[ANSWERED] Can you expand on recommended engine oils for track use?
 

Al's Answer

Well, it’s been a busy summer, getting ready for the refreshed Camaro for 2019, Camarofest, and all the other Camaro shows that we wait for all winter. I admit I am way late on this one, so my apologies on behalf of myself and the Camaro team on this installment of “Ask Al”.

Here was the topic for this round, having to do with oil selection for tracking your Camaro:

Can you expand on the recommended engine oils for track / competitive driving in the Camaro?

• Mobil 1® 15W-50 engine oil appears as a secondary choice for the ZL1 while appearing as the only choice for the ZL1 1LE?
• Some folks would like to regularly use Dexos2™ 0W-40 or 5W-40 oils on the street - any advice/suggestions?
• There is a NEW oil…Mobil 1 0W-40 ESP that is Dexos2-approved. How does that mix into this discussion?

The LT1 and LT4 engines are factory filled with 0W-40 Dexos2 oil. The 0W-40 Dexos2 engine oil is approved for both track and street use with the LT1 and LT4 (ZL1 only, not ZL1 1LE) engines. This is straight out of the owner’s manual.

For the ZL1 1LE, 15W-50 is the required track oil due to the increased lateral acceleration capability of the vehicle. It has enough of a grip capacity increase above all the other models that the added protection from 15W-50 is needed. The thicker 50 weight viscosity helps with oil pan drawdown when the oil gets hot on the track and reduces risk of pressure dropouts. For the ZL1, 15w-50 will add protection but is not required, as the 0w-40 was tested and provides adequate protection in a track environment.

Since Mobil 1 15w50 is not Dexos-certified, it is not recommended for long-term street driving use. Follow the Owner’s Manual and switch back to the 0W-40 Dexos-certified oil after your track session is over and you are back to street use.
With regard to the new Mobil 1 0W-40 ESP Dexos 2 oil, it is an acceptable oil for both the street and track, for the SS, SS 1LE, and the ZL1 due to having less aeration. However, it is not recommended for tracking your ZL1 1LE.

Edit: Adding Performance Supplement (See pg 15)

:smoking:

"The LT1 and LT4 engines are factory filled with 0W-40 Dexos2 oil."

I must have missed that. When did that start? My '17 SS came with 5W-30.

So did mine... this is current info as of today so things have obviously changed.

Kind of been a moving target,,, hence this question.

Shame they didn’t address if 5W-30 Dexos 1 would still be a good oil if only driven on the street.

The response albeit brief, makes perfect sense to me.

With oil temps in the LT4 approaching and perhaps exceeding 250F+ under heavy load, I (personally) would never trust a 0W-40 or 5W-40. 5W or 15W-50 makes perfect sense to me. Especially considering that a motor oil with low ash content, though it preserves our CATs and significantly lowers the coking and varnishing effects of GDI, will sacrifice the additive profile that reduces wear. At 250+ oil temp, 50W is about as thick as water, I want all of the viscosity and wear protection that I can get.

I will change out more frequently with a low ash Dexos 2. Understanding that with a low ash profile, my intake valves and blower bricks are better protected from the goop introduced by the PCV. However, the compromise is that my wear protection profile is reduced because those same high ash components are what protects my internal components from wear.

The question however, remains somewhat unanswered; Is M1 ESP 0W-40, now a recommended fill for pre 2019 Gen 6 LT1/4?

With motors that run on the street with oil temps at 210+, I truly hope so. IMHO, at the oil temps that an LT4 operate, 5W-30 lacks the viscosity to protect our powerplants long term.

I personally will run 0W or 5W-40 Dexos 2 on the street. I will always run at least a 5W or 15W-50 under heavy load/track conditions.

Do your research gentlemen/ladies; there is a significant difference between 100% synthetic and full synthetic. SIGNIFICANT!

That's exactly what's specified in the 2016-18 Camaro owner's manual. All of the validation would have been done on that oil and looks like they are rolling out continuous improvements in either late 2018 or 2019 model year. It goes without saying that this would be acceptable to use.

https://my.chevrolet.com/content/dam...ers-manual.pdf

Thanks MLEE and Al. :thanks:

To get the answer let us ask ourselves: What fundamentally has changed with the design and material selection of the moving parts inside the LT1 and LT4 engines?

Maybe the low ash 0w40 oil just wasn't through R&D yet and it's just better at most things. It doesn't make the 5w30 bad or mean sticking with 5w30 will cause our cars to die a premature death... or does it?

But I think we already know the answer, and GM legal won't let Al confirm it.

Or did it? The fill cap stated 5w-30... I also found find this interesting, it stood out for me as well. Maaaybe they are??

Owners manual and dealer fill was 5w-30 also. Must be a relatively recent change.

Same here, 2018 2SS assembled at end of Feb 2018.

Switched to 0W-40 with the second (1500 mile) oil change, new oil cap on order.

Tadge who is the ‘Vette chief engineer did say when ‘Vette owners asked about the new oil that it is backwards compatible and recommended to change to it for pre-2019 ‘Vette’s.

Makes sense that it would be.

I will add that the ZR1 is in the same boat as the ZL1 1LE concerning 0W-40 and track use.

It's only a factory fill starting on the 2019 cars, so it wouldn't be listed in the older owner manuals.

Or, maybe it has something to do with the catastrophic oil pump failures a bunch of us have had to deal with??? All so far ha e been 2018 models with between 500-2500 miles. Warranty schwarranty...