When I was a kid we always used Quaker State oil because my dad had a deal with them as a result of some partial sponsorship. And it was good oil, because we never had a single engine failure that was bearing or lubrication related. But when I started buying my own oil for daily drivers and stuff I was all about whatever was slick and cheap. It turns out the brand may or may not matter as much as the specs of the oil itself. So if us normal folks can’t be sure which brand is best, what do the engine oil experts know that we might learn from? Check out the video below, to see what engine oil experts use to decide.
Video Description:
What is the right way to choose an oil? Well, it doesn’t start with choosing a brand name. Instead, the application will dictate the chemistry needed. A 750 HP race engine needs a racing oil, not a passenger car oil or diesel oil. A non-synchronized transmission needs a different fluid than a synchronized transmission does, especially if it has brass synchronizers. A hypoid rear gear may or may not have a limited slip differential, which impacts the choice of chemistry needed (limited slip differentials need a limited slip gear oil). As you can see, each of these applications requires a different chemistry, and none of these decisions begin with a brand name.
In this video I’ll show you how I choose the engine oil, transmission fluid and gear oil for my Dad’s vintage NASCAR race car. He’s 76 years old and the engine makes over 750 horsepower, so I have to get these choices right. After making these choices, we will go to the racetrack and see how the car runs. Plus, we will see how much difference a smaller carburetor makes in terms of average lap time! Lake Speed, Jr.
