Meehan Race Engines Shares Their Driven Story


I started using Joe Gibbs Driven Oil back in early 2009 on the recommendation from my parts supplier that it was the best racing oil around.

I had always used another well known brand oil and had no real problems with that but I did have to replace flat tappet camshafts and lifters from time to time which I put down to just plain old racing wear and tear.

I was building two new race engines for dirt track racing that require solid flat tappet camshafts and both engines were identical in every component being fitted to each engine except the oils that the customers wanted to run.

One used the mineral 15w50 XP4 from Driven and the other engine used the brand that I had always used.

The young driver who was using the XP4 lost track of his service intervals and the oil was used far beyond what I felt comfortable with. Upon tear down the engine was in great shape.

The other engine using the well known brand had regular servicing and I felt it would be good too but on pull down the engine required a new cam and lifters.

I liked the Driven range so much by then that I became a dealer.

On these type of engines which use alcohol fuel via a carburettor can cause some corrosion inside the engine so we now use the Driven Hot Rod Synthetic 15w50 which I have witnessed this oil keep engine spotlessly clean on the inside due to the corrosion inhibitors but still provide the protection for the valve train.

You know that the oil really bonds to the metal due to my engine assembly oil can springing a leak one day and sweated oil onto my steel topped bench. I cleaned the bench top with brake clean but with the sunlight shining onto the bench you could still see where the oil had leaked out.

I have since broken into the Sprint Car market and it was suggested that I should be using the Driven 10w40 XP9 in the 360 engines. I would have never been game to run a 40 weight oil in a V8 making nearly 700hp but the oil pressure is as good as a 50 weight oil and works great plus the extended drain intervals over mineral race oils is a plus to these guys.

On 410 engines, I have witnessed horsepower gains of 9hp using the Driven 15w50 synthetic 15w50 when compared to the Driven mineral 15w50 BR Break In oil. Can you imagine the gain you would get from draining a mineral 25w60 oil and replacing it with XP6. Cheap horsepower gain.

People forget that a aluminium engine will have clearance variation as the engine heats up and all of the clearances are very tight when the engine is cold so it’s very important that you have a fast flowing oil on start up.

The XP6 will last twice as long in a engine compared to a mineral race oil but the real plus with the XP6 is the way it protects the valve train from wear.

I have some 410 engines that turn up to 8,600rpm and run camshafts with .450’’ lobe lifts with 1.75 ratio rockers which yield .788’’ valve lift which see a valve spring open pressure of 758lbs which means that the little 5/16 ball end of the pushrod is seeing 1312lbs of force on it. These engines use XP6 oil and show no wear on the pushrods or the rocker adjusters.

I have a race team customer that has two engines and they use a very well promoted oil. These engines turn to 8,200rpm , run .430’’ lobe lifts with 1.65 rocker ratios which yield .710’’ valve lift and have a valve spring open pressure of 625lbs which means the pushrod tip sees 1,031lbs of force. Both of these engines required pushrods and rocker adjusters on rebuild.

That team now uses Driven XP6.

The beauty of the Driven Racing Oil company is that it’s a company for racers looked after by racers. You can contact them and have someone that’s involved in developing products will help you with your concern.

With more and more products coming out and constant improving of their current products why would you want to use anything else. Just look at who recommends the Driven range and it reads like a who’s who of the racing and performance industry.


Gary Meehan

Meehan Race Engines.