Castrol Tecton for my track car?

[Pook]

This may seem like an odd question-

my track car for road racing has a very low mileage built ford 302. Its not used for daily driving, so doesnt accumulate any miles. I basically change the oil once a season. (Generally hot track days, with cold evenings).

This motor does get driven very hard though- Motor was broken in with Castrol Syntec, and then switched to mobil 1 5w30. I've noticed that m1 is getting very very thin- even after only 1 event.

I have a case of 20w50 m1 around, but decided to put in a good diesel oil. Namely, I had a jug of Castrol Tecton lying around.

First and formost, it smells way different than any other brand of oil i've used. Definatly distinct.

Performance wise, I wont know until I get to the track. My thought was that being a diesel oil, it should have a great additive pack, and excellent sheer strength. It should also handle soot/fuel dilution very well too.

Or do you all think I should just switch back to M1?

 

[BrianWC]

Well, my Tection dropped a lot in viscosity after just 2k miles on my saab 9-5, but....I had 5W30 in the previous change so that may have thinned it down a tad. But it was still a decent 30 weight. Every now and then you can get it for around $5 a gallon.

 

[Pook]

I think I got it for 6, I just wanted to give it a shot! (I bought two gallons). Originally was going to try it in one of my diesels, but figured what the heck.

Overall accumulated miles before change will probably be less than 600 miles. Its just a hard 600 miles!!!

M1 would cost me over 25 for a change- Tecton costs me under 8. Its not even that thats so important, I just want the superior protection.

 

[hominid7]

I used it once or twice in my old VW Jetta (gas 1.8 ltr 4). While that car wasn't a race car, and i put the miles on it rather quickly, it seemed to hold up well. As odd as it may sound it was too thin though and i ended up going with Valvoline a/c 20w50.

I'm wondering for your application if a really good quality 10w30 wouldn't be the best bet? Have you ever tried either Havoline or TropArtic/Motorcraft 10w30?

Give the castrol a try though, it may not help, but i dont think it'll hurt anything. You may see HP go down, but maybe not enough to really make a difference.

For something that you are putting the miles on really slowly, i tend to subscribe to dino changed on a time-based schedule as being better than synth changed by a mileage-based schedule.

For the best 15w40 i really like the Valvoline Blue semi-synthetic. It's more expensive but i think it's a great oil. Folks around here also seem to really like Delo 15w40, but i have not tried it so i cant say.

 

[SSDude]

You would be better off running a synthetic since synthetics tend to run cooler under hard driving.

 

[Mr Nice]

I wonder if you could use 100% HDEO (Rotella T, Delo 400, Delvac 1300, Valvoline Blue, Castrol Tection....etc) in a track car for road racing or drag racing?

 

[Pook]

I've heard of it done, I cant see why not- As long as the same lubrication requirements are met.

I cant see it performing any *worse* than any conventional 5w30/10w30/10w40.

The question is, will it perform as well as M1. I'll give it a whirl, but keep it comming.

I still have a bottle of 5w40 mobil 1 truck and suv.

Could try that one as well!

 

[427Z06]

Pook, you have oil temp/pressure gauges?

 

[JohnBrowning]

IF you want a 15W40 conventional oil for this application try Delo 15W40. Castrol Tection shears too much in small diesels for me to trust it much!

 

[BrianWC]

John do you have a UOA to support that? It dropped some viscosity in my saab but I also had a 30 weight in the previous change.... It went from 15-11 CsT @ 100c in 2000 miles.

 

[C4Dave]

What are the oil temps? That will have the biggest impact on what grade you should run.

 

[Mr Nice]

BTW,

Advance Auto Parts has Delo on clearance for 79 cents. They will no longer carry the quarts of Delo......just the gallon jug.

 

[eljefino]

do you have a stock cam or is it a crazy race motor?

Did you have it built with race clearances or stock?

If you see lots of RPMS, pressure will be fine with thinner oil, even Delo 30 weight.

But if you have loose clearances that will negate this.

I agree wtih 427, get a pressure gauge.