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What oil and from where?
carpmart - 19/11/07 at 09:50 AM

Guys

Just thinking on what oil to use for my 919 blade engined buggy. I will be racing a whole season next year which is 10 championship races and up to 5 non-championship ones. All in thats between 10 - 15 oil and filter changes and if I use full on 100% synthetic oil will cost me 100's and 100's of pounds.

Options

1 - do I buy better quality/branded/synthetic oil and change every other race meeting or...

2 do I buy in bulk semi-synthetic oil and change every race meeting?

Does anyone have a good 'on-line' or trade supplier I can use for oil and fireblade filters?

Thanks

Harvey

BenB - 19/11/07 at 03:58 PM

Don't know but don't forget semi-synthetic is actually non-synthetic mixed with a variable amount of synthetic stabilisers etc to make it more like synthetic oil.... You get good ones and bad ones... In some ways semi-synthetic is a bit of a marketing ploy. Cheap semi-synthetics are basically not synthetic. So if you buy on price rather than quality you'll be getting lots of non-synthetic oil fundamentally. I'd be tempted to buy good synthetic oil in the first place and look after it, changing it less often.

carpmart - 19/11/07 at 05:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by BenB
Don't know but don't forget semi-synthetic is actually non-synthetic mixed with a variable amount of synthetic stabilisers etc to make it more like synthetic oil.... You get good ones and bad ones... In some ways semi-synthetic is a bit of a marketing ploy. Cheap semi-synthetics are basically not synthetic. So if you buy on price rather than quality you'll be getting lots of non-synthetic oil fundamentally. I'd be tempted to buy good synthetic oil in the first place and look after it, changing it less often.


Ben

You highlight exactly the problem. What is a sensible frequency to change oil in a 'race' engine? Every two race meetings? Every meeting? Where do I buy good oil cheaply based on volume?

Thanks

H

andrew.carwithen - 19/11/07 at 07:36 PM

I get my oil from Opie Oils http://www.opieoils.co.uk If you sign up to become a member, you get significant discount and they are very knowledgeable as to what oil is best suited to your engine and its application and how often it should be changed. Delivery is usually very quick too.

Andy

Hellfire - 19/11/07 at 08:01 PM

It's a difficult question to answer as it really depends on how the engine runs in your application. Having said that, most sportsbike engines are designed to be driven hard, although yours will have to work overtime in a buggy.

Personally I'd go for a non-synthetic oil and perhaps more importantly, a good quality oil filter and change the oil frequently.

Ask some of the guys who compete in the championship for their advice/recommendations and/or post this question in the 'Race Issues' section of this forum. I'm sure the guys on there will give you sound advice.

Phil

Jon Ison - 19/11/07 at 08:13 PM

I used/use Motul semi and changed every 3 race meetings, never had one go pop.

My local friendly bike shop always threw in a free filter with a can of Motul, that helped in my decision.

Redline as a very good reputation amongst racers.