Vortech and track?
 

Are there a couple of people who drive there Vortech on the track in intense form, like 2-3 hours of track per day? I'd be interested to see if some people track with the regular V3 and if it's holding well.


let say someone would do, what would let go first, i keep reading to get the V2 for intense track use.


thanks

The first thing to "go" would be the fluid, as the v2 is engine oil fed and the v3 (normally happy on the street) uses a small amount of oil in the case which is not cooled or cycled out.


From there, the overheating oil could lead to bearing failure, seal failure, locking up, etc.


Just my input before others with actual failures report in.


IMO if the car sees any track duty, v2 is a safe bet

this is my experience, just some dude who owned, tracked and misses his vortech BRZs
vortech is great to work with, and does a pretty fast turn around in my experience

the v3 can cook its small amount of fluid IF run with a smaller pulley or IF run hard enough in hot enough weather at the track long enough-it doesnt like to see temps past 250F, its a street application really, perfect for ax, perfect for street, not enough for serious track

this v2 has a bigger bearing, runs cooler, and as such temps are a non issue with the v2 as far as heat goes on race circuits, run it at 265 all day, no issue, tho going beyond the 3.125 pulley results in shorter belt and seal life on track esp with aftermarket headers(oe has a header heat shield and it is the combo of high torque on the belt and high underhood temps that cause early demise of the rubbers imho) and does run your oil hotter but if youre setup right for oil coolers and rads you wouldnt have a issue, atleast i didnt running the robispec rad/oil setup which rocked

going to 2.87 is asking for trouble but can be done, as tested the thing is solid, its not like anything fails, just go thru belts and seals more often as expected

it should be noted my v2 came with a tamper seal, ie removing the oe pulley voids any warranty

now why is that? cause you can go relentlessly at the v2 with the oe pulley and thats the safest setup for the sc

I have upwards of 20-30 track days on a warranty voided unit that saw a few seals and then I finally sold it for a NA car, and admit I miss boost but enjoy the lower overall OE performance of my current car; but obviously I miss my BRZ(s) or I wouldnt still be lurking here!

bottom line if you wanna track it HARD get the v2 and vent it well, the v3 is hard to beat up off the race track

I ran the 3.33 unwastegated at the track at 1500 feet without issue on my cars
I would not advise running anything smaller without a properly wastegated setup, but I'm *just* some dude, so really listen to your tuner

My V3 sprung a leak during the 3rd track day. After sending it to Vortech, there was more damage than anticipated. Upgraded to the V2 unit and since then, have taken more abuse on the track, tuning, and DDing...absolutely no issue. Confident the V2 will sustain the expected track days for NorCal's 86Cup.

Any desire to track the Vortech, look at the V2 unit. I've followed Vortech's install as well as its oil-return system (valve cover bung) and the stock pulley used so that I may stay in good terms with Vortech and the warranty. Oil changes has risen but that's expected to keep everything in check.

do we know which version openflash sells as part of its OFT300 package?

If you're asking me, I'm on ecutek and jamesm tuning.

The OFT300 package is V3

What exactly were the issues?

Bearings! The rebuild and replacement parts were shy of V2 version and with the expected track time, went with the V2 instead. Since the V2, the car's gone thru more abuse and loving it.

Same as above, the V3 didnt go well for me during hard track use, ended up with far more damage then expected. Vortech was amazing and backed up their product, upgraded to V2 (oil fed) at a very reasonable cost. Season ended here so i couldnt try the V2 out on track yet.

The physical unit of the V2 feels hot to the touch once warmed, unlike the V3 which remains cool, but i assume that is due to constant 90C+ oil running through it. If anything that means the bearings are getting fresh mist of oil spraying on the bearings constantly. I've always had an oil cooler and for sure wouldnt go without one with a V2.

That being said, its hard to beat up a V3 for non track use, autocross, etc.

Which track did @MyRx and @SonnyBRZ toast their v3s? How many track days did you guys have under your belt?

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Don't track the v3!

I've already done it, but 1st track day so I wasn't going very fast...

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Buttonwillow.

Well I must be Lucky, I've got a v3 and tracked the shit out of it all summer, plus a 2 day lapping school where we have 6x30min each day and I was in the advance group, so beating on it hard. And no problem.

