For occasional track use , which oil viscosity to use? Using oil data sheet for guidance

[Rhorn]

I’ll have the last sample of Honda ultimate 0w20 results back in a few weeks, after 1 track day at Laguna Seca and 2 track days at COTA ~ 2500 miles total.

Next thinking of testing Motul 300v 5w30 for the next 5 oil changes ( free via FCP Euro ) and see if the lab results are better. Theoretically Ester PAO run 10-15% cooler and supposedly it’s the best. Maybe after can test this mobile esp 0w-40.

Curious did they say why they are not running a Motul or Redline PAO / Ester blend?

Also Anyone recommend an accurate good oil temp system to install and take readings?

Spoon is running 5w30 Ravenol rep pao ester blend in 25 hour race and noticing ~10 degrees cooler oil temps. I think it’s Api SP.

Didnt ask. The M1 ESP is a PAO/ester blended oil, its not lacking in anything. The M1 ESP oil doesn't give them any issues so they have no need or desire to change since it works. The TC cars only do 25 minute sprint races, its more akin to a hardcore HPDE session, which is why I care about what they are doing. Its not a 25 hour endurance race so its not an apples to apples comparsion.

For the reading the oil temperature reading I tried to replicate the same setup that Jason from WOT uses. Its a good idea to buy some RTV and coat the female threading because there can be some minor weeping of oil.

https://www.instagram.com/wot__performance/p/C6sbNknr6NN/?img_index=3

Dont ask me questions on what to do because I tried and didn't have the time to deal with it. I didn't understand and couldn't figure out how to properly wire the temperatures guage to the temperature sensor and then setup the P3 guage.

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[johnloov]

Thanks for the detail, appreciate it. Ok great I’ll ask Jason - I’m in contact with him helping with his new 3d printed ducts - didn’t know he had the thermostat- he’s running Pennzoil ultra platinum 5W-30.

 

[jtlctr]

Bonus picture of the driver giving me the rundown of the steering wheel

Great photo! You look so thrilled to be sitting in this car. The proverbial "kid in a candy store".

 

[johnloov]

Thanks for the detail, appreciate it. Ok great I’ll ask Jason - I’m in contact with him helping with his new 3d printed ducts - didn’t know he had the thermostat- he’s running Pennzoil ultra platinum 5W-30.

Just spoke with Jason for about an hour.

He's very methodical. Here is some feedback.

With the oil sensor - He said he was seeing ~20degrees cooler on real oil temps vs. Log R, but he said, simply follow the data, and check my water temps as that is most important and it's accurate.

I showed him my water temps, he said the car is running very cool, and no issues with overheating on both COTA and Laguna.

Regarding engine oil, he said, the same, follow the data.

He would not mess with it, if I'm getting those results, and engine is running cool.

I will probably try 5w-30 Motul 300V or Pennzoil Ultra Platinum just to prove the oil temp and engine water temp theory. Will moving up to a 5w-30 increase engine temps on a stock car. The experts say yes it will run hotter, the community says it's better protection.

Regarding, the oil cooler - HEL Performance Thermostatic Oil Cooler - He had the same results as my friend who realized the oil cooler didn't help much if any, due to the location is in front of the radiator. Both moved to side mount dual oil coolers. Jason's at about 450hp.

I'm only seeing a max temp of 221F on my hottest day at COTA.

Here are some fun clips from COTA - It was an epic track - love Laguna, but COTA is now my favorite - lots of track out possibility

 

[Rhorn]

Great photo! You look so thrilled to be sitting in this car. The proverbial "kid in a candy store".

Haha yes. When I finally found it I was super excited. He actually had a DNF because he hit the wall and popped his tire early in the race. I actually was looking to see it but never saw it on the track, and didn't know what happened

I think the driver could tell I was excited so thats why he let me climbed in and showed me how everything works inside.

Very cool and fun experience. They were the only Race Team out there with the Integra Type S. Everything else was a GRC or the Elantra N

 

[CONCEPTMACHINE]

I like this guy. He does a good job with math.

 

[johnloov]

Informative video on oil viscosity and its impact on the Type R.

Running a higher-viscosity oil in the Civic Type R (e.g., 5W-30 or 0W-30 vs. 0W-20) can offer better protection under high thermal and shear loads—especially in track environments or hot climates. However, it’s important to match viscosity to usage conditions.

If you’re using a thicker oil and primarily doing short trips or cold starts, the engine may not reach optimal oil temperatures consistently. This can lead to increased moisture retention in the oil (from combustion byproducts and condensation), which promotes sludge and deposit formation over time. In contrast, longer drives at proper operating temperatures allow the oil to fully evaporate water content and maintain its additive balance.





Conclusion: Thicker oil should ideally be paired with extended, high-load driving in warmer conditions. For short-distance daily use, sticking with OEM-spec low-viscosity oil may offer better long-term cleanliness and engine health.

 

[Ktrw]

Informative video on oil viscosity and its impact on the Type R.

Running a higher-viscosity oil in the Civic Type R (e.g., 5W-30 or 0W-30 vs. 0W-20) can offer better protection under high thermal and shear loads—especially in track environments or hot climates. However, it’s important to match viscosity to usage conditions.

If you’re using a thicker oil and primarily doing short trips or cold starts, the engine may not reach optimal oil temperatures consistently. This can lead to increased moisture retention in the oil (from combustion byproducts and condensation), which promotes sludge and deposit formation over time. In contrast, longer drives at proper operating temperatures allow the oil to fully evaporate water content and maintain its additive balance.





Conclusion: Thicker oil should ideally be paired with extended, high-load driving in warmer conditions. For short-distance daily use, sticking with OEM-spec low-viscosity oil may offer better long-term cleanliness and engine health.

For short distance daily driving I would argue using oem spec on these cars would not necessarily provide better cleanliness or engine health because of fuel dilution. I think the cleanliness part just isn't going to be different between 0W-20 and something 30 grade, because both are going to do poorly in sub optimal conditions like short trips. The engine health component would not be better with 0W-20 because if you short trip constantly your fuel dilution is going to be high which is going to lower the viscosity and effectiveness of the oil.

Lake said for hybrids, it may make more sense to run oem spec oil or at least "hybrid" formulations of oils, but that is a very different operating envelope than a normal ICE system. I run slightly thicker oils the Toyota hybrids in my family fleet because the UOA came back right on the cusp or slightly out of 16 grade, so I bumped them up to 0W-20 and the wear metals are insanely low still.

Another interesting point made from that video was that you could use aluminum concentration in a UOA to check if the viscosity is too thick for the piston to wall clearance of an engine.

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