Track grade oil as daily driven oil?

SSDanny · 12-19-2017, 07:56 PM

I beat on my car really hard DAILY, so I'm wondering if you guys recommend I run the recommended oil for track use on my car which I daily drive about 50 miles a day? Which i believe is 15w40, right?

travislambert · 12-19-2017, 08:14 PM

You have to watch out for oils that may interfere with the emissions systems with continued use.

I created an Ask Al thread that you might be interested in:
http://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=516314

travislambert · 12-19-2017, 08:19 PM

Most of us drive our cars hard, and I think GM would account for that in their recommendation. I'm sure Mobil 1 5W30 will be perfectly fine.

Hard street driving doesn't compare to the heat/stress of running on the track. Anything even close and you'd be in jail for driving like that on the street.

If you want something "better", you might use a Dexos2 approved 0W40. A 15W viscosity may not find its way into all of the small areas on a cold startup.

SSDanny · 12-20-2017, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travislambert

Most of us drive our cars hard, and I think GM would account for that in their recommendation. I'm sure Mobil 1 5W30 will be perfectly fine.

Hard street driving doesn't compare to the heat/stress of running on the track. Anything even close and you'd be in jail for driving like that on the street.

If you want something "better", you might use a Dexos2 approved 0W40. A 15W viscosity may not find its way into all of the small areas on a cold startup.

Let's just say Mexico gets really intense at 2 am sometimes

But, I'll probably try out something with less viscosity. Should I make more frequent oil changes as well with harder driving? So, about every 3500 miles instead of 5,000?

JusticePete · 12-20-2017, 11:58 AM

Your engines were designed to flow 5 weight oil cold. Cold oil weight is measured at 0 Fahrenheit. No oil gets thicker when it gets hot, so consider the second number the protection value hot. So a 5 weight oil meets the GM lubricating criteria for cold starts at 0 degrees. The 30 basically says it protects like a 30 weight oil hot.

For street use, 5-30 should be adequate. If you want more protection 5-40 would make sense.

Deakins · 12-21-2017, 12:16 PM

That's not really accurate when looking at oil viscosity. The OP really needs to dig into lubricating oils if he wants to get into performance engines and keeping them alive. It's a very complex topic that I don't have the time to write about but a 5w20 will not pump anywhere near the same as a 5w40 at virtually all if not all temps. There's no free lunch and the science is not there to do what you are stating with the multi grade oils.

PinHead · 01-01-2018, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSDanny

I beat on my car really hard DAILY, so I'm wondering if you guys recommend I run the recommended oil for track use on my car which I daily drive about 50 miles a day? Which i believe is 15w40, right?

Define "Hard Driving" ???
# of WOT?
Duration of High RPMs? Etc.

Does your State/County require Emission Inspections? If not, proceed to the next question;

Are you able to Delete/Override Emission CEL's in the future? Race Oil has high Zinc and will eventually lead to coating the CATS and defeat them which will emit high exhaust emissions and a CEL.

Btw "REAL" Hard Driving 50 miles a day, (to me), equates to One Track Day which requires an oil change.

But I doubt that you're really driving the car that hard as a DD.

Deakins · 01-01-2018, 12:18 PM

I have to ask why 1 track day requires an oil change? Do you have an oil analysis to back that up? I have more than a few lab tests that show the LT1 engine in my Camaro is completely capable of running multiple full day events without risk of damage due to oil degradation. Each situation is different though.

SSDanny · 01-02-2018, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinHead

Define "Hard Driving" ???
# of WOT?
Duration of High RPMs? Etc.

Does your State/County require Emission Inspections? If not, proceed to the next question;

Are you able to Delete/Override Emission CEL's in the future? Race Oil has high Zinc and will eventually lead to coating the CATS and defeat them which will emit high exhaust emissions and a CEL.

Btw "REAL" Hard Driving 50 miles a day, (to me), equates to One Track Day which requires an oil change.

But I doubt that you're really driving the car that hard as a DD.

I have emissions laws (Cali), but I don't have cats anyways lol. Hard driving is hard driving. WOT frequently on my 50 mile roundtrip from home to work and back. I guess a better question I should have started with is, is there another oil I can use in my engine to get better protection than OEM oil.

Ryephile · 01-02-2018, 04:34 PM

In for oil temps.

To answer your most recent question; basically not, use 5W-30 Dexos1 gen2.

Also, for actual track days where the oil reaches very high temps, the performance supplement calls for a Dexos2 0W-40 or 5W-40. 15W-50 is mentioned as a last-ditch alternative and specifically states no-street-driving.

PinHead · 01-04-2018, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deakins

I have to ask why 1 track day requires an oil change? Do you have an oil analysis to back that up? I have more than a few lab tests that show the LT1 engine in my Camaro is completely capable of running multiple full day events without risk of damage due to oil degradation. Each situation is different though.

Its an OEM recommendation related to the Factory Warranty.

Btw, Even if your oil analysis indicates extended oil life under race conditions IMHO Frequent Oil Changes are cheap insurance. Heat destroys oil.

