Ok, I've been reading here and on a few other boards of motors spinning bearing, throwing rods etc on the track and backroads due to oil starvation. Besides dry sumping the motor or adding oil to the above full mark is there anything else that can be done (besides not driving on the track)...
Is it safe for the motor (in regards to the above) to track it or am I in for trouble...
There is a track weekend at Black Hawk end of august I want to attend, but I also want to drive back
Looking for some people WITH track experience in a P5, MP3, etc...

 

I hate to be a nay-sayer but, ...... Nay.

In all honesty guys we have to accept two facts aboout our cars.

#1. They are very cool sporty cars.

#2. They are not race cars.

That being said. I would see what happens with this AWR oil pan system and hold off on any auto-x or solo racing. Phanton has done a lot of racing but I'm not sure if she's done any in her p5.
I've been scared by the increasing number of blown motor threads also so I'm holding off on auto-crossing until I'm ready to go all out on a new motor.

Wish I could be of more positive help.

 

a few companies (moroso, awr, etc) are developing baffled oil pans to help solve the oil starvation in twisties problem...they should be out shortly. i think they're all around $400...i wouldn't run my car on a road course without doing this...i know at least 4 people that have blown their motor due to oil starvation.

 

wErd from the voice from beyond the grave!

A dry sump system would be nice but thats a lot like adding a huge aftermarket tach when you already have a stock one. Sure the racers use it but face it, you drive a protege!

I will personally buy the moroso pan when it comes out...but a dry sump system is a little overboard!

 

agreed agreed...I cant justify a new motor OR $400 for a pan now...or anytime soon...
i've autocrossed half of this season and to be frank, Im scared to death of roaching a motor...as much as I CRAVE track time right now....looks like Im gonna have to pass..

still on topic, whats this from AWR you speak of?

 

I've had many track day experiences with my cars (both P5 and Miata) and they were all good. We run High Speed Touring Series, 6 sessions of 20 minutes each. A full day of of the road course action and I have had no complaints. Of course, I make sure my fluids are topped off (bring extra too JIC), brake pads are good, tires aren't bald, etc.! I've even done it all in the rain with no ill effects. Of course there was the one time when it was my hubby's time behind the wheel...in the rain...spinning around in turn 1...ah well, we didn't go off-track so the corner worker just gave us the thumbs up!

So, don't be afraid to go out there and see what you are capable of. You'd probably be pleasantly surprised at the handling characteristics of the Pro, even in stock form!

oh, and isn't she adorable??

 

they just started a thread at msprotege.com on it today...it's supposed to be 5 qt. baffled, i think.

 

i've done MANY track days and different forms of motorsports, this would be the first in the Pro....off to msprotege to get the scoop
see pics in Garage

 

oil pan links:

awr: http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74218
mental addiction: http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75243
moroso: http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showt...ghlight=moroso

 

right on topher, thanks a bunch..I hope this happens soon....I need to track. autocross, touge...something! $400 for AWR, about $350 (est.) for the Morrosso and ? for the MI pan....whatever it is its worth it.

 

i have a few tracks days on mine with out a problem,( i run mobil1 syn. oil) same with my brother, last time we went out on a road course we were running them till the brakes where glowing red with out any problems

 

I run mobil synthetic as well, have since the second oil change...I just cant risk it in my current financial situation....hopefully I took care of that last night....we'll see

 

REVIVED!!!

I just read through all three of the oil pan links above, and it appears that production has stalled on all of them. Does anyone have any new info on these or another manufacturer's baffled oil pan? My car is begging to be autocrossed, but the oil starvation issue is holding me back.

 

hmmm....whats the pan made of ?? steel right ? why not try welding in your own baffles ?......Dave Potter has been racing his Turbo 1.6L for a few years now thoug and I havent heard of any oil starvation probs from him

 

thanks for the fast reply!

unfortunately, my mechanical ability limits me to bolt-ons. I've also heard that if the baffles aren't installed *just right* they can cause even more starvation problems. BTW do the 1.6 engines suffer from the same problem?