Engine Oil

KEVIN T · 12-17-2010, 02:58 PM

What are the advantages, disadvantages, If any, of switching over to synthetic engine oil. I'm currently using "regular" 20/50. I hear that besides the price synthetic tends to leak more.

Thanks,
Kevin Tiedemann
S/ST145T

Chris Williams · 12-17-2010, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KEVIN T

What are the advantages, disadvantages, If any, of switching over to synthetic engine oil. I'm currently using "regular" 20/50. I hear that besides the price synthetic tends to leak more.

Thanks,
Kevin Tiedemann
S/ST145T

We change it so often, I can't justify the price of the synthetic. And the real advantage of synthetic (as I understand it) is in wear lifetime. We change after every 25 passes... Life's not much of an issue.

Maverick · 12-17-2010, 11:41 PM

I ran 20/50 racing oil for years and then switched over to half synthetic and half regular racing oil. I would use the weight of oil for how cold it was going to be. Then I mostly ran thin synthetics to gain horsepower from the oil pump not working as hard. Never had bearing problems till early 2010. Motor ran fine, but was getting bearing chips in the pick up screen. Talked to super stock racers, and they are telling me that oil manufactures are talking zinc out of the oil, especially synthetics and it causing bearing wear issues. Some of the super stock racers use a zinc supplement to address the bearing wear issue. Need to talk to stock and super stock racers and get the information first hand. My new motor uses 20/50 and I look for the high zinc content. No problems yet, but it takes a while for it to show up. I normally put a motor together and it stays together for quite a while.

Rick496D · 12-29-2010, 10:35 AM

Today's passenger car motor oils are formulated to be compatible with your street car's emission control equipment, and Federal EPA requirements have led to a reduction in formulated anti-wear chemistries like Zinc, Phosphorus and Sulfur in API rated engine oils. As a result, the oil you buy today is not the same as it was 10 years ago. While this is good for your street car, it is bad news for your racing engine.
I switched to Joe Gibbs Racing Oil, my engine builder told me to run a blend. He said they had problems with straight synthetic oils. If you want any info on the oil you can e-mail: markpow@powers-motorsports.com

cad · 12-29-2010, 01:33 PM

Maybe odd...but a friend that runs super street is now running Rotella in his 406 per his engine builder's recommendation.

super comp 112 · 12-29-2010, 04:08 PM

Amsoil is the best synthetic racing oil on the market today. It was the first and still the best. Its been around since 1972 never had any problems in my motor,trans,or rear using any of there products. If you need anymore imfo i am a dealer contact me.

Rick

Run to Rund · 12-29-2010, 06:45 PM

Diesel oils like Shell Rotella or Chevron Delo 400, both 15-40 weight, have a lot of good additives like ZDDP, if they are the "old" CI4+ spec, and do not also meet CJ. EPA has attacked diesels too, and the traps etc. that they now have do not like those additives. So, the CJ oil is decent but no where near as good as the older CI4+. APE "lets" the oil companies say their new oil is "backwards compatible" so the new stuff like the gold band "low emissions" Delo says CJ and CI4+. My local Chevron distributor still sells the "old" stuff in 5 gallon and larger containers.

d1hitter · 12-29-2010, 07:01 PM

Brad Penn aka KENDELL, good ****.

Tom Goldman · 12-29-2010, 08:40 PM

No advantage for me using normal synthetics in throttle stop cars, altho I do run a heater to warm the oil to 160 deg before I start the car.
Class cars using ultra light grades yes, some major gains when using oils that have the viscousity of water.

Like was said before, I change mine @20 runs ,so its hard to justify the expense of synthetics.
I switched to Lucas Racing oil this year ,since it has a very high zinc phosphate content,and the results are excellent ,with no wear problems or lifter issues.
PLUS , the contingency award for Div win and r/u is a big plus !

