Track days and Oil Changes

spearfish25 · 02-09-2010, 07:56 PM

Last year I did a couple track days and had a plethora of Nissan Ester Oil that I had ordered on hand. Since I wanted to get on to Redline synthetic, I changed the oil before and after the track days.

This year, I'd prefer not to become a large percentage of Redline's profits by changing the oil before AND after every track day.

What do you guys do with regard to the oil changes?

Seeing that I'm coming onto about 5k mi on the current oil and it's a bit sludgy looking, I'm definitely changing the oil before my first track day on April 3. Hopefully I can run that fill for 3k mi or so after the track day?

ChrisSlicks · 02-09-2010, 08:20 PM

1000 track miles or 3750 street miles is what I go by. After the track day just check if it needs toping off and you should be able to go another 2500 or so. I wouldn't change directly after the event unless it was particularly hardcore, e.g. 2 days of continuous open track, but I would shorten the change interval accordingly.

import111 · 02-09-2010, 08:23 PM

I have always changed oil before every track day. I never run 2 track days on the same oil. If I hit 3k miles before the next track event, I change it then.

Island_370 · 02-09-2010, 09:08 PM

No science behind my logic, but here is what I do....

Recommended change (3 month or 3750) or 2 track events. So the summer meant ~4-5 changes and the winter was 1 change.

Mike · 02-09-2010, 09:40 PM

I go 2-3 track events between changes.

spearfish25 · 02-09-2010, 09:43 PM

All sound reasonable along a spectrum. I figure I'll get the winter fill out before the first event, see how the mileage piles up over the summer and probably do a second change mid-summer, then definitely change prior to Road America in October. That fill should survive the winter again.

Sharif@Forged · 02-09-2010, 10:24 PM

We change our oil after every track weekend, but this is simply out of habit. Our engines and transmissions look like brand new after hundreds of hours of race use, and part of that is the very frequent fluid changes we prescribe.

On street cars, I change my oil every 5000 miles. Our diesel truck...every 10,000 miles.

We use Motul, for what it's worth.

j.arnaldo · 02-10-2010, 01:57 PM

Quick note: Don't go by the "sludgy-looking" thing on engine oil; fresh oil becomes dark in there real quick 'cause it's doing its job. Go by miles and/or a time frame, old buddy.

Paisan · 02-10-2010, 02:47 PM

On our track and street driven car (05 Legacy GT Turbo) we change it about every 7500miles for street miles. When we throw in track days in the summer we reduce it down to 3500-5000 miles. We run Amsoil Full Synthetic and Amsoil Extended Life Oil Filters.

-mike

Mike · 02-10-2010, 07:32 PM

On another note. Swapped tranny and diff oil for redline today. 6500 miles, at least 2500 on track and the diff oil had a lot of muddy like metallic sludge on the drain plug

Sharif@Forged · 02-10-2010, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

On another note. Swapped tranny and diff oil for redline today. 6500 miles, at least 2500 on track and the diff oil had a lot of muddy like metallic sludge on the drain plug

Yeah this is prone to happen with the Z. 2500 track miles is a lot to ask of one diff fluid change. It's only 2 liters of fluid and it takes a pounding all the time. We usually change out our diff fluids after two track weekends.

spearfish25 · 02-10-2010, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharif@Forged

Yeah this is prone to happen with the Z. 2500 track miles is a lot to ask of one diff fluid change. It's only 2 liters of fluid and it takes a pounding all the time. We usually change out our diff fluids after two track weekends.

The rear diff fluid is so easy to change, I'm going to make it an annual spring event.

Mike · 02-11-2010, 10:32 AM

It will probably be either every or every other track event from now on. I will go two and see how it looks.

vipor · 02-11-2010, 10:40 AM

I'm changing synthetic at 5k anyways. With a track weekend every quarter at the most I'm sure it won't effect much

Sharif@Forged · 02-11-2010, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

It will probably be either every or every other track event from now on. I will go two and see how it looks.

What fluid are you using, and weight?

