ATF change at 14k mile, Redline Hightemp swap

[BRZPDX]

So I will finally be swapping out the OEM ATF to the Redline Hightemp fluid this Saturday. I'm curious to see how the ATF looks after I dump it. The rear def fluid was pretty nasty, with bunch of metal shrapnel's on the magnetic plug.. Can't be good.

I may drive my car harder than some of you, but this will be a good bench mark to see how the OEM ATF is holding up. Its a spendy swap ($280) but is necessary for track/auto-x in the summer.

So far my tranny has went through:
14,000 miles
6~7 Auto-X events
Las Vegas road trip (~2000 miles total, desert heat 105F)

Also, I will be putting a ATF cooler in the near future as well. They are pretty cheap, and most of them are universal.

Heat is the worst enemy with AT tranny's. Being this is my first AT, still learning how to take care of them.

[myd_lyf_crysys]

Very interested in hearing what you find out when you dump the fluid... I have been contemplating on changing out ATF / Differential / brake fluid in prep for the track days in August. As I am still looking for a service department that can spell FR-S or BRZ, may I ask who you are taking your car to for the service?

[BRZPDX]

I go to PRE for most of work I can't do at Darren's or tune. Rear diff oil is easy to do, Kevin has some Motul left that you can buy from.

My car is not track ready yet but the following needs to be done:
ATF cooler
SS brake lines
Brake pads
Oil cooler kit
better tires (V12 sucks, great for street since they last for ever)
I may need a functional vented hood to fight the heat soak

I think these will be the minimum supporting upgrades to be safe on the track.
What will be nice is:
Bushings and cylinder brace
Rear and front sways
4 point seat belt or seat belt lock
brake duct cooling kit/slotted calipers

[stockysnail]

Originally Posted by BRZPDX

I go to PRE for most of work I can't do at Darren's or tune. Rear diff oil is easy to do, Kevin has some Motul left that you can buy from.

My car is not track ready yet but the following needs to be done:
ATF cooler
SS brake lines
Brake pads
Oil cooler kit
better tires (V12 sucks, great for street since they last for ever)
I may need a functional vented hood to fight the heat soak

I think these will be the minimum supporting upgrades to be safe on the track.
What will be nice is:
Bushings and cylinder brace
Rear and front sways
4 point seat belt or seat belt lock
brake duct cooling kit/slotted calipers

Add high temp brake fluid to your list. Rear subframe insert bushings, diff bushings, and trans bushings I recommend more than some of the other bushings as they give a more noticeable difference. They are inexpensive and easy to install as well. Genometuning is where I got my bushings from. They will usually beat anyone's price. I can help install them as well if needed.

SS brake lines are really unnecessary in my opinion after running them but if changing out fluid may as well do them. I'd say talk to some of the guys that track constantly if you haven't already like CSG Mike. You don't need the minimum supporting upgrades to be safe on the track unless you turn your car into a full time track only car. I'd avoid the 4 point harness unless you get a full cage or cage that meets the requirements of a track day as they do more harm than good from what I've read unless going all out race/cage. Just giving my opinion and advice based on what I've been through.

Oil and ATF coolers I say would be helpful and obviously tires. My oil temps on the street when on the freeway have dropped around 20 degrees with the Perrin cooler. I've been looking at hoods but it would be $$ to have a good one, have it painted, and have it work properly in the rain. I was thinking of maybe buying a stock hood and having someone mod it a little since it's cheaper than a full CF hood and easier to install, but that's more work that I'm willing to do at the moment.

I should probably be doing work instead of typing my life story here. Hope this info helps in some way.

[BRZPDX]

@stockysnail

All good points, I do want the bushings ordered and installed in the near future. Not sure if sways will be a better investment at this point. Well the Perrin Oil Cooler kit is about $700, and the Seibon vented CF hood is about the same price, I wonder which one will be more effective at keeping the temps down.

