DOMINATOR® Synthetic Racing Oil Wins Races

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AMSOIL Racing ProductsAMSOIL Synthetic Racing Oil
David Hilgendorf
by David Hilgendorf
June 20, 2023

AMSOIL DOMINATOR® Synthetic Racing Oil is designed to provide maximum horsepower and engine protection in high-performance racing applications. It is the exact same oil that Team AMSOIL uses to win races and championships.

DOMINATOR is shear-stable and heavily fortified with zinc and phosphorus additives to protect critical surfaces in racing engines from wear. Its proprietary friction modifier provides superior extreme-temperature protection resulting in cooler-running engines and maximum power.

What Makes DOMINATOR Different?

AMSOIL DOMINATOR Synthetic Racing Oil contains increased levels of zinc and phosphorus additives in the form of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP). ZDDP is an extremely effective anti-wear agent that also reduces friction and helps prevent corrosion and oxidation.

ZDDP works by forming a protective film on metal surfaces that reduces friction and wear in high-pressure conditions and helps prevent corrosion. As a friction modifier it increases lubricity for maximum horsepower and torque. It acts as a sacrificial anti-wear agent and reacts with the metal surface to create a chemical barrier that prevents direct contact and metal-to-metal wear.

“DOMINATOR Racing Oil is for racers who push their engines to the ragged edge.” – AMSOIL Powersports Market Manager, Len Groom.

Superior Protection

The powerful, modified engines in racing vehicles produce extreme heat and pressure that the average car or truck will simply never see. For example, a Pro 4×4 race truck can produce more than 900 horsepower and engine oil temperatures exceeding 300ºF (149ºC).

In comparison, engine oil temperatures in a typical passenger car or light truck typically stay below 220ºF (104ºC). The difference is even more striking when you consider that the rate of motor oil oxidation (chemical breakdown) doubles for every 18ºF (10ºC) increase in oil temperature, meaning that the oil breaks down more than 16 times faster when racing.

Additionally, the tremendous pressure and shearing forces that racing oil bears as it’s squeezed between the main and rod bearings and cam lobes and lifters can tear apart the molecular structure of the oil, reducing its viscosity and film strength.

AMSOIL DOMINATOR Synthetic Racing Oil is specifically formulated to protect engines subjected to these extreme shearing forces.

At What Cost?

DOMINATOR specifically provides an extra measure of protection for engines that run on the ragged edge. Engine modifications that provide more power are typically offset by a higher risk of component failure. The requirements of a racing oil are maximum performance and protection under high pressure and heat, for limited duration.

Increasing performance and protection in one area requires tradeoffs in other areas, including an oil’s overall lifespan. For example, the boosted level of additives in DOMINATOR that increase protection during high-performance racing don’t allow for additives found in passenger car motor oils that help maximize fuel economy, maximize engine cleanliness, improve cold-weather operation, and provide extended oil drain intervals.

Racer’s Choice

Unlike other oil manufacturers who reserve their premium racing-oil formulations exclusively for their sponsored race teams, AMSOIL focuses on engineering premium purpose-built lubricants that maximize performance and protection for every racer.

AMSOIL DOMINATOR Synthetic Racing Oil is the same product used by our professional, corporately sponsored Team AMSOIL racers, including Scott Birdsall, Kyle Chaney, Bryce Menzies and Brad Lovell, and is available to everyone, regardless of their level of competition.

Applications

AMSOIL DOMINATOR Synthetic Racing Oil is specifically engineered for use in high-performance turbocharged, supercharged and/or nitrous oxide boosted racing engines using gasoline, alcohol, diesel or other racing fuels and operating under severe conditions, including, but not limited to, the following applications:

  • Modified Small Block
  • Modified Big Block
  • Aluminum Block
  • Dirt Late Model
  • Asphalt Late Model
  • GM* Crate Late Model
  • Ford* Crate Late Model
  • Dodge* Crate Late Model
  • NHRA* Stock Eliminator
  • Junior Dragster
  • Truck-Pull
  • Big Bore
  • Bracket
  • Midget
  • Legend
  • Kart
  • Sprint
  • Endurance
  • Rally
  • Marine 

Check the owner’s manual or engine builder’s recommendations for correct viscosity. AMSOIL DOMINATOR Synthetic Racing Oil is available in 5W-20, 10W-30, 10W-40, 15W-50, and SAE 60 viscosities and complemented by 20W-50 Competition Diesel Oil .

“We designed DOMINATOR to deliver exceptional protection in extreme environments, and that’s exactly what it does.” – AMSOIL Powersports Market Manager, Len Groom.

by David Hilgendorf

AMSOIL Technical Writer and 20-year veteran of the motorcycle industry. Enjoys tearing things apart to figure out how they work. If it can’t be repaired, it’s not worth owning.

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