Oil Quantity vs Quality
Discussion
Looks like I'm doing 4k miles and 8 track days a year ... for the same money is it better to;
1. Use cheap semi-synthetic oil e.g. Castrol Performance 10W/40 and change more often (twice/year)
2. Use expensive fully synthetic hi temp oil e.g. Castrol Formula RS 10W/60 and change less often (once/year)
I haven't fitted oil temp or extra cooling to my S2 111S but expect it gets damn hot after 10 laps.
1. Use cheap semi-synthetic oil e.g. Castrol Performance 10W/40 and change more often (twice/year)
2. Use expensive fully synthetic hi temp oil e.g. Castrol Formula RS 10W/60 and change less often (once/year)
I haven't fitted oil temp or extra cooling to my S2 111S but expect it gets damn hot after 10 laps.
I don't understand why people buy semi synthetic oil.
You would not buy 2pints of Mobil1 and corrupt it with 2 pints of cheap dino oil.
Yet it is fine for the oil company to sell you the brew.
If you don't drive the car hard or subject it to rough service, most higher branded dino oils are good enough as long as it is changed at reg intervals.
Any rough service or track duty, then I feel a synthetic is mandatory.
m
You would not buy 2pints of Mobil1 and corrupt it with 2 pints of cheap dino oil.
Yet it is fine for the oil company to sell you the brew.
If you don't drive the car hard or subject it to rough service, most higher branded dino oils are good enough as long as it is changed at reg intervals.
Any rough service or track duty, then I feel a synthetic is mandatory.
m
Correct, dino oil is corrupted with all sorts of varnishes and additives to enable it to keep up with the demands of modern engines. These break down with time and heat and coat your engine in a sticky varnish in all the places you do not want a sticky varnish.
Go buy a decent (best) fully synthetic oil and look after the engine properly. Also use the best filter possible.
Never scrimp on oil.
Go buy a decent (best) fully synthetic oil and look after the engine properly. Also use the best filter possible.
Never scrimp on oil.
I kind of agree with the "buy synthetic" argument but if the car is only being used on the road for daily driving plus the odd blast the a semi-synth (e.g. Castrol Magnatec) would be fine. It's simply not worth the extra money.
If you're putting it through hard use on track (as the original poster is) the synthetic is much better. Quite a few of the trackday nuts on SELOC use Silkolene Pro-S 5W-40 from www.opieoils.co.uk
If you're putting it through hard use on track (as the original poster is) the synthetic is much better. Quite a few of the trackday nuts on SELOC use Silkolene Pro-S 5W-40 from www.opieoils.co.uk
Right agree with the comments and the reason I ask is that my car is maintained by a Lotus specialist (who is well respected on PH and SELOC) with whom I had a weird conversation;
At the last service after talking about my road/track usage he suggested that I was wasting money on premium Formula RS Synthetic and should make do with Magantec Semi but change the oil more frequently e.g. when it turns black ... Ummmm ?
At the last service after talking about my road/track usage he suggested that I was wasting money on premium Formula RS Synthetic and should make do with Magantec Semi but change the oil more frequently e.g. when it turns black ... Ummmm ?
cuzza said:
If you're putting it through hard use on track (as the original poster is) the synthetic is much better. Quite a few of the trackday nuts on SELOC use Silkolene Pro-S 5W-40 from www.opieoils.co.uk
Ding! I use Silkolene Pro from Opie Oils in my Exige. It provides protection for up to 10 track hours after which time it needs to be changed. Even stuff like Mobil 1 lasts less than half that.
They also do Motul which is also performance 'track' oil.
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