Quote:
Originally Posted by rezanourai
I've been mulling over oiling options and I see so much conflicting info it's hard to figure out what actually is needed or even works. Some swear by Accusump or bust, others seem to say that deep sump kits (either the 0.5 or 2qt variant) are enough, others say deep sump but only if it has a metal baffle, and there's even a camp of folks who track their cars without any of this and haven't had problems. It's really overwhelming for someone new to the 986/996 platform.
I'm trying to look for as much data-backed claims as I can on these to make a decision, but so far I'm leaning more towards a deep sump + baffle as the possible direction to take this on my next oil change.
Thoughts? (I know this will likely incite a massive debate about what the right thing is  ) |
Quadcammer is right.
Here's my own opinion, based on some experience and some research;
First: regarding those who tell you that they track it successfully with no oiling mods: These are NOT the fast guys.
Second: some of this depends on the tracks you frequent. If you have longer, sustained high-G corners (especially left-handers) then your needs are more critical than others.
There is an argument (which you've no doubt come across) which says the accu-sump takes too long to kick-in and by the time it does the damage is done. And yet, there are thousands of racers using them. they can't all be stupid. :dance:
MY own car (which was much like yours, but which has now been dismantled in favor of a spec boxster so I can go racing) I went with the 2-qt deep sump with the separation plate, plus the steel X51 style baffle. I think one of the most important keys to this setup really IS the separation plate, because once the oil is under that plate (in the sump) it CANNOT climb back up the sides of the crankcase, regardless of the G's it's under or for how long. This, combined with a mindfullness of RPM in those critical corners (read about this below) kept the motor alive pretty successfully.
My new-to-me SPB has an accusump. It'll be my first personal hands-on with it. But I think I'll also do the above mods to the sump. (I wish I hadn't sold the kit already! darnit! haha)
So the mindlfullness of RPM in corners;
I don't recall which of the racers on this forum brought this to my attention first, but it just makes sense. If you're driving through the apex at the top of the powerband (say 6000RPM), you're moving a LOT of oil and that sump will go dry twice as quickly as it would at HALF that RPM (say 3000RPM).
So I tend to short-shift, leaving me in a gear that's 1-higher than I really feel like I want to be. I can't do this everywhere, of course. But two things happen when I do it successfully: 1) the sump stays wet, and 2) I find I frequently carry more corner speed than I would have in the lower gear.
This isn't a skill I've perfected yet, because I'm still sacrificing drive too frequently, being in too high a gear to really get after it. But I'm convinced this technique can be learned and honed so that I can use it in places where it WON'T sacrifice drive. Obviously this works better for HPDE than for racing, until such time as it's dialed-in. :dance: