Oxygenated oil additives in NASCAR engines?

[bretfraz]

Read this little snippet at a NASCAR fan site (Jayski.com from The Sporting News):

Word in the garage: Some teams are using oxygenated oil additives that can boost an engine's horsepower by five to 15. Winston Cup Series director John Darby says the “snake oil” has been reported for a while, and his officials have taken random samples at Daytona and Talladega to try to determine what is out there. NASCAR always has taken a stringent stand against using additives in gasoline and might take a similar approach with oil. One owner whose team used oil additives last year says there is an increased risk of engine failure. Additives put a strain on the engine's rings because the oxygen reduces the oil's ability to lubricate.

Any of you lubrication experts and tribologists care to comment on the performance enhancements of these additives? Easy to make? Easy to hide from an inspector?

 

[slickracer]

We used to do this in karts years ago. Wears off in a couple laps though.

 

[MolaKule]

Depends.

The olefins in PAO's are hydrogenated to make polyahaolefins in order to increase oxidative stability and increase film strength.

 

[GeorgeCLS]

One thing for certain is that when one strolls through the pits during qualifying especially, the clear and present aroma of nitro is indeed in the air! Not from fuel but obviously used in the oil to gain minute HP increase for qualifying. The NASCAR group is an innovative bunch indeed and have been using HP raising 'additives' for quite a while although not the normal additiives one thinks of.. However, no one has ever been caught doing same.

 

[Steve S]

It seems if you look at nascars they are pretty much the same. Sponser gas licensed ignition systens. nascar approved this or that so the only real difference is the tricky innovative sneaky stuff and ideas that make the cars faster than the others.Smokey Yunic has a book on his tricks I borrowed it, it is incredable the things done to skirt the rules .

 

[boxcartommie22]

whats the name of smokey's book?

 

[Shannow]

Go to http://www.smokeyyunick.com

Anything Smokey wrote was as entertaining as it was informative.