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Old Sep 9, 2018 | 03:37 PM
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I have been running royal purple 5W-20 and a K&N filter for years. I was recently told that Valvoline VR1 racing oil is much better than royal purple and that a puralator filter is less restrictive than a K&N filter. So I went with the puralator filter and VR1 10W-30 racing oil. Am I making a mistake or what? I live in Athens GA so it is pretty hot during the summer and not that cold in the winter. Was wondering what you guys think?
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Old Sep 9, 2018 | 03:52 PM
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You should be fine with that combo. I wouldn't worry about restriction so much as filtering efficiency, The purolator should be better than K&N, and the Valvoline oil has a better rep than Royal Purple.
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Old Sep 10, 2018 | 12:07 PM
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5W20? Is that a mistype?
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Old Sep 10, 2018 | 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by curtisad
I have been running royal purple 5W-20 and a K&N filter for years. I was recently told that Valvoline VR1 racing oil is much better than royal purple and that a puralator filter is less restrictive than a K&N filter. So I went with the puralator filter and VR1 10W-30 racing oil. Am I making a mistake or what? I live in Athens GA so it is pretty hot during the summer and not that cold in the winter. Was wondering what you guys think?
Better for what? I'v sent both VR1 and RP for a UOA. The RP holds up better when the going gets tough.

If you're driving on the street, I would recommend a 5W-30 oil. Even in GA, you want the oil to get moving as soon as possible. The 30 "weight" will do fine on the street. If you're racing, or banging on the rev limiter pretty often, step up to a 40 weight oil, you'll get better lifter stability.

The K&N filter is not bad. Not great, but not bad. The Purolator Pro-1 (no the standard Purolator) is probably the best bang for the buck.


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Old Sep 10, 2018 | 03:02 PM
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Originally Posted by curtisad
I have been running royal purple 5W-20 and a K&N filter for years. I was recently told that Valvoline VR1 racing oil is much better than royal purple and that a puralator filter is less restrictive than a K&N filter. So I went with the puralator filter and VR1 10W-30 racing oil. Am I making a mistake or what? I live in Athens GA so it is pretty hot during the summer and not that cold in the winter. Was wondering what you guys think?
Where you able to contact the engine builder and consider what the engine builder said about oil selection as suggested in several of the other 5w-20 Royal Purple oil threads posted?

​​​​​​My engine builder(s) determined the oil weight for my three custom built engines. None of them suggested 5W-20 of any brand under any circumstance. (383 LS1, 416 LSA, Dart 400 small block Chevy). The best choice oil weight would be what your builder suggested in my opinion.

I think your oil filter choice will be fine.

NAPA Gold filters by WIX are my default choice or Mobile 1. I like the truck filters as they are slightly larger and hold a little more oil and probably slightly less restrictive. For an expensive custom built engine, cost of an off oil filter is irrelevant in my opinion.
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Old Sep 10, 2018 | 04:14 PM
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The Royal Purple 5W-20 was not a typo. I still have the original engine which is a LS1. I went with 10W-30 because that is the lowest that Valvoline VR1 comes in. This car is pretty much strictly racing. I have heard that NAPA Gold filters are very good too.
My engine builder for my Ford Lightning was 10W-30. He didn't say a specific oil but, he did say that he wouldn't use Royal Purple. He didn't give a reason. My engine builder was DSS racing which has been around for a long time...

Last edited by curtisad; Sep 10, 2018 at 04:18 PM. Reason: to add additional information
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