Speed News Vol. 1 Issue 6 July : Page 62
using a viscosity grade lighter – that’s the major grade, not the winter number – but there are tradeoffs in doing so. “Switching to a viscosity grade lighter than recommended by the OEM is possible and may show improvements in operational effi ciency of the engine,” Barker explains. “However, a premium lubricant must be used and I advise contacting the lubricant manufacturer to discuss it. “The viscosity of oil chosen by an OEM for their machine is determined based on the build of the machine – especially internal clearances in bearings, oil pump, oil circuit, etc. – and the expected rotational speeds. Altering the oil viscosity grade could affect the durability or longevity, and in modern computer-controlled engines may cause malfunction and fault codes depending on the resultant operating oil pressure.” Given all that, oil viscosity means much less than it used to, as there are many other factors that infl uence how well an oil protects an engine from wear, especially in synthetics such as Royal Purple. “Selecting an oil viscosity grade is really the easy part in choosing an engine oil,” Barker explains. “With current premium engine oils, the additive package included in the oil formulation really performs the bulk of the lubricant tasks. Additives greatly enhance the wear protection and lubricity, the detergency and cleanliness and the rust and oxidation protection offered by the oil.” Additives may include anti-wear ZDDP – zinc dialkyldithiophosphates – anti-oxidants to help the oil resist acidity, rust and corrosion inhibitors and detergents and dispersants to remove and prevent deposits as well as suspend XPR 3.1 is Royal Purple’s most extreme and low-viscosity oil. It’s designed for applications where power is of utmost importance and the oil will be in the engine for only a short while. particles so they can be carried to the oil fi lter. Royal Purple’s racing oils, unlike some racing oils, do not eliminate the additives, meaning the oil can last a long time and even be used in a daily driver. “The XPR oils use only the best industry-standard additive types and at treat rates that often exceed what is contained in lower-performing engine oils. The XPR oils, like the bulk of our other automotive lubricants also contain our proprietary Synerlec additive chemistry, but at higher treat rates than our non-XPR oils.” So there is more to choosing an oil than just mineral-based or synthetic, lower viscosity or higher. Using a multi-viscosity oil may not be necessary in racing engines that run for a while and are allowed to come up to temperature. It all comes down to what the manufacturer recommends and, for tuned engines, how the engine is built. Summarizes Barker: “Using a premium engine oil that offers an advanced and effective total formulation, and in the correct viscosity grade, will allow any engine to provide the best performance and effi ciency it can, as well as the best durability and reliability possible.” For more information please visit Royal Purple at www.royalpurple.com. SN 62
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