Oil for Nurburgring

[Mikes2]

I did more than 100 laps of the Nurburgring in my S2s using Synta Gold. temperature usually sat around 130 degrees for most of the lap.

There were never any issues. Use the main finishing straight to coast and by the time you reach the car park, your oil temp will have dropped below 90 degrees.

[kwlw]

90 - 100 Deg C 120 max for short bursts IMO. If you are seeing over 100 a lot then look at your oil cooler. Mine temps dropped dramatically when I changed to a new oil cooler...

I'm getting 120-130 on normal fast ride and 150-170 on the track . It seems that it's time for some thermocouple measurements under the bonnet . Or just something inside the engine is in the state - "das ist kaput" .

Sau

[Lloyd]

Thanks guys! I'm going to book the car in for a service before I go and hopefully tomorrow I'm going to be ordering up new bushes and mounts as mine are a little soggy. I've got 996 monoblocks with 323mm (i think) A8s, with textar pads, so hopefully that'll do me. Unfortunately, I won't have the cash/time to fit some new suspension and smaller wheels (19" RS6s at the moment), but hopefully that will be fixed for next time! I won't be absolutely hammering the car, as it is still new to me and it's my pride and joy, so hopefully I won't be having the same oil temp probs as my slightly unhinged mate in his rallye! Will anyone else be out in the second weekend in September? I would have been out for the big group meet in the other thread, but I'm working unfortunately!

I think the RS246 forum have a meet at the Ring on the 2nd weekend.

[TEKNOPUG]

Just to clarify, by “power circuit” I was referring to the advantage that a powerful car will have and also the potential for a powerful car to really exploit it’s performance to the max. There are a lot of long straights where you can really open the car up and also some pretty steep inclines where having a lot of torque can make a huge difference to your progress. This in turn leads to high entry speeds into the braking areas (particularly if you nailed the preceding corners and managed to keep your momentum up). In contrast, a light hatch like a golf/205/306 will not have anywhere near as much power and therefore most corners can be taken pretty much flat, without the need for scrubbing off the speed upon entry. The benefit is that the cornering forces (weight transfer) are far less and you can surprise a lot of people (particularly bikers) with the speed that you can carry round. However, you do need to be smooth and keep the momentum up because as soon as you get to an incline the acceleration drops off rapidly. It’s quite possible to go round in sub 8.40’s in a 150bhp lightweight hatch if you get a clear run.

As said, it’s not really that hard on the engine, unless you have a small capacity screamer and there are plenty of long stretches to keep the temps cool. Just watch the brakes though because I’d imagine that you could easy cook the stock set-up if you aren’t careful.

[Fat Audi 80]

90 - 100 Deg C 120 max for short bursts IMO. If you are seeing over 100 a lot then look at your oil cooler. Mine temps dropped dramatically when I changed to a new oil cooler...

Cheers,

Steve.

[kwlw]

Just take the odd note of your oil temperature every now and again, and just take it a little easier if they get too high.

What is considered as normal for the S2, and what is too high? In C.

Thanks.

[ciaranthemurph]

Thanks guys! I'm going to book the car in for a service before I go and hopefully tomorrow I'm going to be ordering up new bushes and mounts as mine are a little soggy. I've got 996 monoblocks with 323mm (i think) A8s, with textar pads, so hopefully that'll do me. Unfortunately, I won't have the cash/time to fit some new suspension and smaller wheels (19" RS6s at the moment), but hopefully that will be fixed for next time! I won't be absolutely hammering the car, as it is still new to me and it's my pride and joy, so hopefully I won't be having the same oil temp probs as my slightly unhinged mate in his rallye! Will anyone else be out in the second weekend in September? I would have been out for the big group meet in the other thread, but I'm working unfortunately!

[MidnightBlueS2]

If this is your first trip to the 'Ring, I wouldn' t worry too much about which oil you'll be running as long as it's not overdue for draining, I'd worry about learning the track till you can mentally forsee every corner. I can do really quick laps without straining either the engine, the oil temperature ( which will hover around 100 degrees ) and even the brakes to some extent.

Knowing the track will let you know when to just build up speed and then just "glide" as I call it thru corners using moderate throttle and no brakes at numerous various points around the track.

Just look at the local racers in almost stock Mark II Golf GTI's with 115hp on tap overtaking much more powerful cars driven by the 'tourists'; you'll see what I mean when you see them.

Or else; just ask me to co-pilot for you. :mischeif:

See you at the meet !

David

[PeteRR]

Sound advice from the Drifter there. Just make sure your oil is fresh and at the correct level. Oh, and take some for topping up too, just in case.

[4WheelDrifter]

Without getting into the oil 'mass debate', your usual oil should be fine for a trip to the Nürburgring. It's not a power circuit IMO.
If you've never driven it before I doubt you'll be pushing too hard on the track. There are a lot of fast sections that can be fairly easy on the engine, temperatures wise. Just take the odd note of your oil temperature every now and again, and just take it a little easier if they get too high.
It's also worth going for a gentle drive after you complete a lap, to get all the temperatures down before you come to a stop. Someone who has been before will show you where you can go to do this.

The Nürburgring is not like Castle Combe, where you are working hard in 2nd and 3rd gear most of the time, with hardly any speed, therefore airflow to cool the various parts on your car.

BTW The first time I went to the Ring I thought of the trip this way; I would happily drive 1-2k miles locally, with the odd thrash in between, without worrying about the car. So why should I just because I’m on the continent? Although I do have ADAC cover just in case.

[TEKNOPUG]

The 'ring will eat your brakes if you drive it properly. It's a power circuit. In my 200bhp 205 almost every corner is flat in 3rd. However, your S2 weighs twice as much and you'll be carrying considerably more speed into the breaking areas (I would imagine). ALWAYS let your brakes cool down before stopping and parkign up. I usually just drive straight out of the car park, turn right, head up towards the petrol station and then back down under the approach road. Then find somewhere flat to park and leave the handbrake off. Depending on the spec of your brakes I would suggest that you change the brake fluid for something more track orientated before you go. Also, take spare pads, fluid, plugs, leads, bulbs etc. Don't forget, it's not just the 'ring, it's half way across europe and back that you have to be prepared for.

P.S. - Cable ties, gaffa tape etc!!

[ciaranthemurph]

I'm off to the 'ring in September with a friend who has been before and he recommended that I get some decent oil as his temperature was right up (on a 306 gti-6). I've only just recently bought my car, but looking in the receipts it seems to have been run on synta gold, will this be up to the job for a weekend at the 'ring? Also, has anyone else been and what other prep work should I carry out before going? Thanks in advance!