Oil Pressure at the Track

[Trawz]

I moved this from the Road Course and Autocross section due to it being an engine issue.

Last week, I finally had some time to hit up a track day for the first time this year.
It was a hotter day for here, around 95 degrees. Running Amsoil Zrod 10W40.

After about 10-15 minutes ripping around the track, I noticed my oil pressure was reading around 30psi at 5-6k RPM...
I slowed down and came off track thinking it was getting hot, but the factory oil temp guage was reading around 280-290ish.
I have hard that the factory oil temp guage is trash and does not read actual temps.

I have a mishi oil cooler and a mishi radiator. Coolant temps were fine, around 200-220 on track.

After parking it to cool, the oil pressure read this:


I have NEVER seen my pressure read that low after a session...
In tracking this car for 5 years now, I have never had seen this.

After letting it cool down and missing my next session, it came back up to normal idle pressure and got up to 50ish PSI at the top of the rev-range...

Went back out for the last session of the day, when the day has cooled a bit, and I got more laps in before I saw it starting to fall back to 30ish PSI at 5-6K RPM again.

My guess is my oil temp is getting way too hot?
Was this dangerously low oil pressure?
Thoughts?

I appreciate the help here!

[CamaroCracka]

10 psi per 1k RPM is the rule of thumb although the bypass would open before you hit 80psi, so take it with a grain of salt. You could try a bigger oil cooler. I run Super Cool or Water Wetter in my rad with a lower concentration of coolant to keep temps down. If you are feeling really adventurous you could move to Rotella T6 or 20w50. I would certainly not buzz around a track at 5-6k with 30psi of oil pressure.

You could also go to a high volume/high pressure pump (Melling 10296), but that is a lot more work than running higher viscosity oil.

[Trawz]

Originally Posted by CamaroCracka

I would certainly not buzz around a track at 5-6k with 30psi of oil pressure.

Yep! That's why slowed and pulled off track into the paddock to get her cooled/settled.

Never had this issue before, even on hotter days.

However, I must add some info in:
After going over the car checking fluid levels the day after, my oil level seems to be over full... Somehow?
Changed it a 2 months ago and filled it to to full mark.
Double and triple checked the level after a short drive.
Now it showing 1/4" ABOVE the full mark... Don't know why...

Possible oil aeration then?

[ariZona28]

Maybe fuel? Fuel dilution could thin out the oil and drop your pressure. You might want to send an oil sample to Blackstone for some "bloodwork". For $45 it might help in your troubleshooting. I've sent them a few samples from my track vehicle. Along with the analytical breakdown of what material is actually in the oil they always give a good explanation of the oils condition.

[Trawz]

Originally Posted by ariZona28

Maybe fuel? Fuel dilution could thin out the oil and drop your pressure. You might want to send an oil sample to Blackstone for some "bloodwork". For $45 it might help in your troubleshooting. I've sent them a few samples from my track vehicle. Along with the analytical breakdown of what material is actually in the oil they always give a good explanation of the oils condition.

I have gotten my oil tested by Blackstone after every track season to keep tabs on things. Everything is looking fine.
Iron and copper is a little up from the last tests but that corresponds to switching to Z-rod 10W40.
I contacted AMSOIL to see if that is normal.

[ariZona28]

Well damn! Was that Blackstone report AFTER your recent oil press problems? If you're getting an increase in oil level something is getting in there. Coolant would give you a milkshake. Excessive aeration would give you foam. I know it's difficult to get real high oil temps on the street but can you get close to duplicating with some aggressive therapy driving? Did this happen suddenly or was this a gradual decline? Might want to hook up an auxiliary gauge to double check the factory unit. This sucks but it definitely needs proper troubleshooting.

[morepowerjoe]

I have the mishimoto oil cooler too but a stock radiator and my temps around town are around 217* and gets quite a but higher sitting in traffic on a 100* + day, I would say around 228* or so with a coolant temp around 206* and my pressure at idle in gear drops from 40 psi to around 33 psi. So, there's definitely room for improvement. I talked to the guys at Improved Racing and they told me that their Camaro designed oil cooler is what they recommend for 100* + degree weather and a track day. But I will day it's pricey though which I don't exactly know what it cost because it has been out of stock recently with no price on their website but I think it retails for around $800+. He said that they should be back in stock in September. Sorry I got off topic but YES I would be concerned with those pressures but I do think it is mainly because of your temps.

[Trawz]

I have been eyeballing the Improved Racing oil cooler for a while.
It's expensive at $1000 for the full kit, but supposed to be the one to have for regular track use.
The kit deletes the factory oil cooler and plums up their cooler in its place.

My temps have been fine for the past couple years, don't know why it is becoming a problem again...

I also have been noticing my warm idle pressure is now right above the first tick on the guage, around 15-18psi when around town.
It has not read that low in regular use before this past track day.

