[Dardecor]

I'm wondering what you temps you all are seeing on a road course. I pulled some data from my PDR videos using Pi Toolbox and I'm wondering if my car was running too hot for my sessions.

Looks like my Oil Temp peaked at 284 degrees Fahrenheit and my Transmission peaked at 230.

This was my last road course day which was nearly 8 months ago. Weather temps were likely 60-70s... I've never tracked on extremely hot days. Im prepping myself to do more days so I'd like to be prepared. Only performance mods are Big Gulp, Headers, E50. I cut my very last lap of the day short because I saw a "service rear axle message" that immediately went away (no limp mode). Car has been running perfectly fine, no issues whatsoever even with spirited driving.

What temps are you all seeing on the road course? I'm interested in comparisons to people that are out there doing 20+ min sessions (zl1 preferred)

[TransamGTA350]

That's about right for temps. When I push hard for a full 20 minute session, I'll see 270-280F oil temps and 210-230F transmission temps. I've seen the same on a 65 degree day and a 100 degree day, outdoor temp doesn't seem to make much difference.

[Patriot Motorsports USA]

Let me ask a few questions and then offer some insight...

• Which track were you on?
• What Oil are you using?
• Any Cooling upgrades?

My 2021 ZLE runs ECT 190-210º | Oil Temps with Amsoil 15w-50 Racing Synthetic | A10 temps from 165-195º | MATs <185º

I can run flat out at Road Atlanta or CMP for 20-30min sessions. At CMP in August, Jeni and I ran back-to-back sessions for two days, her being in the Novice Class and my running Advanced with the only downtime was to add fuel between the sessions and zero timing pulled, no issues and never picked up a tool all weekend long.

If you want the best performance from your car during a track weekend, be sure to bring a HD Battery Charger that will let you fast-charge between sessions. Most people forget there is a massive electrical draw from the battery during track sessions which will cause the hydraulic eLSD pump to have a voltage drop and lack of clamping force. I DO NOT recommend using lightweight batteries that do not have a significant reserve capacity. If you add up all the amps, you will pull far more than what the Alternator can provide. This will explain why you are seeing the Service Rear Axle messages.

Send me a DM if you have any other questions.

[mikedahammer]

Originally Posted by Dardecor

Looks like my Oil Temp peaked at 284 degrees Fahrenheit and my Transmission peaked at 230.

My stock ZLE runs the same. Also as said above it seems to not make a huge difference what the outside temperature is once you start flogging it.


You could watch a few videos of mine on youtube as one of the data logs from AIM I have it record is oil temp. 290 is the most I have seen and that was at Watkins Glen this last year when the outside temps were over 100F.

[Dardecor]

Originally Posted by Patriot Motorsports USA

Let me ask a few questions and then offer some insight...

• Which track were you on?
• What Oil are you using?
• Any Cooling upgrades?

My 2021 ZLE runs ECT 190-210º | Oil Temps with Amsoil 15w-50 Racing Synthetic | A10 temps from 165-195º | MATs <185º

I can run flat out at Road Atlanta or CMP for 20-30min sessions. At CMP in August, Jeni and I ran back-to-back sessions for two days, her being in the Novice Class and my running Advanced with the only downtime was to add fuel between the sessions and zero timing pulled, no issues and never picked up a tool all weekend long.

If you want the best performance from your car during a track weekend, be sure to bring a HD Battery Charger that will let you fast-charge between sessions. Most people forget there is a massive electrical draw from the battery during track sessions which will cause the hydraulic eLSD pump to have a voltage drop and lack of clamping force. I DO NOT recommend using lightweight batteries that do not have a significant reserve capacity. If you add up all the amps, you will pull far more than what the Alternator can provide. This will explain why you are seeing the Service Rear Axle messages.

Send me a DM if you have any other questions.

1. I was on Cresson Motorsport Ranch
2. Motul 5w40 for engine. Amsoil ATF for transmission.
3. No cooling upgrades.

I see you here and there on the forums and you have some really insightful posts when it comes to keeping a tracked Camaro cool. Do you have any recommendations for my setup?

You know, I was thinking it may be a battery issue but wrote it off because this happened on a new battery. Your explanation makes me feel a lot better. I have a trickle charger, but do you recommend any fast chargers for between sessions?

Originally Posted by mikedahammer

My stock ZLE runs the same. Also as said above it seems to not make a huge difference what the outside temperature is once you start flogging it.


You could watch a few videos of mine on youtube as one of the data logs from AIM I have it record is oil temp. 290 is the most I have seen and that was at Watkins Glen this last year when the outside temps were over 100F.

Over 100F I've been avoiding tracking during the summer time because I was worried about potential overheating. If you're saying it stays the same then I may sign up for some summer road course days.

How many track days have you had? Any problems? I'm worried about longevity with running the car that hot during sessions so thats why I'm asking if its normal. also drop one of your YT videos for me

[VaporPressure]

My stock M6 zle runs about the same. Just chiming in to mention that "service rear axle" can reflect issues that have nothing to do with the rear axle. It can reflect timing issues, among other things, so I'd suggest pulling codes just to see if there were any. When I had that alert come up, I had a broken lobe on my camshaft. Dealer first thought it was a spark plug issue due to the misfire codes. Since you have headers and this happened at the end of a session, consider checking the heat shielding on the spark plugs.

I haven't previously heard of battery draw being the cause of a "service rear axle" warning. Seems like if that were the case, it would be a common complaint among those who track the car. I've tracked for a year with an antigravity battery (and for years prior with the car's original battery) with no electrical issues. I can't recall seeing anyone at track charging the camaro between sessions.

