Oil recommendation for light track use-but hot weather.
 

What type of oil/filter and what Oil weight would you recommend I use if I track my car once a month in SoCal-mainly willow springs etc. It rarely gets below 60F here is usually above 75 F? This is my daily driver and first season of track, but can already see how hot the car gets. Now that the summer months are in, I expect it to be hot out there soon.

Also, any feedback/comments on the 2012 Oil Cooler? How effective is that thing? It does not appear to be huge, but at least it is something.


TX guys.

Amsoil signtature series. 5W30. You asked about weight the starting weight is just the beginning weight the 2nd number is what it goes to after its warmed up so the weight would be the recommended oil 5w30 unless you have a turbo on there then a heavier weight may be needed (I.e 5w40)
I run the K&N oil filter it has a hex head so when you take it off its super easy. I coupled that with a magnetic add on that clips to the filter to keep all metal shavings in the filter and a Greddy magnetic drain plug.

Amsoil is the first in synthetics and I use in all my cars engines, transmissions and differentials. Google amsoil vs *any oil brand* and you will see it annihilates the competition.

As for the oil cooler, I have a 2013 and its great for street use BUT I'm not sure if it could sustain heavy tracking so you could run another cooler on top of it to be safe if you are worried.

Lastly, I used to live in Rancho Santa Margarita right next to Mission Viejo! My Dad still lives there! Small world

I'm in middle Georgia, and it gets hot here. I have tracked my 2012 and at Road Atlanta, and Roebling Road the oil temp got pretty high. High enough that i replaced the OEM oil cooler with the NISMO 34 row. The OEM is good for just driving around, but when you get spirited on the track, the oil temp will get upwards of 260+ The engine coolant seemed to be fine, only the oil temp. I use the Nissan Ester oil. You may want to check your brake fluid, as it would get hot as well.

You should try Amsoil signature series as well. It helps to keep oil temps down and the viscosity break down decimates other oils.

Figure one hour of track time is equal to 1000 miles if temps are below 260. If temps get above 260 change the oil immediately after the event. This is what it says in the GTR manual and I think it applies to the Z as well. There are a lot of good oils out there but again I think what is good for the GTR is good enough for the Z and it uses 0w40 Mobil 1 as factory fill.

the 370 puts alot of heat into its oil even under light track use, so i would run quality synthetic like people have recommended, or at minimum a autoparts store synthetic with a ACEA 3 rated weight.

even in socal weather, i would get at least a 25 row oil cooler, cause even if you run great oil that doesnt break down at 250 degrees, the VQ engine bearings shouldnt be seeing that high of temps anyway. The 2012 oil cooler is just a oil to water "donut", basically your oil is being cooled off by you water/radiator, but even the stock radiator is under sized for the motor's cooling demands.

Amsoil vs Mobil 1 test
Amsoil vs Mobil1

You can run what you like but i could feel the difference when i ran Mobil 1 vs Amsoil in my 350z. The motor did not run as fluent through the higher RPMs as to when i changed to Amsoil. Also when i changed my oil i didnt lose a drop so none was burned off like cheaper oils.
I also not only noticed better power gains BUT i noticed better fuel economy. I ran 30mpg on the highway in my 350Z @75mph tests

Here is a couple sites that might help. Bobistheoilguy is forum with a well of info on oil.


www.animegame.com/cars/Oil%20Tests.pdf

- Bob is the Oil Guy

I made the Amsoil switch in another car and promptly blew my motor at the next track day. I know that it probably wan't the oils fault but I moved on to other oils. In another car I had the cams gaul the rockers using Redline Oil at a track day so bad things can happen even when you use the best.

Sounds like you need a cheaper hobby! lol

This is all true, but i think for the OP 1 track day a month Amsoil or Redline are both the best choices.

:iagree: what do you suggest? Hookers and blow??

whether that would be cheaper is debatable... :nutswinger:

I'm on Redline at the moment, but I'm thinking of giving the Mobil 1 0w-40 a shot.

And this thread just took a hard sharp turn in the opposite direction! haha

IDK but hookers and blow might be more expensive. Maybe maybe not.

Pops and his Porsche buddies all swear by mobile 1. My tech likes Motile vt300. You guys say Amsoil. I am guessing all 3 are fine, the trend seems to be use synthetic expensive oil. check.

If you guys are interested here's my old man at Mid Ohio this past sunday in his 997 S. Unfortunately we can't race unless one of us rents a helicopter and cargoes our car to the other side of the country.

Mid Ohio PCAP May '13 - YouTube