Oil change after 2-day HPDE?
 

So as normal I'll be changing my oil a couple days before the event. Should I also change it afterwards? I normally wouldn't, but since it is a 2 day event, I wasn't sure if I should or not. What do you guys think?

I think it makes no difference if you're using a quality synthetic. I change my oil at the start and end of the season. Frankly, people in general worry way too much about these things.

I do it every two or three two day events or so. Important thing is to check it regularly, it can burn more oil than normal under road course conditions.

^That's a good point. Definitely important to check you levels frequently.

What's the thought on why one would need to change the oil after a 2 day event though? If you have a quality oil filter to capture small debris and your oil temperatures don't skyrocket out of spec, the oil shouldn't lose it's lubricating properties just because of high RPMs. If you're a peace of mind type of guy and don't mind the expense, there's certainly no harm in changing it frequently though. For me, $60 for oil (if unnecessary) is $60 that could go to something else.

You don't need to overdo it, but I would recommend cutting the 3750 interval to half or something.

Cool, thanks guys. I'll just change it a bit earlier than normal.

What was already said. If it looks or smells burnt (due to running at high temperatures) then change it early, otherwise 2-3 events or 1800 miles.

It's the high temps as much as the high rpms that can lead to your oil degrading and not being able to do it's job.

If your temps stay reasonable, I really wouldn't worry too much about it provided you check to make sure you don't need to add a bit in case you burned some up like others have said.

Over on Nagtroc, oil analysis post track events showed that the OEM GTR fill (mobile 1 0w-40, which I firmly believe is a very decent oil), began to show increased wear/shear/breakdown at 240deg.

Now the VR38 is different motor that ours, so it's probably not exactly apples to apples, but I just go off that as my "arbitratry" number. If our car hits 240 deg for an extended time on track, then we'll change the oil after the track event. No need to worry about doing on the way home or anything, just in the next week or two afterwards.

The question is, how do you not hit 240F without short shifting....

I bought a fluid extractor and the thing is golden. It makes wrapping your head around more frequent oil changes very manageable. My plan is to do a full change with filter every spring and fall. During the track season I'll just extract and refill (5-10 min job).

It seems useful if you are not changing the filter. If you are changing the filter it doesn't seem as though the extractor would save any time or messiness?

Right. Only helpful if you're not changing the filter (no jacking up the car, taking off the undertray, etc). You just pop the hood, suck out the oil, and then refill. I'd be willing to be that there is very little debris in an oil filter after 1800 miles, track time or not. The PureOne filters claim to hold the equivalent of like 6 3" nails...that would be a lot of engine internals disintegrating...

Oil is pretty important part of the engine ...I believe this is the results of no oil cooler and running Mobil 1 oil and then driving the shiate out of the car for long periods

BTW: This from a 2006 350Z...the last session of the weekend...Kablamo

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...g/101_7082.jpg

that looks more like detontation damage

completely stock engine...

:iagree:

Plus the 350 bottom end was weak. Weak rods and bearings.

I have tracked many days on my 350 with Mobil 1 and other oil, car made it through just fine.

Mine made it threw alot and was FI on stock block. I didn't even have the rev up motor.

The car was run Hard and often in NASA TT events...but well maintained. I really don't know what caused the failure. But it is safe to say that "Oil Matters" when tracking a car :hello:

Did you really just quote yourself? :rofl2:

Just because oil shot out of that hole doesn't mean the oil was the culprit.

Everyone knows that quoting yourself makes your statements more legitimate. Look at the bibliographies of medical research articles...

I don't know the answer to that either, so i guess the take away for me is: change the oil after a track event. But, I'm not going to loose sleep if that oil changes occurs a week or two later (ie. a few hundred miles after the track). After all, most of us drive to the track and then drive back, could be 100's of miles each way sometimes, I doubt too many folks are getting the oil change done prior to going home.

At the end of the day, for me, spending a few $$ for some extra piece of mind is worth it.

You are right up to a certain point, but there is no need to change after each track day (Of course you are talking to someone who does a quick brake fluid bleed after each track day)

that I would say, is much more important than the oil. I went to bleed mine after my 2nd track day on this fluid and it was black, so I just flushed it all out. Hopefully it will last a little longer once I get the stoptechs on.

Mike, how are the endurance compound? The XP10s are too aggressive for my RE11, i am gonna try XP8 or your pads. I just want to see how aggressive they are.

the RP2 endurance feel about the same as the XP12s actually.

how about wear? i am done with my xp8, my abs wants a divorce from it

So you are running XP10/RP2 or RP2 all around? Do they help with ice mode at all?

With GTM cooler on my Nismo I never went above 220 to 230 in 70 to 80 degree weather during 20 minute sessions. No short shifting. After reading all the cooling issues I was expecting to see oil temps that were very high. No issues for me?

They will come up a bit in the warmer weather. The track day I did last fall the morning temps were like that and I would only hit 230/240F, but then by early afternoon the air temp was 95F and the track was 130F and I was hitting 260F by the end of the session if I didn't back off a little. I think sucking up the hot air off the track reduces the efficiency of the cooler quite a bit.

I found that when I was last on the track, it was about 45-50 degrees out, and I was easily able to manipulate my oil temperatures. I did a few laps shifting somewhat conservatively (around 6k rpm shifts), and my temperatures stayed steady at about 200 degrees. The next lap I started shifting at between 7000-7500 rpms and I was getting up to about 225. If I went back to shifting a bit lower, temperatures quickly dropped back down to around 200 after like half a lap. I'll see if things work out the same this weekend, but with it supposed to be around 90 degrees, I have a feeling I won't see even close to as low temperatures and they won't come down as quickly either. I'm sure I won't have much issue keeping it around or below 240 degrees though.

RP2 all around. Haven't checked wear since the 2nd day of the track day last week, haven't even washed the car yet, but from what I could tell, the backs were wearing faster than the fronts, but the brembos have massive pads.

I have never experienced ice mode flash.