Jason mentioned about the front suspension on this car is garbage, and that you can get up to 40lbs weight savings using their rally car front arm or something, to off set the 40lbs of the SC. Also, swapping the WRX knuckles is something he recommends as well, the steering radius on this car is weak sauce (although with fatties in the front, you will rub).

With the new pads, I do want to change out my OEM brake fluids to a performance one, and changing to a SS line at that time should be easy since we are already down there.

On a side note, I think I'm gonna order the same front lip from PW JDM, I pretty much gave them my sob story on the phone, and they will give me a good discount. I can't find any other front lip for the BRZ that will flow with my over all looks.. Also the USDM Tom's tail light with a clear casing and black outline is coming out (the current ones are not DOT approved) and a rear CF bumper kit that looks like the TRD one is what I'm going for. I will need to have Jason refab a tail piece so that it is quad tip to fill the gap. My secret FI project will be in the works as well.

Not sure where to start first though lol..

[stockysnail]

Originally Posted by BRZPDX

@stockysnail

All good points, I do want the bushings ordered and installed in the near future. Not sure if sways will be a better investment at this point. Well the Perrin Oil Cooler kit is about $700, and the Seibon vented CF hood is about the same price, I wonder which one will be more effective at keeping the temps down.

Jason mentioned about the front suspension on this car is garbage, and that you can get up to 40lbs weight savings using their rally car front arm or something, to off set the 40lbs of the SC. Also, swapping the WRX knuckles is something he recommends as well, the steering radius on this car is weak sauce (although with fatties in the front, you will rub).

With the new pads, I do want to change out my OEM brake fluids to a performance one, and changing to a SS line at that time should be easy since we are already down there.

On a side note, I think I'm gonna order the same front lip from PW JDM, I pretty much gave them my sob story on the phone, and they will give me a good discount. I can't find any other front lip for the BRZ that will flow with my over all looks.. Also the USDM Tom's tail light with a clear casing and black outline is coming out (the current ones are not DOT approved) and a rear CF bumper kit that looks like the TRD one is what I'm going for. I will need to have Jason refab a tail piece so that it is quad tip to fill the gap. My secret FI project will be in the works as well.

Not sure where to start first though lol..

I think the oil cooler would be better to start vs a hood. It costs much less (got mine for $555) if you buy it at their retail store as they give great discounts for locals that come see them.

If your last CF front ripped off going 100+ then I'm not sure getting the same one will stay on or not especially since you'll be going 100+ again. Plus if you beef it into the grass hard, you never know what might happen. I guess just make sure you stay on the track.

[BRZPDX]

So I got the ATF changed to RedLine high temp oil, and the tech told me that the OEM fluid was really nasty. Dark color with some metal flakes (which is normal, especially from factory) but highly recommends changes if you:

Launch your car
Auto-X
Track
Drive "aggressive"

Manual states every 30k mile for severe driving conditions.

I am going to change mine every 15k now. Total cost with labor and oil was $280.

If you are not taking it to auto-x/track/dragging, I'd say to change out the OEM fluids to the high temp stuff anyways before you wait until it gets nasty.. Just my opinion though.

[stockysnail]

Most people I know never change their trans or diff fluid ever even after 100k+ miles, but then again they don't take care of their cars like we do, nor do they love cars.

[BRZPDX]

Just noticed a "click" sound when I take off on first, and then once more when I take my foot off the throttle.. no click noise when not in gear free revving. Rear diff make any noises or is it the tranny? Just noticed it after autox today on the way home.. wtf

[stockysnail]

Originally Posted by BRZPDX

Just noticed a "click" sound when I take off on first, and then once more when I take my foot off the throttle.. no click noise when not in gear free revving. Rear diff make any noises or is it the tranny? Just noticed it after autox today on the way home.. wtf

My rear diff makes noise since installing the bushings when letting the clutch out when starting from a stop. Trans also makes a clunk when putting it into1st gear but that's bushing related too. Not sure what it could be. Maybe swing by Darren's while I'm hear getting the car detailed with Nick and Darren. Should be here a while.