Maintenance Schedules for Track/AutoX cars

[sfzBimmer]

I'm trying to get a feel for how often I need to change the oil/replace brake fluid with my schedule of one driving school and one-two autocrosses a month.

What kind of regular maintenance schedule do you track/autoX guys do?

[Max M3]

With the schedule you outlined, I'd change the brake fluid before the season and just check it before your track day. Oil schedule would still be the same... Synthetics changed every 5k miles. Again check it before and after a track day... you'll likely have to top it off afterwards.

[SG_M3]

I change my oil after 3k miles, maybe sooner during the summer events. I flush the brakes before every track season, then bleed the brakes before every event.

[L8APX]

I like to change my oil before each track event. Maximum protection for those expensive engine internals. Works out to about once a month from May to August. Sounds like overkill? Beats a rebuild.

Brake fluid flushed every 2 track events unless it is Watkins Glen, at that point I am lucky to leave there with a pedal at all.



Tranny fluid once a year, coolant every other.

Don't forget to check your differential oil level. Change it every two years.

Lower control arms should be replaced every few years.

Change the paper air filter every spring and fall, or clean and re-oil if that applies (K&N or Amsoil)

Change power steering fluid yearly, especially on heavily autocrossed cars, that stuff breaks down too..

[1996 328ti]

I too replace my tranny and diff fluid before my first Spring event. If anything it at least lets me know if there is a problem. I can go 3 driving schools on brake fluid but by my last session my brakes a feeling mushy. Now I will evaluate the track and weather conditions. If it's going to be warm or like L8apex said, The Glen, I'd increase my brake fluid changing interval. Oil I stick to every 4500 miles. I also stick to the normal Inspection schedule.

[Matthew C Smith]

L8APX has the almost exact same maintenance schedule as me except I'm a little lazy when it comes to the oil changes. I'm a 5k interval.

[TheWiseGuy]

Depending on the weather conditions, your car, and a few other conditions i would just bleed them once to twice a day, at the track. If you do so regularly enough you do not need to flush them seperately. Just make sure to completely bleed them not just drip a little fluid out and check if there is air. You should be able to go through about a quarter bottle each bleed (depending on your brake setup).

[mrsha007]

i usually check EVERYTHING as if the car wes just put togetherr before and after an event.

but thats just me.

[OldSkoolBmw]

I don't know about you guys but if you have a clutch type LSD like me.. then rear diff fluid needs to be changed almost every track event as it gets really hot... I got tired of chaning this so I have an electric pump I toggle on which feeds rear diff fluid into a cooler under the back and then back in.. works quite well and gives me about an extra half to 3/4 quart fluid in my diff.. from the racers I've talked to this is very common on clutch type rears for like 30 min track session. pretty much every track weekend and it's used up from the clutches slipping..