GT350 long term test... it's depressing

[SYT_Shadow]

Yet again, I see that high performance american cars don't pass the test of time

Read here:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...pdate-2-review

Key portion here:
Since our last update, the 5.2-liter Voodoo V-8 has developed a thirst for 5W-50 synthetic oil. Over the past 11,800 miles, the high-revving engine has consumed 8.5 quarts. There are no leaks, so we can only assume that it’s exiting the quad tailpipes. If this were the ’80s, this might be acceptable, but it’s 2018 and oil depletion has become a rarity. Ford has released a supplement to the owner’s manual regarding oil consumption, stating that the engine could drink up to one quart every 500 miles under “extended time at high engine speeds, high loads, engine braking, hard cornering maneuvers, and track use.” Our car, however—excepting the odd mountain run and back-road blast, of course—has spent most of its life on freeways.

11.8k miles. 8.5 quarts of oil.


Some people wonder why I have an E90 M3 dedicated to the track instead of a Camaro SS 1LE/ZL1 1LE, Corvette Z51/GS/Z06, GT350, etc... well, this is why.
I can easily put 100 track days on my E90 without issues... these other cars, not so sure.

I want to buy a high performance american car badly but it seems the universe conspires against me. I really do.

Before some smarty pants comes to remind me of rod bearings on the S65 or subframe/vanos issues on the E46, I'll remind them that C&D has had long term tests of those cars and never had an issue.

[Ab28]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Ford has released a supplement to the owner’s manual regarding oil consumption, stating that the engine could drink up to one quart every 500 miles under “extended time at high engine speeds, high loads, engine braking, hard cornering maneuvers, and track use."

So if you use the car as intended, it'll drink oil like there's no tomorrow...tsk tsk

And how could those conditions not have been observed during R&D??

[Richbot]

Something is bustified on theirs they’re not even tracking it. Seems like it’s working ok otherwise.

The E92 they had was a DCT and other than some drivability issues I don’t think it broke. And it had 2008 I drive, so in a way it was broken when it left the factory

I wonder how much oil th GT4/IMSA cars are supposed to use, heh

[dparm]

The Voodoos have not proven to be a bulletproof as the Coyotes, unfortunately. I'd be curious to see a leakdown and compression test.

The Chevy small-blocks (LS/LT) are fairly robust and not stressed as hard, it seems. By nature, they're also a simpler design. Sure, the Corvette Z06 has overheating issues, but that's really a factor of the Corvette's more streamlined aero and the fact that the 8AT is so popular. The same motor in the Camaro ZL1 does fine. There's a reason LS swaps are so popular, and why there are so many Corvettes at track days.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Something is bustified on theirs they’re not tracking it.

Do we know that for sure? Do you really trust them to admit to how hard they drive it? I don't know about you, but if I had free access to a car like that for the week, I would definitely want to get it out on the track and have some fun with it. It's not like the journalists are just puttering around town in stop-and-go traffic. They're definitely ragging on it.

Their strawman argument for "it's 2018 and cars shouldn't consume oil" is complete horseshit, too.

[Richbot]

I tend to accept car and driver’s word on stuff like this, because it’s car and driver. They have a long history of admitting when they screw up especially wth the long term cars and lightning lap

Cars shouldn’t drink oil like that in 1988 either

[byroncheung]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Before some smarty pants comes to remind me of rod bearings on the S65 or subframe/vanos issues on the E46, I'll remind them that C&D has had long term tests of those cars and never had an issue.

still, i gotta say i rather my m3 drinks oil than spins a RB... (only half joking...)

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by dparm

Do we know that for sure? Do you really trust them to admit to how hard they drive it? I don't know about you, but if I had free access to a car like that for the week, I would definitely want to get it out on the track and have some fun with it. It's not like the journalists are just puttering around town in stop-and-go traffic. They're definitely ragging on it.

Their strawman argument for "it's 2018 and cars shouldn't consume oil" is complete horseshit, too.

I'm sure they're ragging on it, but there's no reason to believe they'd rag on this more than their other performance cars. They've had all kinds of things

As far as deliberately lying regarding tracking the car, I don't see why they'd do that. They do plenty of track tests and don't need to hide that from us

[Richbot]

Precisely They just got done loving a 6g Camaro SS and having a stingray blow up on them (rod bearing GASP RECALL LAWSUIT RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE) not too long ago and they have an M2 right now also. They were not nice to the F80 M3, but it didn’t blow up or drink a sump of oil in between changes either so t has that going for it

How are the cats on that thing not failing

[EnVe46]

There are plenty of new motors that have reported high oil consumption, newer hemis to be one of them. The heavy duty 6.4, not the one in the srt8 but the 2500 truck motor, is one of them. I had one and it was quite hard on oil consumption until 16k Miles. Then it slowed drastically, with no explanation from Chrysler and it's well documented on the forums. The newer hemi are known to use a tighter ring pack with the idea of reducing friction to theoretically be more economical. Not sure how much of that is bullshit vs a solid theory but it's the only thing we can come to terms with in the forum. To me, that's a qt every 1388 miles, where plenty of high performance cars have reported similar use, including some on this very chassis. Wonder how much of that is due to improper break in procedure for the gt350? Is this reported on forums by owners?

