temps. Does the oil have boiling points? Maybe different oils will cope better with higher temp and provide better pressure.
What are you using and how is the oil you are running reacting to higher temps? Is your pressure dropping?
03-09-2009, 07:25 AM
#2
Team Owner
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M1 15-W50 for many years, Now M1 5-W50. Plus oil cooler and accu-sump
0-w30 and 5-w30 is too thin at the higher temps and does not have as much anti-wear zinc.
Redline 40 wt is a very good oil, as Amsoil makes many fine oils as well
0-w30 and 5-w30 is too thin at the higher temps and does not have as much anti-wear zinc.
Redline 40 wt is a very good oil, as Amsoil makes many fine oils as well
03-09-2009, 09:07 AM
#5
Race Director
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Exact same setup BUT the M1 15-50 oil here. All the other Mobil oils now use less zinc except the 15-50. You need the zinc at the track. Plus you need to install an honest to goodness REAL radiator for the engine. I personally run the Ron Davis.
Last edited by SouthernSon; 03-09-2009 at 09:09 AM.
03-09-2009, 09:18 AM
#7
Burning Brakes
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St. Jude Donor '10-'11
Stock C5Z with RD Rad & ingegral EOC.
Been using Amsoil 10x40 on track; will be trying the 5x40 Amsoil European oil.
Anyone have any book on the Mobil 1 5x40 turbo diesel truck oil?
Been using Amsoil 10x40 on track; will be trying the 5x40 Amsoil European oil.
Anyone have any book on the Mobil 1 5x40 turbo diesel truck oil?
03-09-2009, 09:42 AM
#9
Le Mans Master
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Cruise-In II Veteran
Stone stock LS-7 running Royal Purple #21 (like a 5x-30) racing oil here. I have 30+ track days and 23K total miles with zero oil consumption changing the oil when the computer says so.
03-09-2009, 11:53 AM
#10
Tech Contributor
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I use M1 0-30W and run an extra quart that brings the total oil capacity up to 9 qts with the cooler and remote oil filter. I change the oil when the monitor says to change it. 42K miles on the car and the oil analysis is good. No more wear showing than what would be expected in a car that was driven only on the street with the same number of miles. Use a quart of oil about every two track days. Do not use any when driving on the street.
Bill
Bill
Last edited by Bill Dearborn; 03-09-2009 at 11:57 AM.
03-09-2009, 12:10 PM
#11
Melting Slicks
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About the same results here. 07 Z06 ~26k miles, 30+ track days.I use the factory recomended Mobil 1, 5-30wt., usually change oil @ ~ 30/50 percent life remaining as shown on computer. Depends on track schedule.
No abnormal wear, blow-by, or other signs of track use.
July @ VIR max oil temp. ~ 262 F., this temp. seems typical at most of the tracks that I run.
03-09-2009, 12:24 PM
#12
Race Director
First of all, a healthy engine will run a LONG time on 30psi. While I personally like to use something thicker than 30wt above 250deg, your cars is doing exactly what GM designed it to do.
Oil will boil somwhere above 300 deg in atmospheric pressure, but it's boiling point is certainly much higher at engine pressure. I'm sure someone will chime in on this.
While technically the same thing as boiling, oil can cavitate around the journal bearings if the feed pressure is too low. Again, from what I've always been told by my engine builders, even 20psi is enough to keep an engine safe.
So I usually run something like a 10w40, or 15w50 in race cars, but in a street car with a warranty, I stick to the recommended 5w30oil. I certainly woudn't run 0w30 any ANY vehicle that isn't parked in Antarctica!
Oil will boil somwhere above 300 deg in atmospheric pressure, but it's boiling point is certainly much higher at engine pressure. I'm sure someone will chime in on this.
While technically the same thing as boiling, oil can cavitate around the journal bearings if the feed pressure is too low. Again, from what I've always been told by my engine builders, even 20psi is enough to keep an engine safe.
So I usually run something like a 10w40, or 15w50 in race cars, but in a street car with a warranty, I stick to the recommended 5w30oil. I certainly woudn't run 0w30 any ANY vehicle that isn't parked in Antarctica!
