Nonsense?

[Maineman]

Hi, all - I'm new to this forum - very happy to have found it - a crowd of otherwise normal folks besotted with their Boxsters!! �� At last! These are my people..... My "firstborn" is a 2002 Guards Red Box with 60K miles on the odo. Pristine car that I treat with embarrassing attention and affection! �� I have a couple of DIY questions though: I found a website promoting an after-market performance chip with some pretty interesting claims - check it out: PORSCHE BOXSTER GF Peformance Chip Can't sort out whether it's worth a try or, more likely, nonsense! Anyone have any experience with this product? Advice? Suggestions? Another question concerns a piece of "wisdom" I heard from another Boxster owner. He claims that substituting a quart of Lucas Synthetic Oil Stabilizer for one of the quarts of regular synthetic oil at each oil change will go a long way toward preventing IMS problems/failure? True? "Miracle-in-a-bottle" nonsense? Don't know/can't hurt? Thanks for sharing any thoughts on these.

[pjq]

I can't help you with your two questions but just wanted to let you know about a good Indy Shop in your neck of the woods, Ayer European Auto Surgeons in Gardnier Maine.

[thstone]

Hi and welcome to the Forum!

Softronic and other custom ECU programs net ~7% hp increase for the Boxster engines. Hence, I find their claims hard to believe for the Boxster.

Porsche 986 Boxster Performance Software Tuning Flash

[Maineman]

Thanks to both of you for your replies.
Know the Ayer shop well - great reputation - I have no reservations about going to them - plan to ask them to quote IMS replacement.
I think I'll skip the chip. Not only are the claims suspect, but the huge price discount can't mean anything positive.....
I am planning to use the Lucas stabilizer, though. It has worked wonders in other applications. If my results are significant (positive or negative), I'll follow up with a re-post.
Again, thanks. Now pray for an end to this very long and very miserable winter so I can put the Box back on the road!!

[Jamesp]

Interesting that there are no dyno results posted with amazing even outlandish claims... Hmm.... Kinda makes you think it's more marketing and less engineering. I'm not sure I'd want their product messing with my engine.

[Mark_T]

Originally Posted by Maineman

I am planning to use the Lucas stabilizer, though. It has worked wonders in other applications. If my results are significant (positive or negative), I'll follow up with a re-post.

What does the stuff actually do? What wonders has it worked in what other applications? How will you determine what effect it has had in this application?

I looked around a bit and I can't find much in favor of using it, and there are many articles slamming it. It just sounds like STP to me. I guess if you have an old car with a leaky engine and noisy lifters it might help you to get the car sold.

The best use I have found for STP is to put a drop of it on your hammer/sear engagement point. Does wonders for your trigger pull. It also makes for a nice improvement to the double-action pull when applied sparingly to revolver actions. Trigger job in a can!

[mikefocke]

Anyone claiming a one size fits all engines considering the multiple possibilities of mods is not on the level.

You don't need miracle oil, just a longer lasting bearing setup, good oil and frequent changes.

IMHO

[Maineman]

Thanks, Mark and Mike. It's great having the voice(s) of experience weigh in. Some reason to balance my new-owner anxiety!
Truthfully, "working wonders" is probably over-statement for any "miracle in a bottle" like the Lucas Oil Treatment. My other vehicles do seem quieter when I use it, though, and the demo I saw was reasonably impressive. I've seen some articles critical of the claims, but none citing damage or negative effect. It's cheap enough to give it a try even if the effects are mainly psychological!
Thanks again. Happy motoring. I'll try to post a photo or two with the next post.

[Maineman]

"The more I know, the less I need".

Oh, ****************! Just poked around looking for info/reviews of Lucas Oil Stabilizer. Mark was right. Seems pretty clear that the best available wisdom is to steer clear of it (and any other "motor-snot" additives). Use the best oil and filters and change them both frequently - per Mike. I hope this poor Boxster survives me!! I've gotta switch to de-caf........

[Eric G]

Welcome Maineman, my advise to you on your pride and joy...enjoy her for what she has in her. If you are not planning on tracking her and simply want to enjoy time on the road, go with what the factory recommends. These cars have a lot of fun built into every engine and model and following proper care and maintenance you should have a lifetime of enjoyment from the car.

[jb92563]

Changing the oil chemistry of such an expensive engine with additives is not something wise for the amateur.

There are seal materials, viscosity, flashpoint and other things to consider and I'll bet using such products would void your engine warranty if you had one.

Just stick to the Porsche approved oils list and you will be fine. Adjust viscosity slightly for your local conditions.
Porsche-Approved Oils

As far as the magic chips go, if they are really good, you'd hear about it in these forums and nearly everyone would have one.

I think there may be some in the ~$1000 price range that could help you if you actually have done some serious performance mods and you need the ECU
to take advantage of additional air/fuel flow to increase the power.

The cheapo chip effects are typically nulled out by the existing ECU as it attempts to restore the effects back to its programmed parameters.

[Maineman]

Thanks again, all, for taking the time to reply.
I am in the process of getting "guesstimates" from three shops for IMS bearing replacement. Pretty much all of them are also recommending I consider some additional, proactive, "while-we're-in-there" replacements as well: main seal, clutch, transmission fluid, water pump. Sound familiar? Reasonable to do proactively at 62K miles?
Cost estimates are all coming in at between $3,600.ºº and $4,000.ºº for the job inclusive of all of the above. Certainly cheaper than a new engine post catastrophic IMS bearing failure and a lot more appealing than ending up with a bright (Guards) red, four-wheeled German doorstop in the driveway!
Sigh. I do truly love this humble little buggy, but it sure is an expensive habit!

[Topless]

The placebo effect is strong in us.