Does anyone have experience with synthetics in a Mini? I'm especially
concerned about the effects on the limited slip differential.
'64 Cooper S
----- Original Message -----
From: Wm. Severin Thompson <wsthompson@thicko.com>
To: larry gallo <agallo@pcfl.net>; <karim.marouf@cancom.com>
Cc: <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 7:50 PM
Subject: Re: benefits of synthetic oil?
> To all,
>
> I have to give my hearty endorsement of Redline oil in a race motor
> application. The #99 Red Rat Bastard 948cc vintage Sprite sees 7500 rpm+
all
> race long. It sees that rpm in practice as well. My motors are generally
> made of other's castaway junk. I've pl\olished a marginal nitrided crank
the
> last 3 rebuilds. This motor build is on its 4th season. Oil pressure
remains
> good. Redline seemed to cure dropping pressure when hitting the brakes
hard
> at Turn 1 at Blackhawk or Turn 5 at Road America. 3 years ago, I was
plagued
> by a head gasket problem (17 head gaskets in 6 race weekends... solved by
> torquing the ARP studs to 55 lbs with a moly lube per Dave Tabor at
> Comptune). The motor saw 240 to 25o degrees after the gasket would blow
and
> I'd be trying to finish the race. After the problem was finally fixed, we
> did a leakdown test... it was amazingly good. Still haven't opened up the
> motor since. (Of course you all ralize I've cursed myself for this
weekend's
> Vintage Grand Prix Au Grattan).
>
> I change the oil once A SEASON! Normal race season is 6 events, so call it
> 24 hours + enduros of tracktime. So, it costs the same as changing dino
> based oil every weekend.
>
> Works for me.
>
> WST
> Flounder
> Team Thicko
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: larry gallo <agallo@pcfl.net>
> To: <karim.marouf@cancom.com>
> Cc: <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 6:20 PM
> Subject: Re: benefits of synthetic oil?
>
>
> > 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?
> > > *****************************************************
> > > Karim Marouf
> > > Canon Communications LLC
> > > Tel: 310-445-4267
> > > Fax: 310-445-4269
> > > Internet Address: karim.marouf@cancom.com
> > > Home Page: http://www.devicelink.com
> > > *****************************************************
> >
> >
> >
>
|