Driven Racing Conventional, Semi, and Synthetic Motor Oils Protect Your Classic or Performance Engine

Driven Racing Oil makes performance conventional, partial, and full synthetic lubricants including break-in, street, and racing oils with increased levels of ZDDP to protect your classic or performance engine. Formulated with proprietary anti-wear and friction reducing additives and shear stable viscosity using advanced mPAO base oils, Driven Racing Oils provide the best performance for both street and track with engine specific formulas that reduce wear and increase power.

The 4 R's of lubrication: The Right Oil in the Right Place at the Right Time and in the Right Amount

You don't need to be a tribologist. Just remember the 4 R's when choosing the best oil for your engine. Driven has you covered!

What makes Driven Oils different from other brands?

Born from Joe Gibbs Racing, Driven Racing Oil™ utilizes cutting-edge lubricant technology & on-track research for maximum performance and protection. Driven Racing Oil motor oil and break-in oil feature higher levels of zinc, phosphorous, and sulfur to provide maximum anti-wear properties. Driven doesn't offer cookie cutter solutions with a one size fits all lubrication product but rather application and purpose specific lubricants.

No additional ZDDP or Moly Additives Needed with Driven Oils

Be it for a flat tappet camshaft or hypoid ring and gear set, Driven Racing Oil™ products have the correct additives for that application. You do not need to add an aftermarket oil treatment to any Driven Racing Oil™ product. Every Driven Racing Oil™ lubricant is carefully formulated to provide the necessary protection for its specific application. The use of an aftermarket oil treatment may degrade the performance of the lubricant- a situation called "additive clash". To avoid this, do not use any aftermarket additives with any Driven Racing Oil™ product. When changing to Driven Racing Oil™ from another brand of oil, make sure the oil system has been drained and flushed before filling the sump with the new oil. This step ensures that you get the best performance from your purchase.

What’s in your motor oil?

Although there are countless brands of motor oils out there, there are only a handful of companies that make base stock and additives. For example, the mPAO synthetic base stock Driven uses for its oils is only made by three companies in the whole world. In the case of Driven, they use Chevron-Phillips mPAO. Same goes for oil additives with the major players in the industry being Lubrizol and Afton, both of which Driven has used for oil additives over the years.

You can put two people in a kitchen with the same ingredients and ask them to cook the same dish and still end up with different results. Same goes with motor oils. The difference between oils is in what base stocks and which additive packages are used and their blend rates.

The only real exception to this is a spec oil. Many manufacturers, Porsche included, have their own approved oils. Automobile manufacturers work with additive companies to develop additive packages that are pre-approved when used in an approved base stock at a prescribed blend rate. Case in point, looking at Porsche A40 approved oils, there is very little difference between the brands. Also there often are standards that overlap and oil additive manufacturers can offer a package that is approved by more than one manufacturer. Mobil 1 ESP X3 0W-40 is one such example, which carries both Porsche C40, GM’s DEXOS2, and several other Mercedes and VW approvals. What makes this oil standard different than an A40 is that it provides protection for diesel (DPF) and gasoline particulate filters (GPF) as well as protection from low speed pre-ignition (LSPI).

So what is the purpose of oil additives?

Before Lubrizol invented ZDDP, lubricating oils for the most part didn’t have any additives in them. The performance of the oil solely depended on the quality of the base stock. Before the advent of oil additives and later synthetic oils, Pennsylvania’s highly paraffinic crude was widely regarded as the best crude from which to manufacture lubricating oils where other crude is better suited for making fuels. Additives were developed and added to oil to improve the performance and longevity of the lubricant which directly affects the performance and longevity of the component it is lubricating.

What types of additives are used in motor oils?

Antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, and anti-foaming agent are used to enhance the properties of the base oil used. Pour point depressants allow oils to flow at lower temperatures better and viscosity improvers are used to increase the thickness of a base oil at higher temperatures. Extreme pressure additives, also known as friction modifiers, are used to further reduce frictional losses to increase fuel economy and often also help to reduce wear, especially when thinner oils are used. Lastly, metal deactivators, detergents, and dispersants are added to keep your engine clean while allowing for extended drain intervals by preventing the formation of engine deposits and sludge.

Calcium, sodium, and magnesium are primarily used as detergents, however oils formulated to prevent LSPI cannot have more than 2000 ppm calcium and cannot contain any sodium as these additives can cause low speed pre-ignition. Phosphorus and zinc are the primary components of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate, also known as ZDDP, which are the primary anti-wear additives used in motor oils. Moly and boron are added as friction modifiers and lastly, silicon is added as an anti-foaming agent.

