i currently use valvoline formula 50 25w60 in a drag car. Im looking at changing to a penrite oil as the penrite is easier to source near me
Im not very technically knowledgeable about oils. Therefore can someone please give some guidance regarding what would be a better option for my application.
The car likes to idle around 1200 to 1500rpm and my current HOT oil pressure is around high 40s to mid 50psi range depending on the day
Cold oil pressure is quite high (120psi at 2.5k rpm)
The car has ford Cleveland 383 ci with a dry sump runs on methanol has a tunnelram with dual quad carburettors and from memory runs about 0.003" main bearing clearances. I dont have the big end clearances handy. 8000rpm max. The factory ford block has had extensive oil modifications to increase oil feed to the main bearings
I use the valvoline because thats what was recommended to me years ago.
As its a drag motor with no street use at all cold oil performance isnt much of a concern. I prime the system before starting cold by spinning the pump with a drill before a cold start and run the car on lpg (propane) to warm it up which burns off most of the methanol contamination in the oil (running the dual quads it does get some methanol in the oil though)
Im going to be adding an oil preheater in the near future
Im looking at several penrite options but am not sure which would suit race motor with 003" bearing clearances and 8000rpm redline?
The valvoline specs are
racing formula 50 : mineral 25w60 viscosity 40deg 213 Viscosity 100deg 24 Viscosity index 139
All of the penrite oils im considering say theyre suitable for race fuels/methanol and are suitable for highload/race conditions.
The penrite oils im considering are
Hpr40 : mineral 25w70 Viscosity 40d 269 Viscosity 100deg 28.5 Viscosity index 140 zinc mass٪ 0.145
10 tenths racing 20 : esther synthetic 20w60 Viscosity 40d 177 Viscosity 100deg 23.7 Viscosity index 163 zinc mass٪ 0.168
10 tenths premium 10 : esther synthetic 10w60 Viscosity 40d 178 Viscosity 100deg 25.6 Viscosity index 179 zinc mass٪ 0.112
So....
Initially i was leaning towards the hpr40 its similar to the vavoline with higher hot Viscosity.
But would i be better going with one of the synthetics ? Both provide better cold Viscosity than my current mineral oil and the hpr40 mineral and the 2 hot Viscosities for the synthetics are similar or slightly better than my current oil, but a reasonable amount lower than the hpr40
With my 120ish psi cold pressure and 50ish warm idle pressure would i be better moving away from a 25w60/25w70 oil?
The costs are close enough not to be a concern... the hpr is about the same price as my current oil and the 2 synthetics are about 20/25٪ more expensive.
Thanks in advance for any advice
Im not very technically knowledgeable about oils. Therefore can someone please give some guidance regarding what would be a better option for my application.
The car likes to idle around 1200 to 1500rpm and my current HOT oil pressure is around high 40s to mid 50psi range depending on the day
Cold oil pressure is quite high (120psi at 2.5k rpm)
The car has ford Cleveland 383 ci with a dry sump runs on methanol has a tunnelram with dual quad carburettors and from memory runs about 0.003" main bearing clearances. I dont have the big end clearances handy. 8000rpm max. The factory ford block has had extensive oil modifications to increase oil feed to the main bearings
I use the valvoline because thats what was recommended to me years ago.
As its a drag motor with no street use at all cold oil performance isnt much of a concern. I prime the system before starting cold by spinning the pump with a drill before a cold start and run the car on lpg (propane) to warm it up which burns off most of the methanol contamination in the oil (running the dual quads it does get some methanol in the oil though)
Im going to be adding an oil preheater in the near future
Im looking at several penrite options but am not sure which would suit race motor with 003" bearing clearances and 8000rpm redline?
The valvoline specs are
racing formula 50 : mineral 25w60 viscosity 40deg 213 Viscosity 100deg 24 Viscosity index 139
All of the penrite oils im considering say theyre suitable for race fuels/methanol and are suitable for highload/race conditions.
The penrite oils im considering are
Hpr40 : mineral 25w70 Viscosity 40d 269 Viscosity 100deg 28.5 Viscosity index 140 zinc mass٪ 0.145
10 tenths racing 20 : esther synthetic 20w60 Viscosity 40d 177 Viscosity 100deg 23.7 Viscosity index 163 zinc mass٪ 0.168
10 tenths premium 10 : esther synthetic 10w60 Viscosity 40d 178 Viscosity 100deg 25.6 Viscosity index 179 zinc mass٪ 0.112
So....
Initially i was leaning towards the hpr40 its similar to the vavoline with higher hot Viscosity.
But would i be better going with one of the synthetics ? Both provide better cold Viscosity than my current mineral oil and the hpr40 mineral and the 2 hot Viscosities for the synthetics are similar or slightly better than my current oil, but a reasonable amount lower than the hpr40
With my 120ish psi cold pressure and 50ish warm idle pressure would i be better moving away from a 25w60/25w70 oil?
The costs are close enough not to be a concern... the hpr is about the same price as my current oil and the 2 synthetics are about 20/25٪ more expensive.
Thanks in advance for any advice
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