Baja 1000 Winner Luke McMillin’s Engine Teardown and Inspection with Maxima Oil
It’s hard to think of a more torturous test for man and machine than the Baja 1000. The 2022 course covered 828 miles of Mexican desert in a grueling race that covers some of the most inhospitable terrain in the world. Luke McMillan won the ’22 running in the No. 83 SCORE trophy truck powered by a monster 555-inch big block Chevy. Maxima Racing Oil and lubricants were used throughout the truck, and the video above shows teardown of the 555 after 1000 miles of dusty, dirty, high rpm thrashing.
Torture Test
Think about what Baja engines have to go through. There are sustained 7000 rpm blasts, followed by segments with lots of throttle modulation and widely varying engine loads. Luke’s winning time was 16 hours, 37 minutes, which means that big block was screaming across the desert for longer than most of us are awake in a day. And don’t forget the dirt and dust. Just watch the video; Luke’s trophy truck is constantly shrouded in dust.
The Verdict
As Maxima's Troy Green points out in the video above, there’s shockingly minimal wear on the critical components of Luke’s 555. The Maxima RS1550 oil in the tank kept wear in check, even after an insane run like that 16 hour blast through the dusty desert. Lower main bearings take a beating in any engine, and the ones from Luke’s Chevy show only minimal fine scratches, likely from all the dust and dirt. There’s no wear to speak of on the rod bearings and top end components as well.
Troy also points out that the undercrown of the piston is not black with burnt oil. Imagine the combustion temperature of this engine as it’s ripping across the desert. You would expect to see black, burnt oil on the undercrown, but it’s a testament to the temperature stability of the Maxima RS1550 that the piston is more of a straw color.
If Maxima oils can hold up in extreme situations like the Baja 1000, they’re going to offer plenty of protection in your engine. How? Check out our Q&A with Troy to learn more about the engineering that goes into all Maxima Racing Oils.