Will Driven Racing Oils void my warranty?

Lake Speed Jr. answers an important question: Will Using Driven Racing Oil Void My Warranty? The answer lies with the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Passed by congress in 1975, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act governs the warranties on consumer products providing to consumers the rights to install aftermarket parts without fear of having their warranty voided. This means a vehicle manufacturer cannot automatically cancel your warranty just because you’ve installed aftermarket car parts. So if your aftermarket part somehow causes or contributes to a failure, the dealer and/or manufacturer may be able to deny your warranty claim, but they have to prove the connection as the burden of proof is entirely on the dealership and/or vehicle manufacturer.

When it comes to oil changes, FTC has stated that it’s illegal for an automobile dealer or OEM to refuse your warranty coverage because someone else performed routine maintenance or repairs on your vehicle. Any independent auto technician, a chain service repair business, or even yourself in your driveway are allowed to do routine maintenance or repairs on your vehicle. According to the FTC you must still use proper oil specifications. Neglecting oil changes, neglecting maintenance or using oil that does not comply with factory-recommended specifications are completely separate issues from the Magnuson-Moss regulations. So if your car is under warranty, using a factory approved oil that meets the manufacturer specifications is recommended, however we have never heard of any instance in which a customer has had their warranty voided by not using a factory approved oil.

In most cases, the factory approved oil will provide adequate protection when a reduced oil change interval is observed, however if you track your car, your warranty will be voided anyways if any failure occurs, so we advise using Driven XP racing oils for track use regardless of your vehicle's warranty status in the correct viscosity for your application.

Will Driven Racing Oils damage my catalytic converter?

Will High Zinc Oils Damage My Catalytic Converter? Lake Speed Jr. tells you why its an issue of quality. In decades past, before 2000, most street oils had elevated levels of ZDDP and catalytic converter issues were far and few between and something we never see with Porsche vehicles. Porsche has always used very high quality catalytic converters on their cars so we are not concerned with use of Driven oils in any Porsche engines. Models with gasoline particulate filters (GPF) where a C20, C30, or C40 oil that meets emissions system protection requirements can use Driven DI oils which meet ACEA C2/C3 specifications for sulfated ash with an average 0.72 (mass %).

Should I add oil additives to my oil?

Long story short, no - more is not always better. It’s all about having the right balance. A break-in oil is typically a group 1 conventional oil with lower detergency and no friction modifiers which enhances the performance of the anti-wear additives such as ZDDP. Similarly, a true race oil will have limited detergents and dispersants as they negatively impact the performance of the anti-wear additives. Race oils often also have increased levels of friction modifiers that help reduce friction which results in lower oil temperatures and increased horsepower. Street oils designed for extended drain intervals will have the right balance of all these additives to protect your engine and keep it clean. By using an oil additive you risk throwing this balance off and in essence, you’re conducting a science experiment in your engine and you have no way of knowing what the result may be.

Should I use Ceratec in my Porsche engine to prevent bore scoring?

Those of you familiar with Porsche cylinder bore scoring common to Boxster, Cayman, 911, Cayenne, Panamera, or Macan models with Lokasil or Alusil engine blocks, you probably have heard of LM Ceratec. It’s a moly additive designed to reduce friction. Moly also helps to reduce wear in these engines. Porsche approved A40 oils typically have no or very little moly in them, so adding Ceratec to an A40 approved oil will certainly boost moly levels, however it also provides increased calcium detergents. Like mentioned before, we’re not fans of using additives, but many have had excellent results using this product, but results may vary. Just as a reminder, using Driven DT40, DT50, or DI40 (which can be used in place of a Porsche C40 approved oil) all provide as much or more moly than any A40 oil supplemented with Ceratec without the need for supplementation. Just food for thought.

What is in my oil?

SPEEDiagnostix has provided virgin oil analysis for many of the most popular oils used in both aircooled and watercooled Porsche engines including Mobil 1, Driven, Liqui-moly, Penn-Grade, Porsche Classic, and Swepco. Total base number, viscosity, and oxidation value are reported as well as additive levels for calcium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, molybdenum, boron, and silicon.

If the oil you are using isn’t listed, LN Engineering offers the SPEEDiagnostix SDX-10003 Double Oil Analysis Kit that will let you test your used oil and also send in a virgin sample of your new oil.

