How Is Maintenance Different for Performance Cars

How to Know Which Modifications Will Void Your Car’s Factory Warranty

Virtually all drivers are aware to some extent of the maintenance required to keep their vehicle on the road, and those who consider themselves to be automotive enthusiasts even more so. Just about every car comes with specifications from the manufacturer on how frequently maintenance items should be performed, typically recommended after a certain number of miles or a given period of time. Yet, those recommendations are given to represent the best course of action for how the average person might drive their vehicle with the standard factory equipment. If you're making regular trips to the drag strip or to the circuit, odds are you aren't considered the average driver, and your car might have some not-so-factory parts.

Performance vehicles and racers that are regularly pushed to their limits will require attention more frequently with higher-quality components than their economy counterparts. While your car may be designed to withstand the extraordinary forces it's capable of creating, everything wears down with time, and that high performance accelerates wear. To keep your performance reliable, it's important to keep up with your vehicle maintenance.

Servicing Performance Brakes

If you've got a performance vehicle with performance brakes, odds are they'll require more attention than the brakes on the everyday car. Pushing your vehicle and its braking system to their limits will cause increased wear over the typical vehicle, meaning you'll have to inspect your brake components more frequently.

After a day at the track, especially for road racing, you'll want to inspect the brakes for excessive wear, even wear, and heat-related wear. Heat may discolor the brake rotor and can even cause stress fractures that, if let go too far, can lead to catastrophic brake failure, which obviously isn't something you'll want to experience at speed. Keep an eye out for the typical signs of wear as well, such as grooved or warped rotors.

While some cars may go their whole lives without getting a brake fluid flush (even though they definitely should), you should flush the brake fluid in your performance vehicle at minimum every two to three years. It would be best practice to flush your brake fluid every year preceding race season. After all, it's an inexpensive procedure that can save you much, much more. Why is it different for performance vehicles, you might ask? Simply put, if you're properly putting your car through its paces at the track, the brakes will get hotter than they typically ever will in the average car's lifetime. In addition, as brake fluid ages, it absorbs moisture and becomes easier to boil, reducing or even nullifying its capacity to function as it should.

If you're uncertain about your qualifications for checking and maintaining your performance vehicle's brakes, or even if you simply don't have the time, we at Boostin Performance have you covered. So stop in and have your performance brakes inspected by professionals for peace of mind during your next track day. From performance brake parts for sale to performance brake service near you, shop Boostin Performance.

Performance Car Oil Change

Regularly changing the oil on any car is always an integral part of its maintenance, but it becomes even more important when subjected to the extremes of a high-performance engine. Proper high-performance engine maintenance will generally require the use of high-performance engine oil that's complete with additives to protect your engine internals from the incredible stresses they must undergo to allow you to put the power down to the pavement.

High-performance engines are especially susceptible to fuel contamination in the oil. It's best to avoid this with a proper tune and build, but even then, fuel contamination is possible. Turbocharged and supercharged engines are especially susceptible to this, so be extra attentive to this if you're driving a vehicle with forced induction. The reason for concern with engine oil fuel contamination is that most fuels are solvents, meaning they greatly reduce the lubricity of engine oil. If your oil can't lubricate as it should, you'll surely experience accelerated wear and reduced component life. Don't worry, you can trust Boostin Performance with a tune that'll mitigate engine oil fuel contamination.

Performance Tire Maintenance

Your tires are arguably the most important component of your vehicle, being responsible for how your vehicle interacts with the road beneath it. The all-season tires that come as part of the standard equipment for most vehicles have different care procedures than the summer tires or drag slicks you likely have your vehicle outfitted with.

When storing your performance tires for the offseason, it's best to clean them, remove them from the vehicle, deflate them to 5-10 psi (if mounted), and store them in a semi climate-controlled area inside an airtight bag. You'll also want to keep them away from sources of ozone like electric motors. For more tips on performance tire maintenance, contact one of the performance technicians at Boostin Performance today.

Coolant In Your High-Performance Engine

Whether you're running the glycol/water coolant blend typical of street vehicles or gearing for a dedicated track car that'll only run water, your engine coolant plays a vital role in maintaining the longevity of your engine. Some drag cars might run without coolant, especially if they're only going on short runs and are using fuel with great evaporative cooling properties like ethanol and methanol. But, unless you're running a track-only racer that's trailered to the strip, you'll want to make sure you've got coolant that will adequately regulate your engine temperature.

Engine coolant isn't typically a frequent maintenance item, but you'll want to be sure to check it more regularly for high-performance vehicles that are more prone to head gasket failures. Additionally, if you're running straight water, you'll have to be careful of corrosion that can occur over time. Finally, since water doesn't have the same lubricating properties as a glycol-based coolant, you'll also want to be mindful of the accelerated wear the water pump will experience. Schedule a vehicle inspection at Boostin Performance to assess your vehicle's health.

Trust Boostin Performance with Your Race Maintenance

We at Boostin Performance live and breathe performance vehicles, so we know exactly what it takes to maintain high performance cars. Whether it's something as simple as an oil change with high-quality performance engine oil or a comprehensive run through of your vehicle's key maintenance items as you look to start or end the season, Boostin Performance is proud to serve you as your local performance automotive shop. Our experienced technicians are passionate about not only keeping your vehicle running as it should, but also maximizing your driving experience. Call us today to discuss what Boostin Performance can do for you and your racer.