Running daily/track car on street w/ 15W50

[Colorado_Racer]

Hi BITOG members. I've been going through the stickies for a week and still have one question.

I daily drive my supercharged 1996 BMW M3 and I'll be installing oil temp and pressure gauges this week. I plan to track it several times this summer in Colorado, and where I live the ambient high temperature will be low 80s to mid 90s through August.

I will be changing out the existing Castrol Syntec 5W30 (@4000 miles) before a track day on Sunday with Mobil 1 15W50. I've come to understand that this is the appropriate oil for the higher temperatures incurred from running forced induction at the track.

Will this oil be ok to daily drive this summer? Or will the oil be too viscous upon startup on summer mornings (can be about 65 degrees ambient)?

 

[actionstan]

I think you will be just fine with it, I would just take it easy until the oil has had a chance to warm up. What kind of trips do you do during your daily driving commute? Short tripper/highway ect?

 

[Clevy]

Take it easy til the oil and engine are up to operating temp and your good.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
Colorado_Racer - Welcome to BITOG

If you wish to use a SAE50 lubricant then M1 5W-50 is probably a better choice than M1 15W-50. M1 5W-50 has Porsche Approval and is used by many people (various Makes/engines)in Europe as a race oil - including in the Nurburgring 24hrs event, Goodwood & etc

Best wishes

 

[gpshumway]

I ran M1 15w50 in my street/track Mustang for years in the summer. You'll be fine with it.

That said, 15w50 is really a band-aid to compensate for higher than optimum temperatures at the track. If you want to "do it right", get a thermostatically controlled oil cooler and run a thinner oil. I personally prefer oil/water units like those made by Laminova because they help heat the oil to operating temperature faster as well as help it stabilize at an appropriate temperature.

Remember oil is not just a lubricant, it's a coolant too. Hotter oil means hotter pistons which means less safety margin against detonation. I believe your M3 has jets of oil to cool the underside of the pistons. A good oil cooler would allow a good 5w40 or even a robust 5w30 to be close to optimum viscosity both at the track and on the street.

 

[Oil Changer]

I would listen to Doug Hillary.

 

[A_Harman]

Where are you running? High Plains Raceway? I love that track.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
I would listen to Doug Hillary.


Agreed

 

[yvon_la]

Thick or thin isnt a biggy ,been running 15w40 in big truck all over america .(yep even coldest.(winipeg manitoba))just wait till the needle move a fair amount before touching that gas pedal (to preven seal issue)after that bring up temp a bit more for turbo .the main issue you are likly to face is forgetting to let the turbo cool ,this mean you ll need a fast idle so enough oil pass turbo.otherwise oil will cook there then block passage.if you need idea you might want to go look at how big rig do it .simple yet veryeffective.

 

[aquariuscsm]

M1 15W50 will be perfect. I got in my car to start it to head to work one COLD winter morning. Temp on my phone said -2. Had a sump full of VWB 20W50. Started immediately,smooth as silk.

 

[fdcg27]

Considering that BMW recommeded a 15W-50 for ambients between -4F and 104F when your car was new, I think you'll be fine.
I ran 6K in the summer of 2011 with M1 15W-50 in my low cal e36 318i and it was fine. Fuel economy averaged a bit over 30 mpg.
I don't think you'll go wrong running a heavy grade that BMW recommended for the stock engine with your forced induction one.

 

[paulharmo]

Originally Posted By: yvon_la
Thick or thin isnt a biggy ,been running 15w40 in big truck all over america .(yep even coldest.(winipeg manitoba))just wait till the needle move a fair amount before touching that gas pedal (to preven seal issue)after that bring up temp a bit more for turbo .the main issue you are likly to face is forgetting to let the turbo cool ,this mean you ll need a fast idle so enough oil pass turbo.otherwise oil will cook there then block passage.if you need idea you might want to go look at how big rig do it .simple yet veryeffective.


This engine is supercharged, not turbocharged - it is very unlikely that the S/C uses engine oil to lubricate itself, as they typically have separate lubrication.

5W-50 or 15W-50 should both do fine at the track OR daily driving.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
M1 15W50 will be perfect. I got in my car to start it to head to work one COLD winter morning. Temp on my phone said -2. Had a sump full of VWB 20W50. Started immediately,smooth as silk.


-2 COLD? LMAO!

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Doug Hillary
Hi,
Colorado_Racer - Welcome to BITOG

If you wish to use a SAE50 lubricant then M1 5W-50 is probably a better choice than M1 15W-50. M1 5W-50 has Porsche Approval and is used by many people (various Makes/engines)in Europe as a race oil - including in the Nurburgring 24hrs event, Goodwood & etc

Best wishes


I also agree, IF you can find this somewhat elusive brew (it IS available at most NAPAs, and is even included in their $5.99/quart M1 sales!

).

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
M1 15W50 will be perfect. I got in my car to start it to head to work one COLD winter morning. Temp on my phone said -2. Had a sump full of VWB 20W50. Started immediately,smooth as silk.


-2 COLD? LMAO!

Right, but he's in south Tejas!

 

[yvon_la]

-2?f or c? -2 f is what -35 celcius?

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: yvon_la
-2?f or c? -2 f is what -35 celcius?


No, it is -19C.

 

[Trajan]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
I would listen to Doug Hillary.


Agreed

Ditto. He knows his stuff.

 

[SteveSRT8]

My car actually specs 15W-50 by factory TSB, it is definitely NOT too thick for high power density cars at the track.

Note that without oil pressure at temperature specs we know little here...

 

[Colorado_Racer]

Originally Posted By: actionstan
I think you will be just fine with it, I would just take it easy until the oil has had a chance to warm up. What kind of trips do you do during your daily driving commute? Short tripper/highway ect?


7 miles each way, speed limits between 40 and 55mph. I will be able to monitor my oil temp/press shortly when I install gauges.