Is an LS3 a ticking time bomb at the track? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

GrabTheWheel · 11-10-2018, 03:50 PM

Many people on the Corvette forum say that it's very foolish to take an LS3 anywhere near a racetrack without a proper dry sump setup. How true is this? Would running a thicker oil, with a baffled oil pan, an oil cooler, accusump and keeping a close eye on oil pressures not be sufficient for the occasional HPDE? I've seen a few videos of C6's literally blowing up on track and it's pretty scary...

This is for a project car that will have an LS3 crate engine running on MoTeC ecu. Car will weigh 3000 lbs with me in it. Car will be used about 70% street, 20% autoX, and 10% track (Laguna and Buttonwillow). Car will have no aero and will not be running tires with more grip than a DOT rcomp like NT01's or R888R's. 275 square will probably be the most tire I'll be able to fit. It's hard to believe with this setup that I'll be able to surpass or even match Corvette levels of grip. I would think I'd see sustained lateral G's slightly over 1G. Maybe 1.2-1.4 G's if I really got it dialed in. I would think running Buttonwillow clockwise I'd be fine as sustained long lefthand turns seem to be the big issue, more worried about running Laguna.

As this will mostly be a street car for now I really don't want to give up AC. Eventually when Commufornia decides they will no longer let me drive on the street then the car will be caged and trailered to and and from the track. At that point I'd add dry sump, fuel cell, fire suppression, aero, etc...

Car is a 2016 BRZ, so it shouldn't be due for a smog till 2022. Then I'm going to try my luck with my dealers plate. Please save the just go buy a Vette comments.

Matt8892(2) · 11-10-2018, 06:12 PM

I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a ticking time bomb.... lots of guys track the crap out of their camaro and the only camaro woth a dry sump is a z/28 and that isn’t even an ls3

HOJO · 11-10-2018, 10:41 PM

The 1LE is a certified track car from the factory and is an LS3. So unless your some pro hot shot on the track the LS3 is an awesome unit

Avenging Orange · 11-11-2018, 06:34 AM

If you are at the track enough....you will see lots cars blow up.

christianchevell · 11-11-2018, 08:51 AM

Just say no to thicker Oil FOR #1......the ls is made with 5w30 in mind and its oiling system, and the same jokers who on the Corvette forum say oh this has to be dry sump...do they even drive with Racing oil? I use driven racing ls30 full synthetic oil made for modified ls engines.. they make specific oil for direct injection, forced induction etc I believe in a high volume not high pressure pump as that's whats recommended and its much better pressure also, I also believe talk is cheap and if your not spinning 360's don't worry so much. There is a good aftermarket maker of oil pans that are baffled for the ls3 engine should you desire not to go to dry sump.

https://www.improvedracing.com/tech/...dimensions.php

Me I would just talk to Tommy Wong my tuner at wongs performance engineering since he specializes in corvette racing..... of course he's one busy guy..
https://www.facebook.com/Wongs-Perfo...-115667950915/

lazerlemonta · 11-11-2018, 09:20 AM

Throw in an improved racing crank scraper/baffle while your building. You won’t regret it.

Juiced1 · 11-11-2018, 09:55 AM

That is a pretty ridiculous statement. A dry sump system is nice but not that many cars have them in the first place. As long as you have a good pan on the car you have nothing to worry about. The LS3 is a great engine and extremely easy to make power with. Should be a killer in a BRZ

11-11-2018, 06:34 AM	#4
Avenging Orange Drives: 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clermont, IN Posts: 3,297	If you are at the track enough....you will see lots cars blow up. __________________ 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS M6 Black Leather, Sun Roof, OBX Headers, Borla touring axle back, Cold Air Inductions CAI , non synthetic fluids, BMR total bushing upgrade/1" lowering springs, DSE 32mm rear sway bar. GM fe4 shocks/struts/LCA's, AAM 3.91 diff, Vertini RFS1.8 20x9 +30. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 275/35/20. sjm autoprod ABL dash kit. Mike Norris tuned 413/419. Avenging Orange: 43 years of not buying into the Hype........and damn proud of it!! https://youtu.be/9JD9it6SmB8 https://youtu.be/xmelTlEzI34 KICKING CANCERS ASS SINCE 2015!!

