Drivetrain Failures on Track?

[wildcat767676]

I've tracked this car for 3 years and have since moved on to a purpose built race car. However, I really miss driving this car on track. I'm debating on switching back to the 135. As you can see in my sig, I have quite a few bolt ons. My question is, does anyone know how much track time these Steptronic AT transmissions can take? I'm only worried about engine or transmission failures if anyone knows. Everything else is replaceable, i.e. control arms, brakes, diff, turbos, etc. The big bang would be motor or trans. It seems to me from what I've read, these cars are pretty stout but I don't know how many track the steptronic AT... Thoughts guys? Thanks!

[3002 tii]

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showpost...35&postcount=5

[135Pats]

As the above post noted, the issue is heat coming off the torque converter. Power won’t be what makes the tranny let go until you clear 500wtq or have torque come on very aggressively mid range. If you really push it, expect heat related limp modes. Doesn’t mean you’ve broken anything, just the way it is w/out a dedicated cooler.

[wildcat767676]

Thank you for the info guys! I don't have limp modes now that I've done meth, ic, oc, max cool mode but I wasn't sure if computer would let me know if Trans overheats since there's no gauge. If there's a Trans limp mode then I should be ok if I'm not hitting it correct?

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by wildcat767676

Thank you for the info guys! I don't have limp modes now that I've done meth, ic, oc, max cool mode but I wasn't sure if computer would let me know if Trans overheats since there's no gauge. If there's a Trans limp mode then I should be ok if I'm not hitting it correct?

The TCU logic is independent of the DME, so it will limp based on its own set of calculations. Has nothing to do with meth/IAT, so that's not going to help you in terms of the tranny. But yes, if the car isn't throwing codes and going into limp, you're probably OK. IDK though, the abuse my 6AT sees comes from rolling WOT pulls, which obviously doesn’t subject it to the same type of load variance that a track does.

[wildcat767676]

Ok, makes sense. Thanks!!

I noticed you have a charge pipe and pcv mod. Do you highly recommend those?

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by wildcat767676

Ok, makes sense. Thanks!!

I noticed you have a charge pipe and pcv mod. Do you highly recommend those?

The PCV upgrades I feel very strongly about, the OE system is in my opinion one of the most poorly thought out parts on the motor. It does a very, very poor job of dealing with crank pressure and oil blowby with the check valve. It’s mechanically a very simple swap, though you need to remove a fuel rail so I guess it takes some comfort in the engine bay.

Chargepipe is nice, but not a critical upgrade. But still, running the type of boost I imagine you do with that hardware, it’s a matter of time before your plastic one fails. N54s use MAP so you could limp home with a blown chargepipe…but that’s no fun. Upgrade and be done with it.

[wildcat767676]

What happens to the motor if you don't do the PCV upgrade? If you don't mind me asking, what did that cost?

Thanks for the info!!

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by wildcat767676

What happens to the motor if you don't do the PCV upgrade? If you don't mind me asking, what did that cost?

Thanks for the info!!

Nothing disastrous is going to happen, you’ll just have oil control issues and a good deal of blowby. Some will work its way through the inlets, through the turbos, and eventually will coat your cold side piping. If it comes full circle, it will end up in the intake manifold. Just gunks crap up, I have no interest in that. Rob’s valve was like $50, his CNC milled cover was about $90 but that’s really more cosmetic than anything. The valve is what you want. It probably makes my OCC redundant, but oh well.