Post track engine oil analysis
Thread Starter
Scraping the splitter.
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St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Post track engine oil analysis
I change oil before every track event. IMO, it's relatively cheap compared to the costs to track the car and it's good insurance. With ~1600 miles the oil in my Z06 has been changed four times.
A sample was sent to Blackstone Labs for analysis after changing the oil last week post Sebring. I've posted oil temps in another thread and they breached ~290-300*. According to Blackstone, the oil was "physically in good shape".
S.
A sample was sent to Blackstone Labs for analysis after changing the oil last week post Sebring. I've posted oil temps in another thread and they breached ~290-300*. According to Blackstone, the oil was "physically in good shape".
S.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2014
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Thanks for doing this. I just today dropped off the car for an oil change and a couple minor things. Car has 5600 miles on it and about 9-10 track-day equivalents (several days with two drivers). I asked SA to save an oil sample and I will send to Blackstone.
Computer says oil (which is from the 500 mile change) has 50% life left. I had a discussion with SA and he says GM stands behind its computer-recommended change intervals and it takes into account driving conditions and fluid temps. I agree that oil is (relatively) cheap, but a bit of a hassle factor (I don't change my own). Will be interesting to see what Blackstone says.
Computer says oil (which is from the 500 mile change) has 50% life left. I had a discussion with SA and he says GM stands behind its computer-recommended change intervals and it takes into account driving conditions and fluid temps. I agree that oil is (relatively) cheap, but a bit of a hassle factor (I don't change my own). Will be interesting to see what Blackstone says.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,424
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From: Overland Park KS
Thanks for doing this. I just today dropped off the car for an oil change and a couple minor things. Car has 5600 miles on it and about 9-10 track-day equivalents (several days with two drivers). I asked SA to save an oil sample and I will send to Blackstone.
Computer says oil (which is from the 500 mile change) has 50% life left. I had a discussion with SA and he says GM stands behind its computer-recommended change intervals and it takes into account driving conditions and fluid temps. I agree that oil is (relatively) cheap, but a bit of a hassle factor (I don't change my own). Will be interesting to see what Blackstone says.
Computer says oil (which is from the 500 mile change) has 50% life left. I had a discussion with SA and he says GM stands behind its computer-recommended change intervals and it takes into account driving conditions and fluid temps. I agree that oil is (relatively) cheap, but a bit of a hassle factor (I don't change my own). Will be interesting to see what Blackstone says.
Bish
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2014
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So this oil has about 5100 miles on it (including ~10 track days), but computer says it has 50% life left.
Last edited by ChrisN123; May 13, 2015 at 09:48 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 972
From: Overland Park KS
I wrote sloppily, I meant the the oil to be tested is the NEW oil (15W-50) put in at the 500 mile change, NOT the OLD oil from Bowling Green that was drained at 500 miles.
So this oil has about 5100 miles on it (including ~10 track days), but computer says it has 50% life left.
So this oil has about 5100 miles on it (including ~10 track days), but computer says it has 50% life left.
I have always changed my oil after EACH track weekend as its incredibly cheap insurance, and I think that's even more true in a car that is prone to overheating like the new Z. I'd love to see a Blackstone report of your old oil; bet its nowhere as pristine as Snorman's.
Bish
Thread Starter
Scraping the splitter.
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St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
FWIW...this was after 7 sessions at Sebring. I didn't run my 4th session on Sunday so I could pack up and get home for dinner after being gone all weekend. As an example my 3rd session Sunday I was out for 10 laps including the out and in laps. So ~23-25 minutes on-track with a distance of 33.3 miles.
S.
S.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2014
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I thought that you were implying that the same oil had been in the car for 5100 miles and multiple track days.
I have always changed my oil after EACH track weekend as its incredibly cheap insurance, and I think that's even more true in a car that is prone to overheating like the new Z. I'd love to see a Blackstone report of your old oil; bet its nowhere as pristine as Snorman's.
Bish
I have always changed my oil after EACH track weekend as its incredibly cheap insurance, and I think that's even more true in a car that is prone to overheating like the new Z. I'd love to see a Blackstone report of your old oil; bet its nowhere as pristine as Snorman's.
Bish
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 337
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From: Kanata ON
I thought that you were implying that the same oil had been in the car for 5100 miles and multiple track days.
I have always changed my oil after EACH track weekend as its incredibly cheap insurance, and I think that's even more true in a car that is prone to overheating like the new Z. I'd love to see a Blackstone report of your old oil; bet its nowhere as pristine as Snorman's.
Bish
I have always changed my oil after EACH track weekend as its incredibly cheap insurance, and I think that's even more true in a car that is prone to overheating like the new Z. I'd love to see a Blackstone report of your old oil; bet its nowhere as pristine as Snorman's.
Bish
Not saying you aren't entitled to do it, just that it's anything but cheap, and it's not insurance at all. GM will still honor the warranty even if you only change it when the computer says at about 10K miles.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,424
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From: Overland Park KS
Given how much a track weekend costs when you total everything up, approximately $100-$150 on an oil and filter change is peanuts IMHO. And if anyone thinks that the integrity of even a very good oil can withstand close to 300dF multiple times whilst on track, well it's your car and your money. It's not even the oil per se, but the modifiers in the oil that can take a severe pounding when subjected to that much heat; hence the computer monitoring system in no-way is protecting you from running around with 'worn out' oil in the car.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 337
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From: Kanata ON
And if anyone thinks that the integrity of even a very good oil can withstand close to 300dF multiple times whilst on track, well it's your car and your money. It's not even the oil per se, but the modifiers in the oil that can take a severe pounding when subjected to that much heat; hence the computer monitoring system in no-way is protecting you from running around with 'worn out' oil in the car.
But they didn't, and they still offer the warranty. Makes me think extra oil changes are unnecessary.
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
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From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1
Doesn't the manual direct that the oil be changed prior to and following a track session? I understand the OLM argument. I honestly don't know enough about how that's programmed to know whether it's valid or not. From a warranty risk perspective, it would seem the manual would factor in tho.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,375
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From: Florida
Good info. Would be curious to get their take on, with respect to permanent loss of shear, whether it is a matter of time spent at temp, or the number of the hot/cold cycles.
I still think 300F is dangerous because I have seen what happens to oil pressure (and therefore the fluid's viscosity) and it ain't pretty - oil pressure literally collapses. That said, every engine since the LS1 has run very high oil temps under track use. I was seeing nearly 300F back in the days of tracking my 2000 C5.
I still think 300F is dangerous because I have seen what happens to oil pressure (and therefore the fluid's viscosity) and it ain't pretty - oil pressure literally collapses. That said, every engine since the LS1 has run very high oil temps under track use. I was seeing nearly 300F back in the days of tracking my 2000 C5.
Last edited by TTRotary; May 14, 2015 at 01:50 PM.