Planet 9

3 hard track days after installing the Porsche Motorsport oil separator and I can report that there is no smoke whatsoever.
In addition, I did not use any oil at all. Normally on the track I have been burning 1/2 to 1 quart of oil a day. But now after 3 days, the oil level indicator did not move at all.
Smoke and oil consumption problems solved.

I had my first severe smoke experience on track. The last lap of the 2nd day, yesterday, during open lapping at Putnam Park. I had the stock PS2 tires, it was my cool down lap, the temperature was 40 degrees. I was tired and in 2nd gear, I should have been in 3rd gear for turn 8. I was forced to shift to 3rd just before the track out point, going uphill. My shift wasn't timed for smoothness and I was rewarded by a dense cloud of smoke, the likes of which I have never seen before. The first time, what a surprise and on the last lap, but I deserved it, my punishment for bad driving.

I experienced a huge plume of smoke Sat. at the Harris Hill Road track event in San Marcos. It was a long, high G left hander, and I freaked out at how much smoke it put out since I'd never read about this isssue before. FWIW, I'm on base suspension, w/ 18" PS2's. I brought it in, left it sit for a while, and heard it's not uncommon. Started it up again in the paddock, and should have rolled up the windows first - my interior was filled w/ smoke! I drove it down the road to check it out, and the smoke cleared.

I spent the rest of the afternoon in a slower group, and had no more problems.

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'08 E90 M3 (replaced '07 Guards Red Cayman S, which will be fondly remembered)
'08 Miata GT
'08 Honda Ridgeline RTL
'07 KTM Super Duke 990
'07 KTM 300 XC-W

I think it's unacceptable to have a Porsche that I can't use on a track day because I get black flagged. I also don't think I should have to buy after market fixes just to get thru a Time Trial! This is a Porsche!! If it were a Lexus SUV this would be an entirely different conversation.

So..
Since my earlier post, I have taken the car into the dealership for a checkout. They report "no problem". So now, I am pressing forward and will report.

For those that are not sure what severe smoke looks like here is a video behind Caygirl this weekend. The smoke starts at about 1:23 into the lap.
It was so much smoke that I could not see the track.
She was taking this corner in 2nd gear. High-rev cornering brings on this problem.

Its been 20 sessions since I installed the Porsche Motorsports Oil Separator and I still have zero smoke and I have not had to add any oil. (But...I do change oil every 10 sessions.)

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CaymanS Track Videos
2004 996GT3 / 1999 Boxster Spec Race Car / 2007 CaymanS Track Car (Modified with parts from: 997GT3, 997GT3RS, 9967GT3, Porsche Motorsport, Tarrett, Mantis, Arlan, APRacing, Moton, Eibach, Tubi, Aasco, Quaife, TCDesign, Heigo, Fikse, Softronic,TeamTech, Traqmate, ChaseCam, Pagid, Rennline, SV Tek)

i can understand your fustration, but plz understand that they are still road cars, the components used in them are designed to perform under moderate condition for over a very long period of time, where as track/race cars componets are run under extreme conditons for a very short period of time.

Porsche do offer track cars such as GT3/2 and RS.

but the cayman is at heart a coupe for road use. and the principles to which its build and designed is probably "a two door coupe you could use everyday"

I've been tracking for 10 yrs in instructor groups on r-compounds in bmw/mazda/acura/mitsubishi...never had any issue that would result in black flag. the amount of smoke i saw in the video of caygirl would most likely get you a black flag. if it happened a few sessions in a row, it would get you parked. it's not acceptable in any car that has pretense of being a performance car. GM durabilitytests frikken <25K HHR & cobalt SS at the nurburgring and a 60K+ uber sports car has to be babied at a DE?

looper,

While you are correct that these are for the most part street cars, from what I understand Porsches have always been able to handle a moderate amount of track duty without issue.

Also, Bodine (who you quote) is the President of the Porsche Owners Club (racing club) and has been running and racing all matter of Porsches for many years. Several of us who run with Bill and the POC share this same issue and frustration. If a permanent fix is not found the problem will likely kill the Cayman as a track car for many (most?) and retard development of track-oriented performance parts.

The problem is not consistent and seems to get worse over time as the AOS begins to fail. I have seen the same issue develop on street tired Caymans driven modestly and never appear on R-compound tired cars driven at class record speeds. The failure mode is nearly always the same as described (high RPM, hard left, etc), with the AOS being overwhelmed some how (bypass, oil backup, ?).

I am installing the “Glenn Fix” motorsports oil separator in my car today, but not everyone is willing modify their car to the extent, or to bear the expense, necessary to make this change.

Additionally, neither the GT2 nor GT3 (other than the Cup) are race cars. They are street cars as well, and while they may be more capable of handling track duty they are certainly out of the price range of most folks wanting to track a Porsche.

So where does this leave us? Are we doomed to purchase of a rear-engined 964 or 993 if we want to run a Porsche hard on the track? I do not think so, but I am willing to continue make changes. Many others will not and the Cayman will lose it reputation as a competent sports car. Maybe this is what Porsche wants.

Cheers,

i saw that video too, its like a smoke screen that thing (loves how the camera car have to keep cleaning his windscreen everytime hes blasted with the smoke), and if i brought a cayman for track use and this happens to be i'd be pissed.

and for 60k+ you definately could get cars that's more reliable and more fun on the track.

if porsche decides to kill off a model in this way then i doubt the combined affection of the cayman comunity would be able to save it. ppl will just lose faith,will, energy and finally walk away from the brand.

but i guess being the president of the POC do bind you to porsche, if not, my thoughts have being the cayman for everyday and maybe a much cheaper, track specific car for fun. (the scafolding/fiberglass type)

Thanks Glenn! When folks said, "Wow, you were smokin out there!", I thought that was a compliment... Porsche has got to address this oil ingestion issue. Their stance that the Cayman is a street car is not acceptable. It is not safe for the folks behind me.

ROTFLMAO!!!!

I have just ordered the Motorsports AOS. I have already experienced a similar problem on street tires in an AX (see related thread, http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-com...tml#post265119).

Glenn, can you provide more information about the air pump deletion?

So, I'm trying to sum this up. The stock CS engine has an oil separator, but it isn't effective enough for the track? Or there isn't a separator?

The car has a separator, but it isn't good enough for the track. The fix is to install the Motorsports separator. The problem was completely eliminated on glenn's car when he did this. I just ordered mine from Tischler, a site sponsor, for $440. About the cost of a DE, when you include gas and tires.

$440 plus a day of labor, it sounds like.

With only street driving, have folks still noticed their plenums are coated with oil?

My labor is free! I actually enjoy working on the car, within limits. I'm not sure about the street drivers. I suspect the oil ingestion is not a problem for them, or else Porsche would have to do something about it.

would you consider putting together an article documenting the install? this would be really appreciated by those of us who do our own work

glenn has already done so. See the Performance Modifications section of the Articles once it comes back up.

Well I think Porsche ought to do something about that anyway, how can it be possible that an icon of performance cars does not perform?!!! Its a shame really, maybe the faceliftet caymans wont have that?!

Btw, is this problem only in the 987 range?? I know the TT/GTX engines are different, but what about the Carrera? does it have the same problem?

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"Sir! We're surrounded!" - "Excellent! We can shoot in any direction!"

A good car will get you from point A to point B. A great car... will just get you into trouble!