What oil grade do you use for the track?
#1
Burning Brakes
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What oil grade do you use for the track?
I run high temps at the track 280's....I'm working on that currently
I ran 5w40 but I hear alot of you guys run
15w50 or 20w50......
What is the best option for high temp track car....
Tom
2011 GS with procharger....will be adding Finspeed oil cooler.....
I ran 5w40 but I hear alot of you guys run
15w50 or 20w50......
What is the best option for high temp track car....
Tom
2011 GS with procharger....will be adding Finspeed oil cooler.....
#3
Drifting
I run M1 15W-50 for HPDE's. Is that Finspeed oil cooler to replace the Z06 oil cooler? I was considering putting a centri poweradder on mine, but concerned about temps on the track.
#4
Burning Brakes
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Yes....I will be replacing my Z06 oil cooler with the Finspeed cooler in hope to drop the temps alittle bit..
#5
Team Owner
M1 15W-50 as well here. It has really gotten pricey. Anyone wanna go in with me for a 55 gallon drum ?
#6
Pro
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What do you guys think about Castrol Syntec/Edge 5-50? I've tried 5-40 and it helped my oil pressure (previously used Mobil 1 5-30, oil pressure was on the low side). I need the low weight for startup as I often run in close to freezing temperatures at the beginning and end of the season.
#7
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18
I've been using Amsoil Racing Oil 15W-50 for about 3 years now. Down here in the Houston area we don't have to worry to much about cold weather oil viscosity.
#8
Melting Slicks
I run Mobil 1 15-50W my car see's mainly track use! and by the way it is available again at Walmart in the 5 Qt. jug for $26.48 !!! JD Note: This is a track built motor and the engine builder recommends 15-50W
Last edited by JDIllon; 05-30-2012 at 02:31 PM.
#9
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Oil viscosity needed depends greatly what piston ring is being used. An aftermarket engine will generally require higher viscosity as oil as stronger rings are generally used, a stock engine will require lower viscosity as they come with low tension ductile rings. (for emission purposes)
many other variables too though.
many other variables too though.
#10
Safety Car
I'm working on an oil article right now. I've been talking to Royal Purple and Joe Gibbs racing. There is a sweet spot for oil temps. You want to run between 220 and 240. Higher viscosity oils generally create more friction and more heat. Lower the viscosity and you'll probably run cooler.
Gibbs makes a good point when they say that too many people running track events think they own a race car. That's a lot different from actually owning a real race car. They suggest that unless you know exactly what your bearing clearances are you should use the oil that the owners manual suggests.
Now if you own a real race car get the clearances from your engine builder and they can help you select the appropriate oil viscosity.
btw - I just posted a new column on wheel bearings. If you race a C3 you should probably read it. The rest of us just get to replace those sealed units.
Richard Newton
Newton's Laws
Gibbs makes a good point when they say that too many people running track events think they own a race car. That's a lot different from actually owning a real race car. They suggest that unless you know exactly what your bearing clearances are you should use the oil that the owners manual suggests.
Now if you own a real race car get the clearances from your engine builder and they can help you select the appropriate oil viscosity.
btw - I just posted a new column on wheel bearings. If you race a C3 you should probably read it. The rest of us just get to replace those sealed units.
Richard Newton
Newton's Laws
Last edited by rfn026; 05-30-2012 at 04:46 PM. Reason: spelling
#11
Le Mans Master
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2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
I'm working on an oil article right now. I've been talking to Royal Purple and Joe Gibbs racing. There is a sweet spot for oil temps. You want to run between 220 and 240. Higher viscosity oils generally create more friction and more heat. Lower the viscosity and you'll probably run cooler.
Gibbs makes a good point when they say that too many people running track events think they own a race. That's a lot different from owning a real race car. They suggest that unless you know exactly what your bearing clearances are you should use the oil that the owners manual suggests.
Now if you own a real race car get the clearances from your engine builder and they can help you select the appropriate oil viscosity.
btw - I just posted a new column on wheel bearings. If you race a C3 you should probably read it. The rest of us just get to replace those sealed units.
Richard Newton
Newton's Laws
Gibbs makes a good point when they say that too many people running track events think they own a race. That's a lot different from owning a real race car. They suggest that unless you know exactly what your bearing clearances are you should use the oil that the owners manual suggests.
Now if you own a real race car get the clearances from your engine builder and they can help you select the appropriate oil viscosity.
btw - I just posted a new column on wheel bearings. If you race a C3 you should probably read it. The rest of us just get to replace those sealed units.
Richard Newton
Newton's Laws
#12
Melting Slicks
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What do you guys think about Castrol Syntec/Edge 5-50? I've tried 5-40 and it helped my oil pressure (previously used Mobil 1 5-30, oil pressure was on the low side). I need the low weight for startup as I often run in close to freezing temperatures at the beginning and end of the season.