11-11-2018, 08:51 AM	#5
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Manual,DM exhaust,CRT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,588 View My Garage	Just say no to thicker Oil FOR #1......the ls is made with 5w30 in mind and its oiling system, and the same jokers who on the Corvette forum say oh this has to be dry sump...do they even drive with Racing oil? I use driven racing ls30 full synthetic oil made for modified ls engines.. they make specific oil for direct injection, forced induction etc I believe in a high volume not high pressure pump as that's whats recommended and its much better pressure also, I also believe talk is cheap and if your not spinning 360's don't worry so much. There is a good aftermarket maker of oil pans that are baffled for the ls3 engine should you desire not to go to dry sump. https://www.improvedracing.com/tech/...dimensions.php Me I would just talk to Tommy Wong my tuner at wongs performance engineering since he specializes in corvette racing..... of course he's one busy guy.. https://www.facebook.com/Wongs-Perfo...-115667950915/ __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data, Carbon, Nav, RotoFab Dry CAI, Elite x2, Borla ATK, Driveshaft shop

11-11-2018, 09:20 AM	#6
lazerlemonta Drives: 2010 C6 1LT Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 879 View My Garage	Throw in an improved racing crank scraper/baffle while your building. You won’t regret it. __________________ 2010 C6 JET STREAM BLUE BOLT ONS TO THE EXTREME, GPI 281cc HEADS, Darth_V8r SPEC CAM, FAST 102 INTAKE, CRANK SCRAPER, QUARTER MASTER 7.25" CLUTCH, RPM 3.90 STAGE II DIF, Z51 Gear Set AND E85 Best ET 10.58 @ 131.8 stock heads and stock cam 453/445 SAE 10.62@134.82 GPI 281CC Heads, SS4 Cam and X1 Intake Best 1/8 6.80@105.75 Best MPH 134.82

11-10-2018, 03:50 PM	#1
GrabTheWheel Drives: 18' ZL1 A10 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: California Posts: 98	Is an LS3 a ticking time bomb at the track? Many people on the Corvette forum say that it's very foolish to take an LS3 anywhere near a racetrack without a proper dry sump setup. How true is this? Would running a thicker oil, with a baffled oil pan, an oil cooler, accusump and keeping a close eye on oil pressures not be sufficient for the occasional HPDE? I've seen a few videos of C6's literally blowing up on track and it's pretty scary... This is for a project car that will have an LS3 crate engine running on MoTeC ecu. Car will weigh 3000 lbs with me in it. Car will be used about 70% street, 20% autoX, and 10% track (Laguna and Buttonwillow). Car will have no aero and will not be running tires with more grip than a DOT rcomp like NT01's or R888R's. 275 square will probably be the most tire I'll be able to fit. It's hard to believe with this setup that I'll be able to surpass or even match Corvette levels of grip. I would think I'd see sustained lateral G's slightly over 1G. Maybe 1.2-1.4 G's if I really got it dialed in. I would think running Buttonwillow clockwise I'd be fine as sustained long lefthand turns seem to be the big issue, more worried about running Laguna. As this will mostly be a street car for now I really don't want to give up AC. Eventually when Commufornia decides they will no longer let me drive on the street then the car will be caged and trailered to and and from the track. At that point I'd add dry sump, fuel cell, fire suppression, aero, etc... Car is a 2016 BRZ, so it shouldn't be due for a smog till 2022. Then I'm going to try my luck with my dealers plate. Please save the just go buy a Vette comments.

11-10-2018, 06:12 PM	#2
Matt8892(2) Drives: Black camaro 2ss 45th Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Central NJ Posts: 359	I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a ticking time bomb.... lots of guys track the crap out of their camaro and the only camaro woth a dry sump is a z/28 and that isn’t even an ls3

11-10-2018, 10:41 PM	#3
HOJO Drives: 2014 Camaro SS/RS 1LE 1967 Camaro Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 873	The 1LE is a certified track car from the factory and is an LS3. So unless your some pro hot shot on the track the LS3 is an awesome unit

11-11-2018, 09:55 AM	#7
Juiced1 Account Suspended Drives: 2012 2SS CAMARO 45th Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: St. Charles, IL Posts: 18,663	That is a pretty ridiculous statement. A dry sump system is nice but not that many cars have them in the first place. As long as you have a good pan on the car you have nothing to worry about. The LS3 is a great engine and extremely easy to make power with. Should be a killer in a BRZ