Track days and engine life

[GVK]

No worries.

[Lawbags]

As someone has already said, cooling will be the main issue.

I know nothing about the RX8's engine or the related components, but I'd upgrade the rad and fit an external oil cooler with an 80degreee thermostatic take off (assuming you can get them for that engine)

Cars can be driven hard all day long with the correct cooling mods. Without them, you're asking for trouble.

[spyderman8]

What is it they say - one mile on track equates to six on the road? I guess it depends on how much you thrash the car, whether you hit the limiter, miss gears, etc. I certainly have my car maintained at twice the schedule the maker stipulates.

[otolith]

Lawbags said:

As someone has already said, cooling will be the main issue.
I know nothing about the RX8's engine or the related components, but I'd upgrade the rad and fit an external oil cooler with an 80degreee thermostatic take off (assuming you can get them for that engine)

The high power models have two external oil coolers as standard, though I guess you could probably upgrade them.

[Herman Toothrot]

spyderman8 said:

What is it they say - one mile on track equates to six on the road? I guess it depends on how much you thrash the car, whether you hit the limiter, miss gears, etc. I certainly have my car maintained at twice the schedule the maker stipulates.

I think Jonny BAT says 1 = 10, but that's usually trying to convince people to hire the BAT cars To be honest I actually agree with him.

[GVK]

"Each lap of the Nürburgring (20.8km) generates roughly the same amount of wear and tear on your car as 1,000 road miles"

http://www.autegmotorsport.com/servicing/drt_build

[iguana]

I know shag all about rotary lumps, but many normal lumps seem to cope with high road miles & then get thrapped to death on track & last just fine, know of several old jap cars & VWs & BMW that have already had 150k or so on & then go on to do 500 odd 'ring laps & 20 odd usual track days no probs.

Change the oil regually (don't need to use exotic expensive stuff INHO of 10 yrs of tracking old sheds regular 10/40 semi at £10-15 a go is fine for most) keep to the stock rev limit & fit an oil cooler & new & or a larger rad if pos is my keys to engine survival with old sheds.

Edited by iguana on Thursday 8th August 20:38

[iguana]

Some interesting figures from rent for ring ref quite how much track use a stock lump can actually take-

http://www.rent4ring.de/en/news/2011/two-years-and...


http://www.rent4ring.de/en/news/2012/600000kms-and...

[cheddar]

I've seen numerous engine issues at trackdays, nearly all caused by heatsoak when cars come into back the pits and get switched off without being cooled down beforehand.

Our briefings strongly recommended cooling down laps - 2 preferably - with drivers keeping left (anti-clockwise track) and watching their mirrors, they weren't called the 'money laps' for nothing.

[mad4amanda]

Interesting that going back to the OP no one has seen a rotary engine blow on a track day . Had a conversation with colleagues today one has been organising track days for 15 plus years and he hasn't seen one go either and we do have the RX club come to the circuit regularly .
Piston engines are another matter .

[Canabo]

Hey!

Thank you for your quick reply.. Long story short this is my first rotary but i am going to stick to it in future for sure, love this high revving engine and high bills of oil haha . There is 1 more thing to wonder... Did about 10 TDs but never saw other Rx-8 on track and it is very strange to me because i honestly do not think that you can buy better car for track in this price range these days. So lets spread this little rotary world guys

Edited by Canabo on Saturday 10th August 01:09

[fuchsiasteve]

Secret is buy a Honda. Our Accord type R is on 207,000 and just keeps singing. Since 182,000 the car has only been used on track. Most trackdays done are 70-100 laps to the redline.

[Herman Toothrot]

Saw a Porsche Cayman RS engine expire yesterday day on track.

[spyderman8]

Really? Unless it was just an oil surge. I'm sure there'll be a new thread popping up here soon...!

[Herman Toothrot]

He left looking like a disco smoke machine, white car red decals / wheels, I was admiring it parked up earlier in the day. If only Porsche could put reliable engines in all their cars. :-( My bet is bores scored very badly.

[CedricN]

Herman Toothrot said:

He left looking like a disco smoke machine, white car red decals / wheels, I was admiring it parked up earlier in the day. If only Porsche could put reliable engines in all their cars. :-( My bet is bores scored very badly.

Yup, that is a little tragic. Have been doing trackdays with the porsche club here in sweden, have seen a fair share of blue smoking water cooled boxer engines..To bad..Prevents me for buing any newish porsche. Cant even slap on R compunds and drive around all day long without being afraid of oil starvation (which feels weird for a performance car, and I can do it all day long on sticky tyres in my old 924s)

On the other hand, the metzger (GT3/turbo) seems to be able to cope with crazy amounts of track work. To bad they didnt put that knowledge into the m96/97

[spyderman8]

If you're concerned about oil surge/starvation, fit a baffled sump - that's what we do with the race cars.

[mad4amanda]

Unfortunately a Porsche boxer engine expiring is not a rare occurrence, regular is more accurate in my experience.

[shorts!]

Canabo said:

Hey!

There is 1 more thing to wonder... Did about 10 TDs but never saw other Rx-8 on track and it is very strange to me because i honestly do not think that you can buy better car for track in this price range these days. So lets spread this little rotary world guys

Edited by Canabo on Saturday 10th August 01:09

Not sure where in the world you are but Robbie at Bespoke in Ware runs a couple of trackdays a year at Snetterton that are primarily RX8s and a few TVRs. Give him a call re RX8 on track.

[shorts!]

fuchsiasteve said:

Secret is buy a Honda. Our Accord type R is on 207,000 and just keeps singing. Since 182,000 the car has only been used on track. Most trackdays done are 70-100 laps to the redline.

Unlikely as this might seem my secret is buy a TVR. My T350 is on 216,000 and also just keeps singing. 800 -1,000 miles every year on track for 9 years. I'd guess regular oil changes and proper maintenance are actually my (and fuchsiasteve's) secrets really.