when to change oil

Agrant · Joined: 26 May 2002 Posts: 8

hi, me and my father(my enigine builder)are argueing about when to change the oil. he says after every heat/practice/feature etc. and i am saying to change it after we are done racing for the day, before we pack up, at the same time that we are draining the methanol

adam #44

Chris Hinrichs · Joined: 21 Jul 2001 Posts: 474

Im not a 4 cycle racer but I see people change oil after every heat or every other heat.

Chad Stapleton · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 4403

Depends on your motor, state of tune, oil you use, etc , etc.
You may want to ask on 4cycle.com

Rich Domenick · Joined: 27 May 2002 Posts: 20 Location: Illinois

We have raced 4 cycle for over 12 years and we run a good oil, Dyno K and we run it 1 race day. In the past we ran oils like Cool Power, FHS. these oils are cheap and seem to die under any load and amount of heat. But are good oil if you change them about 2 times a race day. Every heat race is a waste.
I saw a 50 lap feature yesterday and none of those guys pitted to change oil after every 10 laps. Tell your to save the oil money for your college fund.

Dave Ridenour · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 79 Location: Middlebury, Indiana

If you are using good oil once a day is good enough. If you are running dirt, though, change it change it frequently. If you can afford it every heat sure doesn't hurt!

Rodney Ebersole · Posted: Wed May 29, 2002 4:22 am Post subject: when to change oil

Measure how much you put in and how much you drain, When draining look to see if it is still real clean with out any liquid piston in it. If it is as clean as when you put it in then you could change it less frequently. The most expensive oil is about $5.00 a change. One rebuild coast is compairable to 45 oil changes. The higher the revs the more frequent you need to change it. As long as your Dad is building your motors, you should change it when ever he wants you too. When you build your own motors then you can chage it when ever you want.

Jean Stafford · Posted: Wed May 29, 2002 4:34 am Post subject: when to change oil

Sounds like the same argument my Dad and I had 40+ years ago about his car. He changed oil by refilling the crankcase after the oil escaped around the rings, valve seals, etc.

Oils don't realy wear out, but the additives do. Heat is the killer, and then friction begins to eat pieces of cylinder, piston, valve guides, and all the other high cost pieces in the darn thing.

If you can afford it, I'd change oil every heat. Heck I'd change it during the race if I thought it'd help. Fresh, clean oil will prolong the engine life greatly.

P.S. I've always told people, "Karting brings families closer together." Usually brings a Father and Son about three inches apart, and yelling.

[ May 29, 2002: Message edited by: Jean Stafford ]

Roy Randolph · Posted: Wed May 29, 2002 7:17 pm Post subject: when to change oil

Big question here is are you running on a paved track or dirt?

If paved and you have a good oil once per day should be ok. If you are running dirt we changed our oil after the 2nd heat and always had fresh oil for the feature. The thing about most "good oils" is its usually of a higher wt. Cool Power etc or lower weight oils and not designed to give you "3000 miles" between changes. The lower wt reduces less splash in the case and in turn faster acceleration of the engine.