Stress on engine during autocross.
- TennTechMan
- Posts: 1851
- Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:50 pm
- Location: Maryville, TN
I voted yes mostly because I would never drive my car nearly as hard on the streets as I do at an autocross. How much of a difference? Probably not much. There's probably more variation in engine life within factory build tolerances.
This is assuming we're talking about vehicles manufactured within the last 15 to 20 years.
This is assuming we're talking about vehicles manufactured within the last 15 to 20 years.
Aaron Carroll
STM 11 - 91 Geo Metro
Lead Engineer of the Knoxvegas Lowballers
STM 11 - 91 Geo Metro
Lead Engineer of the Knoxvegas Lowballers
That's probably true.EliseAutoXr wrote:I think what this question is REALLY bringing out is how each of us drive differently during the normal day-to-day driving.
I don't think I've even had my foot to the floor in the Mazda outside of autocrossing and my one trip to the drag strip.
'16 FRS - PSTX 97
- EliseAutoXr
- Posts: 1629
- Joined: Mon Jun 14, 2004 3:34 pm
- Location: Knoxville, TN
I'm on the floor every chance I "need" to... you know, to get into fast traffic or the light changed to green or just left a school zone.steverife wrote:That's probably true.EliseAutoXr wrote:I think what this question is REALLY bringing out is how each of us drive differently during the normal day-to-day driving.
I don't think I've even had my foot to the floor in the Mazda outside of autocrossing and my one trip to the drag strip.
Bradley Allen
STM 7
06 Lotus Elise (some stock)
STM 7
06 Lotus Elise (some stock)
I voted no because I don't think that an autocross could cause anymore stress on an engine that could happen on the street. I don't drive my car as hard as I use to (especially when I first got it) but 90-100 MPH driving to an from BMS the whole way is probably more stress than the actual autocross that I was going to.
2013 WRX
I voted no, because in theory you could put just as much stress on the engine on the street...however, most people aren't ballsy (stupid?) enough to push that hard on public roads.
I don't think running at high RPM's or under load is what hurts the engines--they're designed to do that for extended periods anyway: think Autobahn driving. I'd say the only real danger to your engine in autocrossing is crankcase oil starvation in high-G turns...of course, this only applies to wet-sump cars, so C6 Z06s and the like need not apply.
I don't think running at high RPM's or under load is what hurts the engines--they're designed to do that for extended periods anyway: think Autobahn driving. I'd say the only real danger to your engine in autocrossing is crankcase oil starvation in high-G turns...of course, this only applies to wet-sump cars, so C6 Z06s and the like need not apply.
Lucas Coleman STM #72
Mark, I worded it that way on purpose. My point is that if a stock car drops a piston on an autocross course, there was a problem from the factory. The dealer would consider autocross as "abuse" according to the 3 tech posting in the thread I mentioned.
Car in question had 11k miles on it and lost 2-3 of it's ringlands. Subaru sent letter to custer telling them to bring car in for a reflash due to bad factory tuning - car ran lean. People in thread found out he had autocrossed the car 6-8 times and immediately jumped his ass for it, saying that caused it. No way autocross is going to cause the engine failure.
I remeber learning to drive my car I bounced the thing off the limiter in neutral who knows how many times cuz I had no idea what I was doing.
Car in question had 11k miles on it and lost 2-3 of it's ringlands. Subaru sent letter to custer telling them to bring car in for a reflash due to bad factory tuning - car ran lean. People in thread found out he had autocrossed the car 6-8 times and immediately jumped his ass for it, saying that caused it. No way autocross is going to cause the engine failure.
I remeber learning to drive my car I bounced the thing off the limiter in neutral who knows how many times cuz I had no idea what I was doing.
Chris Harp
2009 Mazda RX-8 | 2018 Toyota Tundra | 2011 BMW M3
2009 Mazda RX-8 | 2018 Toyota Tundra | 2011 BMW M3
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- Posts: 1159
- Joined: Mon May 28, 2007 1:36 pm
- Location: In the driver's seat
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... ?t=1633519
Here it is. I don't believe Subaru should buy the car back....I think they handled it well. I was just pissed at the people that jumped the guys ass for autocrossing the car. They said something about rallycross, but the snow thing he did was just snow on pavement from what I can gather....
He has autocrossed for 10 years. Anyway. There are three/four service guys and a bunch of mods that like to kiss each other's ass so enjoy.
Here it is. I don't believe Subaru should buy the car back....I think they handled it well. I was just pissed at the people that jumped the guys ass for autocrossing the car. They said something about rallycross, but the snow thing he did was just snow on pavement from what I can gather....
He has autocrossed for 10 years. Anyway. There are three/four service guys and a bunch of mods that like to kiss each other's ass so enjoy.
Chris Harp
2009 Mazda RX-8 | 2018 Toyota Tundra | 2011 BMW M3
2009 Mazda RX-8 | 2018 Toyota Tundra | 2011 BMW M3
- Scuffcakes
- Posts: 1171
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 10:31 pm
- Location: Johnson City, TN
Wow. A whole lotta idiots in that thread. So much so that I couldn't continue reading it. What do these guys to with their WRX's & STi's? I'm guessing that they just trailer them to car shows. Maybe Subaru should stop using motorsports in their advertizing. It just makes people want to do apparently stupid things with their cars.
David Guffey
97 Miata - STS #40
99 Miata - Nicest beater I've ever had
88 4Runner - Trusty, rusty trail-sled
97 Miata - STS #40
99 Miata - Nicest beater I've ever had
88 4Runner - Trusty, rusty trail-sled
I don't know what else you would do with them, staring at a Subaru for too long can induce vomiting.Scuffcakes wrote:Wow. A whole lotta idiots in that thread. So much so that I couldn't continue reading it. What do these guys to with their WRX's & STi's? I'm guessing that they just trailer them to car shows. Maybe Subaru should stop using motorsports in their advertizing. It just makes people want to do apparently stupid things with their cars.
Seems like everyone in that thread is either 1) a factory technician or 2) a dumbass. (Barring Chris).
I agree.thrdeye wrote:Car in question had 11k miles on it and lost 2-3 of it's ringlands. Subaru sent letter to custer telling them to bring car in for a reflash due to bad factory tuning - car ran lean. People in thread found out he had autocrossed the car 6-8 times and immediately jumped his ass for it, saying that caused it. No way autocross is going to cause the engine failure.
Mark Pilson
03 Z06 - Sword
09 Mustang - Club
01 Excursion - The safe you dropped from the 10th story
03 Z06 - Sword
09 Mustang - Club
01 Excursion - The safe you dropped from the 10th story
- Oberstwill
- Posts: 1903
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