The car is a 1993 Camaro with a completely stock LT1 5.7L V8, 160*F thermostat, and TH350 transmission with a FTI 4000 stall converter. 5 quart oil capacity. It has reverse cooling if that makes any difference. (cools the heads first) I bring the footbrake up to 2200 rpm at the line to launch, it flashes to 4200 rpm off the launch and shifts at 5800 rpm. It crosses the 1/4 mile at 5600 rpm in 3rd.
Total run time from startup to shutoff is less than 2 minutes. I'll idle it a little in the lanes beforehand if the ambient temperature is a bit cold. To keep things consistent, I try to keep coolant temp just off the thermostat at 165*F, the oil temp after the burnout and staging at 140*F, and transmission temp at 180*F. I keep exactly 30 psi air pressure in the front tires so they measure the same rollout breaking the beams pass after pass. I stage it the same way every pass, easing forward until I just break the 2nd beam, come up on the rpm when the first yellow comes on, release the brake on the 3rd yellow, and let the car do the rest from there.
I aim for oil temp staged at 140*F (+/- 1-2*F) to keep it consistent as possible. The oil temp is usually around 170*F after the run. I've never seen it exceed 180*F.
I chose Amsoil Dominator 5w-20 for the high HTHS. (for a 20 grade) It shocks me as well that a 10 degrees difference would make such a difference. There was only a 1 degree difference in ambient temp that afternoon from the previous round, no change in wind, density altitude was still within 10 ft of before, followed the same procedure but got held up by a track official before bumping into the staging beams for about 45 seconds while they investigated possible debris on the track. Meanwhile, I was sitting there idling and watching the oil temps creep up. It's the only variable that was off from the norm. The coolant and trans temp is regulated by the fans. The oil is not. I've considered adding an oil cooler with a fan hooked to a switch that I can kick on in such situations. That or bring the oil temp up closer to coolant temp before staging.
