I know this has been talked about before, but this wont be the first time that has happened. Would you guys that track your cars give me your fluid changing schedule and some reasons why. They can be based in fact or fiction I dont care, but I'd like some group therapy.
I have been changing my brake fluid after each track day which for me consisted of about 2-4 hours of track time. I have since changed to every other event for the brakes cause I havent had any problems.
The oil is a little more OCD. I have been doing it after every three track days? That ridiculous? OK, for the thing I may get the most off base with, the tranny fluid. I have been doing that after every five days?!
Any input would be appreciated. If my current rule of 2/3/5 for brake fluid/oil/tranny fluid seems ok or crazy please help me!!!

TIA

tom

 

Tom, yes you have " issues"! BTW great topic, I too am interested in this subject. I am willing to spend what is necessary for proper maintenance, but do not want to throw away money. Kevin

 

A few area's that get left out are your CV joints lube (half shafts) and front diff fluid..

 

This is my plan...actual experience may vary.

Oil change - after every DE event.

Tranny fluid - change after every 3 events (6 days).

Brake fluid...bleed before/after each event and as necessary. Replace once a season (I use SRF).

Brake pads - for my PCCBs put on the Pagid "racing pads" (P50) and swap back to the black "street pads" after each event. Bedding and re-bedding required.

Let's see how it goes...

 

Kevin, Bobby, good info thanks. Bobby is "bleeding" enough? I have been having the fluid changed and I also use SRF? I thought the wet boiling point drops and you cant just bleed that stuff?
So changing the oil after say every two track events seems about right?
I'm glad you agreed with the tranny fluid others have given me grief about that!

 

Tom, with SRF, bleeding is good enough...total flush and fluid replacement after every event is overkill.

 

OK Bobby I am going with your plan its close to mine!! I'm also going to check the stuff Kevin mentioned, more stuff to worry about!

 

I've got 100,000 miles on my 03 X50 - did the tranny and diff at 60k, done the brake fluid 3x now, engine oil at 5k - so far so good!! T2 knocks on wood again......

 

T2 sounds like good sound "routine" service intervals. Glad to see ya driving so much. I was worried about increased intervals on cars that see a lot of track time. But I will knock on wood!

 

That and the service every 15k seems to be the trick for me.....my car has been DE'd maybe 20 days or there abouts in almost 3 years.........

 

 

^ tkerrmd, how many events do you get done a year usually?

As for intervals: A customer brings me his turbo every 5-6k kms like clockwork. Summer driven only so he'll prolly get like 8k kms a season which includes 2 DE's. Brakes bled after each DE, sometimes he carries it over as long as the pedal isn't mushy cause he gets lazy (fair enuff..his car his choice). Tranny fluid he says he will do next season and every 2-3 seasons after.

On my car (i kno its not a turbo..but for what it's worth): 5k kms a year, 1 oil change a year. 2-4 track days a year. Tranny fluid whenever it "feels" necessary or every 3 years. Brakes after every event and on the street, whever it feels mushy. Clutch bleed whenever necessary. Coolant only once so far..it seems to have lasted about 5 years. No problems so far.

 

DeAd-EyE, thanks for the input, I average 10-20 track days a year and would rather be safe than sorry! thanks again! tom

 

I don't think track driving is hard on oil. The heat vaporizes the water, acids, and fuel blow by that may build up in slow street driving. I think the 996TT has enough cooling to keep the oil from overheating and oxidizing. I also don't see how track driving would damage the transaxle or front diff oils either.

 

As importnat as "how often" is "what oil" to use... No I'm not going into the grade discussion. Although my car does few track days a year (2 or 3 - Only when instructing on a Porsche Club event) the fact is my car has been modified and going from 460Nm to 760Nm puts an enfasis on oil shear resistance. Therefore I chose to change the OPC fill (Mobil 1 5W40) to Motul 300 V Power 5w40 which is a proper PAO Ester synthetic like Silkolene Pro S and others. Please read this:

http://www.carfreaks.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=73