Are Burnouts an Appropriate Way for Mechanics to Road Test Cars?

[718Miata]

As many of you are aware, I brought my 72 S30 to SZR Pro, in Houston, Texas, for a top to bottom evaluation of the car, and for any resultant work. The car was there for many weeks. When I picked it up, I had a long conversation with the mechanic who did most of the actual work on the car. He told me that he really liked the car and had been doing burnouts in it. 

I’ve been extremely dissatisfied with the quality of SZR’s work. I’ve been recently going back and forth with Brad, SZR’s manager, about the propriety of the burnouts.  He gave the following explanation:  

“No, he didn't admit that he did burnouts in your car, but burnouts in sports cars on private property in front of a performance shop aren't terribly uncommon. It's an effective strain check on the drivetrain of the car, similar in applied force to a spirited acceleration on the road. Oil pressure goes up, fuel pressure goes up, engine, clutch, trans, driveshaft, diff, and axles are under load, and the rear suspension compresses. All of this without leaving the parking lot, endangering anyone, or breaking any laws. We're not going to fill the lot with smoke or burn the tires down, but it is an effective test. That being said, I can see how one might consider that mistreatment. Though examining the physical forces applied to the various vehicle components would show that they're either equal to, or less than the forces applied by an enthusiastic drive down the road, some might be disturbed by wheelspin and tire smoke. If Raul did do burnouts in your car, and this is distasteful to you, then I humbly apologize for our apparent mistreatment of your sports car.“

Even if I were to accept Brad’s explanation that the burnouts were done for testing purposes (which I don’t because it contradicts what the mechanic told me), is road testing a car with burnouts at all reasonable? 

[wheee!]

Hoonigan....

I don't do burnouts in my own cars. Why would I let or encourage anyone else to do so? That's just a way to create a possible problem by looking for it. Now if it was a track car, purpose built for abuse, then that's another story...

[rturbo 930]

I can't think of a single reason why they'd need to do a burnout, or how that could be helpful in diagnosis or testing. 

[SteveJ]

male bovine fecal matter

[psdenno]

Be thankful they don't run into stationary objects to test the seatbelts.  ?

Dennis

[SteveJ]

7 minutes ago, psdenno said:

Be thankful they don't run into stationary objects to test the seatbelts.  ?

Dennis

Don't be silly. You don't test seat belts that way. You attach heavy chains to the rear bumper with some slack. Then you accelerate quickly. Once the slack has been removed, the car comes to a sudden stop, and the driver and passenger test the seat belt integrity. At least that's how my mechanic checked mine.

[S30Driver]

Maybe request a refund for 10,000 miles of unnecessary rear tire wear ....  (only 1 tire unless you have limited slip)

Edited November 8, 2019 by S30Driver
spelling

[psdenno]

3 minutes ago, SteveJ said:

Don't be silly. You don't test seat belts that way. You attach heavy chains to the rear bumper with some slack. Then you accelerate quickly. Once the slack has been removed, the car comes to a sudden stop, and the driver and passenger test the seat belt integrity. At least that's how my mechanic checked mine.

I've printed your comment and passed it along to my mechanic to use during my next maintenance interval visit.  It's good I still have the tie down hooks on the rear so he can easily attach the chains.

Dennis

 

 

[siteunseen]

Too many Gas Monkey episodes in my opinion.

[Mike]

No no no no...  not appropriate for testing.  They should use their own equipment for that purpose.

[240260280]

That is why they invented Dynomometers for testing engines and drivetrains....and eventually emissions.

Edited November 8, 2019 by 240260280

[718Miata]

That’s a good point. Dynos exist. 
 

is it possible that SZR could have caused an oil leak at the rear main seal by doing burnouts (and god knows what else) in my car?