morris

So a question for the forum I have seen conflicting advice on oilchanges for cars that are driven in HPDEs. So should I change the oil after each HPDE event or should I follow the DIC advice? I have seen 250 degree temps in HPDE but I am not sure if I need to change the oil before the DIC says so. Figure 2 day events, I ran one two weeks ago on fresh 0W40 and have another one coming up at the end of March.

AzDave47

I've run several HPDE days (oil temp max 260*) and 5K miles on M1 5w-30 and had the oil test come back fine including the additive test, Blackstone recommended trying another 2K miles (not for me). The M1 0w-40 should be good up to 280*.

Right now I think I'd limit my oil changes to no longer than 50% oil maintenance level on the DIC if I did HPDE's. I will likely go to M1 0w-40 for my next change.

whatcop?

I must have been doing something wrong with my Z06 because I was seeing 280* (in GA). Here is how I look at it. Oil is cheap motors aren't, so its your call if you want to follow the DIC or run it 5k or 1 year. This is my own personal opinion and is in no way proven to be correct or better than any other preference.

morris

The way I drive I would never get 5k miles, just trying to understand if I can do more than one weekend on the oil at the track

morris

That's good news once I saw 250 I started cool down laps and short shifting to let it cool down

morris

I should add that I have an upgraded oil system with cooler from LG Motorsports and this was in February about 60 degree ambient temps.

Dirty Howie

Well you might be interested in my oil analysis which is supposed to be done tomorrow. I run Mobil 0w40 like you and the oil had 4K miles and 2 track days on it.


DH

whatcop?

That would make a big difference lol. I was also running the 8.5 qt tank.

morris

I guess what I am asking is does the high oil temps and high rpms that the car sees on the track render the DIC inaccurate to the point that I should change the oil after each track weekend?

AzDave47

My Blackstone analysis says no. However, if you run the 5w-30 above 260* long, I would. If you run the 0w-40 above 280* for long, then I would. Below those temps, the oil seems to be working within it's designed range and the additives are doing their work. I would say change every 3-5K or at 50% of DIC oil life if doing HPDE's or other extended high-RPM use.

Bill Dearborn

I change my oil per the DIC which does account for track usage since oil life goes down quickly when car is run hard. I haven't had any oil analysis done on my C6Z but when I had it done on my C5Z after a season of autocrossing and track events the results were right in the ball park with other C5Zs that had not been tracked. That was after 20 autocrosses and 15 track days and several thousand street and highway miles at the time.

Bill

morris

Bill, Dave and everyone else thank you for the direction. Its also good to know that I dont need to get nervous as the oil temps hit 250 or higher.

AzDave47

Per GM and the instruments, they aren't concerned until the oil hits 300*, however the shear on M1 5w-30 is below 270*. For 0w-40 its up around 290*F.

I have been running M1 5w-30 and back off when the oil temp hits 260*. I expect to change to 0w-40 and will probably take it up over 270* at that point. If I find it still wants to climb, I'll probably go with the Finspeed drop-in replacement cooler that DirtyHowie runs.