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Old 03-17-2013, 06:50 AM   #1
Teutonic Speedracer
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Member#: 333819
Join Date: Sep 2012
At the Track Improve your chances of engine surviving HPDE

I purchased a 2013 WRX in September with the intent for it to be a daily driver with occasional track use (2-3 events per year). Plans are for just a mild Stage 2 setup with minor suspension and brake upgrades. I’m coming from a car that became a track only car (soup to nuts).

Between reading the NASIOC, IWSTI, and ClubWRX forums….there’s the infamous posts on ringland failures on the street as well as failures on the track (sometimes after only a few track days). With all the researching I’ve done, I’ve come up with a summary of practices as well as modifications that I believe can reduce chances of an engine failure at the track. Many of these are not specific to the WRX, but just general practice. Others might be more specific to the WRX and it’s turbo and less than robust piston ringlands. Many of these depend on how much HP you are putting down.

Oil
  • Make sure oil is changed before/after a track event
  • Make sure oil level is correct—before, during, and after the track event
  • Invest in an oil gauge to make sure oil is up to temperature before driving the car hard (both on the street and track). This can also be used to monitor that oil does not get too hot on track resulting in thinning that can damage the bearings. Use your warmup/cooldown laps for just that ---warming and cooling down the fluids, brakes, and tires.
  • From what I’ve read, these cars should really have an oil cooler to keep oil temps in the acceptable range. The side benefit is that reduced oil temps can also reduce water temps (may/may not require upgraded radiator)
  • Oil pan baffles can reduce the likelihood of oil starvation in long high g corners especially with track tires and upgraded suspension
  • Larger oil pan can reduce the oil temperature
  • Oil pickup – have been known to fail on both street/track cars
  • Oil grade – use proper oil grade for your engine, modifications, and ambient temperature

Water
  • Make sure if you’ve done any work regarding the coolant system that there is no trapped air in the system
  • Monitor the coolant level before/during/after track events
  • Depending on your climate and patience for swapping, a higher percentage of water can be used in warmer months on track and there are several additives that can be used to lower water temps.
  • Warmup/Cooldown laps apply to your water temps as well.
  • FMIC have been known to cause enough blockage to the radiator to increase water temps on track.
  • Make sure your radiator is clean (free of bugs/leaves/rubber/road grime) for optimal efficiency. An upgraded radiator may be required.
  • Aftermarket suppliers make shrouds that go above the radiator and are said to improve the efficiency of the radiator by directing more air through it vs. around it. Custom shrouding can also be added to the sides of the radiator.

Fuel
  • Use fresh fuel with the minimum octane level that you are tuned for.
  • Try to keep the fuel tank ½ full or more to reduce the chance of fuel starvation (leaning out engine) during/after high g corners or sloshing.
  • Fuel Injectors – A heavily debated topic---some recommend not being above 80/85% injector duty cycle (IDC) for extended periods of time. Some Stage 2 cars can be nearing 100% IDC at higher rpms, potentially leaning out at wide open throttle (WOT).
  • Fuel Pump – May be required to keep ample supply of fuel to the injectors, avoiding a lean condition.

Tuning
  • Make sure your tune is specific to the parts on your car.
  • Consider dialing the boost level down for track use to avoid detonation and higher engine temps.
  • Consider an air fuel ratio (AFR) on the more conservative side.
  • Make sure your tuner understands what your track time involves (20+ minute sessions at continuous high rpm/boost/WOT).
  • Consider one step colder spark plugs depending on your modifications.

Miscellaneous
  • AOS – Many recommend and Air Oil Separator to decrease the likelihood of oil entering the intake and causing detonation. Some AOS also return oil back to the sump so there will be less oil loss between sessions.
  • Air Leaks – make sure you don't have any as this can throw off your tune.
  • Data Logging – recommend logging prior to a track even to make sure everything is in proper working order and that you don't notice any red flags.
  • Intercooler – make sure your intercooler is in good shape (fins not all bent, tanks not separated, gaskets not leaking, coupling attached).

Gauges
  • Gauges are optional, and not all of these are required. Some may be logged via the OBDII port while others will need physical gauges. A lot depends on how much you want to monitor and how many modifications you are running.
  • Oil Temp – Make sure your oil isn't getting too hot and thinning
  • Oil Pressure – This will usually indicate that something is already going south, sometimes due to the oil temp being too high, or some other type of mechanical failure.
  • Water Temp – Make sure your oil temp is in the proper range. Excessive temps can be damaging as well as increase likelihood of detonation.
  • Boost – Make sure your boost is not exceeding your target boost (within reason as most have a certain +/-).
  • EGT – This can verify your tune is safe based on it's reading and how it relates to your AFR.
  • AFR – This will help verify your AFR is at a safe level that your tuner targeted (mainly at WOT).

Please feel free to provide comments and additional ideas and maybe a moderator can make this a sticky in the forums. Again, a lot of this is not Subaru specific, but should at least help reduce your chances of an engine failure on the track, which is a personal goal of mine.
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