I lost pretty much one bar of oil (from my oil indicator) during last track-day. Went from one bar above mid, to mid. Although, this was an exceptionally long track day, almost 3hours of track-time.

Is that normal, expected?

 

Pretty normal. When you lift off the gas in-gear at very high rpms, there is a huge vaccum effect inside your cylinders. This can suck some oil past your rings. Your engine is also designed to aspirate some (trace amounts) of it's own oil back into the intake even under normal conditions. This may increase at the track.

Keep an eye on it... but losing one bar (half a qt?) over a long trackday is well within normal.

Yoda says - "Sleep you must not lose over this."

 

change oil more frequently and use 5w50 or 15w50 - it does not go as fast as 0w40.

 

Better sell it now. I'll give you $5,000.

 

Using Porsche approved Liqui Moly 5W40.

 

I'll go through 2-3 bars of oil a the track at times. Totally normal. I tried Castrol SynTech 5w50 for a few oil changes and noticed no difference in oil burning on the street or track. I trac pretty heavily too. I'm back to using Mobil 1 0w40. Also I know for a fact that the Falken Tire ALMS Proshe team uses Mobil1 0w40...I saw them pouring it while walking the ALMS Sebring 12hr Paddock. Some other teams where using Total 0w30.

 

completely normal..

I was always told to keep the oil at one bar below full.

 

It's expected.

Porsche sells a pleather bag for a single bottle of oil that velcros into the front trunk. I keep one in the car at all times.

 

With my 996, I would consume 1 quart of oil (OEM Mobil 1 0W-40) over a track weekend. On the street, it would consume none. It seems to be pretty normal. Always take a fresh quart or 2 with you when you go to the track.

 

I just went to my guy and added half a quart and oil level went up to one half bar from the top (where I started before).

Interestingly, speaking to my mechanic, who's been working on Daytona and American Le Mans series, he said if I track I shouldn't use Mobil-1 0W40. He said he's been working on a lot of cars that have extreme vario-cam wear using Mobil-1 0W40. He said to use 10W60 for track, or for combo use, go with Total 5W40 which he said has better formula for vario-cam wear! He said he can show me pics of the wear.

BTW, I am not trying to start a oil debate here... just quoting what he said. I think I'd be changing oil just to refresh it... I'd choose the cheapest Porsche approved oil I can get.

 

It all depends on your luck of the draw. My 996, prior to swapping out the engine, would consume a quart every 600 miles. The new 996 motor and the 997's that I have owned don't use a single drop.