Oil change after 2-day HPDE?

flashburn

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?

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spearfish25

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.

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Mike

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.

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spearfish25

^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.

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cossie1600

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

flashburn

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

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ChrisSlicks

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.

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FL 4Motion

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.

cossie1600

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

FL 4Motion

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.

cossie1600

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)

Mike

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.

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Shamu

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?

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ChrisSlicks

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.

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spearfish25

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).

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