Oil change after track day?

lakefront · 06-11-2015, 08:30 PM

Just wondering how many of the track experts out there change your engine oil after each track day. Seems a bit extreme to me, but I've heard of folks who do just that. Opinions?

John_01 · 06-12-2015, 05:27 AM

I often change the oil after a track day, especially if running in hot weather. My concern is the oil being degraded during high temperature running. I do it as a precaution, not based on any evidence or advice. I'd be interested to know the peak oil temperature that is reached at the turbo.

Unless changing the oil, you wouldn't otherwise know how much oil has been consumed. I've been advised that for track use, its best to have around 7 litres (7.4 quarts) of oil in there. If the oil level is low, there is more risk of trouble with the oil pickup and resulting in the potential of oil starvation issue in high-G braking and cornering.

_Ryan_ · 06-12-2015, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_01

I've been advised that for track use, its best to have around 7 litres (7.4 quarts) of oil in there. If the oil level is low, there is more risk of trouble with the oil pickup and resulting in the potential of oil starvation issue in high-G braking and cornering.

half litre over-fill is common in turbo nissan land for that reason. I do the same on this thing.

dcaron9999 · 06-12-2015, 06:49 AM

The N55 engine has an oil pan and pick up design to prevent starvation where the N54 does not. There is a mod for N54 owners that involves welding a deflector inside the oil pan. VAC Motorsports sells this N54 Oil Pan Baffle to address this issue: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=821626

In the past, my OCI has been 6-8 weeks (Oil Change Interval) using German Castrol 0w40. My OCI trigger is as soon as I notice oil consumption, due to oil shear (high temperature degradation and thinning of oil). This occurs within the 6-8 weeks because my N55 135i sees the track every week for an average of 4-5 sessions (~ 1 track day). Just this week, I did an oil change and used Liqui Moly 5w-40; perhaps this oil will last longer and I will pay close attention to how engine sounds and behaves ...

As a side note, I use a dimple magnetic drain bolt on my engine oil pan, and on my transmission drain bolt, to attract and remove wear particles from the circulating oil.

hoki06 · 06-12-2015, 06:54 AM

Get the oil tested by Blackstone and have data to back up your assumptions

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

The Wind Breezes · 06-12-2015, 12:40 PM

In all reality, you don't need to change the oil after EVERY track day...especially if you have to ask.

Ginger_Extract · 06-12-2015, 03:08 PM

Depends on the car, and the spacing of track days. If the dates fall somewhat close together, I'll do 2 full days on oil. My car sits at 270* oil all day, and that cannot be good be longevity. If my DE schedule is spaced out (i.e. more than a few months), it might end up being 1 event per change.

onefastsvt · 07-17-2015, 10:51 AM

as long as you don't go over *300 you should be fine. The oil has better lubricating properties after the detergents in the oil burn off. My race mechanic tested his oil over a full season runing the BMW challenge with NASA. They found that the oil maintained its integrity over the course of the season on samples sent after every race. The synthetic oil is good up till about *300+.

06-11-2015, 08:30 PM	#1
lakefront Captain 561 Rep 755 Posts Drives: 2017 Macan GTS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: SE Wisconsin iTrader: (2)	Oil change after track day? Just wondering how many of the track experts out there change your engine oil after each track day. Seems a bit extreme to me, but I've heard of folks who do just that. Opinions?
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06-12-2015, 05:27 AM	#2
John_01 Colonel 232 Rep 2,643 Posts Drives: E90 325i, E82 135i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	I often change the oil after a track day, especially if running in hot weather. My concern is the oil being degraded during high temperature running. I do it as a precaution, not based on any evidence or advice. I'd be interested to know the peak oil temperature that is reached at the turbo. Unless changing the oil, you wouldn't otherwise know how much oil has been consumed. I've been advised that for track use, its best to have around 7 litres (7.4 quarts) of oil in there. If the oil level is low, there is more risk of trouble with the oil pickup and resulting in the potential of oil starvation issue in high-G braking and cornering.
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06-12-2015, 06:49 AM	#4
dcaron9999 Major 157 Rep 1,409 Posts Drives: 2011 135i M package Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Mirabel, Quebec iTrader: (0)	The N55 engine has an oil pan and pick up design to prevent starvation where the N54 does not. There is a mod for N54 owners that involves welding a deflector inside the oil pan. VAC Motorsports sells this N54 Oil Pan Baffle to address this issue: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=821626 In the past, my OCI has been 6-8 weeks (Oil Change Interval) using German Castrol 0w40. My OCI trigger is as soon as I notice oil consumption, due to oil shear (high temperature degradation and thinning of oil). This occurs within the 6-8 weeks because my N55 135i sees the track every week for an average of 4-5 sessions (~ 1 track day). Just this week, I did an oil change and used Liqui Moly 5w-40; perhaps this oil will last longer and I will pay close attention to how engine sounds and behaves ... As a side note, I use a dimple magnetic drain bolt on my engine oil pan, and on my transmission drain bolt, to attract and remove wear particles from the circulating oil. __________________ 2011 X3 35i with M pack + 2011 135i w/6SPMT \| 255 square tire setup \| Quaife 3.46 LSD \| Diff lock down bracket \| Bilstein B8+Swift SpecR springs+H&R FSB \| CDV delete \| BMS Oil Tstat bypass \| ER FMIC & CP \| N54Tuning DP \| GC Street Camber Plates \| M3 FCA +guide rods+RSFB's+Tranny mounts \| Manzo toe arms \| Cobb Stg2 agressive tune \| Hawk DTC70 brake pads \| RB SS brake pistons \| Goodridge SS brake lines \| Custom brake cooling ducts Last edited by dcaron9999; 06-12-2015 at 02:21 PM..
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06-12-2015, 06:54 AM	#5
hoki06 Lieutenant 229 Rep 457 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 128i Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: VA iTrader: (2)	Get the oil tested by Blackstone and have data to back up your assumptions http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
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06-12-2015, 12:40 PM	#6
The Wind Breezes Lieutenant Colonel 912 Rep 1,850 Posts Drives: 135i N55 DCT Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	In all reality, you don't need to change the oil after EVERY track day...especially if you have to ask.
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06-12-2015, 03:08 PM	#7
Ginger_Extract California-bound 385 Rep 1,480 Posts Drives: BMW 135i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (3)	Depends on the car, and the spacing of track days. If the dates fall somewhat close together, I'll do 2 full days on oil. My car sits at 270* oil all day, and that cannot be good be longevity. If my DE schedule is spaced out (i.e. more than a few months), it might end up being 1 event per change. __________________ Streets of Willow: 1:27.7 CW 11/15/15; 1:29.5 CCW 8/15/15 \|\|\|\| Autoclub Speedway ROVAL (CCW): 1.52.6 - 12/2/17 Willow Springs - Big Willow (CW): 1:35.8 - 3/31/18 \|\|\|\| Buttonwillow #13 (CW): 1:59.3 1/27/18 https://www.facebook.com/JakeStumphRacing \|\|\|\| http://www.youtube.com/user/RaceMeMZ3
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07-17-2015, 10:51 AM	#8
onefastsvt Enlisted Member 6 Rep 38 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Gilbert iTrader: (0)	as long as you don't go over 300 you should be fine. The oil has better lubricating properties after the detergents in the oil burn off. My race mechanic tested his oil over a full season runing the BMW challenge with NASA. They found that the oil maintained its integrity over the course of the season on samples sent after every race. The synthetic oil is good up till about 300+.
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