![]() ![]() As a result, the oil you buy today is not the same as it was 10 years ago. Concept Performance ~ LSR Engine BlocksĪ recent camshaft company Technical Bulletin said it best, "Today's engine oil is just not the same as it used to be, thanks to the ever tightening environmental regulations." Today's passenger car motor oils are formulated to be compatible with your street car's emission control equipment, and Federal EPA requirements have led to a reduction in formulated anti-wear chemistries like Zinc, Phosphorus and Sulfur in API rated engine oils.Boundary Racing Oil Pumps & Billet Gears.“Using high quality oils, of the right viscosity and keeping the oil clean will always provide excellent engine life – even under high boost. “While some may complain about the cost, remember that oil is cheaper than an engine,” sums up Speed. Accordingly, the viscosity of the fluid or motor oil is very important when it comes to keeping the phasers working properly.”įor these high power, late model engines that are equipped with bolt-on power adders, the best advice in regards to lubrication is the following: The cam phasers are actuated by hydraulic force, and guess what is the hydraulic fluid? That’s right, the motor oil. The Coyote engine that calls for a 5W-50 uses variable cam timing. “Can’t you just run a 15W-50 or 20W-50? The simple answer is no, and here is why. We just discussed the 5W-20 example, so let’s talk about the 5W-50 option,” he said. “The Ford family of late model performance engines call for either a 5W-20 or a 5W-50. This is why many engine builders recommend using a heavier grade like 10W-30 because it only shears (drops viscosity) down and acts like a 5W-30 – just like the engine was built for.īe wary of “off-the-shelf” oils that promise to improve fuel economy and result in a thinner protective film for the bearings. “While this is fine for stock engines, it can be disastrous for high horsepower engines. “The trick is these cheap oils only act thin under shear forces (higher loads and higher rpm), so a fuel economy 5W-30 will end up more like 5W-20 motor oil,” continues Speed. Well, fuel economy and viscosity are closely related, so off-the-shelf oils designed to help increase fuel economy are designed to act ‘thinner,’ and that is not good for engines with power adders. “You may be asking how fuel economy affects viscosity choice for engines with power adders. “For starters, we have to look at one of the ways off-the-shelf oils help provide fuel economy,” explains Lake Speed Jr., certified lubrication specialist at Driven Racing Oil. The question is does the oil need to be thicker to endure this increase in abuse? An understandable assumption is that the oil would take more abuse from the increased power and the oil’s additional “trip” through the case of the blower or turbo. The suggestion of increasing viscosity due to a power adder possibly comes from the fact that many of these systems are fed by the engine’s oil. Bearing manufacturer Clevite promotes a formula to determine recommended clearances (see sidebar), but in the end it really comes down to the builder preference. Some builders prefer to run loose rod and main clearances with a thicker oil, while others run them tight with thin oil. This all has to be considered when increasing power output of any stock engine, or when building up a custom bullet.īearing clearance is a highly debatable issue in the engine building world. ![]() Oil shear is the viscosity drop under high-rpm conditions. With the installation of a power adder or other measures to increase horsepower, then oil shear plays more of a factor. As long as the factory maintenance schedules are followed, changes in bearing clearance changes are minimal. This is what the factory determined to be ample for engine start up and longevity. Late-model engines, such as GM’s LS series of V8s, call for a 5W-30 oil. Different engines require different weight oils because they differ in bearing clearance/pump configurations. Oil pressure is a measurement of resistance, and the clearances inside the engine combined with the oil viscosity determine the oil pressure range. When discussing oil viscosity, the focus should be on clearances. While some may complain about the cost, remember that oil is cheaper than an engine.–Lake Speed, Jr., Driven Racing Oil ![]()
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