Driver

Driver's Education Preparation

Member interest in Driver's Education emerged during the past year as our Region put on two excellent D. E. events at Firebird East. If you are planning on attending an Arizona Region Driver's Education session during the upcoming season, now is a good time to get some basic maintenence items taken care of that will maximize and influence the enjoyment of your track time. The following items should be considered by an owner when preparing his/her Porsche for a day at the track:

Replace the following items noting the caveats:

-FAN AND AIR CONDITIONING BELTS: These belts should be replaced every three years (four years maximum for low mileage cars). My 1995 993, built in August 1994, still has its original belts, so they are really living on borrowed time and spares are standing by in the trunk.

-FUEL FILTER: Replace annually. A marginal filter may not provide adequate fuel flow for long duration, full-throttle operation on the track. Prior to the filter change, it is a good idea to run a bottle of Techron through the tank to clean up deposits left by gasolines with the MTBE additive. Techron Fuel System Cleaner by Chevron is a Porsche approved product which cleans up intake runner and valve areas of the engine.

-OIL AND FILTER/S: 15W-50 Synthetics or 20W-50 Fossils are good choices for hot lap running at Firebird. Normal operating temperature should be reached prior to full-throttle operations. Porsche 914 and 944 owners should consider running with an extra half quart in the sump to assure oil pump inlet coverage in corners.

-TRANSMISSION FLUID: Replace annually with owner's manual recommended viscosity/grade oil.

-ANTIFREEZE/COOLANT: Replace every two years. A 50/50 mix of a good phosphate-free antifreeze and distilled water will provide maximum cooling for your water cooled Porsche.

-SPARK PLUGS: Refer to your owner's manual for the spark plug replacement interval for your Porsche model. Low mileage cars should have new plugs every three years. Boxster and 996 owners may increase this time interval even longer.

-BRAKE FLUID: Replace every two years with at least a DOT 4 specification fluid. Bleed all caliper ports prior to Driver's Ed day, and again within the week after a D. E. to minimize air bubbles and moisture absorption.

Check the following items noting the caveats:

The term "Check" means a visual inspection of an item, verification of the working condition of an item, and where applicable, checking torque values of bolts/nuts.

-AIR FILTER: Check for cleanliness. If you're running a K&N filter, you can clean and re-oil it for maximum air flow.

-BALL JOINTS/TIE ROD ENDS: Check for looseness in joints and cracks in rubber cups.

-BATTERY: Check battery clamp bolt/s for tightness and integrity of clamping.. Do not overfill cells as high cornering/braking forces can cause spillage.. A "Battery-Mat" placed under the battery is good insurance against damage from spilled electrolyte.

-BRAKE HOSES/CALIPERS: Check for cracks in hoses and leaks in calipers and hoses.

-BRAKE PADS: Check pad depth. Minimum thickness for Driver's Ed start is 0.125 inch. Minimum service thickness for brake pads is 2mm (0.08 inch). Do not run with new pads as new pads will require approximately 300 miles of break-in before maximum braking performance can be developed.

-CV JOINTS: Check for clicking sound with car moving slowly and visually check for cracks in rubber boots.

-DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND ROTOR: Check cap for cracks and carbon tracking on the inside. Check for metal pitting on rotor and point set, if applicable.

-LIGHTS: As a minimum, stop lights, head light flasher and emergency flashers should be operational for Driver's Ed day. Of course, all lights must be operational for daily driving safety.

-OIL HOSES, LINES AND RETURN TUBES: Check all oil system components for cracks and leaks. Move rubber hoses around to see if cracks are starting.

-RADIATOR HOSES: Check for flexibility and cracking. Check clamps for leaks and tightness. It's good insurance to replace hoses every three years, just like belts. They are expendable and are generally time limited instead of mileage or usage limited.

-SEAT MOUNTINGS: Check for looseness of seats in seat tracks and seat track to floor pan joints.

-STRUTS/SHOCKS/SWAY BARS: Check tightness of all mounting hardware and check for leaks/wetness.

-TIRES: Check for minimum tread depth and cracks in sidewalls, inside and outside. Do not run with new tires as new tires will require 300 to 500 miles of running before maximum road holding forces can be developed. Tire pressures used at the track can vary as much as owners' choices in toothbrushes (it is a highly personal preference). There are many right answers depending on which grouping of the multitude of variables considered. A good starting point for street tires, however, is a "cold" reading 2 to 4 psi over the recommendation in the owner's manual or on the door post decal.

-WHEEL BEARINGS: Check for looseness by pushing/pulling on the front wheels near the top of each tire.

-WHEEL LUG NUTS/BOLTS: Check owner's manual for proper torque values and secure the wheel nuts/bolts with a certified torque wrench.

-WINDSHIELD WIPERS: These usually are not required for a Driver's Ed outing in Arizona, but it is a good time to check for dry or cracked blade rubber, and check the system action for full motion across the windshield.

Other needs include an approved helmet, and a permanently mounted fire extinguisher. A halon extinguisher is expensive, but preferred because it leaves no residue on very expensive Porsche aluminum engine pieces and accessories. Approved rollbars are required in Cabriolets and Boxsters. Your stock seats and three-way seat belts are fine for Driver's Ed. As skills grow, some owners will consider a special seat and harness setup to stay better connected with their cars. There are many combinations available in several price ranges. For PCA recommended specifications for these items, check the PCA website under Club Racing.

Completion of the above "replace" and "check" items will assure the owner that his/her Porsche is trackworthy and prepared to provide a capable ride for a very enjoyable Driver's Education day.