JusticePete · 01-04-2018, 01:55 PM

I believe there is some confusion on track day oil changes. GM is recommending 15/50 for the LS7 and the new LT4s. Because of the high cold flow, they want to avoid high cold run oil pressure until the oil reaches operating temperature.

Leadrightpedal · 02-25-2018, 11:47 AM

Manual says you can use this: https://www.amazon.com/Valvoline-5W-.../dp/B000GAP428

lt4camaro · 02-25-2018, 07:07 PM

Mobil 1 just introduced for the LT1 and the LT4 corvette's a specifically spec'd 0-40 dexos ESP that is to be used for track or street to allow a easier prep for the track cars (one less thing to do like change the oil to 15-40). Its available at the dealer's only right now and available otherwise on the beginning of the 3rd quarter this year like June.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...onstraint.html

12-19-2017, 07:56 PM	#1
SSDanny Drives: 2017 Camaro SS M6 Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: LA Posts: 447	Track grade oil as daily driven oil? I beat on my car really hard DAILY, so I'm wondering if you guys recommend I run the recommended oil for track use on my car which I daily drive about 50 miles a day? Which i believe is 15w40, right? __________________ 2017 Camaro SS - Kooks Long Tube Headers 1-7/8th - EFI Flex Fuel Kit - Megan Racing Coilovers - FORGESTAR F14's 20x9.5 & 20x11

12-19-2017, 08:14 PM	#2
travislambert Drives: '17 ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Fairmont, WV Posts: 1,558	You have to watch out for oils that may interfere with the emissions systems with continued use. I created an Ask Al thread that you might be interested in: http://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=516314 __________________ 2023 Camaro SS 1LE A10 2023 Camaro ZL1 1LE M6 2017 Camaro ZL1 M6 2016 Camaro SS M6 w/LT4 (Sold)

12-19-2017, 08:19 PM	#3
travislambert Drives: '17 ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Fairmont, WV Posts: 1,558	Most of us drive our cars hard, and I think GM would account for that in their recommendation. I'm sure Mobil 1 5W30 will be perfectly fine. Hard street driving doesn't compare to the heat/stress of running on the track. Anything even close and you'd be in jail for driving like that on the street. If you want something "better", you might use a Dexos2 approved 0W40. A 15W viscosity may not find its way into all of the small areas on a cold startup. __________________ 2023 Camaro SS 1LE A10 2023 Camaro ZL1 1LE M6 2017 Camaro ZL1 M6 2016 Camaro SS M6 w/LT4 (Sold)

01-02-2018, 04:34 PM	#10
Ryephile Hot Dog Drives: '17 1SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 1,937	In for oil temps. To answer your most recent question; basically not, use 5W-30 Dexos1 gen2. Also, for actual track days where the oil reaches very high temps, the performance supplement calls for a Dexos2 0W-40 or 5W-40. 15W-50 is mentioned as a last-ditch alternative and specifically states no-street-driving. __________________ 2017 "M1SS1LE" in Hyper Blue w/PDR

12-20-2017, 11:58 AM	#5
JusticePete Drives: Camaro Justice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 20,174	Your engines were designed to flow 5 weight oil cold. Cold oil weight is measured at 0 Fahrenheit. No oil gets thicker when it gets hot, so consider the second number the protection value hot. So a 5 weight oil meets the GM lubricating criteria for cold starts at 0 degrees. The 30 basically says it protects like a 30 weight oil hot. For street use, 5-30 should be adequate. If you want more protection 5-40 would make sense.

12-21-2017, 12:16 PM	#6
Deakins Drives: 2017 2ss, m6 Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 231	That's not really accurate when looking at oil viscosity. The OP really needs to dig into lubricating oils if he wants to get into performance engines and keeping them alive. It's a very complex topic that I don't have the time to write about but a 5w20 will not pump anywhere near the same as a 5w40 at virtually all if not all temps. There's no free lunch and the science is not there to do what you are stating with the multi grade oils.

01-01-2018, 12:18 PM	#8
Deakins Drives: 2017 2ss, m6 Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 231	I have to ask why 1 track day requires an oil change? Do you have an oil analysis to back that up? I have more than a few lab tests that show the LT1 engine in my Camaro is completely capable of running multiple full day events without risk of damage due to oil degradation. Each situation is different though.

01-04-2018, 01:55 PM	#12
JusticePete Drives: Camaro Justice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 20,174	I believe there is some confusion on track day oil changes. GM is recommending 15/50 for the LS7 and the new LT4s. Because of the high cold flow, they want to avoid high cold run oil pressure until the oil reaches operating temperature.

02-25-2018, 11:47 AM	#13
Leadrightpedal Drives: 2018 SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Houston Posts: 37	Manual says you can use this: https://www.amazon.com/Valvoline-5W-.../dp/B000GAP428

02-25-2018, 07:07 PM	#14
lt4camaro Drives: 2021 LT1 10 speed auto Join Date: May 2013 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,343	Mobil 1 just introduced for the LT1 and the LT4 corvette's a specifically spec'd 0-40 dexos ESP that is to be used for track or street to allow a easier prep for the track cars (one less thing to do like change the oil to 15-40). Its available at the dealer's only right now and available otherwise on the beginning of the 3rd quarter this year like June. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...onstraint.html

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