Oil Level for track

Chris R. · #1 (**permalink**) 07-17-2006, 05:37 PM

I have a BMW 330ci (and a cayman S) andmany people would slightly overfill the engine oil so that during hard cornering, there would always be enough oil by the pickup in the pan (in the 330)

I've read somewhere that an extended sump is recommended for track use on the CS. That true? What about the overfill idea? is this a problem i should be concerned about? I'm not so worried since i figure Porsche would not build something that was not able to handle some track use...

**K-Man S** · #2 (**permalink**) 07-17-2006, 06:03 PM

I would not overfill, but I would go with a sump extension, look for an article on the sump extension install coming sooN!

**beez** · #3 (**permalink**) 07-17-2006, 06:16 PM

K-man S is right - don't overfill the oil for the track - some can get uo into your intake runners during hard cornering and you (and everyone else at the track) won't like all the smoke that results...

From what I understand, if you're using street tires, the cornering forces aren't enough to require a sump extension. If you're on slick tires, it is very much recommended.

brad

Chris R. · #4 (**permalink**) 08-29-2006, 02:33 PM

Hmmmm it seems that even with the sump extension K-Man-S still has the white smoke symdrom...so is it worth it? I have not heard of any starvation problems when the 3.4L was in the 996.

Any thoughts?

Jim Michaels · #5 (**permalink**) 08-29-2006, 03:09 PM

Chris: Intentionally overfilling for the track seems like the wrong way to go because the heated oil will expand and seek the easiest way out of the system. Instead, we are advised to underfill slightly to allow for expansion without complication. I assume this principle applies with or without an extended sump.

**beez** · #6 (**permalink**) 08-29-2006, 04:50 PM

Chris - I don't think the sump extension has anything to do with the white smoke problem - most people are of the opinion that the smoke is the result of hot oil getting up into the intake runners during hard cornering, so overfilling with oil, with or without the extension will only exacerbate that problem, not solve it. I really don't think you're going to have starvation problems on track if you're using street tires... if you're using R-compound DOT tires and really pushing it hard, it's a maybe, and if you're using full-on race slicks, I'd say the sump extension is a must. In a situation where you're running a stock car on the track with OEM street tires, I would very slightly under fill the oil - I don't think starvation will be a problem that way - I would also monitor the oil consumption very carefully throughout the day - the car could consume a lot of oil under the stress of track use, so you don't to let the level get so far down where starvation would be a possibility.

Btw, the only thing that's the same between the old 3.4L and the one in the Cayman is the crankcase, and the cradle system that holds the crankshaft. Almost everything else - the intake system, cylinders, heads, valve train, even the baffle system in the oil sump has been changed... so there's no real reason to make any comparison to the 1999-2000 996 3.4 motor with the one presently in the Cayman S.

brad

dt · #7 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 04:06 AM

I had a HEAP of smoke for a few soconds on start up twice after track running last Sunday. I was at Porsche today, and the tech told me that if oil is overfilled this will be the result. He told me that the oil should be a few notches below the maximum level.

Chris R. · #8 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 03:43 AM

I'm runnig it at about 1 bar below max and have 7 track days on the car thus far and have had no problems yet.

Thanks for the answers! I was a just wondering about the levels since K-Man was touting the extension as a track must etc. perhaps it could have been a poor man mod!

**K-Man S** · #9 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 05:53 AM

Chris R.

My problem at the track last time was simply too much oil in the car to start with. Once the oil level went down some the problem went away. Since I have the sump extension I can afford to run a bit lower on oil from now on (I just forgot to do it last time out) and not have to worry about starvation problems. If you are on slick tires as beez said you'll have the smoke problem at some point if your oil level is high enough. The problem with not having the sump extension is that you can get oil starvation without it and with your oil level down so as not to trip the smoke problem. Mantis Sport is working on an oil capture system that they hope will prevent the ingestion of oil through the intake. I would encourage Porsche to view this as a design flaw and fix it, BUT since Porsche doesn't officially advocate taking your car to the track I'm not sure they will ever do anything about it and it is only under heavy G conditions at the track that it will show up. I'm guess Walter Rohl's test car was down on oil a little or else surely he would have experienced it going around the 'Ring.

brian · #10 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 11:23 AM

What do you consider a bit low for a car without the sump extension? I usually run mine with two of the cells filled which appears to be just under half of the total graph.

**johnw3d** · #11 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 02:02 PM

I ran mine at Reno-Fernley a couple of weeks ago two bars down, and still got smoke puffs on startup. Not sure I'd run it much below that.

Chris R. · #12 (**permalink**) 09-08-2006, 05:39 PM

Thanks K-Man S. I'm running street and now R compound tires but don't plan to run slicks so i hope that i won;t have a problem. I know that once Mantis comes out with another product, you'll let us know in detail what it is and how it works. Thanks for the info.