First HPDE - Oh Nooo

[GT_Roadcourse_Newb]

Track mode is for track. Even novice drivers. It WILL save you, and is way easier on the rear brake pads and diff than TCS full on.

Change the diff fluid to something actually good. Even the manual says to change it after every track day or so, so may as well upgrade.

Thank you - Track mode (in my case, traction control off) will be standard going forward. Have the car going into dealer Thursday before a HPDE weekend, and will try to replace critical fluids. Not to start brand wars, but what should I make sure gets done by service? (whether covered by warranty/etc or not)

Differential Fluid
Brake Fluid

Thanks all, really appreciate the forum support- and what a car!

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[Impulsed7]

Better brake fluid is a must when you get faster, the stock stuff may hold up for now, but make sure its a complete flush of the system. ATE type 200 is great for the price and works with the ABS module in this car.
Diff fluid? who knows. I've used the stock Ford stuff for two track days now, but I have a clutch type LSD and yours is gear type.

 

[Ultrakla$$ic]

So what makes these "Performance Packaged" cars performance cars if they can't handle this kind of track days without changing out all the fluids with little track time???

Just curious. :shrug:

 

[umarov]

Better brake fluid is a must when you get faster, the stock stuff may hold up for now, but make sure its a complete flush of the system. ATE type 200 is great for the price and works with the ABS module in this car.
Diff fluid? who knows. I've used the stock Ford stuff for two track days now, but I have a clutch type LSD and yours is gear type.

I used ATE 200 when I did the flush. Didn't have any issues.

 

[M3Convert]

So what makes these "Performance Packaged" cars performance cars if they can't handle this kind of track days without changing out all the fluids with little track time???

Just curious. :shrug:

Cheap-ass stock fluids.

For a new car, it is good practice to get the fine metal dust that is inevitable from running in new driveline components out of the system to slow down wear. Associated with grinding the new cogs into shape, will be higher friction/heat, that will accelerate degradation of the lubricant. These are both good reasons to switch fluids in new tracked cars.

In BMW M3's, they have a driveline fluid swap at 1200 miles. I believe they use different fluids for the break-in period than regular u

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Slightly OT but why does the message refer to axle temps rather than diff temp? Might make sense for a SRA where the axles use the same oil as the diff but the S550 axles are air cooled. Isn't it the diff oil temp that causes the messages?

 

[Norm Peterson]

So what makes these "Performance Packaged" cars performance cars if they can't handle this kind of track days without changing out all the fluids with little track time???

Just curious. :shrug:

"Performance Packaging" relative to street driving and performance packaging for 20 minutes or more at 8/10ths or higher of the car's capabilities are two very different things.

The average owner isn't going to bleed his brakes several times a year with fluid costing $20/liter and up, and the good track stuff absorbs moisture quicker and needs to be bled/changed more frequently even if the stuff that comes out at first doesn't look bad. In my experience, the first couple of pumps from the front calipers looks a good bit worse than this after just one track day.

Nor should the average street driver use track pads even if he's convinced himself that he can live with the downsides (noise, dust, accelerated rotor wear).


Norm

 

[daltron]

Norm, in your experience, how often should fluid be changed?

For example my Mustang is my DD and I plan to do 1-2 track days every 1.5-2 months and use Motul RBF 600.

 

[M3Convert]

Norm, in your experience, how often should fluid be changed?

For example my Mustang is my DD and I plan to do 1-2 track days every 1.5-2 months and use Motul RBF 600.

Think about Castrol SRF fluid. It is expensive, but is less prone to reduction in BP due to hydration. You can use it for a full season.

 

[BTM]

Hmmm, my GTPP has only ~1700 miles on it now, and I'll be taking it for its' first track sessions tonight at the same track as OP (Thunderhill - it's SCCA Track Night tonight).

Will watch out for this diff overheat warning and report back....

 

[daltron]

Think about Castrol SRF fluid. It is expensive, but is less prone to reduction in BP due to hydration. You can use it for a full season.

Ignorant question, how long is a track season or how many track sessions is that over what time period?

 

[Whiskey11]

I was hoping you had more like 10 times that, and I was going to suggest rear diff fluid swap. Did mine at 9500 and it looked like 100k fluid.

At your mileage, I got nothing.

If you go and read the Mustang Owner's Manual it says to change all the fluids in the car after the first HOUR of track driving and then it recommends a specific interval after that depending on the number of track days.

As for the comments about 650 miles not being enough to "break in" the rear diff or the engine, or the transmission... I call BS... the rear diff is working A LOT in just street driving, same with the transmission and the motor. The last axle builder I talked to when I was driving my 2009 said 50 miles for the rear diff and gears to wear into each other, transmissions are about the same. The first 50 miles are the most critical.

As for the engine, Ford did it for you when they test ran the motor, Ford did it when they drove it off the assembly line, onto the truck and then your dealer drove it off the truck. If that didn't do it, then the drive home from the dealership most likely did.

Anyway, go read the owner's manual and perform the intervals it is saying you should. I'd also recommend not running with TC/ESC on... but that's just me. If you don't trust yourself to drive the car at the edge (which, for an HPDE isn't really necessary) then back the speed down until you feel comfortable running faster.

 

[Zemedici]

So what makes these "Performance Packaged" cars performance cars if they can't handle this kind of track days without changing out all the fluids with little track time???

Just curious. :shrug:

Upgraded springs, upgraded radiator, differential, etc etc.

However none of these things matter when the vehicle is not used in the correct matter via the settings/modes.

Think of a professional fisherman. How good would he be without a boat? Got to utilize the tools correctly.

 

[GT_Roadcourse_Newb]

OK, I feel like a tool for using TC my first day breaking in.

Can I blame the salesperson? Never got the memo that I shouldn't track with traction control on. :frusty:

Anyway, going back to the course this weekend - changing all fluids next week. I am not driving the car hard, in fact I would think the 15 min x4 sessions at 8/10ths are perhaps the ideal break-in activity after the 400 highway and 250 city miles.
The dealer also mentioned that they utilize magnets so metal dust/microshavings should hopefully not be a rampant problem even in the first fluid.

Obviously, I subscribe to the school of thought that you can break the whip in fast and somewhat harshly.

 

[Impulsed7]

Not much really... Although the GT350 has coolers for diff and trans, ford still recommends the same intervals to change the fluids. Not many cars can handle being driven like a race car straight off the shelf though.

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