Engine Failure Facebook Group

[eightsandaces]

Ditto on the 98 running awesome, Uusimma Finland built units represent!

[Perfectlap]

20% would indeed be a scandal.

But even 2% is truly outrageous given its competition.

Further, we wouldn't even be having this debate if Porsche simply released the data it has or at the very least gave a ball park figure of "to the present we've documented X number". But they haven't put that out which should make you wonder:
If you're sitting on data that would extinguish rampant internet rumors that tarnish your name why would you just continue to sit on said data? I'm guessing its pretty bad.

People have said that these rumors may potentially drive down the price a prospective buyer is willing to pay, but I put that squarely on the foot of Porsche's doorstep. Look at how much trying to bury poor execution or design is costing Toyota by simply failing to acknowledge it. It could well be that a microscopic number of Toyota's (given the millions of cars they produce) are affected by their reported problems but by simply failing to own up to the problem and level with the market, in a timely way, it is now costing them tens of billions. Stupid.
While Toytota's mistake is a safety issue, the mistake, in principle, was the same. Let the public find out about our mistakes on their own dime. Which means the people who are probably in less of a position to shell out such an expense, buyers of second hand cars vs. those with the means to take on new car depreciation, are going to bear the brunt of these repairs. That will certainly shrink the market of prospective buyers in this new economy where people are trimming back on indulgences and taking fewer risks.

[Ray Hudgens]

Good day, I have a 2006 Boxster S and check engine light came on yesterday and it said visit workshop. Then later that day, the engine starting to almost stall in 1st and 2nd gear. Then this morning when I turned it on, a white smoke with very very bad smell came out of exhaust for about 5 min and the engine would stutter up and down. Called the dealer and they said have it towed in!

Pretty depressing so far as I have only had this for 2 months. It's certified pre-owned and I do have a couple years in waranty but hope this is nothing big?

[Bladecutter]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

I've never seen an intermediate shaft used on anything but a Porsche. Someone else will know, but I suspect it may be a remnant of the old VW boxer 4 that started it all.

Actually, I recently learned that the Ford 4.0 SOHC V-6 engine in a lot of Ford Trucks (Ranger Pickup, Explorer, F-150, etc) also has a sort of IMS that drives the camshafts, similar to the Porsche.

Those engines also seems to have fairly high rates of noise and failure.
At least they have noises first to let them know something bad is going on.

They don't actually have an IMS bearing, from the little bit that I've looked into it, however. The problems that they run into are related to the tensioner assemblies failing, causing the camshaft timing to go out of whack, and then pistons meet valves at high speeds, causing massive damage, and big engine replacement dollars spent.

Sometimes, the tensioner assemblies fail in such a way, that the parts punch a hole either into the engine block, or the valve cover assemblies, which then sends shrapnel down into the engine, taking out other important parts.

Not good, either way.

This engine family was originally a pushrod engine, that was modified to accept a cylinder head design that had overhead cams. The original camshaft location in the block was used to house the IMS that feeds the chains to the cams in the cylinder heads. Just an under engineering example.

BC.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Bladecutter

Actually, I recently learned that the Ford 4.0 SOHC V-6 engine in a lot of Ford Trucks (Ranger Pickup, Explorer, F-150, etc) also has a sort of IMS that drives the camshafts, similar to the Porsche.

Those engines also seems to have fairly high rates of noise and failure.
At least they have noises first to let them know something bad is going on.

They don't actually have an IMS bearing, from the little bit that I've looked into it, however. The problems that they run into are related to the tensioner assemblies failing, causing the camshaft timing to go out of whack, and then pistons meet valves at high speeds, causing massive damage, and big engine replacement dollars spent.

Sometimes, the tensioner assemblies fail in such a way, that the parts punch a hole either into the engine block, or the valve cover assemblies, which then sends shrapnel down into the engine, taking out other important parts.

Not good, either way.

This engine family was originally a pushrod engine, that was modified to accept a cylinder head design that had overhead cams. The original camshaft location in the block was used to house the IMS that feeds the chains to the cams in the cylinder heads. Just an under engineering example.

BC.

That's a good point, OHV engines drive the pushrods through intermediate shafts (or more correctly, the cam). The unusual thing about the M96 is that the engine was designed as OHC from the beginning and Porsche still chose to use one.

[tonycarreon]

Originally Posted by Bladecutter

Actually, I recently learned that the Ford 4.0 SOHC V-6 engine in a lot of Ford Trucks (Ranger Pickup, Explorer, F-150, etc) also has a sort of IMS that drives the camshafts, similar to the Porsche.

nice. maybe i'll start taking bets to see which goes first - my ford or my porsche.

[dennis]

OK. I have an '01 Boxster with 34k original on it. I guess I am in the group that should worry based on year and such low mileage? Is there a mileage cutoff where say, after a certain ballpark miles the issues lessen? Most of these post suggest the IMS failures occur at fairly low miles

[mts]

Dennis - I don't beleive anyone has been able to make a direct link between mileage and failure (except maybe Porsche and if they have they aren't sharing). PM me your email address and I will email you a copy of the June 2010 Excellence Magazine article that my help shed some light on some of your questions.

[jcb986]

Originally Posted by Ray Hudgens

Good day, I have a 2006 Boxster S and check engine light came on yesterday and it said visit workshop. Then later that day, the engine starting to almost stall in 1st and 2nd gear. Then this morning when I turned it on, a white smoke with very very bad smell came out of exhaust for about 5 min and the engine would stutter up and down. Called the dealer and they said have it towed in!

Pretty depressing so far as I have only had this for 2 months. It's certified pre-owned and I do have a couple years in waranty but hope this is nothing big?

It's your AOS...Air Oil Separator

[coreseller]

Originally Posted by ppbon

... where I wanted to post the following:

A few of comments:

• The failure rate on the M96 engines is nowhere near 20% as you state. Where are you getting your data from? Porsche has never given any numbers but by my estimate it may be around 2%.

• M96 engines can be rebuilt, just like any other internal combustion engine. Some failures may be catastrophic, but some are preventable by changing your engine oil on an accelerated basis and "reading" your filter.

• My recommendation for anyone having to replace their clutch is to also replace the Intermediate Shaft Bearing which is one of the components most prone top failure, especially in the '03 and '04 model years.

• A used Boxster is way less than $19,000. It's closer to $10K. A Boxster S $15,000. If you have to replace the engine, you can purchase a used one for about $3,000.

• Many Porsches live a long and healthy life. My '98, which I've had since new and is my daily driver, weekly autocrosser, and monthly track car just turned 195,000 miles.

It's not all gloom and doom.

Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

Well and logically put. I'd probably be more animated if my car were a casualty though, $10k or more for a crate motor would sting a bit.

P.S. Pedro, whenever I see your avatar I think "Why is that guy shaving with a wrench?"

[extanker]

Originally Posted by coreseller

Well and logically put. I'd probably be more animated if my car were a casualty though, $10k or more for a crate motor would sting a bit.

P.S. Pedro, whenever I see your avatar I think "Why is that guy shaving with a wrench?"

or he,s rabid

[brabus]

Originally Posted by mts

Dennis - I don't beleive anyone has been able to make a direct link between mileage and failure (except maybe Porsche and if they have they aren't sharing). PM me your email address and I will email you a copy of the June 2010 Excellence Magazine article that my help shed some light on some of your questions.

Hi sir,
Can you also PM me a copy of the Excellence Magazine article , really like to read more about this .

thanks in advance

[jcb986]

coreseller...feed that mut will you. Oh, he's a drug sniffing dog. Send me a dozen of those, please.