Post track day maintanence?

[SoCali E36]

Hey guys I was wondering if any of you do any sort of maintenance after tracking your cars? Like oil changes or anything of the kind?

[pixelblue]

Inspecting the brakes, oil level and a quick once over for the under carriage components.

[Dackelone]

I would change the oil & filter and also bleed the brake fluid.

[DriveHard]

At the track when i change my wheels back over to my street tires I do the following:

a) look at pads - estimate wear check for bubbling or heat issues etc
b) look at rotors for cracks
c) physically grab all control arms, thrust arms and links and check for play
d) make sure brake hoses didnt overheat / come out of place

when i do the fronts, I make sure plastic under trays are still all clipped in after any "corner curb" excursions


edit: all of the above checking takes all of 10 minutes tops..

Up top I check all fluids / make sure all hoses arent about to pop off because of too much high RPM running, and then close the hood..

on my way home, funny enough, i'm tired of going fast,,LOL i take it easy and listen for any odd noises, check the steering, and stay off the brakes to give the poor thing a chance to recouperate.

When i get home i flush (EDIT: NOT FLUSH, JUST BLEED, SORRY) the brake fluid.( im usually too tired and stuff is still hot at the track ) I dont change the oil after every track day. I wash the car, get the tire rubber off, clean the tape marks off and let her relax till i get in it the next morning for work...

these cars are pretty sturdy... they will take a certain amount of abuse, but you have to be willing and able to put the time in when she needs it.

[GaryS]

I stop at a car wash on the way home.

I change brake fluid per event requirements. Some specify new brake fluid in the same calendar year, some say in the last six months, PITA Porsche club says in the last 90 days. I should probably stop using SRF.

There is no way I'm changing oil ten times a year. The dealer already thinks I'm crazy for changing it three or four times a year.

Since I have to get shop inspections for most events, and everyone at the track is so interested in studying my brake pads and so forth, I don't worry about any of the rest.

[SiN55]

old oil out - new oil in

[pixelblue]

I'm really surprised so many people change oil after every event. I thought I was anal for changing twice a year. No need to change the oil so often unless you over heated the engine.

Gary you change your SRF every time? Ouch at $75 a pop. Totally overkill in my opinion

[Groundpilot]

I change engine oil after two track events, SRF brake fluid once a year and if you use this fluid there is no need to bleed your brakes at all.

[Lubo]

Originally Posted by M3 09 AND135I 11

I change engine oil after two track events, SRF brake fluid once a year and if you use this fluid there is no need to bleed your brakes at all.

Haven't been able to get to do may events this year

In the past I've changed oil every 3-4k miles during the track season. I've always put in fresh brake fluid at the beginning and mid season.

After track day I check my pads and fluids and maybe wash the rubber off if I got time

[GaryS]

Originally Posted by pixelblue

Gary you change your SRF every time?

No, I use SRF so I won't have to change it. I meant that maybe I'd be better off using normal price fluid and changing it frequently. I don't know.

adding: I see what I wrote in the first post was really confusing.

[len v]

Way back in the day, I changed oil after 10 track days, then for winter storage and again in spring, for a total of 6 changes. Bled. Brakes after ech event. Now, I run 25 days a season on the same synthetic oil, unless I see oil temps of 250, and I do not touch the brake fluid (ate super blue or orange (alt). Partial or Dino oil if 225.

The 3.2 engine (Porsche) has 107k miles on it, and has never been apart. Two buddies have similar histories. There is virtually no street running.

I have been a PCA/BMW CCA tech inspector for well over 20 years. As has been said, check your pads, look for leaks, listen for noises on the way home. Use your tech form to guide a more thorough inspection at home. Be sure to inspect the inside surface of rotors.


Ymmv,
Len

[S54dan]

I enjoy my newly awoken motor.

Oh then check for fluid leaks and brake and tire wear.

[and 1]

same as many here. quick check to make sure nothing's broken/leaking. definitely drive easy on the way home, if only just to relax a little. ideally give her a quick wash once home

[Xaeryan]

I wash off the brake dust and buff out the rubber marks which accumulate everywhere, especially if it was a weekend with a race/HPDE mix - those guys with their fresh tires really lay down a lot of rubber. Also, I call SafeLite to fix the rock chips in my windshield.

[DriveHard]

Originally Posted by Xaeryan

I wash off the brake dust and buff out the rubber marks which accumulate everywhere, especially if it was a weekend with a race/HPDE mix - those guys with their fresh tires really lay down a lot of rubber. Also, I call SafeLite to fix the rock chips in my windshield.

Please dont remind me... I make it thru 5, 20 minute sessions, every thing is great, nice free flowing traffic on the track, no hold ups.... and on my way home, my buddies car throws up a rock in front of me... Mental note: dont follow the guy with "near R-Comps" home from the track....they pick up and quickly shoot everything backwards.

[IS+1]

After my last track day, one thing I'll always remember to do from now on during and after a track event is to check my tires for excessive or abnormal wear. I had to cut my day short last time because the shoulder on my front left tire was worn down to the cords. Good thing I caught this before heading out for my next session.

[GaryS]

Just adding, I was worried about the Porsche Club's requirement for brake fluid changed in the last 90 days. But I got confirmation from PCA today that they waive the 90 day rule if the brake fluid is SRF.

[DriveHard]

Originally Posted by GaryS

Just adding, I was worried about the Porsche Club's requirement for brake fluid changed in the last 90 days. But I got confirmation from PCA today that they waive the 90 day rule if the brake fluid is SRF.

Just curious... How would they know ????

all the "yellows" are very similar... and ATE super blue is well, blue.. Is SRF a color ?? never used it ..

[Evice]

After each session:
Visual check for any leaks in powersteering, oil, brakefluid etc.

After 2 sessions:
Observe tire wear pattern.

After an event:
Clean the car, clean the wheels.(or get wife clean the car )
Inspect track tires for wear pattern. Add to my notes.
Visual inspection of brakes. Check cracks if my nails catch any of them.
Oil level condition and level check, top of to e36 M3 ticking standards I change 3-4 times a year. And It is a dedicated track car.

Before the next event:
If I needed new pads or rotors, It means I bleed the brakes.

Every year:
Rebuilt calipers, flush brake fluid while at it.
Change tranny and diff fluids.

[GaryS]

Originally Posted by DriveHard

Just curious... How would they know .

The tech form asks for date of last brake fluid. So I'm supposed to write "SRF" next to the date.

[Evice]

Originally Posted by GaryS

The tech form asks for date of last brake fluid. So I'm supposed to write "SRF" next to the date.

He means you can LIE.

[uratomb]

Originally Posted by GaryS

The tech form asks for date of last brake fluid. So I'm supposed to write "SRF" next to the date.

Originally Posted by Evice

He means you can LIE.

I usually just draw a straight line down on tech form.