[TTony]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Over the past 11,800 miles, the high-revving engine has consumed 8.5 quarts. There are no leaks, so we can only assume that it’s exiting the quad tailpipes.

So at the oil change time, you only need to swap out the filter?

My E60 M5 burns oil too but no where near that level. Also, switching brands of oil had an effect on the burn rate FWIW.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by TTony

So at the oil change time, you only need to swap out the filter?

My E60 M5 burns oil too but no where near that level. Also, switching brands of oil had an effect on the burn rate FWIW.

Yup, no oil change needed, just keep adding oil! Lol

[pbonsalb]

If it is ok for it to burn a quart every 500 miles then they have done great to use only 8.5 quarts in 12k miles instead of 24 quarts. They must be driving gently.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I'm sure they're ragging on it, but there's no reason to believe they'd rag on this more than their other performance cars. They've had all kinds of things

As far as deliberately lying regarding tracking the car, I don't see why they'd do that. They do plenty of track tests and don't need to hide that from us

Not accusing them of lying, but it's not like they're giving you the excruciating detail of what every single staffer does in it. I do agree with the original post that the consumption seems really high.

Originally Posted by Richbot

Precisely They just got done loving a 6g Camaro SS and having a stingray blow up on them (rod bearing GASP RECALL LAWSUIT RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE) not too long ago and they have an M2 right now also. They were not nice to the F80 M3, but it didn’t blow up or drink a sump of oil in between changes either so t has that going for it

How are the cats on that thing not failing

The Vette blew up on them right after it came out because it had a known manufacturing defect (metal burrs) related to the oil filter housing that damaged the bearings. It was recalled and fixed IIRC. The C7 forums are not overrun with people blowing engines or anything like that.

[65fastback]

Originally Posted by dparm

The Voodoos have not proven to be a bulletproof as the Coyotes, unfortunately. I'd be curious to see a leakdown and compression test.

The Chevy small-blocks (LS/LT) are fairly robust and not stressed as hard, it seems. By nature, they're also a simpler design. Sure, the Corvette Z06 has overheating issues, but that's really a factor of the Corvette's more streamlined aero and the fact that the 8AT is so popular. The same motor in the Camaro ZL1 does fine. There's a reason LS swaps are so popular, and why there are so many Corvettes at track days.

This

6.2 LT1 SBC i believe has proven it self solid ... if you want a domestic hot rod get a corvette or camaro. (Says the guy with a mustang in my garage).

[Ezio]

I think its pretty crazy to dedicate a car that is deigned for the roads with occasional track use for just the track. Now if you take the car and modify it to meet track conditions that different.

The point of this thread is valid, but it just doesn't apply to 95% of owners.

[Honda]

Originally Posted by Ezio

I think its pretty crazy to dedicate a car that is deigned for the roads with occasional track use for just the track. Now if you take the car and modify it to meet track conditions that different.

The point of this thread is valid, but it just doesn't apply to 95% of owners.

I thought you disappeared from M3 forum for long time. What brought you back? another M3 in stable?

welcome back

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Ezio

I think its pretty crazy to dedicate a car that is deigned for the roads with occasional track use for just the track. Now if you take the car and modify it to meet track conditions that different.

The point of this thread is valid, but it just doesn't apply to 95% of owners.

Good to see you Ezio

The point of this thread is that the GT350 does not seem to be able to hold up to street use, nevermind track use.

What other option would you prefer? Here are the conditions:
-No trailer allowed in Greenwich CT
-Must drive to tracks that are up to 10h away
-Must be street legal

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Good to see you Ezio

The point of this thread is that the GT350 does not seem to be able to hold up to street use, nevermind track use.

What other option would you prefer? Here are the conditions:
-No trailer allowed in Greenwich CT
-Must drive to tracks that are up to 10h away
-Must be street legal

Something like a GT3 / GT3/RS Cayman GT4 or a Viper ACR . maybe the new ZR1 or old Z/28.

Cars like M3, AMG, or mustangs have to much compromise.

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by Honda

I thought you disappeared from M3 forum for long time. What brought you back? another M3 in stable?

welcome back

Something may be coming

They need to unban me from the F80 section

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Ezio

Something like a GT3 / GT3/RS Cayman GT4 or a Viper ACR . maybe the new ZR1 or old Z/28.

Cars like M3, AMG, or mustangs have to much compromise.

No Porsches for me, ever. I've driven the GT4 modded with semi infinite money and don't love it. No GT3x either. I do like the ACR though.

I find driving cars that have no adjustability (gt3) is not exciting, but others may feel differently. I don't want to drive a car that only wants throttle throttle throttle and bites hard. If I were a pro driver I'd probably feel differently.
I am firmly in @bigjae's camp when he says if he had 100k for a track car he'd have a stripped out E9x and they'd call him the joker because of his permanent shit eating smile.

At AER the top teams have massive budgets and what cars are 70% of the grid? M3s.

Also, note that all those options are 3x what an E9X is.

I did seriously consider a Viper ACR for a while... but as you can be on the HPDE podium with a simple E9X, the ACR would be boring as hell. Too underutilized. Maybe with Michelin Energy tires...

[Rambler]

SYT, have you considered the Alfa QV if something outside of an M3? I have been considering one myself despite the lack of any long term history. Seems that many of the early computer glitches have been worked out, many of which were due to user error and understanding some of the car's oddities.