Oil change after 2-day HPDE?

flashburn · 04-24-2011, 05:34 AM

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?

spearfish25 · 04-24-2011, 07:21 AM

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.

Mike · 04-24-2011, 08:59 AM

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.

spearfish25 · 04-24-2011, 09:35 AM

^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.

cossie1600 · 04-24-2011, 11:19 AM

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

flashburn · 04-24-2011, 03:52 PM

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

ChrisSlicks · 04-24-2011, 05:45 PM

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.

FL 4Motion · 04-24-2011, 11:14 PM

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 · 04-25-2011, 12:07 AM

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

spearfish25 · 04-25-2011, 06:34 AM

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).

ChrisSlicks · 04-25-2011, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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).

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?

spearfish25 · 04-25-2011, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

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...

laze1 · 04-25-2011, 09:50 AM

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

cossie1600 · 04-25-2011, 10:19 AM

that looks more like detontation damage

laze1 · 04-25-2011, 12:03 PM

completely stock engine...

04-24-2011, 05:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 18	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? __________________ Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

04-24-2011, 07:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	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. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

04-24-2011, 08:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2185	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. __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

04-24-2011, 09:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	^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. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

04-24-2011, 03:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 18	Cool, thanks guys. I'll just change it a bit earlier than normal. __________________ Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

04-24-2011, 11:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 29	You don't need to overdo it, but I would recommend cutting the 3750 interval to half or something.

04-24-2011, 05:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	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. __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

04-24-2011, 11:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
FL 4Motion A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: FL Posts: 4,776 Drives: Baby Shark Rep Power: 701615	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.

04-25-2011, 12:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 29	The question is, how do you not hit 240F without short shifting....

04-25-2011, 06:34 AM	#10 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	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). __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

04-25-2011, 09:50 AM	#13 (permalink)
laze1 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 91 Drives: 370Z Nismo #75 K23 Rep Power: 15	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 Last edited by laze1; 04-25-2011 at 09:52 AM.

04-25-2011, 10:19 AM	#14 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 29	that looks more like detontation damage

04-25-2011, 12:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
laze1 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 91 Drives: 370Z Nismo #75 K23 Rep Power: 15	completely stock engine...

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