Track Day oil changes, how often?
Discussion
I track a 986 Boxster S, track use only.
It runs an extended baffled sump, (about an extra 4 pints) and I currently run Millers EE Performance 10/50 fully synthetic Nanodrive Ester, (that’s a bit of a mouthful)..
I usually clock up about 150 miles per Track day during 20 minute outings.
Question, especially at the price of oil nowadays, what is the consensus of opinion when the oil should be changed.?
I have recently done five Track Days so let’s say about 750 track miles which of course is running the majority of the time flat out .
It runs an extended baffled sump, (about an extra 4 pints) and I currently run Millers EE Performance 10/50 fully synthetic Nanodrive Ester, (that’s a bit of a mouthful)..
I usually clock up about 150 miles per Track day during 20 minute outings.
Question, especially at the price of oil nowadays, what is the consensus of opinion when the oil should be changed.?
I have recently done five Track Days so let’s say about 750 track miles which of course is running the majority of the time flat out .
I've sent oil for sampling after use. I've never understood the whole 'I change it after every trackday, it's cheaper than an engine' mentality. I suppose it's partly because I used condition based monitoring at work instead of time based, so I have years of experience and trust in the results. If the oil analysis shows the oil is fine. It's fine.
Replacing after every trackday, especially if you have sufficient cooling just seems like throwing money away to me.
The sweet spot seemed to be between 8 and 12 months of trackdays.
I do on average 12 days a year, 5 of those on the Nurburgring.
That was in a high power turbocharged engine, your results will obviously be different.
Replacing after every trackday, especially if you have sufficient cooling just seems like throwing money away to me.
The sweet spot seemed to be between 8 and 12 months of trackdays.
I do on average 12 days a year, 5 of those on the Nurburgring.
That was in a high power turbocharged engine, your results will obviously be different.
Regarding changing every track day it depends on the cars use and the cost of oil imo.
Our little 182 Clio does a few track days every year but occasionally will also go out for a teenage rag about on a weekend or the missus might take it to work for a week, so for £50 it's just part of the pre track day prep to give it an oil and filter change.
Our little 182 Clio does a few track days every year but occasionally will also go out for a teenage rag about on a weekend or the missus might take it to work for a week, so for £50 it's just part of the pre track day prep to give it an oil and filter change.
Wh00sher said:
I've sent oil for sampling after use. I've never understood the whole 'I change it after every trackday, it's cheaper than an engine' mentality. I suppose it's partly because I used condition based monitoring at work instead of time based, so I have years of experience and trust in the results. If the oil analysis shows the oil is fine. It's fine.
Replacing after every trackday, especially if you have sufficient cooling just seems like throwing money away to me.
The sweet spot seemed to be between 8 and 12 months of trackdays.
I do on average 12 days a year, 5 of those on the Nurburgring.
That was in a high power turbocharged engine, your results will obviously be different.
really useful input. there's so much myth and nonsense on this topic. Replacing after every trackday, especially if you have sufficient cooling just seems like throwing money away to me.
The sweet spot seemed to be between 8 and 12 months of trackdays.
I do on average 12 days a year, 5 of those on the Nurburgring.
That was in a high power turbocharged engine, your results will obviously be different.
so, from what I gather, you don't hang about on track, drive a full day and get around 8 days of use out of the oil. fully synth?
I'm not surprised, but it's good to hear about actual analysis. I suspect a lesser tuned nasp engine would go twice that. but that would be conjecture
Whilst I haven't had my oil sampled, I agree with Nigel. People seem to go over the top on this.
I don't give my Exige any extra oil changes over and above the yearly routine servicing ones.
All engines are different, but the oil in my 3.5 litre supercharged V6 basically looks as clean just before a service as it does after it's been changed. (And I mainly noticed this because I often struggle to see the level on the dipstick)
I don't give my Exige any extra oil changes over and above the yearly routine servicing ones.
All engines are different, but the oil in my 3.5 litre supercharged V6 basically looks as clean just before a service as it does after it's been changed. (And I mainly noticed this because I often struggle to see the level on the dipstick)
Oil temp is critical as well I think - if you're running modified/big power you'll cook the oil a lot faster without a lot of time spent adding cooling, leading to more breakdown.