SCOTT SST2871 · 12-30-2010, 08:38 AM

I was having bearing wear issues also and i started using the gm engine oil suppliment (eos) in my oil!!it has zinc along with other anti wear additives and it has solved the issue so far
scott fifield

12-17-2010, 02:58 PM	#1
KEVIN T Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bradenton Fl Posts: 83 Likes: 5 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Engine Oil What are the advantages, disadvantages, If any, of switching over to synthetic engine oil. I'm currently using "regular" 20/50. I hear that besides the price synthetic tends to leak more. Thanks, Kevin Tiedemann S/ST145T

12-17-2010, 11:41 PM	#3
Maverick Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 292 Likes: 2 Liked 27 Times in 20 Posts	Re: Engine Oil I ran 20/50 racing oil for years and then switched over to half synthetic and half regular racing oil. I would use the weight of oil for how cold it was going to be. Then I mostly ran thin synthetics to gain horsepower from the oil pump not working as hard. Never had bearing problems till early 2010. Motor ran fine, but was getting bearing chips in the pick up screen. Talked to super stock racers, and they are telling me that oil manufactures are talking zinc out of the oil, especially synthetics and it causing bearing wear issues. Some of the super stock racers use a zinc supplement to address the bearing wear issue. Need to talk to stock and super stock racers and get the information first hand. My new motor uses 20/50 and I look for the high zinc content. No problems yet, but it takes a while for it to show up. I normally put a motor together and it stays together for quite a while.

12-29-2010, 10:35 AM	#4
Rick496D Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Engine Oil Today's passenger car motor oils are formulated to be compatible with your street car's emission control equipment, and Federal EPA requirements have led to a reduction in formulated anti-wear chemistries like Zinc, Phosphorus and Sulfur in API rated engine oils. As a result, the oil you buy today is not the same as it was 10 years ago. While this is good for your street car, it is bad news for your racing engine. I switched to Joe Gibbs Racing Oil, my engine builder told me to run a blend. He said they had problems with straight synthetic oils. If you want any info on the oil you can e-mail: markpow@powers-motorsports.com

12-29-2010, 01:33 PM	#5
cad Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 675 Likes: 142 Liked 72 Times in 40 Posts	Re: Engine Oil Maybe odd...but a friend that runs super street is now running Rotella in his 406 per his engine builder's recommendation.

12-29-2010, 04:08 PM	#6
super comp 112 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 27 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Engine Oil Amsoil is the best synthetic racing oil on the market today. It was the first and still the best. Its been around since 1972 never had any problems in my motor,trans,or rear using any of there products. If you need anymore imfo i am a dealer contact me. Rick

12-29-2010, 06:45 PM	#7
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 574 Likes: 6 Liked 44 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Engine Oil Diesel oils like Shell Rotella or Chevron Delo 400, both 15-40 weight, have a lot of good additives like ZDDP, if they are the "old" CI4+ spec, and do not also meet CJ. EPA has attacked diesels too, and the traps etc. that they now have do not like those additives. So, the CJ oil is decent but no where near as good as the older CI4+. APE "lets" the oil companies say their new oil is "backwards compatible" so the new stuff like the gold band "low emissions" Delo says CJ and CI4+. My local Chevron distributor still sells the "old" stuff in 5 gallon and larger containers.

12-29-2010, 07:01 PM	#8
d1hitter Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: @ the track Posts: 43 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Engine Oil Brad Penn aka KENDELL, good ****.

12-29-2010, 08:40 PM	#9
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,438 Likes: 786 Liked 703 Times in 206 Posts	Re: Engine Oil No advantage for me using normal synthetics in throttle stop cars, altho I do run a heater to warm the oil to 160 deg before I start the car. Class cars using ultra light grades yes, some major gains when using oils that have the viscousity of water. Like was said before, I change mine @20 runs ,so its hard to justify the expense of synthetics. I switched to Lucas Racing oil this year ,since it has a very high zinc phosphate content,and the results are excellent ,with no wear problems or lifter issues. PLUS , the contingency award for Div win and r/u is a big plus ! __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK

12-30-2010, 08:38 AM	#10
SCOTT SST2871 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PORT ST JOHN FLORIDA Posts: 226 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Engine Oil I was having bearing wear issues also and i started using the gm engine oil suppliment (eos) in my oil!!it has zinc along with other anti wear additives and it has solved the issue so far scott fifield