Valvoline Synthetic Racing Oil, safe to use?

[callaway]

I also posted this over on the Esprit Fact File forum:

I was reading up on the recommended oils on Lotus Esprit World and had a question about the Valvoline oil. Normally I would have bought Mobil 1, however they reformulated their 15W/50 and now call it "extended performance".
LEW unfortunately does not specify which type of Valvoline's racing oil that they are referring to. I assume they mean synthetic because this generally seems to be the type of oil everyone recommends. I went ahead and ordered two cases from Napa Auto Parts and the containers say that it is for race engines only (claims that the oil is not street legal). According to the container it is not for use in passenger vehicles or "wet clutch" conditions (not sure what exactly "wet clutch" conditions are, but if anyone could elaborate it would be appreciated) as it may damage the catalytic converter. Did I choose the right oil or does LEW mean the conventional type (known as Valvoline Racing Oil VR1). Just want to make sure I got the right one! I have included a screen shot of the blurb on the back of the container. Would it be safe to go ahead and use this oil? Anyone have any experience with this particular product?

Blurb Pic:
www.glcforum.com/ukesprit/forums/index.php?s=8dfde57e55cb17f9eb8224b2c14bb132&act=Attach&type=post&id=546

Also a link to the product on Valvoline's website:
www.valvoline.com/pages/products/pr....asp?product=95


Thanks!

-Erik E.
1994 Esprit S4

>> Edited by callaway on Wednesday 28th September 09:37

>> Edited by callaway on Wednesday 28th September 16:42

[stig]

I've used this for years in race cars, TVRs and my Ultimas. It's excellent. I'd have no worries using it in a Lotus.

[Dr.Hess]

A "wet clutch" is one that basically runs in an oil bath, usually sharing the oil with the transmission or primary drive. Our cars (and all the manual cars I can think of) are a dry clutch. Harley-Davidson motorcycles (except the "Sturgis" model) come with a wet clutch. Jap bikes do also, but I'm no Jap bike expert. You have to use a lubricant compatible with the wet clutch in these applications.

Don't know about the stuff you bought and the cat. I'd call Valvoline and ask their tech support. Maybe it is a standard disclaimer, maybe there is an issue. If you have a cat, you don't want to damage it. They aren't cheap.

Dr.Hess

[okc-esprit]

According to the information on Valvoline's website, the fully synthetic racing oil has 0.12% phosphorus. I checked the VR-1 version and it had 0.125% and a notice indicating that anything greater 0.10% would shorten the life of the catalytic converter. If you burn any oil, the phosphorus enters the exhaust and poisons the catalyst

Based on very limited searching, it appears that today's Mobil-1 is no longer only polyalfaolefin rather it appears to be a blend of POA, ester and I believe hydrocracked base stock. I would guess that a comparison of the two would yield very little difference.

>> Edited by okc-esprit on Wednesday 28th September 18:09

[judgea]

I have been using Valvoline Full Synth. 20/50 in my 87 G-type. Is this different from Valvoline "Racing" oil?

[mikelr]

You may want to make sure that the oil is of a detergent type. Some full race oils are non-detergent and so also are not recommended for street use.

[FunkyGibbon]

opieoilman has given lots of advice on PH about oil it would be worth asking him.

(I have no commerical connection with Guy, just a happy customer )

[dknighto]

Mobil1 also has lots of nice additives to keep your seals in good shape. Rebuilds and lots of oil changes are a fact of life for racing engines, so I doubt race oil has a lot of the additives you need to have the oil in the car for an extended period of time.

I don't understand what is wrong with the new Mobil1. I haven't seen any legitamate complaints about it.

[Dr.Hess]

I have seen people on the Yahoo TE list complaining of the new Mobil 1 stuff. As in oil pressure when warm dropped to the red and never did that with the old stuff. Also some third or fourth hand reports from some racers not liking the stuff. I bought 10 quarts (2 bottles) of the new stuff before I saw people complaining about it. Guess I'll run it in the Truck instead next summer. But what to run in the Esprit now? I am thinking about Redline or something like that. I want a full synthetic with at least a low temp rating of 15 and a high temp rating of 50, i.e., 15W50 or 20W50. Oil changes don't happen all that often, so it isn't too much more of a PITA to have to source oil at some place besides Wal*Mart if I have to.

Dr.Hess

[okc-esprit]

Dr. Hess
You can order Redline through Summit Racing
http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?Ntt=oil&Ntk=KeywordSearch&DDS=1&searchinresults=false&N=0&target=egnsearch.asp

They are might proud of this oil as it is $7.95/qt.

Probably also available from O'Reilly Auto Parts.

By the way recently spotted an early 80's red Esprit passing through OKC on I-35. Naturally, I was driving the Jeep at the time.

[Dr.Hess]

Yeah, there are a couple of race shops here in NW AR I can probably either get it at or have them order it at for around the same price.

You missed our British Iron show last weekend in Fayetteville. We had 109 cars, 1 bike. 4 Loti including mine, 2 Sevens (one 1962 S2 and a Cat) and a 69 Elan. Bikes, Blues and BBQ rally this weekend.

Dr.Hess

[okc-esprit]

Nuts, schedule has been too hectic of late. Spent all day Sunday in the office. Did tour the Harley plant in York, Pa earlier this month. If you're in that part of the country it is a nice tour.

Any shows coming up on October?

[Dr.Hess]

Don't know of anything in October. The BBB is turning into a nice little rally. Started yesterday, but really, Saturday is the day. I would say there were realistically about 50K here last year (official numbers are greatly inflated, as usual) and the weather looks to be great from today through the weekend. Nice leather-weather.

Dr.Hess

[dknighto]

I used to run Amsoil 20w-50 in my '91 SE. I got slightly better oil pressure with that then with the original Mobil 1 "red-top". However, my oil pressure has always been firmly in the middle of the gauge at idle with both oils. I have the new Mobil 1 in there right now and it seems to run the same as the old stuff.