Endurance Race Synthetic Oil

[CALencioni]

I posted this to the race section as my first post, but now that I look at the Race section, it appears there is very little discussion about oil let alone race oil and the section appears mostly people talking about what they're watching on TV.

The Post:
Hello,

I've got a 4500 ultra4 race rig.

Build Specs:
513HP/583TQ NA
AMC 401 Stroked and Bored to 427ci
Bore 4.195
Stroke 3.86 (turned stock forged crank)
Pistons - Custom ROSS Forged 1.4CH,
Net Dome CCs 25dish,
.927 pin10.03:1
Compression1.6:1
Comp Ultra Gold Rockers
Comp 276HR Cam- Hydraulic Roller(custom thrust plate by machine shop
SCAT Ultra Light Rods Hbeam 5.85"
Performer RPM Air Gap port matched
Edelbrock Heads with Porting/Polishing
1 5/8" ShortiesOil mods
Holley Terminator

Clearance Specs:
Main - .0029
Rod - .009
Ring Gap Top - .022
Ring Gap Bottom - .024

When Running hard, oil runs 250F- hard is pushing as hard as I can coming out of turns, WFO, bat out of hell. Water never gets above 195F. I'm sure the day will come when it runs at 270F 100MPH in the desert, but it hasn't yet.

After break in oil, I moved to GP1 20w50 and have run that for 250 miles. Moved to Torco SR-5R (5R not 5) 20w50 as I'm looking for a race oil. I will change oil every 500-1000 miles.


back story - I'm running Torco SR-5R because the builder said "we tear down a lot of engines, the ones that run TORCO show the best real world wear profiles". The builder builds drag, circle track, and endurance motors for off-road. Anyway, that's all swell and good but I'm trying to find more information on Torco oils? There isn't much on the SR-5R on this forum. I run amsoil in every other vehicle I own- diesel truck, track loader, excavator, and car with great results. I love the stuff and data backs it and enough you tube stuff says "ya it's good". I chose not to run Amsoil just on the fact the builder really pushed to get the motor on Torco. No he doesn't sell Torco. I mean, the stuff is really expensive. Torco themselves say that the race 5R has 2x+ the interval then the 1R from their testing and oil analysis which makes it cheaper from a continued operation perspective. Genright runs this in their shop vehicles, Monster Energy runs this in their sponsored rig.

Question - is there any meaningful objective data people have on this oil? at $18 a quart its wildly expensive, and honestly why wouldn't I just run the Amsoil Signature like everything else I run? (I can't find any objective data that tells me the Amsoil race oil is better than their signature oil which is why I'd just run the signature.) Someone please enlighten/educate me. I want to run the best oil for heavy load/endurance/heat from a protection standpoint, knowing that the oil would get changed 500-1000 miles. I do not need to maximize horsepower/limit parastic losses, no I'm not going to run a 10w30 or even 10w40. I want to feel comfortable if/when the oil temp goes to 280F.

 

[nascarnation]

It's hard to argue with real world results.
However I'd be interested to know what parts of the engine in particular they are talking about and what the failure modes are.

 

[Revving2Redline]

Redline HP 15w50

 

[marc1]

Is that rod bearing clearance figure (.009") a typo? I don't have anything to offer you on that oil but I am mightily curious about a few things if you are running .009" rod clearance (i.e. oil pressure, oil pump choice / modifications, timing cover brand / condition).

 

[CALencioni]

Good catch on my typo! Couldn’t figure out how to edit

Rod clearance - .0026
Thrust - .009

Cheers

 

[userfriendly]

The AMC V8 challenge….
I was at an auction of a machine shop that went bankrupt. Showing off that I could lift bare big block Chev blocks onto the cart myself, an owner of a machine shop said; Let’s see you pick that one up” and pointed to an AMC 348. I was able to get it an inch off the floor.

Without getting into exotic engine oils, M1 15w50 looks like a good starting point.

 

[CALencioni]

They are heavy yes. I have 3 401 blocks, a set of aluminum edelbrock heads and a crank for spare parts. I would have made an easier life for me just putting an LS in it. But alas, I’m stubborn

 

[marc1]

I would have made an easier life for me just putting an LS in it. But alas, I’m stubborn

I think it is pretty cool you are doing performance mods on and running an AMC engine in that racing class and I am not just saying that because I am an AMC owner.

 

[kschachn]

Post some pictures of this beast.

 

[JAG]

That sounds like an awesome car. I don’t recommend oils in situations like yours partly because I would feel terrible if you used my recommendation and you had an early engine failure. Your builder’s experience with Torco does carry a lot of weight if he is being honest. Ask him if there are less expensive oils used in the engines he has disassembled that are close to Torco in protection. If so, use that to save on oil costs.

 

[johnnydc]

How about Valvoline VR-1? Easy on the wallet, Been around for years and available everywhere.

 

[#18FAN]

How about Valvoline VR-1? Easy on the wallet, Been around for years and available everywhere.

Or pick up the phone or email someone who would have a recommendation you could probably trust the source has been posted.

 

[CALencioni]

How about Valvoline VR-1? Easy on the wallet, Been around for years and available everywhere.

great one to bring up - the motor builder runs this on all their motors for dyno. Paying for dyno time on the motor included break in, and then VR1. When asked why they recommend TORCO but use VR1 for all the dyno sessions "its cheaper but is still incredible oil"

 

[CALencioni]

Or pick up the phone or email someone who would have a recommendation you could probably trust the source has been posted.

So I did call Torco which is whom I did receive the "5R has over 2x the drain interval we see from testing against 1R, in addition to improved wear profiles and less friction/HP"

I also have an email into them to get the published technical data redline shares that Torco does not.