03-09-2009, 01:08 PM
#13
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I have an built LPE 403 motor in my 2005 C6. I've been tracking the car for 2+ years in often hot Arizona (my track schedule moves out of state during the extreme heat of June, July and August though). I don't have an extra oil cooler but I recently installed an Accusump as I started running on a banked oval track besides the flatter tracks I generally run on.
I change oil/filter every other track weekend using Mobil 1 5-30. I once bought Mobil 1 15-50 racing oil but a racer (who's advice I value) suggested not to use it. He said my engine was broken-in and used to running on 5-30wt. oil. He said if my oil temps were not excessively hot (which they're not) he thought the change to 15-50 might be more detrimental than beneficial.
Is there any truth to this? Can suddenly changing to 15-50 from 5-30 pose any potential engine (seal) problems?
I change oil/filter every other track weekend using Mobil 1 5-30. I once bought Mobil 1 15-50 racing oil but a racer (who's advice I value) suggested not to use it. He said my engine was broken-in and used to running on 5-30wt. oil. He said if my oil temps were not excessively hot (which they're not) he thought the change to 15-50 might be more detrimental than beneficial.
Is there any truth to this? Can suddenly changing to 15-50 from 5-30 pose any potential engine (seal) problems?
03-09-2009, 07:37 PM
#14
Pro
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Oil Study
I was sent an oil study sometime ago. As I recall ,heavier weight oil increased oil operating temperature. I wonder if this actually occurs. Can some real expert step in here?
Also, is the oil filter a factor in engine oil pressure? I'm thinking it has to do with internal valveing of the oil filter. Anything to this?
Roger T
Also, is the oil filter a factor in engine oil pressure? I'm thinking it has to do with internal valveing of the oil filter. Anything to this?
Roger T
03-09-2009, 08:23 PM
#15
Former Vendor
I was sent an oil study sometime ago. As I recall ,heavier weight oil increased oil operating temperature. I wonder if this actually occurs. Can some real expert step in here?
Also, is the oil filter a factor in engine oil pressure? I'm thinking it has to do with internal valveing of the oil filter. Anything to this?
Roger T
Also, is the oil filter a factor in engine oil pressure? I'm thinking it has to do with internal valveing of the oil filter. Anything to this?
Roger T
Randy
03-09-2009, 09:57 PM
#17
when I ran on the track it was 15-50. But one time I had my car repaired for an oil leak in one of the Turbo lines and by mistake the tuner put in 10w30. well I knew something was wrong just on the driveback home as I lost about 7 PSI. Keep in mind that I have a forged LPE Engine so the clearances are totally different. But onec i switched back to the thicker oil, I gained about 7 psi of pressue. Ofcourse I ultimately hd to switch to a Mullen Racing pump to keep things very safe though because of my clearances and I sure didnt like pitting at 12 PSI/280 degrees after a 25 minute session. But thicker oil will help quite a bit. Most people who track run the thicker oil. You also might want to consider a racing pump.
03-09-2009, 10:09 PM
#18
I've run all different types of oils, but in my C5 I currently have M1 15-50 with two track days and street miles as well. At the same time I poured this oil in I installed a radiator with built in oil cooler and accusump. Oil pressure has always been really low. Right now 19psi is not at all unusual at idle and the highest I seem to ever get regardless of temp or rpm is 30-35. The low pressure has concerned me, but after two track days my fears are at rest. I looked at the pressure several times after cornering and it was always steady at about 30. Mind you, this is a car with a ton of grip.
I just purchased a case of amsoil 10-40 racing oil so I will be trying that out next. Retailer was trying to convince me that the 0-20 is the way to go and he swears nascar uses that light of an oil even during the races. I know about qualifying, but never would I have thought they used it in race conditions. Anyway, I'll start with the one I have and possibly next time try another weight. I was told the racing oil is still safe to use in a street vehicle and will not rust or corrode the internals. It can be left in there for a year and lots of miles.
I just purchased a case of amsoil 10-40 racing oil so I will be trying that out next. Retailer was trying to convince me that the 0-20 is the way to go and he swears nascar uses that light of an oil even during the races. I know about qualifying, but never would I have thought they used it in race conditions. Anyway, I'll start with the one I have and possibly next time try another weight. I was told the racing oil is still safe to use in a street vehicle and will not rust or corrode the internals. It can be left in there for a year and lots of miles.