#14
Le Mans Master
Katech says 15W50 in their engines on the track. That is what I use.
Jim
Jim
#15
Drifting
I have run stock oil for a C5Z (5w30) and now run Amsoil 10w40. I found that in summer at similar ambient temps (100-104) the heavier oil stayed cooler longer and reached a top temp around 25 degrees cooler than the lighter oil. I max out at 265 degrees now, and was at around 290. My engine has a set of headers and an aftermarket intake but no other mods. I run on pump fuel and have an oil cooler installed. In cooler weather, I don't have a problem that I'm aware of. The engine has 82K miles on, and seven years of road course driving, averaging 10 weekends a year.
#16
Safety Car
#17
Drifting
Well, I saw really low oil pressure at 240 F using Mobil 1 5w-30.
So I started looking at different oil weights. There was a post about a Mobil 1 tech saying 5w-30 doesn't provide enough shear protection for track use and to use a 50w oil. Then when I was Spring Mountain, I found out SM uses Mobil 15w-50 in the track cars. Is it the best oil for track use, I don't know, but my oil pressure is way better at high temps.
So I started looking at different oil weights. There was a post about a Mobil 1 tech saying 5w-30 doesn't provide enough shear protection for track use and to use a 50w oil. Then when I was Spring Mountain, I found out SM uses Mobil 15w-50 in the track cars. Is it the best oil for track use, I don't know, but my oil pressure is way better at high temps.
#18
Drifting
Thanks for this post rfn026.
I was really leaning toward RayK's helpful advice on running 15-50W like they're using at Spring Mtn, but I'll likely not do another track day until next year, so I think I should stay with M1 5-30W? My '12 GS, mn6, w/ 2,500 miles has a bone stock LS3.
At Laguna last weekend (@ 70deg ambient temps) the oil temp max'd @ 230+ degrees, but oil pressure dropped @ 33-36 psi, which seems too low, or is this normal & should I keep using 5-30W?
Any advice is much appreciated as I'll be doing the first oil change this weekend.
I was really leaning toward RayK's helpful advice on running 15-50W like they're using at Spring Mtn, but I'll likely not do another track day until next year, so I think I should stay with M1 5-30W? My '12 GS, mn6, w/ 2,500 miles has a bone stock LS3.
At Laguna last weekend (@ 70deg ambient temps) the oil temp max'd @ 230+ degrees, but oil pressure dropped @ 33-36 psi, which seems too low, or is this normal & should I keep using 5-30W?
Any advice is much appreciated as I'll be doing the first oil change this weekend.
I'm working on an oil article right now. I've been talking to Royal Purple and Joe Gibbs racing. There is a sweet spot for oil temps. You want to run between 220 and 240. Higher viscosity oils generally create more friction and more heat. Lower the viscosity and you'll probably run cooler.
Gibbs makes a good point when they say that too many people running track events think they own a race car. That's a lot different from actually owning a real race car. They suggest that unless you know exactly what your bearing clearances are you should use the oil that the owners manual suggests.
Now if you own a real race car get the clearances from your engine builder and they can help you select the appropriate oil viscosity.
btw - I just posted a new column on wheel bearings. If you race a C3 you should probably read it. The rest of us just get to replace those sealed units.
Richard Newton
Newton's Laws
Gibbs makes a good point when they say that too many people running track events think they own a race car. That's a lot different from actually owning a real race car. They suggest that unless you know exactly what your bearing clearances are you should use the oil that the owners manual suggests.
Now if you own a real race car get the clearances from your engine builder and they can help you select the appropriate oil viscosity.
btw - I just posted a new column on wheel bearings. If you race a C3 you should probably read it. The rest of us just get to replace those sealed units.
Richard Newton
Newton's Laws
#19
Safety Car
Here's what the folks at Joe Gibbs told me.
The ideal oil temperature is between 220 and 240
You want about 60 lbs of oil pressure at wide open throttle (for a race car)
They say their most popular oil is the XP3 10W-30 synthetic.
Your oil pressure sound a little low.
Now - on the other hand keep in mind that you really don't have a race car. You have a high-performance street car that goes to the track once in a while. The Gibbs people say you need to go to your owner's manual and use whatever GM says you should be using. I kind of like that advice.
Richard Newton
The ideal oil temperature is between 220 and 240
You want about 60 lbs of oil pressure at wide open throttle (for a race car)
They say their most popular oil is the XP3 10W-30 synthetic.
Your oil pressure sound a little low.
Now - on the other hand keep in mind that you really don't have a race car. You have a high-performance street car that goes to the track once in a while. The Gibbs people say you need to go to your owner's manual and use whatever GM says you should be using. I kind of like that advice.
Richard Newton
#20
Drifting
Jay