A Systematic Approach to Protecting Your Performance or Classic Car Engine

Every new engine deserves the right oil - the Driven system. The Driven Racing Oil™ "system" of lubricants provides layers of protection for your performance engine. Every Driven Racing Oil™ lubricant is designed to complement the other Driven lubricants- creating a synergistic effect where the whole protective package is greater than the sum of the individual parts. Using different brands of assembly lube, break-in oil and race oil may not yield this effect.

When assembling your engine, the Driven Racing Oil™ Engine Assembly Grease provides active chemistry to protect critical valve train components like camshafts and pushrod tips on initial start-up. LN Engineering recommends starting off with Driven BR which promotes proper surface mating during the critical break-in process and chemically assists with piston ring sealing in high-performance engines. Driven Racing Oil™ BR Break-In Oil provides high levels of Zinc anti-wear protection for flat tappet lifters during break-in and promotes ring seal. Establishing the Zinc anti-wear protection in your engine extends the life of engine parts.

Before switching to a synthetic oil, we recommend an intermediate oil like Driven HR conventional "Hot Rod" oil, which doesn't require ZDDP or additives to protect your engine. Driven HR adds US Military specification storage protection additives that guard against rust and corrosion, especially during winter storage or prolonged hibernation.

Following the intermediate oil, Driven DT fully synthetic oils are designed for water-cooled, European sports car engines. It provides superior protection, utilizing advanced synthetic base oils to provide high temperature and high shear protection for high RPM engines. Driven DT oils additionally were developed for and tested in Porsche engines through a partnership between Driven, LN Engineering, and Aircooled Technology/Flat 6 Innovations, so you know it's proven in your aircooled or watercooled engine to perform and protect.

Engines with direct injection can benefit from Driven DI oils that provide protection from low speed pre-ignition and viscosity loss due to fuel dilution common to gasoline direct injected engines. Porsche engines that require a C40 oil to protect the gasoline particulate filters can utilize Driven DI40 as it meets ACEA C2/C3 specifications for sulfated ash with an average 0.72.

The Driven XP series of synthetic racing oils adds race proven friction modifiers to lower engine temperatures and increase horsepower for competition use and is recommended anytime you take your Porsche to the track.

Don't forget DRIVEN® Transmission, Gear Fluids and Oils, Greases, and Car Care Products to clean and protect the rest of your vehicle.

How often do I need to change my oil and filter?

Over 50% off all machine failures are related to contamination. Keeping your oil system clean extends the life of your equipment. The most cost effective way to keep your oil system clean is with frequent filter changes. When you remove the filter, you remove the contaminants from the oil system. Contamination can come from inside the engine as well as from outside. Premium quality oils resist oxidation and nitration which create harmful contaminants, meaning that premium lubricants have a longer service life. Frequently changing the filter and topping off the oil level keeps the oil clean and fresh. This results in reduced engine wear, fewer oil purchases and reduced waste oil for disposal.

By changing your oil filter every race, even dirt and methanol fueled cars can run more races between oil changes. Here is how to do it. After each race, warm up the engine and change the oil filter. Replace the oil lost during the filter change by topping off the oil level. Keep changing the oil filter and topping off the oil until you have run five races. After five races, change the oil and filter, and start the process over. Changing the filter frequently results in fewer contaminants in the oil system. By reducing the contaminants, you reduce wear, and extend the oil drain interval.

For most vehicles, observing the manufacturer's severe service intervals is recommended. Where a severe service interval is not provided, reducing the oil change interval by 50% is typically a safe bet. For most Porsche models this would mean an oil change interval of 6 months or 5,000 miles on a street driven aircooled or watercooled Porsche. Cars that are not driven year round and put into winter storage should have their oil changed before putting the car into storage.

GOOD OIL KEPT CLEAN= LONGER ENGINE LIFE

What is the shelf life of motor oil?

The importance of keeping lubricants clean and contaminant free cannot be overstated. Proper storage and handling techniques can prevent contamination related engine and equipment failures. Keeping lubricants (and fuel) clean, cool and dry prevents them from becoming contaminated with dust, dirt, water and other fluids. Oil stored properly can be safely stored for up to five years without affecting its performance if unopened.

Driven Oils are Designed for Porsche Engines by Industry Leading Engine Specialists

Driven DT40 was developed in and for the M96/M97 engine for Porsche Boxster, Cayman, and 911 models as a collaboration between Joe Gibbs Racing Driven Oils, Flat 6 Innovations, and LN Engineering.

Learn more about Driven Racing Oil's Porsche Boxster rolling test bed for oil development over on PCA.org.