Vented hood and oil cooler? One of the board members APMG? out from Puerto Rico mentioned a cheap fix is to install a recirculating pump on the v3, plus a small oil cooler

Me too - I must also be lucky.
I track my car about once a month and seriously give it horns. I've run about 650 hot laps on various racetracks with my V3 and no problems other than a chirping belt sometimes (which I sort out with a dash of Johnson's Baby Powder every two weeks or so). :)

Conspiracy

Hi

AJPG from PR, the front bumper was finally removed and have photo of the set up.
Compared with the V2 is cheaper, it use the same pristine oil (monolec) and you can adjust at witch temp the oil pump start circulating (mine setup start at 165f) but you could adjust that in less that one minute (the time to open the hood).
DIDNT like the idea of using the contaminated engine oil to feed the SC, why? Normal engine wear...
Send a email and would share photos

Max temp ever recorded on SC was 181f.

send me the pictures please

pumalex at hotmail.com

Yes well...since i'm a cheap bastard i've got the forester oïl cooler and my Hood is vented by putting washers and removing the weather stip.


It would be interesting for everyone to see it, can you post it here too. thanks

Is the tune the same for the V2 and V3; all other bits being the same (pulley, fueling, etc)??

I ask because I have the OFT and OFH and was hoping to get the OFT300 tune, but for the V2 setup.
@Shiv@Openflash

The difference between V3 and V2 have been discuss before in this forum...
It keeps the SAME compressor (impeller and housing) change the gear side to be more robust, but at the same F... time start to use the contaminated and hooter engine oil... Can you believe that??!!
As oil the monolec, used on the vortech unit is the best we could get and is what I use in my setup. I DONT recommend the use of the engine oil due to normal engine wear and higher temps.
The SC oil cooler with inline filter and oil pump
Attachment 103427
The SC oil pump controller with the max temp ever recorded
Attachment 103428
Off topic, speed with the 4.88 final drive
Attachment 103429
Photos of the oil lines in and out the SC as soon as I take them.


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Why are people so against using the engine oil to lube the SC? Many high performance turbo cars (Porsche as an example) use the engine oil to lube/cool the turbos. Plus, Vortech clearly thinks this V2 is the better way to go for track use.

My 1997 Porsche Turbo has had a lot of hard track miles on it and the turbos have never had an issue. And, it has 65K miles on it.

Just sayin'

Contamination and vortech agree with me! :)
Read the warranty and there are some things that Vortech would considered to void warranty, including dirty or contaminated engine oil.

So after clearing that I could say that my setup is way better and I'm confident that could hold the 2.87" at the track without overheating. (Currently the max temp ever was 181f) that's frigid cold compared with engine oil at the track without turbo or SC.

As side note turbos and SC are kind of different internally.

Just saying









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[ATTACH]103444
[ATTACH]103445




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@AJPG, could you show pics of the supercharger unit? I want to see how you tapped the oil lines on it. Thanks!

Sure [ATTACH]103451
Guess witch is in :)


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Please don't drill the valve cover!
Lol


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Thanks! Hmm, looks like the drain line is being used as in, looking at the pump assembly. Is that right?

can you give a link to where you got that inline pump and filter? Seems like a fuel pump, works good with the oil too?

Good morning! It should last longer, now is lubricated.
It is Sunday, so today is fun day!!! As soon as I return to reality would seen you the link. [ATTACH]103575

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If the engine oil is contaminated enough to damage the SC, then I think the SC would be the least of ones worries.

Yes, turbos are a bit different than a centrifugal SC, but a turbo's oil cooling requirements are considerably greater.

I don't see any reason, if given the choice, to go V3 instead of V2 for a heavily track-driven car.

1. Normal engine particulate could damage the gear side of the SC, now imagine... If the engine breaks the SC goes with it due particulate (mmmmm)
2. Correct turbo need more cooling capacity and work way hotter than SC (but there are some other differences)...
3. You could do the conversion to the V2 and use my setup OR you could keep the V3 well cooled and as soon it fails go to the V2.
4. Anyway is you car and your money, feel free to do what ever you consider is better, but keep in mind that I'm not selling anything so no hidden agenda here.

I was trying to contact vortech to get the parts for the bigger turbine (the one with 1150 CFM and 22 psi, but apparently they prefer that we send the unit...
That and the 2.88" would validate my set up... No luck

In for more information on this cooler and pump. Are you selling it? If not can you provide the info needed to piece it together? Thanks

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Getting supplied bung welded to valve cover is cake
Cost less than an hour