Oil change interval on track car.

Red_Bullet · Postby **Red_Bullet** » Sun Jan 19, 2020 3:31 pm

I've got an NA-8 built engine running a 10 psi supercharger, 30,000 km since engine rebuild.. I run about 6 sprint events per year and only rev it to 7000 rpm (1000km) and drive to and from the track, about 500-600 km per year. Running Penrite 10 tenths race oil 10w40. For the last six years I've changed the oil and filter annually over the christmas period. Well nothing bad has happened so far and I'm wondering if I should be bothered changing it this week, it's done 1534 km this year. Opinions? Anybody done any oil analysis to see if I'm being overly cautious. Oil comes out looking kinda black and dirty.

Maybe I should just keep doing what I've been doing but I'm feeling lazy.

rascal · Postby **rascal** » Sun Jan 19, 2020 5:53 pm

fwiw, i change my oil on my track car every 3 events or so, which is about 500km. but mine only sees track use, so 98% of its life is high rpm.

if you are doing more road kms then you could stretch the interval a little..
If you are doing 600km of sprint events a year then annual change seems about right..
I'd keep doing what you are doing.(12mth chgs)

Oil is cheap compared to a rebuild!

Red_Bullet · Postby **Red_Bullet** » Sun Jan 19, 2020 6:16 pm

Yeah, oil is cheap enough and easy to change, getting to the filter is less easy. Do you change the filter with each oil change? I suspect it might not really be necessary.

Dammit, I'll psyche myself up to doing the filter again,

it's not too hard with a glove on, helps to grip it. I got to get to it from below due to coolant hose being in the way since I did the coolant reroute a few years back.

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Sun Jan 19, 2020 9:00 pm

I’m about every 2-3 track days (500km). I am also starting to do oil testing, next test result is due back soon.

rossint · Postby **rossint** » Sun Jan 19, 2020 11:08 pm

I do oil and filter every 3-4 track days, running the 10 Tenths as well. Turbo track car.

rascal · Postby **rascal** » Mon Jan 20, 2020 6:48 am

Red_Bullet wrote:Do you change the filter with each oil change? I suspect it might not really be necessary.

Dammit, I'll psyche myself up to doing the filter again, it's not too hard with a glove on, helps to grip it. I got to get to it from below due to coolant hose being in the way since I did the coolant reroute a few years back.

I do change the filter each time.
Agreed stock location isn’t fun. I run an oil cooler so took the opportunity to plumb a remote filter as well, down on the front chassis rail. Makes it very easy to change.

The Zork · Postby **The Zork** » Mon Jan 20, 2020 7:35 am

After each sprint day/weekend, my SE oil (Penright Racing) is black. Black oil is not good oil.

I put new oil in it before every event. I did the same for my race car and could stretch engine re-builds to 30 race events instead of 10.

Oil is cheap, even at $85 a time.

Red_Bullet · Postby **Red_Bullet** » Mon Jan 20, 2020 12:14 pm

The Zork wrote:After each sprint day/weekend, my SE oil (Penright Racing) is black. Black oil is not good oil.

I put new oil in it before every event. I did the same for my race car and could stretch engine re-builds to 30 race events instead of 10.

Oil is cheap, even at $85 a time.

Yeah, I stock on it when it's on special. Not keen on oil filter relocation, introducing more potential failure points, although having said that an oil cooler seems an excellent idea.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Mon Jan 20, 2020 1:29 pm

I used to do my oil and filter every 3 track days and it was never black.

If you want to experiment with longer intervals then maybe you could run the old oil a bit further before each change until the engine explodes then wind the interval back a bit from that. :lol:

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Mon Jan 20, 2020 2:36 pm

I honestly do not think the colour of oil is much of an indicator whether it is good or bad. More it indicates it is working.

Luke · Postby **Luke** » Mon Jan 20, 2020 3:33 pm

The Zork wrote:After each sprint day/weekend, my SE oil (Penright Racing) is black. Black oil is not good oil.

I put new oil in it before every event. I did the same for my race car and could stretch engine re-builds to 30 race events instead of 10.

Oil is cheap, even at $85 a time.

Black oil can be good. I change my oil on my diesel Pug and within 5 minutes of idling it is black.

If your oil is black after one event on your SE, I think you may have a problem unless you put a diesel donk in there.
Never ever seen that on my 2 tracked SE's, 2 NC's or ND. And that's with up to 6 or so sprints before dropping it.

RS2000 · Postby **RS2000** » Mon Jan 20, 2020 6:00 pm

https://blog.amsoil.com/why-does-motor-oil-turn-black/

Red_Bullet · Postby **Red_Bullet** » Mon Jan 20, 2020 6:45 pm

Oh no, not an oil thread!

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Mon Jan 20, 2020 7:13 pm

You asked the question.

Red_Bullet · Postby **Red_Bullet** » Mon Jan 20, 2020 8:04 pm

Dammit, i changed the oil and the filter at 1532 km...done, just like the last 6 years, thinking I'll drop the oil in July but I'm not changing the filter then, that can wait till xmas.