Took my daily driver plain jane Carrera 997.2 (with sport PASM though) to the track this weekend (Spring Mountain), what a blast! What a car, that suspension is pretty amazing as well as the brakes, although drove my friend's GT3 997.2 which is OFTW good. My questions are:
1. How come the car feels so much better now in terms of throttle response and even the brakes grab so much better? I blew out a lot of the carbon deposits from daily driving? Are the brake pads bedded in better? 63k miles on original brakes. No fade whatsoever on track.

2. Had the oil changed yesterday (since oil temps where in the 250 range at the track and did 6 half hour sessions) by independent Porsche shop and they use 5w40 Total. I have been using so far what the P dealer puts in, Mobile 0w40. Seems that the idle valve clatter so common on these .2 engines is gone. Is it a viscosity issue. Happy to have that clatter gone

 

1. Car always feels better after Italian tune-up.
2.

 

No idea on # 2, but I think you're car is telling you that it loves high RPM, long time, GI Joe!

Listen to your car!
T

 

 

Thinking the same thing. Mine were shot after 24K. You really need to drive your car a little harder. Warm her up to temp and get her to 6500RPM. She clearly likes it, you seem to think she runs better so do it every once in a while.
If you haven't changed your brake fluid since new, you may really want to change it now.

 

Original brakes? Are you the original owner? I doubt it has original brakes. Maybe? Original brake fluid too? Check the reservoir under the frunk lid. It should be clear like new apple juice. If it looks like dark earl grey tea, It's toast. I change mine every year or two in every car. More often if I track it.
Just changed the oil and it sounds better? Clatter is gone? When was the last oil change? Did they check your tire wear while it was up on the hoist?

Perhaps your just trolling for comments here. But I never take anything to the track without going over the vehicle. Its like packing your own parachute. Don't jump out of the plane with any old nap-sack.

 

Pretty sure the ECU adapts to how you drive, so if your puttering around it lessens the throttle response and saves fuel. Wind it up some and it realizes that you mean business and it acts accordingly.

 

I don't care how well engine management systems work, a car with a 7000+ red line, which is oversquare and is truly on the cam after 3500 RPM needs to be wound out hard regularly. Plugs like it. DFI likes it, too.

Hard braking keeps my brakes quiet and firm. I'll do a short stop intentionally before putting her away.

Although, when the brake pads are shot/gone, you get real good braking when the remnants of the brake pads bite into the rotor!

.

 

answers above cover yr Pt 1

Pt2 - 5w40 total synthetic should be fine

http://totalengineoils.com/quartz-9000-energy-5w40/

 

Thanks for your replies.
Yes, original owner, all fluids changed as scheduled. Daily driver 50 miles/day freeway, apply brakes only twice, so really no wear there. 2nd P car, previous 996 for 8 yrs. Brakes lasted till 108k miles, so not surprised. What surprised me was that they felt firmer and more grabby after the fun at track.

A daily rev to 6500-7200 on freeway ramp is no comparison to track time with 6 events over two days, each half hour in length with engine to rev limiter (or close) with oil temp at 225-250.

And yes (Big Smoke) car was inspected before a few days before track event.

 

On a daily basis make sure engine is well up to temp (oil) when revving past 4k RPM.

 

Perfect - just looking out for our village.