Oil Suggestions

[teddyboy]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Gremlin: These SL European oils dont have race level additisation. They arent even at the old SJ/SH level. Your engine is equilvalent to a 600BHP 4 litre V8. I would forget running PCMO at the track and take this discussion over to the racing oil threads. Dont discount the Lucas real PAO synthetic or Brad Penn or Redline 5w3-0 or 40. I would not run an extremely high VII oil in this engine at the track or when your feeling frisky.


I disagree, and his tear-down doesn't appear to agree with you either from what he's mentioned.

Mobil 1 0w40 is SM BTW, at least up here. And given that the AW additives in Mobil 1 5w30 appeared to protect this engine just fine, the increased levels in Mobil 1 0w40 may in fact be overkill.

Yes, he's making ~180HP/L, but it was making 130HP/L stock, and rated (and tested by GM) for 5w30 at that power level.


OVERK1LL suggesting that something is overkill? You don't see that everyday, now do you?

 

[cp3]

Gremlin, I'm sure that with the contacts you've made during your build, someone can tell you what the minimum oil pressures are for the LNF. I believe for the LE5 it is 50psi@1000rpm but I don't know if that applies across the whole Ecotec line. There may also be a spec' at an elevated rpm.

I would guess your HP Tuners would data log oil pressures as well? These two logs would be invaluable for determining the "best" oil to use.

 

[nleksan]

Fwiw, while a totally different car and engine, the '00 BMW 328Ci in my sig is pushing 16.5psi of boost from a Lysholm 2.3L Twin-Screw Supercharger w FMIC and the engine is extensively modified (it runs on $100 bills, it feels like sometimes) and the rest of the car is as well. I push it to 22psi or more at the track depending on 105 or 110 oct (software has multiple preset tunes, and I have 6 different sized belts and SC pulleys).
To top it off, I decided to keep the stock CR (10.5:1, actually probably about 10.7:1 due to Mahle forged pistons having more "dome", a much stronger but thinner headgasket, etc) as everything inside was being beefed up. The car makes peak boost from just 1500rpm to the 8000rpm redline (factory is 6krpm).

I run Royal Purple 5w30 and 5w40 as well as Redline 0w/5w30 and 0w40 and nothing else. Full teardown after 10k of running this setup showed almost zero wear, and I have honestly not had one single issue which is astonishing for a car that has more aftermarket than OEM bits... The car was tracked dozens of times before that teardown, and many more since. I do not compete, it is mostly just for fun, but I still push it hard.

People say RP sheers like crazy, and maybe so, but if it does it stabilizes quickly as well. Redline is sheer resistant and "heavy" for its weight but if there is a better oil, I have yet to find it, and no one will take me up on my offer to test it so long as they put the $25-35k I'd need to rebuild the engine (blown rod, for example) into an escrow account, lol.

Try Royal Purple 5w40, and if you can get the SM rated stuff (it is still at all my local shops, says "with Synerlac" on top-front of bottle) then grab ALL of it, otherwise get their HPS oil (same thing, essentially).
If that does not work for you, order some Redline 0w30 or 0w40 and if you are feeling like you want to treat your car, their applicable transmission and differential fluids.
I use K&N, Mahle/Mann oil filters but will be trying the Royal Purple oil filters as soon as they make a canister type for my car. I have heard many good things, and I really want to try them. Not because they are RP-branded, but because I have seen them and their build quality is very good and the one I saw, cut open after 5k miles on friend's twin-turbo'd (KKK K04 and, I think K06? It's significantly bigger than the K04) K22-engine-swapped Civic Si... It had more pleats than the same-size M1/Bosch/P1/K&N for same app. Add in the full synthetic media and silicone ADBV and it sounds like a winner.

Anywho... Good luck, and I hope you continue to enjoy what sounds like one monster of a Sport Compact for many years to come, and do so in good health!

 

[deven]

I agree with nleksan. Since you are adding Methanol I'd use nothing but Royal Purple 5w40 or Red Line 0w30/40. I have had similar results with tear downs on RP and Red Line....zero to very minimal wear.

 

[nleksan]

Glad to see we agree! It just so happens I have two tunes for methanol injection already programmed, so the next big thing under the hood may be to add a full meth kit...hehehe

 

[Gremlin85]

Thank you so much for all the info so far and helping me learn about these oils.

I'm really liking what I read about the redline 0W30.