The last report I got from Blackstone is about 800 miles ago.
I have some new AMSOIL 10w40 Racing oil coming today and will completely change out the oil and send another sample out for testing.

[Coz3z3]

I'm curious why you're running the Z-Rod oil? I have run nothing but Amsoil in my Camaros for a very long time. The 1LE I used their 5w30 middle grade (Not Signature) on the track and temps would get warm but pressure never dropped significantly. I can't remember on the street but I know it would be below 30psi at times. In the Z/28 I run their Dominator 15w50 because that's what GM recommends for the track. They actually recommend Mobil but I like Amsoil. Then on the street, I run their signature 5w30. I know that's a different setup altogether but my point is, I would try their signature 5w30 since that's what is recommended and go with that. Then on track, I would go with the 15w50

[Trawz]

At a cars and coffee, I ran into my local AMSOIL rep and chatted with him about the oil I have been using for the track.
He highly recommended the Z-ROD for it's "extra zinc for more protection", so I have bee running that for the past year.
After this whole issue unfolded, I reached out to AMSOIL support and they told me it was not the best fit and I should make the switch to their Dominator Racing oil series.

As for the step up in oil weight, I was recommended my those on here to go up to a 5W40 minimum for tack use.
So I went 10W40 for as a small step up from that.

Just waiting for the sample results of the oil to come back from Blackstone...

[Joe.G]

I emailed Driven, Below is the email ( I was also not the one who called in so others are asking as well )



Hi, I know you guys make a 30 Weight oil designed for the LS3, I was just wondering if it would be safe to use your 5W40 oil. I live in NY and the car is only driven in Nice weather from May until Oct. Car has basic Motor mods and does see a track day or 2. This car has the lowest oil pressure of any car I have owned, It'll get down to around 20 or 22 PSI at idle on a hot day and other times 25 PSI, Cruising it is closer to 40 PSI. I know this is a safe pressure but it does bother me a bit and thought about jumping up to a 40 Weight. Your thoughts?


Thanks





HI Joe


I think we chatted on the phone, your story sound similar. But if the clearances are on the looser side than a 5w-40 weigh would be recommended.
Overall Yes, 5w-40 would be safe to use and probably better use on track days as well.


let me know if you have any questions



Driven DT40 5W-40 Synthetic Street Performance Oil (drivenracingoil.com)

[morepowerjoe]

I was using driven hr5 10w40 for a while but the tuner almost freaked out on me because my car pegs the factory gauge on a cold start and when it was running hot I had 35 psi at idle. And he said why aren't you using 5w30 and I told him because the machinist said 40 was ok to use so I figured why not for piece of mind. I mean the thicker oil seems to be a better choice. So fast forward a few months later and I went with the vr1 racing oil 10w30 and it still pegs the gauge at start up but then goes down to like 30 psi at idle now. When we swapped the engine to the new car they took off the valley cover and put it back on with the old gasket and it leaked everywhere around the oil pressure sensor when they first cranked it. So he suspected that my oil pressure was still too high. So now it's time for me to go to a synthetic so I opted for the vr1 racing 10w30 full synthetic just because I don't want to blow out that seal again at start up. But I do have a high volume pump so take it for what you will.

[Coz3z3]

Originally Posted by Trawz

At a cars and coffee, I ran into my local AMSOIL rep and chatted with him about the oil I have been using for the track.
He highly recommended the Z-ROD for it's "extra zinc for more protection", so I have bee running that for the past year.
After this whole issue unfolded, I reached out to AMSOIL support and they told me it was not the best fit and I should make the switch to their Dominator Racing oil series.

As for the step up in oil weight, I was recommended my those on here to go up to a 5W40 minimum for tack use.
So I went 10W40 for as a small step up from that.

Just waiting for the sample results of the oil to come back from Blackstone...

Oh alright. I understand the viscosity for track use, hence me using 15w50. That all makes sense to me other than that sales rep telling you to use the Z rod lol. I use that in my classic vehicles with a SBC for sure. But haven't ever thought about it for my 1LE or even the Z/28. I'm looking forward to your new data from Blackstone and let us know how that oil responds to the track and daily use.

[morepowerjoe]

Just to be clear on everything oil is going to thin out the hotter you get it. I don't care what weight your using I think it's called thermal dynamics, I know there are a few engineers in here somewhere. Or maybe I'm just taking out my behind. But to me the only thing you can do is get your oil temps down and that's where the cooler comes in. And your coolant temp has to stay low enough as well. So if you want to say have your oil temp at 210* at 30 psi of idle pressure then you better make sure that your coolant temp isn't above that too. As soon as Improved Racing has thier Camaro specific cooler back in stock I will be going that route. The mishimoto cooler is only designed for daily driving imo. I will also tell you this if your still using your factory oil cooler then you coolant temp will rise with your oil temp. When I removed the factory oil cooler and installed the mishimoto cooler my coolant temp dropped about 10*.