[TWG1]

Was at NOLA yesterday and on front straight noticed that Oil Pressure would peg in the red (high) on front straight, and later refined it to any revs over ~6k. I was able to avoid it by short-shifting rest of the day.

Specifics:
2019 ZLE, M6, all stock, ~3300 miles.
Fresh 15w50, 10qts, PF-64 filter.
5th Track day with this car, reviewed data through Cosworth:

Sebring JAN: High oil PSI's were 80.6, 82.4, 85.9
Barber FEB: 84.1, 77.7, 76
NOLA (yesterday): 89.3, 85.3, 83.5

Reading other threads, some say this is an indicator of pending oil pump failure. Seems rare for a 2019 MY, and I would have thought it would have failed by now, with (5) track days with this condition.

My last ZL1 A10 (running 0W40) seemed to run 50-60 on track. Can anyone share data as to whether this is a 'track only or 15w50 oil condition, or otherwise?

Thanks in advance - TWG1

[ZX-10R]

Not sure why GM recommends 15W-50 for track. My brother used to work for GM Advanced Vehicle Engineering Lubricants Division and always told me 10W-40 is more than enough for track use, where some viscosity loss can be expected. Hot viscosity is about 60% higher than 5W-30 https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/...obil-1-15w-50/

[Vigilante375]

Originally Posted by TWG1

Was at NOLA yesterday and on front straight noticed that Oil Pressure would peg in the red (high) on front straight, and later refined it to any revs over ~6k. I was able to avoid it by short-shifting rest of the day.

Specifics:
2019 ZLE, M6, all stock, ~3300 miles.
Fresh 15w50, 10qts, PF-64 filter.
5th Track day with this car, reviewed data through Cosworth:

Sebring JAN: High oil PSI's were 80.6, 82.4, 85.9
Barber FEB: 84.1, 77.7, 76
NOLA (yesterday): 89.3, 85.3, 83.5

Reading other threads, some say this is an indicator of pending oil pump failure. Seems rare for a 2019 MY, and I would have thought it would have failed by now, with (5) track days with this condition.

My last ZL1 A10 (running 0W40) seemed to run 50-60 on track. Can anyone share data as to whether this is a 'track only or 15w50 oil condition, or otherwise?

Thanks in advance - TWG1

I went to the dealer because my 18 ZL1 A10 was pinging into the 80s when at full throttle.

The tech said this is how the oil pumps are supposed to work and had a document from GM that showed the acceptable ranges.

Here's my thread: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=546288

Originally Posted by ZX-10R

Not sure why GM recommends 15W-50 for track. My brother used to work for GM Advanced Vehicle Engineering Lubricants Division and always told me 10W-40 is more than enough for track use, where some viscosity loss can be expected. Hot viscosity is about 60% higher than 5W-30 https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/...obil-1-15w-50/

Come on, you know this.

They recommend it because of the G force the ZL1 1LE can sustain. If it had an dry pump system then it wouldn't need it. Don't know why they didn't go with that just for the 1LE.

[TWG1]

Originally Posted by Vigilante375

Here's my thread: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=546288

Thanks. That's very helpful. Sounds like we have the same issue; whether it's just a quirk, a bad pressure spring, or 'normal'.

I assume your LT4 is:

A) Still pegging 80
B) Still alive w/o any other issues since you posted in 2019?

[ZX-10R]

Originally Posted by Vigilante375

They recommend it because of the G force the ZL1 1LE can sustain.

That's not the reason - if baffling isn't adequate for 0W-40 it won't be adequate for 15W-40 either. Factory fill on the GT3 is 0W-40, I rest my case

15w-50 is way too thick (reminds me of BMWs bonehead call for 10W-60 and the many E9x M3 bearing failures that resulted). They are trying to anticipate viscosity loss for track use but most people change their oil every track event anyway.

[Vigilante375]

Originally Posted by ZX-10R

That's not the reason - if baffling isn't adequate for 0W-40 it won't be adequate for 15W-40 either. Factory fill on the GT3 is 0W-40, I rest my case

15w-50 is way too thick (reminds me of BMWs bonehead call for 10W-60 and the many E9x M3 bearing failures that resulted). They are trying to anticipate viscosity loss for track use but most people change their oil every track event anyway.

Quick internet search and here's a thread from a Corvette forum asking Al O (I'm sure you know who he is) and he explains why the ZL1 1LE needs to use the 15w50.....

https://www.corvette7.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=535476

Oh GT3? They have a dry sump setup yes? OK. No comparison.

Factory fill on the ZL1 and 1LE is 0w40 too......

[Vigilante375]

Originally Posted by TWG1

Thanks. That's very helpful. Sounds like we have the same issue; whether it's just a quirk, a bad pressure spring, or 'normal'.

I assume your LT4 is:

A) Still pegging 80
B) Still alive w/o any other issues since you posted in 2019?

Nope. No issues. Car is all stock, it doesn't get driven lightly and I've been to a number of autocross events. Not so much recently but I'll get back to it later this year, hopefully.

It still hits the 80s when WOT and idles just under 30. All while being in the great GA heat.