02-09-2010, 07:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Track days and Oil Changes Last year I did a couple track days and had a plethora of Nissan Ester Oil that I had ordered on hand. Since I wanted to get on to Redline synthetic, I changed the oil before and after the track days. This year, I'd prefer not to become a large percentage of Redline's profits by changing the oil before AND after every track day. What do you guys do with regard to the oil changes? Seeing that I'm coming onto about 5k mi on the current oil and it's a bit sludgy looking, I'm definitely changing the oil before my first track day on April 3. Hopefully I can run that fill for 3k mi or so after the track day? __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

02-09-2010, 09:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Island_370 Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 228 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z SR M6 Rep Power: 16	No science behind my logic, but here is what I do.... Recommended change (3 month or 3750) or 2 track events. So the summer meant ~4-5 changes and the winter was 1 change. __________________ Autobahn Country Club (North and South Tracks), Blackhawk Farms, Grattan, Gingerman, Mid-Ohio, Putnam Park, Road America, Sears Point, Thunderhill, VIR and "The Ring"

02-09-2010, 09:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2186	I go 2-3 track events between changes. __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

02-09-2010, 09:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	All sound reasonable along a spectrum. I figure I'll get the winter fill out before the first event, see how the mileage piles up over the summer and probably do a second change mid-summer, then definitely change prior to Road America in October. That fill should survive the winter again. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

02-09-2010, 10:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sharif@Forged The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 840 Drives: 2009 GT-R, 2010 370Z Rep Power: 17	We change our oil after every track weekend, but this is simply out of habit. Our engines and transmissions look like brand new after hundreds of hours of race use, and part of that is the very frequent fluid changes we prescribe. On street cars, I change my oil every 5000 miles. Our diesel truck...every 10,000 miles. We use Motul, for what it's worth. __________________ Sharif@Forgedperformance.com General Manager/Certified Tuner/NASA-PCA-BMWCAA Instructor JRZ RS1's Available NOW...PM me Cobb ProTuner, Uprev ECU Flash, FCON Vpro, Haltech, Motec Certified

02-09-2010, 08:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	1000 track miles or 3750 street miles is what I go by. After the track day just check if it needs toping off and you should be able to go another 2500 or so. I wouldn't change directly after the event unless it was particularly hardcore, e.g. 2 days of continuous open track, but I would shorten the change interval accordingly.

02-09-2010, 08:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
import111 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ. Posts: 622 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 191	I have always changed oil before every track day. I never run 2 track days on the same oil. If I hit 3k miles before the next track event, I change it then.

02-10-2010, 01:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
j.arnaldo Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 937 Drives: Nissan 350Z, 2004 Rep Power: 0	Quick note: Don't go by the "sludgy-looking" thing on engine oil; fresh oil becomes dark in there real quick 'cause it's doing its job. Go by miles and/or a time frame, old buddy.

02-10-2010, 02:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
Paisan Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NNJ Posts: 32 Drives: 05 CTSV 05 Legacy GT Rep Power: 15	On our track and street driven car (05 Legacy GT Turbo) we change it about every 7500miles for street miles. When we throw in track days in the summer we reduce it down to 3500-5000 miles. We run Amsoil Full Synthetic and Amsoil Extended Life Oil Filters. -mike __________________ '04 Nissan Armada - '11 STi Hatch - '05 Cadillac CTS-V

02-10-2010, 07:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2186	On another note. Swapped tranny and diff oil for redline today. 6500 miles, at least 2500 on track and the diff oil had a lot of muddy like metallic sludge on the drain plug __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

02-11-2010, 10:32 AM	#13 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2186	It will probably be either every or every other track event from now on. I will go two and see how it looks. __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

02-11-2010, 10:40 AM	#14 (permalink)
vipor A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Euless, TX [ DFW ] Age: 42 Posts: 13,531 Drives: Nismo 09-0183 QAB Rep Power: 49	I'm changing synthetic at 5k anyways. With a track weekend every quarter at the most I'm sure it won't effect much __________________ 2009 NISMO # 0193 \| QAB \| Albums! \| 05.04.10 (Dynojet) 291.94hp/248.28tq Oil Cooler (DIY) \| Custom Headlights \| GTSPEC Braces \| F.I. Long Tube Headers

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