While this response is assembled from second party sources
whom I'll at least try to footnote, the argument about synthetic
oils I do believe leans strongly in the direction of racing with 'em.
1. Mobil 1 was shown to reduce frictional horsepower loss
leaving a percent or two more for the rear wheels, when
compared in a 1985 era faceoff. It was used by Guld-
strand's showroom stock Corvettes and the SVO team
among others. Clark Kibler was their rep at the time.
2. Redline Racing straight weight oil receives strong endorse-
ment from Kovacs' Fourintune Healey shop in the mid-
west with specific claims as to its ability to maintain sheer
strength at elevated temp. and save otherwise terminal
racecars to the end of their sessions. Hearsay without
controlled bench testing, but plausibly related.
3. The horror stories about initial incompatibility of the
synthetics goes back about 30 years and was based on
a differently family of synthetic that is no longer being
marketed. The additive pack for that variety was said
to be different and to achieve the wrong results -- this
sounds vague because the supporting article is in my
library in another state.
4. The old issue of freer flowing synthetics dripping off the
vertical (thrust) surfaces of crank bearings and causing
rapid increase in endplay has been dealt with. I have
120,000 hard miles on my 1994 Miata which received
Mobil 1 almost from infancy, and it is to my knowledge
showing none of the usual signs of age whatever.
Even when thrust wear was still a concern, the lack of
any cold cycling or mileage accumulation when racing
made it irrelevant compared to the far superior high
heat resistance to breakdown and ash formation.
5. A source who was the principal technical specialist
for an independent certification lab had a lot to say
at the Performance Racing Industry Show in Col-
umbus Ohio, relative to Mobil 1, and all of his off
the cuff comments were highly laudatory. One that
I remember is that the leverage effect of the additive
pack is such that far less is required, meaning you
just get a higher percentage of lubricant per quart.
His appraisal was that Mobil synthetic took three
times as long to go marginal, and I think the change
interval he was happy endorsing was in excess of
12,000 road use miles. vs 3000. I will try to recall
his name as he was a holder of an advanced degree
in rheology @ U of M and clearly brilliant (aside
from his penchant for dragracing bikes!).
karim.marouf@cancom.com wrote:
> I don't see too many people using synthetic oil at the races, but some people
>swear by it. Does anyone believe that synthetic oil is important to use in a
>race motor or in a street car that is often used for club time trials?
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> Karim Marouf
> Canon Communications LLC
> Tel: 310-445-4267
> Fax: 310-445-4269
> Internet Address: karim.marouf@cancom.com
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