Oil changes vs track days

[TurboRA28]

Hey all, quick question..

The RA28 doesn't do much driving at all, mainly just some spirited drives on the old pac or track days. So doesn't rack up many KMs.

I use Castrol racing/edge 15/60 oil and having a 6.5 -7 litre sump need two bottles.. So $140 an oil change almost.

So don't really want to do unnecessary oil changes.

How much wear does track days put on the oil?

Like lets say i've done 16 laps of Eastern Creek, and 4x 1minute hill climbs.. And say 1000kms of normal driving in between. Does that justify an oil change?

Or can I push it closer to the 5000km mark including the track days?

Thanks
Joel

[-GT-]

My car usage probably isn't too different from yours Joel, it's only occasional in between the track days. The track definately puts a lot more stress and heat through the oil, so one track day in which you do 50-60 hard kilometres is probably equivalent to 1-2k highway kilometres. I don't change before every track day, but usually every 2 or 3. Say 3 oil changes a year?

One eastern creek and a hillclimb probably doesn't mandate a change, but add a wakefield and i'd be thinking about it. Then factor in if you have time beforehand and the money spare

Note my opinion isn't based on scientific testing or anything definitive, mainly just what my guts tell me and when it feels/sounds like an oil change would be good.

[YLD-16L]

There is also the fact that due to the very little usage the condensation/moisture that ends up inside the engine/catch can/oil etc rarely gets a chance to be "burnt off" with regular use which would also contribute to oil breakdown.

[Rex_Kelway]

Its going to be difficult to get a quantifiable result, but from memory is was alluded to that 10 track km's equals someting like 100km under normal

The Rex AW11, sees approx 6-7 track days (140 hard km per day) a year aswell as being a daily driver.

However being SC and a roadie, there is no real need to thrash the thing senseless.

The car gets an oil and filter change using HPR15 before every trackday or 2 at the most. But having a normal sump and being an Auto-industry jerk, the price isnt too harsh.

Transaxle gets 2 oil changes per year using Limslip 90.

It may be a little overkill, but Rex judges it as cheap insurance, a Cost He is happy to wear.

[takai]

In comparison my track car gets a new filter and oil change after every race, using HPR15 (usually actually before the next race), and new gearbox and diff oil after every 2 races, using Limslip 90.

[jezza323]

my starlet (which is basically stock in the engine dept) gets an oil change after every 2 track days at most, depending on how many regular k's i do between track days

`i also use HPR15, its not too exxy and again i feel its cheap insurance.

[TurboRA28]

Thanks all for your comments on this.
Geez HPR15 seems to be getting a good wrap from you all.. Any negative reports or all good? Being half the price of the Castrol stuff i'm running I would be happy to change it more often.

[YLD-16L]

Another vote for HPR15, my tuner put me onto it a couple of years ago and have been using it ever since.

Good price too, which makes it even easier on the wallet for regular oil changes.

Negatives: none that I can tell.

[4agte]

edit:hrp15 is semi-synthetic isnt it..

if your doing alot of trackwork wouldnt it be better to have a full synthetic to help keep the oil from breaking down at constantly high temeratures??

edit edit: personally thats the reason i would shy away from it but thats me

my experience with all the race teams i worked for used full synthetic oil religiously for that reason then again motors cost $20000 us for a rebuild and lasted 24hrs so...

[takai]

Its a semi, but when you are changing it in half the required time (or less) then i cant see it making any large difference whether its full or semi.

[YLD-16L]

Semi synthetic

[jezza323]

Its a semi, but when you are changing it in half the required time (or less) then i cant see it making any large difference whether its full or semi.

i 2nd this, semi synth is fine for me

[TurboRA28]

I'll give it a shot..
My engine oil temps are really pretty good, never seen it over 80 or 90 deg.

[YLD-16L]

Do you run an oil cooler Joel? If so what sort?

[TurboRA28]

No oil cooler mate.. I was about to purchase one, then thought that would be pointless without first knowing what the temps are.

So I put the temp gauge in, and after a eastern creek day and hill climb day, the temps have been fine. Usually hang around 70 deg around the track. I think once I saw it higher but never much more.

I think having 6 - 7 litres of oil might help though. Also the sump has massive wings on it so a lot of surface area.