Using oil at the track?

[SlowCreamPuff]

I was at Thunderhill for 2 days. First track day, 4 sessions, about 90 track miles. Used 2 quarts of oil. Second track day, 3 sessions, about 70 track miles, drove a little harder. Used another 2 quarts of oil.

Relative to most track driving, I was taking it real easy (first time out at Thunderhill, plus first track event w/ the Viper). Plus I am a slow driver on stock tires.

It's a 2001 GTS and has about 4,600 miles. 750 miles trip back home, didn't use any oil at all.

Should I be worried?
Where would you say the oil went?
What can I do?

Time for an LPE engine?

 

[luc]

Assuming that PCV system worked fine and that your air filters are dry,there are only 2 ways that an engine can use oil.

Through the valve guide seals or through the rings.

Usually valve guide seals mean that the engine will have blue smoke after a long stop, like when you start it in the morning.

Rings.
I will suspect the rings in your case since the more RPM's the more oil is used,especialy since you say that your car didn't use any oil on the return trip (low rpm)

You can do a wet and dry leak-down test and check cylinder compression and the spark plugs.

2 quarts of oil for 4 sessions of easy open track is WAY too much,using a little bit of oil,say 1 quart for the full Weekend would be about normal.
I don't believe,but it is cheap to try,than an another brand of oil will solve the problem,what matter here is oil viscosity,not the brand of the oil.
Hope that help.
BTW,I was at TH also in the blue group and my race car,65 Shelby with a stroked to 408 Windsor 351 with 13:1 CR ang loose rings (more power) only used 1/2 a quart.
Luc.00GTS

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Luc is right, the oil viscosity will affect short term oil consumption, not the additives nor the brand. This happens in two ways.

Viscosity at the ring pack affects how much is consumed via oil ring control, blowby, etc. Sort of obvious.

Another less understood phenomena is volatility - you will boil some of the lighter ends of the oil and they escape the crankcase via the PVC system. The lighter the oil, the more likely this happens. And the more fuel dilution you had prior to track time, the more it looks like you lost, since some of what was on the dip stick was really gasoline. However, this should stabilize when the light ends are gone.

A 5W-20 and 5W-30 oil are most volatile, 10W30 not as much. A 10W40 is *more* volatile than a 10W30 because of the way multigrade oils are blended (start with an oil that sort of meets the "thin" end viscosity requirements and add "thickeners" to reach the high end.) By the time you get to 15W40 or higher, and any synthetic, volatility issues should go away.

The new API SL/ILSAC GF-3 performance categories introduced this July or so have volatility requirements for the low viscosity oils. The 5W20 oils can be of particular concern; it is the factory fill oil on almost all new Fords and Hondas already.By the time for an oil change, consumers would notice the lower oil level, not see any oil drips on the ground, and complain/wonder where the oil went, and generate a warranty investigation.

 

[JonB]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Tom, F&L GoR:
Viscosity at the ring pack affects how much is consumed via oil ring control, blowby, etc. Sort of obvious.........Another less understood phenomena is volatility - you will boil some of the lighter ends of the oil and they escape the crankcase via the PVC system. The lighter the oil, the more likely this happens. And the more fuel dilution you had prior to track time, the more it looks like you lost, since some of what was on the dip stick was really gasoline. However, this should stabilize when the light ends are gone. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Tom IS the #1 LUBE GEEK-MAN, and we are lucky to have him!

3 things:

--You add a LOT of fuel/impurities at the track.....WOT a lot......further thinning the 10w oil. Cornering G-forces trap and froth oil higher up, facilitating Tom's evap scenario. Consider trap-doors / improved drain tray for 2000+ Vipers to keep oil flowing. [$299]

--TWO qts in 90 track miles sounds irregularly-high. I ran T-Hill in my 1996 GTS, 262 track miles, and used 1 qt. ONE. I ran Mobil One 15-50.

--GOOD ON YA to be CHECKING your oil level frequently. I am stunned when tech-inspecting at VCA events how low some of these cars are allowed get.......

 

[SlowCreamPuff]

Hmm... I am running Mobil 1 5w30. Maybe that explains some of it.

I have yet to check if the throttle bodies are dry or not.

I hope everything is ok...

 

[Dion Fisher]

Mike,
At this point your throttle bodies will be clean so you'll have to investigate by looking at your air filters.. I would look under the air box first because if there's oil comming out of the L/H drain hose you're question is answered without further investigation..

If this is wet, the baffle and windage tray set is your best bet..