[wakespeak]

Oil temp in the high 270s to about 280. Change your coolant to be 70/30 or 60/40 water/coolant for better heat loading, especially with the auto trans. 70/30 gives you freeze protection to about 10F.

This is in the Corvette, Porsche manuals, etc. Common practice.

Synthetic oils will give you protection well beyond 284F so all good there but the coolant change will be helpful all around.

[Dardecor]

Originally Posted by VaporPressure

My stock M6 zle runs about the same. Just chiming in to mention that "service rear axle" can reflect issues that have nothing to do with the rear axle. It can reflect timing issues, among other things, so I'd suggest pulling codes just to see if there were any. When I had that alert come up, I had a broken lobe on my camshaft. Dealer first thought it was a spark plug issue due to the misfire codes. Since you have headers and this happened at the end of a session, consider checking the heat shielding on the spark plugs.

I haven't previously heard of battery draw being the cause of a "service rear axle" warning. Seems like if that were the case, it would be a common complaint among those who track the car. I've tracked for a year with an antigravity battery (and for years prior with the car's original battery) with no electrical issues. I can't recall seeing anyone at track charging the camaro between sessions.

Noted. Unfortunately I was unable to scan the code but I will if it pops up next time. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one running that hot.

Originally Posted by wakespeak

Oil temp in the high 270s to about 280. Change your coolant to be 70/30 or 60/40 water/coolant for better heat loading, especially with the auto trans. 70/30 gives you freeze protection to about 10F.

This is in the Corvette, Porsche manuals, etc. Common practice.

Synthetic oils will give you protection well beyond 284F so all good there but the coolant change will be helpful all around.

Will definitely give that a try for my next track day

[VaporPressure]

It may still be worth taking a look -- the codes may still be stored. I had pending misfire codes that I could see later, despite the service rear axle warning disappearing and no CEL.

[TransamGTA350]

Originally Posted by Dardecor

Over 100F I've been avoiding tracking during the summer time because I was worried about potential overheating. If you're saying it stays the same then I may sign up for some summer road course days.

How many track days have you had? Any problems? I'm worried about longevity with running the car that hot during sessions so thats why I'm asking if its normal. also drop one of your YT videos for me

I know this was asked of mikedahammer, but I will also respond with some insight of my own experience.

As for 100 degree track days, the car will be fine. I've had no overheating, engine/trans temp fine, no brake fade/boiling under those conditions, pushing hard for 20 minutes straight. It's you that will have a harder time. Drink lots and lots of fluids (I like to alternate water and gatorade), wear breathable clothing. What I will normally do on those hot days is get to grid a little early and sit there with the windows up and the A/C on as cold as it goes and pre-cool myself before the session. When they send you out, shut the A/C off and drop the windows. When you're on your cooldown lap, turn the A/C back on and once you enter the paddock, put your windows back up and cool down as you make your way back to your paddock spot. If the track has a an air conditioned classroom where you can escape to between sessions, that also helps.

My car has about 20 track days and probably 10 autocrosses on it and not a single issue. It's been dead reliable. I use Mobil 1 Supercar 10W40 oil and the stock AC Delco trans and rear diff fluids, Castrol SRF brake fluid. Coolant is factory fill, never touched. Change engine oil/filter after 7-8 track hours and trans/diff fluid after 15 track hours.

[Dardecor]

Originally Posted by TransamGTA350

I know this was asked of mikedahammer, but I will also respond with some insight of my own experience.

As for 100 degree track days, the car will be fine. I've had no overheating, engine/trans temp fine, no brake fade/boiling under those conditions, pushing hard for 20 minutes straight. It's you that will have a harder time. Drink lots and lots of fluids (I like to alternate water and gatorade), wear breathable clothing. What I will normally do on those hot days is get to grid a little early and sit there with the windows up and the A/C on as cold as it goes and pre-cool myself before the session. When they send you out, shut the A/C off and drop the windows. When you're on your cooldown lap, turn the A/C back on and once you enter the paddock, put your windows back up and cool down as you make your way back to your paddock spot. If the track has a an air conditioned classroom where you can escape to between sessions, that also helps.

My car has about 20 track days and probably 10 autocrosses on it and not a single issue. It's been dead reliable. I use Mobil 1 Supercar 10W40 oil and the stock AC Delco trans and rear diff fluids, Castrol SRF brake fluid. Coolant is factory fill, never touched. Change engine oil/filter after 7-8 track hours and trans/diff fluid after 15 track hours.

Late response but I appreciate the insight. I will start switching to 15w50 for track days as well. I may also look into that GMS hood bracket to extract more heat as well

[wakespeak]

[Dardecor]

Originally Posted by wakespeak

Attachment 1172231

How often do you track?

[mikedahammer]

Sorry I missed the notification. I run 15+ track days a year. I have run the camaro for two years and have just over 4K track miles. I run the 15-50 and follow the maintenance schedule. every 500 track miles - dump oil, every 15 track hours dump trans and diff fluid etc.

This screen shot was from a 90+ degree day at VIR on July 25th at 11 am. I found the watkins glen 100+ degree day (see video below) but I didn't program the pdr so cosworth thinks there was only one lap but you can check out the youtube as i run an aim system as well and it should show the oil temp. also know that was second time at watkins and first with the camaro. you can check out some of my other videos but i usually only post new tracks that I go to.


https://youtu.be/LKWU-DjYaUM?si=u4h-4L1LEZgiEAwB


Also newer videos has the sound fixed. I finally figured out a good spot for the microphone.