Trackdays and Delo400 15W-40

dirtydannyd · Dec 13, 2012

So I'm currently using Delo 400 15w40 in my dirtbike (Yamaha TTR250) and I used it in my now sold (sniff) Speed Triple 1050. Also use it in my car. It's great having one oil that I can use in everything as I buy it in 20 liter containers so it lasts ages and is cost effective.

I've just recently purchased a 1999 Yamaha R6 trackbike. Needless to say, it will never cruise again and will spend its whole life being flogged to within an inch of it's life on the track. Ideally, I'd like to run the Delo in this too. What are your thoughts on this?

Cheers,
Dan.

DB_Cooper · Dec 13, 2012

I think the Delo has a big dose of moly..you might want to double check. Moly is not very kind to wet clutches.

Quattro Pete · Dec 13, 2012

Originally Posted By: DB_Cooper
I think the Delo has a big dose of moly..

About 100 ppm, so about the same as Rotella which does just fine in wet sumps.

dirtydannyd · Dec 14, 2012

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: DB_Cooper
I think the Delo has a big dose of moly..

About 100 ppm, so about the same as Rotella which does just fine in wet sumps.

Delo 400 15w40 is quite well established as being suitable for motorbikes. It may contain Moly however it does not contain a "big dose" of Moly. Fyi, Motul 300v motorbike oil also contains Moly.

So having established that, I'm wondering about the suitability of using Delo 400 in my TRACK bike for simplicity as I already use it in all of my other vehicles. What are peoples thoughts on this? If I really should be using another oil then I will however if the Delo400 is ok for track use then that's what I'll use. Also, is anyone else here running track bikes? What are running and what are you using?

azsynthetic · Dec 14, 2012

Are you racing for fun or for money? If for money I would run a better oil such as Maxima, Motul, Belray, etc.

dirtydannyd · Dec 16, 2012

Originally Posted By: azsynthetic
Are you racing for fun or for money? If for money I would run a better oil such as Maxima, Motul, Belray, etc.

Just for fun at this stage.
Would the Delo zap power from the engine?

billythekid · Dec 16, 2012

Originally Posted By: dirtydannyd
Originally Posted By: azsynthetic
Are you racing for fun or for money? If for money I would run a better oil such as Maxima, Motul, Belray, etc.

Just for fun at this stage.
Would the Delo zap power from the engine?

No it won't hurt any power. Don't believe the hype on any real hp difference on a bike with different oils.

Robenstein · Dec 17, 2012

I remember when some tv car show tried to show how synthetic can make a difference on a dyno. They had a mercury comet. They replaced the engine oil, trans fluid, and rear differential fluid from dino to all syn (royal purple). I think the total HP gain was something just shy of 4hp.

Sure at a drag track that might help ya win a heads up race, but bracket racing probably not worth it.

Be interesting to see on a dyno how much it would do on a shared sump bike. Probably .5 hp, maybe 1hp depending on displacement and how hi perf the engine is built.

sunruh · Dec 17, 2012

Hot Rod mag did this test about 1.5 years ago using Royal Purple fluids. replaced conv with synthetic in the motor, transmission and diff and gained just shy of 5hp overall on a chassis dyno.

you may be able to do better or worse with another brand or visc.

steve

billythekid · Dec 17, 2012

A good chain lube if needed, air pressure or a good barometer reading have shown more HP consistently for us on a dyno than any oils side by side (same or near same vis) on same day and conditions.

Remember, the oil is made to protect the internals, not make HP. Think that way is probably the best option. Many go down to water weight oil to try to squeeze more power, but is it worth the risk of damage or wear?

rraiderr · Dec 17, 2012

We run Amsoil and Maxima in our track bikes and the UOA come out nice, granted we do not run the oil for an extended period of time.

Engine tear downs look beautiful.

dirtydannyd · Dec 18, 2012

Would a xW-40 be to thin for a trackie given it's always at high RPM, hot, thinning out the oil? Isn't that why 'thicker' oils are used for trackwork like xW-50 xW-60?

Hey rraiderr, you said that you don't run the oil for extended period of time. How long do you run it for? A 'trackday' for me would be about 2 hours of running (up to 6x 20 minute sessions). Also which Amsoil and Maxima do you run? is it a xW-40?

rraiderr · Dec 19, 2012

We run the 50W oils as per the recommendations of oil engineer to reduce he risk of the oil falling out of grade.

Tracks like BIR where you do 2 days back to back where you are wide open dragging knee in turn 1 and 2 at 150 + MPH with the bike at max RPM for extended periods of time I change it after the weekend.

For plain old track days on smaller track I change it every 2 or 3 track days depending on if I enter the shoot out race our not.

The used oil analysis all show the oil could go for much longer but I still stick with my intervals.

sunruh · Dec 20, 2012

even expensive oil is cheap compared to a tear down.

dirtydannyd · Dec 20, 2012

Thanks mate. I hear you about fast tracks and extended high RPM's. I'm going to do this bikes first trackday at Phillip Island. Fastest average speed circuit on the Moto GP calender

While I'm no moto gp rider, the R6 is the old carburetored one so it'll be wide open at high RPM for a good portion of the lap.

I hear you about oil being cheap compared to a tear down.

Decided to go ahead and use the Delo and change it out every 2-3 trackdays. I assume that it may shear down to a 30 grade during that time but I doubt it will go to 20.

Will post up how it goes.

Dan

Clevy · Dec 20, 2012

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: DB_Cooper
I think the Delo has a big dose of moly..

About 100 ppm, so about the same as Rotella which does just fine in wet sumps.

The voa I tracked down the other night for rotella t-6 had 69ppm of moly. The t-5 had 3ppm and the conventional 15w40 had none.
Op. if sunruh is giving oil advice in a bike take it. He is what I would call an expert as far as bike oil is concerned

sunruh · Dec 21, 2012

rraider pushes his oil longer than i would, but if he is happy. that is all that matters.

just remember this one little bit of info:

when that crank is spinning 13,14 maybe even 15,000 rpm
and it is about 2-3 inches away from both of your ankles.

ask yourself this, "how long do the bearings holdup at this rpm with this oil?"

all of the hdeo's run in diesel turbos that spin 50,100 up to 200,000 rpm. no worries!!! (but they dont have shared sump gearboxes chewing it to bits!)

now, if you have a sponsor giving huge rebates on oil or free...us them! if not the hdeo's can handle 1 full track day.
i think 2 is stretching it, but only a used oil analysis can prove that.

steve

rraiderr · Dec 22, 2012

Originally Posted By: sunruh
rraider pushes his oil longer than i would, but if he is happy. that is all that matters.

steve

Steve what would you recommended I do different?

KernelK · Dec 22, 2012

Hey rraiderr,

How about posting up one of your used oil analysis?

rraiderr · Dec 23, 2012

Originally Posted By: KernelK
Hey rraiderr,

How about posting up one of your used oil analysis?

I will try to find one, I lost all my files as my computer took a dump a few months ago but I may have a hard copy somewhere.

Trackdays and Delo400 15W-40

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