I think the main culprit to identify a "bad" oil pump is the idle PSI dropping to the low 20s. A recent thread was just made on that and I think that's what most users agreed with.

[Dave777]

Some folks like 15w40 or 5w40 synthetic diesel oils with high Zinc content like Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel.

I agree there’s no need for 15w50 Mobil 1 if you can use a lighter weight oil.

[Junkyardspecial]

Originally Posted by ZX-10R

That's not the reason - if baffling isn't adequate for 0W-40 it won't be adequate for 15W-40 either. Factory fill on the GT3 is 0W-40, I rest my case

15w-50 is way too thick (reminds me of BMWs bonehead call for 10W-60 and the many E9x M3 bearing failures that resulted). They are trying to anticipate viscosity loss for track use but most people change their oil every track event anyway.

Synthetic oil doesn't lose viscosity with age though, it can get thicker or thinner very slightly with contaminates or if fuel makes its way in but thats about it. Its been explained many times why 15w-50 is called for, there is no hidden reason.

[AZ_1LE]

Originally Posted by TWG1

Was at NOLA yesterday and on front straight noticed that Oil Pressure would peg in the red (high) on front straight, and later refined it to any revs over ~6k. I was able to avoid it by short-shifting rest of the day.

Specifics:
2019 ZLE, M6, all stock, ~3300 miles.
Fresh 15w50, 10qts, PF-64 filter.
5th Track day with this car, reviewed data through Cosworth:

Sebring JAN: High oil PSI's were 80.6, 82.4, 85.9
Barber FEB: 84.1, 77.7, 76
NOLA (yesterday): 89.3, 85.3, 83.5

Reading other threads, some say this is an indicator of pending oil pump failure. Seems rare for a 2019 MY, and I would have thought it would have failed by now, with (5) track days with this condition.

My last ZL1 A10 (running 0W40) seemed to run 50-60 on track. Can anyone share data as to whether this is a 'track only or 15w50 oil condition, or otherwise?

Thanks in advance - TWG1

It is normal for it to do this above 6k rpm. The LT4 uses a variable pressure oil pump, controlled via an electronic solenoid that changes the actual configuration of the pump so that it only produces ~40 psi of pressure while cruising on the highway for fuel economy, and ramps it up to full pressure above 6k rpm. It is not a sign of impending failure.

[TWG1]

Originally Posted by AZ_1LE

It is normal for it to do this above 6k rpm. The LT4 uses a variable pressure oil pump, controlled via an electronic solenoid that changes the actual configuration of the pump so that it only produces ~40 psi of pressure while cruising on the highway for fuel economy, and ramps it up to full pressure above 6k rpm. It is not a sign of impending failure.

Thanks. Good to know. I just wish it wasn’t ‘in the red’ when it does it!

[wakespeak]

I see high 70s on the track. Make sure you warm up the engine and oil. Do not run the engine at high revs until the oil is 200F.

[Camaro1973]

Originally Posted by TWG1

Was at NOLA yesterday and on front straight noticed that Oil Pressure would peg in the red (high) on front straight, and later refined it to any revs over ~6k. I was able to avoid it by short-shifting rest of the day.

Specifics:
2019 ZLE, M6, all stock, ~3300 miles.
Fresh 15w50, 10qts, PF-64 filter.
5th Track day with this car, reviewed data through Cosworth:

Sebring JAN: High oil PSI's were 80.6, 82.4, 85.9
Barber FEB: 84.1, 77.7, 76
NOLA (yesterday): 89.3, 85.3, 83.5

Reading other threads, some say this is an indicator of pending oil pump failure. Seems rare for a 2019 MY, and I would have thought it would have failed by now, with (5) track days with this condition.

My last ZL1 A10 (running 0W40) seemed to run 50-60 on track. Can anyone share data as to whether this is a 'track only or 15w50 oil condition, or otherwise?

Thanks in advance - TWG1

Its just going to do this with 15/50 its just heavy oil. Esp when its fresh new oil too.

[SFV1LE]

Originally Posted by ZX-10R

That's not the reason - if baffling isn't adequate for 0W-40 it won't be adequate for 15W-40 either. Factory fill on the GT3 is 0W-40, I rest my case

15w-50 is way too thick (reminds me of BMWs bonehead call for 10W-60 and the many E9x M3 bearing failures that resulted). They are trying to anticipate viscosity loss for track use but most people change their oil every track event anyway.

BMW E46 M3 bearing failures had nothing to do with the 10w60 viscosity, it was the bearing design/spec. I had my M3 bearings replaced 2x under preventative factory recall work but they never had an issue prior to this work. If it was the oil they would have changed the spec, it is still 10w60 today and E46 M3 is one of the best performing "old" cars at the track. Owners of these 20 year old cars with high miles hammer them on hot days at Buttonwillow and Auto Club Speedway and smoke high HP cars all day. If you get your bearings replaced with the new design as indicated by by BMW and run the 10w60, you're good to go for hard use.

Our 15w50 is not too thick for the track, at 250 F+ temps I'm glad it's in there and wouldn't use anything else. Porsche is a different design, requiring a different oil.