Blending Redline with semi synthetics?

[ducblancpale]

Hi,

I have a miata that's now being used 80% on the track and 20% on the streets. It doesn't clock up much mileage as its not my daily commuter. I have been using Redline 10w30 but am now concerned abt the hygroscopic nature of esters especially since I live in a high humidity area and this engine has an iron block. I'm thinking of mixing 1 qt of Redline with 3 qts of HKS semi-synthetic blend. Do you guys think it will cause any problem?

 

[Dave Hess]

Who much does HKS oil cost ??? I never knew HKS had an oil.

 

[bulwnkl]

I wouldn't mix the chemistry, but that's just me.

I don't know how many times one of the formulators/blenders on here will have to tell people that RedLine is NOT hygroscopic. It's not like RedLine is some group of boneheads down there in cali throwing some ester they made in their basement out on the market hoping to pull the wool over people's eyes but rusting their engines out from the inside.

 

[Mitch Alsup]

With a nice long session on the track, the miata arrives home with vanishinly small amounts of water in the oil.

If you are concerned with high humidity, take the car to the track more often!

I, personally, would not mix oils with different additive packages.

 

[ducblancpale]

quote:

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Originally posted by LT4 Vette:
Who much does HKS oil cost ??? I never knew HKS had an oil.

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HKS has a full range of oils with really good specs but I think its only available in Asia. Check out their Japanese website @ www.hks-power.co.jp

Their oils are very expensive though but I got a very good deal on their semi-synthetics.

Anyway, according to Dave @ Redline, its no problem to mix the oils.

 

[Steve S]

Redline is fine as is ,there will be no advantage mixing as far as your purpose to mix. mixing won't hurt..

 

[BlazerLT]

Why people mix oils is beyond me.

 

[LarryL]

A better place to get information about Red Line oil would be Dave at Red Line Oil Company. He works with Roy the head chemist and they can answer your question about using Red Line oil. They might be a better source than the one you currently use. Tell Dave you like BMW SUV's and you'll have a friend.

 

[97tbird]

I use 0.5-1 qt RL 10/40 in my 4.6L Tbird(sohc) with MC 5w30 or 10/30 for added cleaning power, and during summer months for some improved thickness(I like it a little thicker than pure 5w30 or 10/30). with my car, I usually use it as top-off RL to compensate for consumption, which is about 0.75 qts per 5-6k miles (I get a normal oil change with the main oil, and then start adding the RL as top-up). This "mix" has been very smooth running with added quietness, and probably helps my very short-trip driven high-mile engine in summer with the mix ending up being a better than a typical OTC syn-blend.
I think it will also help in my planned 6-month OCI's for the future.

 

[nel]

It's hard to say what if any interaction there may be betweeen Red Line and a mineral-based oil. There have been many good reports of people dosing their normal fill with Red Line, as evidenced by 97tbird's experience.

My own experience is less definitive. GC (Castrol 0W30, made in Germany) has done well in my wife's 97 BMW 328i up to its normal oil change interval of ~9k miles. Recently I changed that car over to 6 qts. of Castrol Syntec 10W40, a Group III "synthetic", and 1 qt. of Red Line 10W40. Within 4k miles I noticed the oil is much darker than usual. Terry claims it may be indicative of an incompatibility--whether it be the additives or the base oils. I'm planning on running a used oil analysis sample at 5k miles to see how the oil is doing. The car seems to run fine although the noisy lifter tick seems louder now...