Every car needs engine oil to run. And if you’re hitting the racetrack every weekend in a performance vehicle, the type of engine oil you choose can be the difference between first and fourteenth. Every type of engine, air filter, or racing gear oil you put in your car can change the game, so it's imperative to know what works best for your situation. Explore our buying guide to learn about how racing oil affects an engine and discover the different types of oils and additives that can improve your performance.

What Is the Difference Between Racing Oil and Regular Oil?

Racing engine oil is designed for high-performance cars. It’s made with a base and additives that protect an engine and its many parts under extreme conditions that can wreak havoc on a race car, including intense heat and high pressure. Some racing engines can produce 900 horsepower and run as hot as 300°F (149°C), so they need an oil designed with a base and additives that can handle the severity and prevent seizing. Though regular automotive oils include a different mix of additives for engine protection, they’re only designed for daily driving and standard use. And racing oils run so hard, they break down much faster than regular automotive oil and require frequent changing, typically after every race or two. Regular passenger car oils are designed to run though much cooler engines and can go longer between changes.

What Is the Best Oil For a Race Engine?

The best oil for a racing engine can withstand extreme conditions for hundreds of miles. A product made from high-quality base oil with anti-wear, anti-oxidation, and lubricating additives will provide exceptional protection. Some of the best oils for a race engine come from top racing brands who have built reputations for reliable products including Driven, VP Racing, and Maxima Racing Oils.

Types of Base Oil

Base oil makes up 70 to 90 percent of race car oil, while the rest is made up of additives. Racing oil brands use different bases to create the product they believe is the best for a race car, but the most common base oils include synthetic, semi-synthetic, and mineral.

Synthetic Oil. Chemically engineered synthetic oil is processed in a lab and contains fewer impurities than regular mineral-based oil. A uniform molecular structure makes this the best base oil for performance and race car engines.

Semi-Synthetic Oil. Conventional mineral oil and synthetic oils are blended together for high anti-oxidant and temperature properties. Still a good base oil for racing engines.

Mineral Oil. Made from refined crude petroleum, mineral oil breaks down and oxidizes faster in high temperatures and therefore requires frequent changing. Fine for street cars, not a good base oil for race cars.

Synthetic oils are the best option for race cars due to protection and performance that outweighs petroleum-based mineral oils, including:

• Less oxidation at higher temperatures
• Higher anti-wear and lubrication properties
• Slower evaporation in the heat
• Minimal aeration due to better air release

What oil viscosity is best for racing?

When it comes to the viscosity of racing oil, thicker is preferable. Not only does thicker viscosity race oil hold up under extremes and maintain stability, it coats bearings and won’t drain off as quickly as thinner oil. That’s not saying that thinner oil doesn’t have its place—thinner viscosity oil works well under certain conditions because it flows faster and can kick up your horsepower. But thicker viscosity racing oil is the gold standard.

Engine Oil Additives

Oil additives help keep your engine cooler, reduce sludge build-up, remove contaminants, and improve performance. Most racing oils contain a small amount of additives already, between 30 and 10 percent, but some race engines need more. Whether you choose one or several, engine oil additives really do work by improving, or at least maintaining, the performance in a race car. The most common engine oil additives include:

• Viscosity modifiers are considered the most important engine oil additive as they improve viscosity index to keep oil at a moderate range regardless of temperature fluctuations.
• Anti-wear additives coat parts of the engine to improve lubrication, reduce friction, and prevent engine seizure.
• Corrosion and rust inhibitors slow oxidation and neutralize acids in the motor oil and create barriers that repel water and prevent rust.
• Detergents remove deposits from engine parts and neutralize impurities and acids to prevent rust and sludge.
• Dispersants work together with detergents to stop build up and reduce sludge by preventing the settlement of particles and impurities on metal parts.
• Antifoamant oil additives prevent racing oil from foaming up in the engine; foam and bubbles in the engine can cause loss of pressure and lead to eventual corrosion.

What is break-in oil?

Break-in oil is a special formula created for brand new or rebuilt engines. Its purpose is to provide a controlled friction that flattens sharp peaks in the cylinder wall, hardens the camshaft, and tightly seals the piston rings faster than just driving for a few hundred miles. After all, a rebuilt race engine doesn’t have a hundred miles of leisurely time to spare—it needs to get out on the track and run hard and fast. How long you run break-in oil depends on the engine, ring tension, oil brand, and a host of other factors, so follow the recommendations of the engine builder or manufacturer.

Race Gear Oil

The gear system in a race car goes through a lot; constant friction, metal-on-metal contact, and general wear and tear can take a heavy toll that compromises your on-track performance. Racing gear oil—not to be confused with or replaced by motor oil—reduces friction and defers heat away from drivetrain components to help prevent rapid deterioration. Performance gear oil is made especially for racing applications, formulated with a high viscosity and additives that offer enhanced protection under high speeds, heavy loads, and raised temperatures.

Air Filter Oil

A dirty air filter not only burns fuel faster, it slows acceleration, which can dramatically alter your on-track performance. Help your air filter do its job by applying oil regularly. Air filter oil creates a water-resistant barrier that traps dirt and small debris particles before they can pass into your engine. A properly oiled air filter offers a layer of protection without compromising the airflow. Avoid using WD-40 and other products that are not formulated for air filters as these will only offer minimal protection while causing an obvious decrease in air flow.

Keep your engine fine-tuned and ready to race with oils that offer optimum performance. We carry engine, air filter, and gear oils and additives from top brands that have built a name in the business, including COMP Cams, Driven, Maxima Racing Oils, All Star Performance, and Red Line. Explore Behrent’s Performance Warehouse for engine oil and related products that keep your race car running its best week after week.