friends are always talking about this oil or that oil they had put in their cars and I was wondering what REALLy was in the racing engines.. I guess one would have to be the guy pouring it in to positively know for sure.
For me I just use whatever is on sale at the JiffyLube.
Betsy
I'm sure alot of the teams use Amsoil, Royal Purple, Redline, Valvoline Racing oil, Pennzoil Racing oil, etc. Not the average off-the-shelf motor oil.
Depending on what type of street-driven vehicle you own depends on what oil you should run in your car.
Older flat-tappet style, pushrod engines last longer with a petroleum based motor oil containing ZDDP, a zinc based oil additive.
Newer engines, today are built with either over head camshafts that do not use conventional lifters, or newer style roller lifters (replacing the older flat tappet style lifters).
Because of the newer lifter design, ZDDP was no longer needed. Several years back oil companies discontinued the use of zinc based oil additives because the ZDDP was killing catalytic converters in a very short time.
Engine builders and car enthusiasts of the older flat tappet style engines had to resort to either using aftermarket oil additives or buying the more expensive designer racing oils which still contain large amounts of zinc.
I have some modified flat tappet engines and I run Redline or Valvoline VR1 Racing oil ($4-$6 per quart). Camshaft manufacturers such as Engle, Comp Cams, Isky, etc. recommend and supply a break-in additive used to eliminate camshaft failure during new engine/camshaft break-in. GM used to have their own brand of break-in additive called GM EOS (or Engine Oil Supplement). Joe Gibbs Racing makes their own racing oil and has their own JGR brand break-in additive.
Most vehicles built today have warranties requiring the use of synthetic or semi-synthetic motor oils. It's best to use whatever your manufacturer recommends.