Question: Does anyone know the answer for these questions for sure? Speculation is welcome, but if someone is close to the racing industry and can shed some light on this, I would appreciate it! Thank You in advance.
1) What weight of synthetic oil is used for NASCAR Cup Qualifying?
2) Does NASCAR regulate what oil is used in a race engine? (All Ford, Dodge & Chevrolet V8s) For example, all cars use Sunoco's Race Fuel, no exceptions. Does NASCAR mandate the lubricants used as well, in their attempt to "level the playing field" among the Cup teams?

If anyone knows, please post - Thanks again...

 

I'm fairly sure they are allowed to use whatever oils they want to, as some drivers are sponsored by different brands. Although, with all the new rules they put on these cars every year, who knows. But as of right now, I'm pretty sure they can use what they want.

 

They can use whatever they want. NASCAR doesn't have any rules on the oils they use. I don't think you will ever get an answer on this because most things of this nature are considered secret. They used to use really light 0W oils when they had race and qualifying engines, but I don't know if they still do, since they have to qualify on the same engine that they race.

 

They do make actual race oils though, several companies have them. Here's a link to Lucas race oil from Jegs, Royal Purple and RedLine makes it too. http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...44&prmenbr=361

 

This question was asked on one of the NASCAR shows where they have crew chiefs answering questions. They said that they do use some off the shelf synthetic oils, but none would specify the weight that they used. This is all dictated by the engine builders anyway. They also said that they get special one a kinds oils to test from their oil sponsor also.

 

Ed, each team is allowed to use whatever brand they want to. My understanding is that the majority use Mobil1. and Hendrick uses Quaker State and I'd imagine the Pennzoil team uses Pennzoil but I've also seen Schaeffer's and others. Also, most run oils that range from 0w-30 to 15w-50. I suspect that it's largely a matter of personal preference as you rarely see oil-related issues making cars lose engines. I suppose some of this may change somewhat when the new series of engines comes out which I bet will be in the next 2-3 years.

 

It is responses like these that make me happy to be a part of Ford Truck Enthusiasts, and especially the "Oil and Lubrication" forum. Each and every one of your responses seem logical, and right on the money. For example, the weight used for Cup qualifying would be a trade secret. I know they run as a lightweight lubricant as possible, two make those motors run as efficient as possible for those two qualifying laps. I'm sure the team's "test sessions" are used just for that purpose. I notice a lot of those race motors use Wix Race oil filters as well. I have always wondered over the years, when you see an engine go up in smoke, it is possible the engine was low on oil? However, a friend of mine who races street stock cars, says those Nascar engines are running about 3-4 quarts of extra oil, through the lines, oil coolers etc. The idea being even if a new "tight" race engine was using, and burning a little oil under the heat and stress they run at, the motor will never be "oil starved" (for lack of a better term) unless a oil line fitting comes loose, or a oil line is knocked off or ruptured. Lastly, maybe it's just me. If I am wrong here, let me know and I will read your reasons carefully. It appalls me, and I'm disgusted, with these Nextel Cup drivers who win a race. Then they flat out abuse a winning engine by doing smoky burnouts, doughnuts, and smoking the rear tires off with the nose of their car against the wall. I know it's a "trendy" thing to do, but I don't like it. Seems to me, if I had a race engine that just won, I would want to observe that engine after a tear-down the next day. We know that all 43 of those Cup cars have the power to do long, smoky burnouts. Seems like a waste to abuse a winning, and expensive engine? When Terry Labonte, #5, won the Southern 500 on Labor Day, 2003, he took the checkered flag, and drove around 1-2 victory laps. To me, it looked like tradition, class, and a man driving a race car. Not some young punk, doing smoky burnouts with the engine revving at redline RPMs! Just my 2 cents, I will shut up now...LOL! Thanks for all your responses, but am I wrong with my opinion of the post race winning burnouts???

 

Hi, I'm down here in Australia and we don't have NASCAR, but we have something similar which is called V8 SuperCars.

Most of the teams are sponsered by oil companies & use a specially formulated oil.
I know of two race teams that use a German oil (FUCHS) straight of the shelf & out the bottle, it is a 0W20.

They tell me that since changing from their previous product, oil consumption dropped.
One of the teams took up sponsership with Mobil 0W40 and have lost a small percentage of horsepower, they're trying to work out something.
The lighter oils seem to be the way to go for power, and I have not seen an engine failure, yet.

 

I never thought about the burnouts that way Flash. In my opinion, the drivers do that to please fans. It is so much about business and keeping fans coming that they want to wring all the excitement they can get. Your point makes good sense and I am sure the winning R&D depts. are not happy to see their engines hurt like that. Kind of ruins the controlled research part. The other point I see is that a race car engine runs for what, 500 miles? True it runs hard, but metallurgy is probably better and all components are heavy duty for racing. No repeated cold starts or high miles. The oil is also cooled. I think any oil will work in a race engine, but it is cheap insurance to have higher quality. The lower weights help mileage also. Twenty years ago when most drivers used 10w30 dino. That worked good for them also. Motor oil is a very interesting subject to me, but when it comes down to it, as long as you use the grade and spec for your manufacturer, you should have no problems. Still, I want to talk about it and make sure I am good to my engines. Guess I am an oil nut.

 

The engines are dry sump engines, so they don't have much oil in the oil pan. They have an oil tank behind the driver seat that is filled with about 4-5 gallons of oil. The only way that they will use that much oil is with a a serious oil line leak. It is a different oiling system than a street car.

As for burnouts, I agree to a certain extent. They were cool for a while. I like what Terry Labonte said, "When you win, go to victory lane and act like you've been there before." Dale Earnhardt used to make his drivers pay for the engine if they wrecked it doing a burnout.