Oil changes and track days - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Robbie1227 · 06-07-2016, 09:28 PM

Opinions and advice requested.
Does everyone change their oil after every track day?
I have a '15 Z28, and use it mostly for the road track.
Do I need to change out my Mobil 1 15w-50 after every track day? I usually run 6x25 minute sessions with about an hour in between. I do drive it hard, but it's difficult for my brain to accept the fact that the oil is done after 1 track day, when it can go 7,500 regular miles before changes.
I certainly don't want to damage my engine, as I love my Z, but this habit can get too expensive too quick
Thx
Rob

SPCBA · 06-07-2016, 09:51 PM

I do but I run different oil for track and street. Also I like knowing I don't have oil that I abused on a road course for a couple hours of drive time... I am a little silly. There are cheaper track toys.

JusticePete · 06-07-2016, 09:59 PM

The oil, the additives are all still good after a track day or weekend. Having said that and knowing the filter should keep it clean, my practice is to change all the lubricating fluids.

On the cars we have equipped with a five gallon dry sump tank, we change the oil after eight track days. That is 4.5 gallon of 0/30 Mobil 1 race $$$$

It is over kill. It is excessive. I still think it is cheap insurance.

BMR Sales · 06-09-2016, 11:03 AM

Most times if the Oil is Fresh, I will change the Filter!

KaBoom1701 · 06-09-2016, 11:49 AM

Change it before track day....drive it for a few weeks after with the same oil.

X25 · 06-11-2016, 03:15 PM

I did get my oils tested (0W-40, and 5W-30), and despite running them for 2-3 track days each time, they have always been in perfect condition, with the additives and the oil grade still intact. I should point out, though, I do have a large oil cooler, so the oil never gets to 300s or even close to that (where oil starts degrading).

In short, I don't change my oil every time, and the oil sample tests show that my oil is in perfect condition even after a few track days, after which I usually replace.

Olddudesrule · 06-11-2016, 04:22 PM

Like Pete said, I think it's just cheap insurance, but I don't change it out after every track day. I just changed mine this morning after two track days (8 twenty minute sessions), and a total of 2300 miles on it. It was RP 5W-30, and since it was my first use of that oil (was using M1 5W-30), I wasn't happy with the color and feel of it at that point. I sent a sample into Blackstone, and bet it will return with similar findings to X25's. Put new RP 5W-30 in, and we'll see how the report comes back. Regardless of the car I was servicing, I've always felt that frequent, but not excessive, oil changes have helped, and I've never had a major engine problem in over 35 years of driving. I haven't raced all that time, but I have driven my performance cars hard.

Long story short, I don't think the average weekend/monthly racer needs to change out every track day, nor do I think you need to run a special "racing" oil.

X25 · 06-11-2016, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olddudesrule

Like Pete said, I think it's just cheap insurance, but I don't change it out after every track day. I just changed mine this morning after two track days (8 twenty minute sessions), and a total of 2300 miles on it. It was RP 5W-30, and since it was my first use of that oil (was using M1 5W-30), I wasn't happy with the color and feel of it at that point. I sent a sample into Blackstone, and bet it will return with similar findings to X25's. Put new RP 5W-30 in, and we'll see how the report comes back. Regardless of the car I was servicing, I've always felt that frequent, but not excessive, oil changes have helped, and I've never had a major engine problem in over 35 years of driving. I haven't raced all that time, but I have driven my performance cars hard.

Long story short, I don't think the average weekend/monthly racer needs to change out every track day, nor do I think you need to run a special "racing" oil.

It's a wee bit out of topic, but I have to say that RP was the only oil I've ever used that failed the oil tests. Back when I owned an STI with a large turbo, it literally broke down and was not unlike water when I finally drained it and ended its misery : ) I'll be looking forward to your results with that oil.

Robbie1227 · 06-12-2016, 08:03 PM

Where can one get an oil test?
What is the cost?
How quickly do you get the results back?
Do you mail in a small sample from the dipstick?
I'm very interested!

L99CAMA2011 · 06-12-2016, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbie1227

Where can one get an oil test?
What is the cost?
How quickly do you get the results back?
Do you mail in a small sample from the dipstick?
I'm very interested!

Contact Blacstone Labs # 260-744-2380 and have them send you a small black bottle with a smaller sample bottle inside of it. You catch some oil from the pan while draining meaning you're gonna have to get a bit dirty

. That small sample bottle goes into the black sealed larger bottle and send back to Blackstone and the fee when I last did it was $25.

White_SS/RS · 06-13-2016, 09:46 AM

You can also get a pump if you want to sample between oil changes.

06-07-2016, 09:28 PM	#1
Robbie1227 Drives: 2015 Camaro Z28/2016 Jeep Sahara Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 544	Oil changes and track days Opinions and advice requested. Does everyone change their oil after every track day? I have a '15 Z28, and use it mostly for the road track. Do I need to change out my Mobil 1 15w-50 after every track day? I usually run 6x25 minute sessions with about an hour in between. I do drive it hard, but it's difficult for my brain to accept the fact that the oil is done after 1 track day, when it can go 7,500 regular miles before changes. I certainly don't want to damage my engine, as I love my Z, but this habit can get too expensive too quick Thx Rob __________________ 2015 summit white Z28 #120 TRK DAY -Sun-Tek PPF-C protection film on 2/3 of the car, Moreno Camber plates, American Racing 2" ceramic coated LT headers and X-pipes with No Cats, Taylor red performance wires, NGK plugs, BTR Stage III Cam, MSD Atomic intake, Nick Williams 102mm throttle body, Stage 2 CNC Ported Heads by WCCH, MGW short throw shifter, oil catch can, and a dyno tune to get me to 587 RWHP and 516 RWTQ GONE: 2013 Summit White Camaro ZL1 M6 Roto-Fab CAI, Kooks headers and CAT delete, ATI damper and 10% pulley and balancer! Results: 576 RWHP - 540 RWTQ