If it's an OEM or close to OEM setup then you'll be much more controlled and the oil will last a lot longer.
On our Fiesta ST150 I usually go with annual, unless there's some other issue to inspire an early change. We have an OEM oil-water cooler though.
If it's an OEM or close to OEM setup then you'll be much more controlled and the oil will last a lot longer.
On our Fiesta ST150 I usually go with annual, unless there's some other issue to inspire an early change. We have an OEM oil-water cooler though.
I ragged my MX-5 all last year, 9 half days. That comes out at around 40 hours at the track and I basically only come into the pits for a drink of water, a snack, a piss or a red flag.
Probably around 150 laps per visit? So 200-ish miles.
That puts me at 2000~ miles over the year of driving the car on the limiter and I changed the oil....checks notes...once.
YMMV.
Probably around 150 laps per visit? So 200-ish miles.
That puts me at 2000~ miles over the year of driving the car on the limiter and I changed the oil....checks notes...once.
YMMV.
Krikkit said:
Oil temp is critical as well I think - if you're running modified/big power you'll cook the oil a lot faster without a lot of time spent adding cooling, leading to more breakdown.
If it's an OEM or close to OEM setup then you'll be much more controlled and the oil will last a lot longer.
On our Fiesta ST150 I usually go with annual, unless there's some other issue to inspire an early change. We have an OEM oil-water cooler though.
On the contrary, most OEM cars - particularly turbo cars - provide insufficient oil cooling for prolonged hard use. I used to run an E30 track car with an M52B30 engine with an added thermostatic oil cooler. That rarely broke 110 degrees on track on a baking hot day when out for over half an hour...normally sat at 95-105 degrees. Analysis should 4-5 trackdays and 2k road miles was about when the oil fell out of spec through viscocity breakdown and oxidation - about once a year for me. If it's an OEM or close to OEM setup then you'll be much more controlled and the oil will last a lot longer.
On our Fiesta ST150 I usually go with annual, unless there's some other issue to inspire an early change. We have an OEM oil-water cooler though.
A standard M52B28 without the additional cooling will easily break 130 degrees oil temp on a hot day. Prolonged running at those temps will degrade your oil really quickly.
motorhole said:
Krikkit said:
Oil temp is critical as well I think - if you're running modified/big power you'll cook the oil a lot faster without a lot of time spent adding cooling, leading to more breakdown.
If it's an OEM or close to OEM setup then you'll be much more controlled and the oil will last a lot longer.
On our Fiesta ST150 I usually go with annual, unless there's some other issue to inspire an early change. We have an OEM oil-water cooler though.
On the contrary, most OEM cars - particularly turbo cars - provide insufficient oil cooling for prolonged hard use. I used to run an E30 track car with an M52B30 engine with an added thermostatic oil cooler. That rarely broke 110 degrees on track on a baking hot day when out for over half an hour...normally sat at 95-105 degrees. Analysis should 4-5 trackdays and 2k road miles was about when the oil fell out of spec through viscocity breakdown and oxidation - about once a year for me. If it's an OEM or close to OEM setup then you'll be much more controlled and the oil will last a lot longer.
On our Fiesta ST150 I usually go with annual, unless there's some other issue to inspire an early change. We have an OEM oil-water cooler though.
A standard M52B28 without the additional cooling will easily break 130 degrees oil temp on a hot day. Prolonged running at those temps will degrade your oil really quickly.
)Depending on outside air temperature, my TVR with a bored and stroked 5.5 L engine would reach high temperatures very quickly. Even with a huge 20 row oil cooler it would reach 115° after about 15 minutes of hard use on a hot day. That was the point that I would pull off. Winter was a different matter and you could stay on for a little longer.
Depending on outside air temperature, my TVR with a bored and stroked 5.5 L engine would reach high temperatures very quickly. Even with a huge 20 row oil cooler it would reach 115° after about 15 minutes of hard use on a hot day. That was the point that I would pull off. Winter was a different matter and you could stay on for a little longer.
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