- My model of MX-5 is: 2007 nc1 sport
- I’m based near: hampshire
- I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on:
I got my first trackday coming up this Saturday and I need to do an oil change and get a new air filter. to be honest idk when the last oil change was but one of the first things i did with the car was top it up with oil 5w30 from shell last year. what oil would i need to put in the car for a trackday and this is my daily driver too! also do i get a oem oil filter or a aftermarket one like K&N. lastly will a stock paper airfilter be ok for now or should i put a K&N air filter too? to be honest i have no clue what im doing so all advice will be great!
Many Thanks, Will
Stock is fine imo but after the wrestling match with my old oil filter I am considering a K&N one next time, as it has a captive nut for easier release.
I use OEM Filters for my NBFL 1.8vvt. I tend to use 5w 30 for competition/trackdays makes it slightly freer reving and 10w 40 for the winter. Be sure to check your fluid levels after every run. I change my oil religiously every 6 months or 6000 miles which ever comes first, earlier if I am going on a long trip that is going to take me past the scheduled 6000 mile mark. Also worth checking the condition of your brake fluid before you go, doing a brake fluid change if you have time. Have fun on your first trackday.
A 5w/30 oil will be fine and my personal choice is to use a K&N oil filter. A K&N air filter is a good investment but using a new paper filter would suffice for now especially if you don’t know the last time it was serviced. Filling up with some 99 octane fuel would be beneficial too in terms of getting the maximum out of the engine and better throttle response. Definitely also replace the brake fluid using Dot 4.
All the above but check/replace if they’re low, your brake pads, all round. It’d be pi$$er if you only last half a day or less.
I’d never consider a K&N filter - oil or air. They filter so poorly that you can detect dirt in the engine oil when sending it for testing, just from using an air filter!
The oil filters also have been tested to let through pretty big particles. Total crap IMO
Just use a cheap aftermarket (Bosch etc) filter with some good 5w30 or 5w40 oil (40 if it’s burning any or especially high mileage).
Trackday went very well, in the end ended up going with Castrol 5w40 oil with K&N Filter and everything was perfect all day, only problem I did have was reading the dipstick 
got home and checked today after leaving the car overnight to rest and it was halfway between the min and max lines so did burn quite a bit as we did put in nearly a extra litre of topping up throughout the day. Want to say thank you to everyone that replied to me!