Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

Good day,

Is anyone using Amsoil in their circle track engines? How do you like it? What grade are you using?
What engine oil filter are most using?

I have been using Penn Oil but it just doesn't seem the same anymore since the company changed hands.

I use WIX racing filters and have been told that the NAPA Gold filter is the same filter as the WIX racing filter.

I look forward to everyone's feedback.

Thanks

I ran Amsoil in my 351C dirt engines in the 80's.

We broke an oil pump and ran a 25 lap main without oil pressure. Only damage was some piston skirt scuffing... reused the bearings. No valve train damage.

the napa gold filter is not the same as the wix racing filter. I just went through a spun bearing fiasco that i am partly blaming a napa gold filter. I'm switching to the moroso filter. The wix racing filter is probably fine.

What Amsoil product are you referring to? Dominator series? Amsoil makes great oils for long change intervals, namely their signature series. Their dominator oils are stout with good anti-wear but fall a little short when it comes to friction reduction. For an NA dirt engine, it'll work well, but may leave a couple HP on the table.

High Performance Lubricants makes an oil for the WoO Sprint cars and Late Models (Sammy Swindell and David Gravel) called their Bad Ass Racing oil. It's a highly friction modified oil that'll work in your favor.

Oil is really a personal preference as to many racing oils will provide great protection and power.
As long as the Viscosity is correct for that engine and temperature remains in check, all the major brand name racing oils will certainly be fine. Especially when oil changes are often.
Some offer specific qualities for certain instances which is the major differences.

Walter R. Malik wrote: ↑Sat Oct 17, 2020 11:56 am Oil is really a personal preference as to many racing oils will provide great protection and power.
As long as the Viscosity is correct for that engine and temperature remains in check, all the major brand name racing oils will certainly be fine. Especially when oil changes are often.
Some offer specific qualities for certain instances which is the major differences.

Without the use of oil lab analysis, we have no idea regarding actual oil viscosity.
Then we need to know actual oil temperatures, not merely sump temps.

There is a reason why serious racing programs have access to lubrication engineers.

I agree I have been a brad penn advocate but earlier this season when I pulled the pan on my sons circle track motor I was very disappointed with what I saw. I’ve been trying to find a suitable alternative now. I’ve used the Brad penn for years and was always impressed, but something has changed not sure what.

David Redszus wrote: ↑Sat Oct 17, 2020 12:41 pm

Walter R. Malik wrote: ↑Sat Oct 17, 2020 11:56 am Oil is really a personal preference as to many racing oils will provide great protection and power.
As long as the Viscosity is correct for that engine and temperature remains in check, all the major brand name racing oils will certainly be fine. Especially when oil changes are often.
Some offer specific qualities for certain instances which is the major differences.

Without the use of oil lab analysis, we have no idea regarding actual oil viscosity.
Then we need to know actual oil temperatures, not merely sump temps.

There is a reason why serious racing programs have access to lubrication engineers.

Exactly. You want to know the temperature of the oil in the bearings, not in the sump. A NASCAR cup engine cruising around Daytona at 8000 rpm will have ~280*F sump temps, but the oil temp in the bearings is 350+*F. That's with a light 0w-20 oil. Also keep in mind that higher viscosity than necessary for the clearance causes hydrodynamic friction to increase rather sharply, and where there's friction, there's heat. Once you have sufficient oil film to maintain bearing to journal separation, going thicker doesn't make them have any less contact so it won't magically reduce wear further as some believe. Higher viscosity is also more susceptible to aeration, especially if windage is high. A lot of guys run 50 grade oils in engines that would be perfectly fine with a 30 grade and are just throwing away power.

David Redszus wrote: ↑Sat Oct 17, 2020 12:41 pm

Walter R. Malik wrote: ↑Sat Oct 17, 2020 11:56 am Oil is really a personal preference as to many racing oils will provide great protection and power.
As long as the Viscosity is correct for that engine and temperature remains in check, all the major brand name racing oils will certainly be fine. Especially when oil changes are often.
Some offer specific qualities for certain instances which is the major differences.

Without the use of oil lab analysis, we have no idea regarding actual oil viscosity.
Then we need to know actual oil temperatures, not merely sump temps.

There is a reason why serious racing programs have access to lubrication engineers.

All well and good however, The average racer does not fit into the realm of those parameters ...

double post

https://www.drydene.com/product-category/drf/

https://www.schaefferoil.com/race-engines.html

as well as Rotella oil & WIX & Oberg filters
https://www.obergfilters.com/

I’ve used amsoil on a dirt track. It showed less wear than valvoline and Mobil 1. Reminded me of brad penn in that it leaves a black film in the oil pan.

I'm going back to CenPeCo SAE 30 in my new build.

I'd prefer synthetic but not with alky.

CenPeCo ran great in my dirt modifieds and my dealer delivers right to my door at good prices. Using their gear oil, too.

Walter is right... Oil is a personal preference. I know guys running WalMart oil without any issues.

I have been using Penn Oil but it just doesn't seem the same anymore since the company changed hands.

I would take a look at the driven gp-1line of oil. When I spoke with driven at PRI last year it was explained to me that gp-1 had the Pennsylvania base oil and Penn oil no longer did.

If Driven is SO good why does Joe Gibbs Racing run MOBIL1 now?????