06-07-2016, 09:51 PM	#2
SPCBA Drives: pleather and Chiclets Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: a line somwhere Posts: 4,206 View My Garage	I do but I run different oil for track and street. Also I like knowing I don't have oil that I abused on a road course for a couple hours of drive time... I am a little silly. There are cheaper track toys. __________________ the power by www.cunningham-motorsports.com the brakes by www.RacingBrake.com

06-09-2016, 11:49 AM	#5
KaBoom1701 KaBoom1701 Drives: 13' ZL1 Red M6 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: I.E. SoCal (Yucaipa) Posts: 8,630	Change it before track day....drive it for a few weeks after with the same oil. __________________ Mods: Roto-Fab Intake, WW Res. kit & Big Gulp Air Scoop, Elite Catch Can, ATI Super Damper & 18% OD Pulley, LF Idler pulley bracket, Metco CC breather, ID850 Injectors, Stainless Power Headers w/ ceramic coating, TR71X Spark Plugs, JMS Fuel Pump Booster, Bo White TB, Tuned by Ted @ Jannetty Racing, Ron Davis HX, D3 Reservoir, Pfadt 1" Springs, Moreno Camber Plates, ZL1 Addons Splitter guard washers, Tow Hook kit & rock guards, Hurst Shifter Billet Plus 6 Speed Short Shifter, ZL1 DRL lighting harness, ZL1 Recaro Seats.

06-11-2016, 03:15 PM	#6
X25 Drives: '16 C7 Z51 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 3,056	I did get my oils tested (0W-40, and 5W-30), and despite running them for 2-3 track days each time, they have always been in perfect condition, with the additives and the oil grade still intact. I should point out, though, I do have a large oil cooler, so the oil never gets to 300s or even close to that (where oil starts degrading). In short, I don't change my oil every time, and the oil sample tests show that my oil is in perfect condition even after a few track days, after which I usually replace. __________________ '16 Corvette C7 Z51 1LT (Build Thread) '14 AGM 1SS 1LE [COTW 11/17/14] (Build Thread) (SOLD) '13 Mazda MX-5 Club (Build Thread) '17 RAM 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Night Edition '15 Nissan Rogue S AWD

06-11-2016, 04:22 PM	#7
Olddudesrule Resident nomad Drives: 2014 Summit White 1SS/1LE Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,765	Like Pete said, I think it's just cheap insurance, but I don't change it out after every track day. I just changed mine this morning after two track days (8 twenty minute sessions), and a total of 2300 miles on it. It was RP 5W-30, and since it was my first use of that oil (was using M1 5W-30), I wasn't happy with the color and feel of it at that point. I sent a sample into Blackstone, and bet it will return with similar findings to X25's. Put new RP 5W-30 in, and we'll see how the report comes back. Regardless of the car I was servicing, I've always felt that frequent, but not excessive, oil changes have helped, and I've never had a major engine problem in over 35 years of driving. I haven't raced all that time, but I have driven my performance cars hard. Long story short, I don't think the average weekend/monthly racer needs to change out every track day, nor do I think you need to run a special "racing" oil. __________________ Sold: 2007 Z06 2002 Viper GTS/ACR 2003 Z06 1965 FFR Cobra 2012 Nissan 370Z ADM LSA Stage II, Roto-Fab CAI, Kooks LTH/HFC's, Phastek CC, ported TB, Mishimoto radiator and oil cooler, BC Racing ER Series CO's, JPSS 32mm Black Magic rear bar, JPSS front inserts, R1 Concepts Premier slotted rotors/Goodrich SS lines, Schroth ASM harness, MGW flatstick, Brey-Krause HB, Tuned by NicD, at Cordes Performance Racing.

06-07-2016, 09:59 PM	#3
JusticePete Drives: Camaro Justice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 20,174	The oil, the additives are all still good after a track day or weekend. Having said that and knowing the filter should keep it clean, my practice is to change all the lubricating fluids. On the cars we have equipped with a five gallon dry sump tank, we change the oil after eight track days. That is 4.5 gallon of 0/30 Mobil 1 race $$$$ It is over kill. It is excessive. I still think it is cheap insurance.

06-09-2016, 11:03 AM	#4
BMR Sales Drives: Race Car Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Seffner, FL Posts: 6,226	Most times if the Oil is Fresh, I will change the Filter!

06-12-2016, 08:03 PM	#9
Robbie1227 Drives: 2015 Camaro Z28/2016 Jeep Sahara Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 544	Where can one get an oil test? What is the cost? How quickly do you get the results back? Do you mail in a small sample from the dipstick? I'm very interested! __________________ 2015 summit white Z28 #120 TRK DAY -Sun-Tek PPF-C protection film on 2/3 of the car, Moreno Camber plates, American Racing 2" ceramic coated LT headers and X-pipes with No Cats, Taylor red performance wires, NGK plugs, BTR Stage III Cam, MSD Atomic intake, Nick Williams 102mm throttle body, Stage 2 CNC Ported Heads by WCCH, MGW short throw shifter, oil catch can, and a dyno tune to get me to 587 RWHP and 516 RWTQ GONE: 2013 Summit White Camaro ZL1 M6 Roto-Fab CAI, Kooks headers and CAT delete, ATI damper and 10% pulley and balancer! Results: 576 RWHP - 540 RWTQ

06-13-2016, 09:46 AM	#11
White_SS/RS Drives: 14 1LE Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,567	You can also get a pump if you want to sample between oil changes. __________________ LMS Engineering