How much punishment can an engine take?
 

I've always appreciated a nice quiet and smooth engine and occasionally
border on paranoia at the slightest tick, rattle or slightest sign of
uneven running. However I was reading about a track day recently which
sounded good but it is in conflict with me being too concerned about
the effects.

So the question is how much can an engine take before it start to get a
bit rough whether driving hard on country roads or on a track. Are
modern cars good enough to not show signs of hard driving (within the
redline) or is it inevitable that if you go down the fast driving route
the engine will not be as smooth as one that has been driven carefully.

I'd be very interested to hear opinions.

Re: How much punishment can an engine take?
 

I'd be more worried about brake and tire wear than engine wear,
assuming the engine has been taken care of. I'd probably change the oil
and filter before and after the track day.

Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA