1st Track Day
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 249
Likes: 3
From: northern Virginia
1st Track Day
Today was a Car Guys event at Summit Point, and I was instructing.
When I bought the car it had 6038 miles on the odometer. When I arrived at the track the odometer read 6225. So, altogether, I haven't had much time in the car. Nevertheless, first chance I got, I went out on track, and the car amazed me. It is an order of magnitude improvement over the 2004 M3 that I sold in order to get the Porsche.
Anyway, after the 1st session, we saw a small pool of oil near the right rear tire but could see no leaks.
When I started the car for the 2nd session there was a lot of smoke from the exhaust, but, after a minute, it went away and no one saw any more smoke when I was on the track. After the car was parked, there was no more oil on the ground, and later when I staretd it up, I we saw no more smoke.
I'm thinking that perhaps the oil was over-filled; but that's just a guess.
I would appreciate any and all opinions from the RENNLIST, since you all know more about Porsche's than me.
TIA,
Mr. B
When I bought the car it had 6038 miles on the odometer. When I arrived at the track the odometer read 6225. So, altogether, I haven't had much time in the car. Nevertheless, first chance I got, I went out on track, and the car amazed me. It is an order of magnitude improvement over the 2004 M3 that I sold in order to get the Porsche.
Anyway, after the 1st session, we saw a small pool of oil near the right rear tire but could see no leaks.
When I started the car for the 2nd session there was a lot of smoke from the exhaust, but, after a minute, it went away and no one saw any more smoke when I was on the track. After the car was parked, there was no more oil on the ground, and later when I staretd it up, I we saw no more smoke.
I'm thinking that perhaps the oil was over-filled; but that's just a guess.
I would appreciate any and all opinions from the RENNLIST, since you all know more about Porsche's than me.
TIA,
Mr. B
The Penguin King
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 9,841
Likes: 120
From: Houston
I wonder if the oil was actually from your car, or from one that had been there previously. I'm betting on the latter.
With respect to the smoke, this is a fairly common thing with both the 996 and 997. Last time out at the track mine was smoking like a fiend when I would start it up for the next run. I had overfilled on oil, and the general consensus was that the overfill was the culprit. However many (certainly not all, maybe not even most) of the water cooled 911's seem to do this. I've come to the conclusion that it is nothing really too big to worry about.
You can minimize the smoke by running at fast idle (~2000 rpm) for a minute or two, and then letting the car idle normally for about 5-10 min before shutting down after a track session. Or... you can just live with it. I have a suspicion also that if you go to 5w50 instead of the 0w40 oil, that you may get less smoke, as I think it is oil draining into the cylinders when the engine is extremely hot. A more viscous oil might help prevent it.
There was a discussion I started on the racing forum a while back where you can get some of the feedback. Search for smoke in the title on the racing forum.
With respect to the smoke, this is a fairly common thing with both the 996 and 997. Last time out at the track mine was smoking like a fiend when I would start it up for the next run. I had overfilled on oil, and the general consensus was that the overfill was the culprit. However many (certainly not all, maybe not even most) of the water cooled 911's seem to do this. I've come to the conclusion that it is nothing really too big to worry about.
You can minimize the smoke by running at fast idle (~2000 rpm) for a minute or two, and then letting the car idle normally for about 5-10 min before shutting down after a track session. Or... you can just live with it. I have a suspicion also that if you go to 5w50 instead of the 0w40 oil, that you may get less smoke, as I think it is oil draining into the cylinders when the engine is extremely hot. A more viscous oil might help prevent it.
There was a discussion I started on the racing forum a while back where you can get some of the feedback. Search for smoke in the title on the racing forum.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 249
Likes: 3
From: northern Virginia
Thanks!
I wonder if the oil was actually from your car, or from one that had been there previously. I'm betting on the latter.
With respect to the smoke, this is a fairly common thing with both the 996 and 997. Last time out at the track mine was smoking like a fiend when I would start it up for the next run. I had overfilled on oil, and the general consensus was that the overfill was the culprit. However many (certainly not all, maybe not even most) of the water cooled 911's seem to do this. I've come to the conclusion that it is nothing really too big to worry about.
You can minimize the smoke by running at fast idle (~2000 rpm) for a minute or two, and then letting the car idle normally for about 5-10 min before shutting down after a track session. Or... you can just live with it. I have a suspicion also that if you go to 5w50 instead of the 0w40 oil, that you may get less smoke, as I think it is oil draining into the cylinders when the engine is extremely hot. A more viscous oil might help prevent it.
There was a discussion I started on the racing forum a while back where you can get some of the feedback. Search for smoke in the title on the racing forum.
With respect to the smoke, this is a fairly common thing with both the 996 and 997. Last time out at the track mine was smoking like a fiend when I would start it up for the next run. I had overfilled on oil, and the general consensus was that the overfill was the culprit. However many (certainly not all, maybe not even most) of the water cooled 911's seem to do this. I've come to the conclusion that it is nothing really too big to worry about.
You can minimize the smoke by running at fast idle (~2000 rpm) for a minute or two, and then letting the car idle normally for about 5-10 min before shutting down after a track session. Or... you can just live with it. I have a suspicion also that if you go to 5w50 instead of the 0w40 oil, that you may get less smoke, as I think it is oil draining into the cylinders when the engine is extremely hot. A more viscous oil might help prevent it.
There was a discussion I started on the racing forum a while back where you can get some of the feedback. Search for smoke in the title on the racing forum.
TIA,
Mr. B
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 1
From: Flagler Beach
I get the oil smell after a commute too, but only on a warm day (over freezing). My car has 4k miles. My wife's CaymanS also gets it in the same conditions and she has 13k miles. From what we've read here and on the Cayman forum, we think its normal.