Track days and engine life
Discussion
Hello
Bought rx8 last year and i love this beast. Car got only 20k miles on clock and it runs like new. Problem is that i got addicted to track days and was wondering how much harm it does to my engine like life spam etc... We are talking about 1 track day a month with full knowledge of rotary maintenance. Thing is that people which i meet at track days keep saying that i should buy something else just for TDs and keep my current car out of track due to damage that engine is taking every single run...
So now i am confused and would really like to hear some opinions on this.
Thanks for reply!!
Good luck and peace out.
Bought rx8 last year and i love this beast. Car got only 20k miles on clock and it runs like new. Problem is that i got addicted to track days and was wondering how much harm it does to my engine like life spam etc... We are talking about 1 track day a month with full knowledge of rotary maintenance. Thing is that people which i meet at track days keep saying that i should buy something else just for TDs and keep my current car out of track due to damage that engine is taking every single run...
So now i am confused and would really like to hear some opinions on this.
Thanks for reply!!
Good luck and peace out.
Have a look at PHer Dale Lomas' (Bridge to Gantry) articles when he ran one at the 'ring. Didn't last too long. http://www.bridgetogantry.com/2/index.php/project-...
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...
Edited by GVK on Sunday 4th August 23:26
Running at higher revs will shorten the engine life for sure.....(anybody saying otherwise is selling a car that has been tracked)
The rate of wear will depend on the car type, engine quality, items such as SMg (limiting revs on change down), servicing intervals (and by that I mean specifically how many more times than recommended has oil been changed)
Finally it will depend how hard and how many miles you put on the car at high revs per trAckday and overall.
The rate of wear will depend on the car type, engine quality, items such as SMg (limiting revs on change down), servicing intervals (and by that I mean specifically how many more times than recommended has oil been changed)
Finally it will depend how hard and how many miles you put on the car at high revs per trAckday and overall.
the rx8 will be fine on a track day, rotary engines don't suffer stress at high rpms like piston based engines do, it just spins faster and that's it. In fact it's good to do it. The rx8 engine has been tested at over 10,000 rpm but it's everything else around it that breaks rather than the engine.
The issue is cooling, the extra heat from the high rpm's can cause it to overheat and if the oil gets too hot it will go into a powder state (if you're using the proper mineral oil) and destroy the engine.
Make sure there is plenty of oil, if it gets too warm pull over or slow down until the temps get better.
The issue is cooling, the extra heat from the high rpm's can cause it to overheat and if the oil gets too hot it will go into a powder state (if you're using the proper mineral oil) and destroy the engine.
Make sure there is plenty of oil, if it gets too warm pull over or slow down until the temps get better.
Kaiser Damz said:
the rx8 will be fine on a track day, rotary engines don't suffer stress at high rpms like piston based engines do, it just spins faster and that's it. In fact it's good to do it. The rx8 engine has been tested at over 10,000 rpm but it's everything else around it that breaks rather than the engine.
The issue is cooling, the extra heat from the high rpm's can cause it to overheat and if the oil gets too hot it will go into a powder state (if you're using the proper mineral oil) and destroy the engine.
Make sure there is plenty of oil, if it gets too warm pull over or slow down until the temps get better.
Very interesting. An oil temp gauge wouldn't hurt I guess. My guess is the RX8 doesn't have one as standard.The issue is cooling, the extra heat from the high rpm's can cause it to overheat and if the oil gets too hot it will go into a powder state (if you're using the proper mineral oil) and destroy the engine.
Make sure there is plenty of oil, if it gets too warm pull over or slow down until the temps get better.
Most engines in std tune seems to cope pretty well, my 30 year old ones included 
Just do pretty frequent oil changes and keep track of the general condition on parts. You could also be nice to the gearbox and rear axle and give them an oil change. As already written here, its often brakes, wheel bearings, joints etc that gets the most beating..In my 10 years in track days I dont know if I havent seen many std engines go pop
I dont know how it is with rotary engines, but for piston engines adding an oil cooler (or bigger oil cooler) can give you some extra margin and put a little less stress on the engine. Also be nice to the engine in general, warm up, cool down lap, gentle but quick
Just do pretty frequent oil changes and keep track of the general condition on parts. You could also be nice to the gearbox and rear axle and give them an oil change. As already written here, its often brakes, wheel bearings, joints etc that gets the most beating..In my 10 years in track days I dont know if I havent seen many std engines go pop I dont know how it is with rotary engines, but for piston engines adding an oil cooler (or bigger oil cooler) can give you some extra margin and put a little less stress on the engine. Also be nice to the engine in general, warm up, cool down lap, gentle but quick
otolith said:
Didn't last too long because it was crash-damaged....
No it wasn't crash damaged, it was the engine that let go! My friend bought Dale's car from him with the blown engine for spares which unfortunately he has had to rob on two occasions!I also saw both RX8s again last weekend!
Martian O said:
otolith said:
Didn't last too long because it was crash-damaged....
No it wasn't crash damaged, it was the engine that let go! My friend bought Dale's car from him with the blown engine for spares which unfortunately he has had to rob on two occasions!I also saw both RX8s again last weekend!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
TinyCappo said:
I really wish you had contacted someone like Haywards after you had had the accident in the first place. You could have had a decent payout from the insurance instead of a dead engine and a scrapped Rex.
Basically because you had to that big impact to the rear of the car which meant you had to replace the exhaust due to the impact of the bike where do you think a good percentage of that impact engergy on the exhaust travelled up to with no real flexi on the exhaust system It all went straight upto the engine.
I had an accident someone went in to the rear of me at a set of lights and Haywards insisted on checking out their freshly rebuilt engine as any shockloading like that can damage the engine tips. Mine was all ok but the insurance company had a bit of a bottom clenching moment when i told them the engine was being inspected for damage with a possible rebuild cost of £2.5k....
such as shame as it sounds like a shockloading problem has occured and damage a seal or tip which has now fragged itself into an engine failure when you took it to 10/10ths.
Haywards is a respected rotary specialist and engine builder.Basically because you had to that big impact to the rear of the car which meant you had to replace the exhaust due to the impact of the bike where do you think a good percentage of that impact engergy on the exhaust travelled up to with no real flexi on the exhaust system It all went straight upto the engine.
I had an accident someone went in to the rear of me at a set of lights and Haywards insisted on checking out their freshly rebuilt engine as any shockloading like that can damage the engine tips. Mine was all ok but the insurance company had a bit of a bottom clenching moment when i told them the engine was being inspected for damage with a possible rebuild cost of £2.5k....
such as shame as it sounds like a shockloading problem has occured and damage a seal or tip which has now fragged itself into an engine failure when you took it to 10/10ths.
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