Authentic Racing Oils in Modern Engines: Friend or Foe?

Authentic Oils in a Modern World

A track-oriented BMW case study

At Motor Milk™, we formulate oils with high ZDDP and high HTHS values. From the outset, our objective was not to pursue every modern manufacturer specification, but to engineer lubricants that prioritise engine protection, stability and performance. That said, many of our formulations naturally meet established standards such as BMW LL-01 and Porsche A40.

A question we are frequently asked is whether we plan to develop oils that comply with newer specifications, such as BMW LL-04. The answer is yes. We are currently developing a proprietary full ester and PAO formulation, composed exclusively of esters and polyalphaolefins.

However, modern specifications come with compromises.

These newer standards significantly restrict allowable ZDDP levels, primarily due to limitations on SAPS and phosphorus. This presents a fundamental challenge. While such oils may satisfy emissions-driven requirements, they do not allow us to deploy our complete ZDDP package, the most advanced and costly ZDDP system available, at the levels demanded by our racing and high-performance clients. As a result, even our forthcoming full ester oils will necessarily contain moderate rather than maximum ZDDP levels.

As we expand our product range, we respectfully challenge the assumption that newer specifications automatically equate to superior lubrication.

A closer examination of industry practice tells a different story.

What OEM Recommendations Really Reveal

Consider the BMW F8X platform, a series that is frequently modified and heavily used on track. Using the oil selection tools of major lubricant manufacturers, one will find a broad range of recommended oils carrying BMW LL-01 and LL-04 approvals, spanning viscosities from 0W-20 to 5W-40 for road-going vehicles:

Fig. 1. Search results from https://oilguide.ravenol.de/ for the road going S55 engine

Yet when those same manufacturers make recommendations for the track-focused BMW M4 GT4, the picture changes considerably. In this context, the sole recommendation is often an oil such as RAVENOL RSP SAE 5W-30, a more traditional ACEA A3/B4 formulation carrying only BMW LL-01 approval:

Fig. 2. Recommendation from the same manufacturer for the same S55 engine in a vehicle intended for track usage. Adapted from www.ravenol.de/en/motorsport/racing

This contrast is not coincidental.

Across the automotive industry, OEMs increasingly specify thinner, lower SAPS oils for road cars to meet emissions and efficiency targets. At the same time, when performance, durability, and sustained load become priorities, manufacturers consistently revert to more authentic formulations with broader additive packages.

This trend aligns uncomfortably with two wider observations. Firstly, there has been a global increase in engine failures across multiple brands. Secondly, modern low-SAPS formulations are often cheaper to produce than robust, high-additive oils, creating a clear economic incentive.

In other words, many modern manufacturers' recommended oils serve emissions compliance and marketing objectives more than long-term engine protection.

Do High ZDDP Oils Work in Modern Engines?

This leads to a common concern. Can a more authentic, high SAPS, high ZDDP oil operate safely in modern engines?

We have tested this extensively.

Consider the BMW G series, which succeeded the F series. While F series vehicles typically carried an LL-01 recommendation, G series models are often stated to require LL-04. There is limited publicly available information regarding oil specifications for the BMW M4 GT4 Evo and how these compare to the earlier F series GT4. In practice, both appear to rely on robust ACEA A3/B4, LL-01 style oils in competition use. Furthermore, at racetracks we regularly observe customers running 5W-50 oils of these specifications, to push the platforms even further.

By deliberately keeping magnesium and calcium levels low, which are the primary contributors to LSPI, while increasing ZDDP and overall SAPS, it is entirely possible to formulate an oil well suited to modern high output engines. The result is high HTHS, excellent oxidative resistance, outstanding temperature stability and zero LSPI risk.

We have validated this through extensive bench testing. One example includes a G series engine subjected to prolonged low speed, high gear, high torque operation, conditions that are highly conducive to LSPI. Not a single LSPI event was recorded. This vehicle has already become a benchmark at the Nürburgring, setting records safely and reliably, with further improvements planned for the coming season:

The same outcome was observed at Mosselman Turbo Systems, which recently completed a 900 plus horsepower G80 M3 build featuring aftermarket turbochargers and Kelford camshafts. An engine of this nature demands high ZDDP levels for camshaft and valvetrain protection. This is precisely why Motor Milk™ exists and why Mosselman Turbo Systems endorses our oils.

By maintaining high ZDDP, maximising base oil stability, which is often compromised by untested aftermarket ZDDP boosters, and minimising magnesium and calcium, both track focused and high performance road builds achieved zero LSPI incidents under rigorous testing.

Conclusion

Authentic oils do work in modern engines and in many cases protect them better than thin, cost optimised, emissions driven formulations. For those who value durability, performance and mechanical sympathy, modern specifications are not always the final word.

At Motor Milk™, we choose engineering integrity over compromise.