Changing your oil
Discussion
It's all very much dependant on the engine, application, and temps really.
I know it's an internet classic, but my friend is an Engineer at Fuchs. He changes his every 3-4 trackdays in his 2.0 N/A Clio.
I guess ultimately, the best way to do it, is getting your oil tested regularly. That would give you the best indication as to time period before the oil starts breaking down and is passed its best.
I know it's an internet classic, but my friend is an Engineer at Fuchs. He changes his every 3-4 trackdays in his 2.0 N/A Clio.
I guess ultimately, the best way to do it, is getting your oil tested regularly. That would give you the best indication as to time period before the oil starts breaking down and is passed its best.
An engine oil change on my 2.0 clio is less than £40 and about 30 minutes to do (including getting tools out and jacking car up) so i tend to change the engine oil every 2-3 track days. The gearbox oil is another £45, but slightly more annoying to change, so that gets done every 5 ish track days or once per year, whichever comes first.
For the cost and time involved it's a worthwhile bit of preventative maintenance. And generally when I've got the tools out and the car is up in the air with the oil draining i take the time to give it a good check over for fluid leaks, tired bushes and worn suspension/steering components.
For the cost and time involved it's a worthwhile bit of preventative maintenance. And generally when I've got the tools out and the car is up in the air with the oil draining i take the time to give it a good check over for fluid leaks, tired bushes and worn suspension/steering components.
Answer is before it starts to degrade sufficiently such that it is no longer doing its intended job as a result of fuel contamination, water content via condensation, sustained high temperature shear (measured via viscosity index iirc) and so on.
As mentioned by others above, this is engine, use (track only? track & road? frequency of use? duration of use? duration & frequency of lay-up periods etc), temperature and oil dependent.
So the only way is to send off used oil samples with known history for analysis and seeing what comes back. Then using that data to define your change intervals. So what one person says works for them may not be the same for you.
As mentioned by others above, this is engine, use (track only? track & road? frequency of use? duration of use? duration & frequency of lay-up periods etc), temperature and oil dependent.
So the only way is to send off used oil samples with known history for analysis and seeing what comes back. Then using that data to define your change intervals. So what one person says works for them may not be the same for you.
It'd be interesting to send some samples off to this place (Other testing companies are available) after each track day to see how the oil degrades over time.
https://www.theoillab.co.uk/product-category/oil-t...
https://www.theoillab.co.uk/product-category/oil-t...
I did a track day at Spa last year in my standard engined Golf 7.5R. I changed the oil before I went and put Millers fully synthetic in.
I was doing 20 min stints but even so the oil temp was showing 129C.
I did the nordschleife the day after and the oil got nowhere near as hot.
Even so, I changed the oil when I got home, no point in risking it, especially as it's such a relatively small expenditure in the scheme of things. Common sense really.
I was doing 20 min stints but even so the oil temp was showing 129C.
I did the nordschleife the day after and the oil got nowhere near as hot.
Even so, I changed the oil when I got home, no point in risking it, especially as it's such a relatively small expenditure in the scheme of things. Common sense really.
I change mine after every or every other track day, not strictly necessary, but it's relatively cheap and my car runs smoother and cooler for it. Change the filter every 3-5 changes depending on miles in between.
I just changed it today and the gearbox oil after a very good pasting at Cadwell Park, plus 700 odd road miles. Changed the filter in April.
I run a 2.0 K20 VTEC they can burn oil anyway and oil is really the only thing that can kill them. You need to constanlyt monitor if they're drinking it and making sure they're brimmed. I find it burns more after a track day or two than with fresh oil, whilst the oil will be fine to keep going if you keep it topped up, I think it looses some of its viscosity after that level of sustained heat punishment of track days, which it would not normally get on road use. Not only does that not lubricate the engine as well, it also less efficient at cooling.
Europarts have discount codes like DFS have sales. Today I got 5L of Shell Helix 5W-40 Ultra for £36, it's the same cost as half a tank of fuel. And I also use Mannol Ultra (with Ester) which is a Ukranian brand, and I got 2 x 5l cans for £29.99 from fleabay. I use the latter if I'm changing regularly.
I just changed it today and the gearbox oil after a very good pasting at Cadwell Park, plus 700 odd road miles. Changed the filter in April.
I run a 2.0 K20 VTEC they can burn oil anyway and oil is really the only thing that can kill them. You need to constanlyt monitor if they're drinking it and making sure they're brimmed. I find it burns more after a track day or two than with fresh oil, whilst the oil will be fine to keep going if you keep it topped up, I think it looses some of its viscosity after that level of sustained heat punishment of track days, which it would not normally get on road use. Not only does that not lubricate the engine as well, it also less efficient at cooling.
Europarts have discount codes like DFS have sales. Today I got 5L of Shell Helix 5W-40 Ultra for £36, it's the same cost as half a tank of fuel. And I also use Mannol Ultra (with Ester) which is a Ukranian brand, and I got 2 x 5l cans for £29.99 from fleabay. I use the latter if I'm changing regularly.
Edited by handbraketurn on Friday 7th May 14:51
andygo said:
I did a track day at Spa last year in my standard engined Golf 7.5R. I changed the oil before I went and put Millers fully synthetic in.
I was doing 20 min stints but even so the oil temp was showing 129C.
I did the nordschleife the day after and the oil got nowhere near as hot.
Even so, I changed the oil when I got home, no point in risking it, especially as it's such a relatively small expenditure in the scheme of things. Common sense really.
Was getting up to 129 as well in my Audi S3 around Cadwell. Goodwood around 119 and 120 around Brands. I was doing 20 min stints but even so the oil temp was showing 129C.
I did the nordschleife the day after and the oil got nowhere near as hot.
Even so, I changed the oil when I got home, no point in risking it, especially as it's such a relatively small expenditure in the scheme of things. Common sense really.
Have switched to Fuchs Titan Pro race S 5w40 from the standard 5w30 in the hope it may run a little cooler!
CJ1 said:
Was getting up to 129 as well in my Audi S3 around Cadwell. Goodwood around 119 and 120 around Brands.
Have switched to Fuchs Titan Pro race S 5w40 from the standard 5w30 in the hope it may run a little cooler!
I may be missing something here but why do you think running on thicker oil will make it run cooler?Have switched to Fuchs Titan Pro race S 5w40 from the standard 5w30 in the hope it may run a little cooler!
I sent oil for testing. On my dedicated track car, 2.0 turbo running Fuchs Titan Pro Race S 10w40. They wanted engine details and my use.
The results suggested that after 10 months, just under 3,000 miles and 11 trackdays it was worth changing due to buildup of contaminants. After less time they said that whilst the oil looked discoloured, it was still performing as designed and changing it was simply not necessary.
Imo that's the only way to be sure. It depends on your engine, cooling and use. There is no catch all statement. That an oil change after xxx trackdays or miles is required.
Whilst oil testing isn't cheap, it only needed to be done a few times and I now use that knowledge to plan my oil changes and have saved far more than the cost of frequent unneeded oil changes I used to do.
The results suggested that after 10 months, just under 3,000 miles and 11 trackdays it was worth changing due to buildup of contaminants. After less time they said that whilst the oil looked discoloured, it was still performing as designed and changing it was simply not necessary.
Imo that's the only way to be sure. It depends on your engine, cooling and use. There is no catch all statement. That an oil change after xxx trackdays or miles is required.
Whilst oil testing isn't cheap, it only needed to be done a few times and I now use that knowledge to plan my oil changes and have saved far more than the cost of frequent unneeded oil changes I used to do.
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