Engine oil poll, track cars

[bibbetson]

Bill,

Do you have a phone number for them?

Maxima Racing Oils
9266 Abraham Way
Santee, CA 92071
Info - 619.449.5000

[John Straub]

Thanks Bill.

[turbo bill]

i have been using castrol 20/50 which i change after every event. filter every other.

i am switching to valvoline racing oil. i read a third party evaluation of motor oils that found that valvoline racing has the highest % of a zinc compound that other oils are removing to meet new standards.

bill

[lrayner]

Sorry I'm so late to this party but I was on vacation Back in a former profession I had a client who owned the largest independent oil distribution company in Southern California. He told me that the way multi viscosity oils work is with an additive that is heat reactive, expanding or contracting. The wider the viscosity range, the more additive, and thus, the less oil in a given quantity. He said that the additive didn't have the same lubricating qualities as the oil and that you were better off, for Southern California driving, with a narrower viscosity range rather than a wider range oil, because the lubricating qualities would be better. I'm sure he used lots of big words in his explanation but I'm afraid I've forgotten them. He seemed to know his stuff.

[JamesWilson]

True. Oils with larger ranges between viscosites (ie, 5w-50)have Viscosity Improvers which allow for drastic changes in thickness across a given temperature range. The potential for that oil to shear out of grade and thin out is much greater than one with a narrower range (15w-40, 20w-50, etc).

-JW

[Bob Gagnon]

This was written a while ago so some of the oil data is out of date but still an interesting read.

My understanding is that the synthetics require fewer viscosity index improving polymers, if any, to develop their viscosity range and are therefore more stable in service.

http://www.micapeak.com/info/oiled.html

[kary]

15/50 Mobile 1 synthetic. Change after two events both filters in winter. In summer I change after each event (Filters also) though I did not this summer since I ran two back to back, did not have time. Been doing this since I owned the car and it runs great...hope I did not create any bad luck saying that since I heading out next weekend....