Shortlived Boxster engines survey

[hosickjg]

Just got the engine apart. Pictures tell all, the second picture is whats left of the piston. Porsche doesn't care because its out of warranty. Engine has 75100 miles on it and has been "stealership" maintained since new.
The notorious number 6 cylinder crack and EPIC FAIL.
Not sure if I might send the block out and have 'Nicky" cylinders put in.

[mtinrunner]

Our 2000 S with the 3.2 failed at 54K with a mixing problem. It wasn't opened up but was thought to be a cracked case because of where the water was dripping into the oil pan. I didn't bother with Porsche on a 10 year old car. Heck the stealership didn't even know what was wrong with it. They even changed the coolant bottle which wasn't leaking hoping for a miracle. We took it back twice and the temp light began flashing again the next day. They wanted $7500 to open it up without a clue as to what was wrong. Replaced it last week with another 3.2 with 32K miles, new mount, new clutch, tune for 7K. I hope it lasts a little longer.

[clickman]

Originally Posted by mtinrunner

Our 2000 S with the 3.2 failed at 54K with a mixing problem. It wasn't opened up but was thought to be a cracked case because of where the water was dripping into the oil pan. I didn't bother with Porsche on a 10 year old car. Heck the stealership didn't even know what was wrong with it. They even changed the coolant bottle which wasn't leaking hoping for a miracle. We took it back twice and the temp light began flashing again the next day. They wanted $7500 to open it up without a clue as to what was wrong. Replaced it last week with another 3.2 with 32K miles, new mount, new clutch, tune for 7K. I hope it lasts a little longer.

Where did the "new" 3.2 come from? Had it been rebuilt? Had any of the failure modes been addressed?

[mtinrunner]

Norm, the transplant came from a wreck. hadn't been worked on. I was quite surprised the mount was shot already as well as the fact the clutch was toast on my car with 54K miles and my wife putting on most of those miles. I'm not sure what you mean by failure modes. It was looked at by several mechanics and deemed not to be worth opening up. It wouldn't maintain coolant pressure while sitting and coolant leaked into the oil pan. From where the leak was coming it was deduced that it had to be from a crack in the case. A quarter inch metal chunk was found in the oil pan, its origin unknown. The car never overheated.

[clickman]

You said when you put the replacement engine in you did the engine mount, clutch and "tune"(?).

I was wondering if that replacement engine had anything done to it before you put it in your car. Things that get talked about on M96 forums all the time, like replacing the intermediate shaft bearing and rear main seal. If not, why. Thanks.

[mtinrunner]

Yes, we changed all those things...would certainly be dumb not to eh? For what its worth I just wanted to list it as another total failure... 54K miles.