another dead boxster @#$%!

[tnoice]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

Had I just thrown an AOS on it without pulling the plugs and going further the engine would have failed the first time the #1 piston travelled toward TDC, while on the starter.

I've seen that happen before.. Throwing parts at a problem is quick and when it works it saves money. When it doesn, it can cost an engine.

Pat's description of what happened wasn't classic AOS, so I assumed the worst and worked from there.

I hope you did not think I meant any ill comments. You know, hindsight is 20/20. This thread was absolutely amazing to read, and the troubleshooting was amazing. Yes, many people would simply throw a AOS on and be done with it and break the motor in the process, and then say.....must have been something else. I have a friend of mine that took a ford explorer to a local dealership and SOMEHOW while changing a fuel rail and injector flooded one of the cylinders with fuel and then immediatly cranked the motor over and blew the motor up. They told him....well it was our mistake, however the motor was already broke when you brought it in, and that led to the reason that it blew up. He had to pay $5,000 for a new motor. He is still fighting that one.

So question is, would you include changing out the AOS every 60-80,000 miles AND the water pump a good precautionary measure, or is it not needed. Run it till it breaks?

I think the insight and precautionary attitude is great. Thanks.

[Jake Raby]

Its not mileage that counts!!!!
Its TIME IN SERVICE!!!

The water pump impeller doesn't wear.. All it is moving is clean coolant, there is no friction. What breaks the impeller blades is EXPOSURE to the environment that the impeller is a part of whether the engine is running or not.

Because of this we see cars with 10K miles from 1997 crack heads because the impeller has become brittle and a piece of it snapped off.

The last M96 engine that was built came from 2005, at this point ALL M96 engines are AT LEAST 5 years old and ALL of them need the water pump changed.

Don't consider mileage for an AOS, water pump or IMS precautionary procedure to be carried out. The IMS bearing's outer seal is exposed to engine oil even when the engine isn't running, the seal breaking down and allowing engine oil to attack the bearing and wash away the permanent lubrication is what begins the IMS bearing failure.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

Its not mileage that counts!!!!
Its TIME IN SERVICE!!!

The last M96 engine that was built came from 2005, at this point ALL M96 engines are AT LEAST 5 years old and ALL of them need the water pump changed.

Jake,

A friend of mine with an '06 Cayman S took his car to the dealer before the warranty expired (+/- 15K), but reached the four years.

The Service Mgr. recommended replacing the water pump saying "these pumps are constantly failing and will happen sooner than later, we better replace it now while still under warranty"...

also on the Cayman Club (Planet-9..) I have read of several Caymans that had a water pump failure
.

[litteng]

i just did a quick check and the pump for my 2006 has a different part number than the earlier ones, is the impeller on these still plastic too?

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by tnoice

So question is, would you include changing out the AOS every 60-80,000 miles AND the water pump a good precautionary measure, or is it not needed. Run it till it breaks?

Yeah, I'd be interested in the answer to that question as well. When the AOS is going, are there sometimes/usually/always some symptoms that, if you're really paying attention, you can notice before having a potentially catastrophic episode like almost happened here?

Jake, I remember you talking about 2 modes of failure with the AOS, each with their own symptoms (white smoke in one case, a high pitched squeal at idle in the other). Are these symptoms pretty much always going to precede the failure?

Might removing the oil filler cap (checking for increased vacuum and difficult removal of the cap) at idle periodically ( maybe monthly??) be a good preventative maintenance measure to keep tabs on the AOS integrity?

[JTP]

When replacing the AOS, would you get the same part number or is there an improved design? Is the Motorsport version a better solution, despite the difference in cost? Same goes for the water pump, is there an improved pump or do we replace it with the same stock pump? Is there one made with metal impellers?

[mikefocke]

Link to the water pump Jake recommends.

I don't see a unique AOS on the site.

[demick]

I've not seen any confirmation that the Jake waterpump has a metal impeller. I've seen the question asked several times, but never answered.

[Jake Raby]

Originally Posted by demick

I've not seen any confirmation that the Jake waterpump has a metal impeller. I've seen the question asked several times, but never answered.

I am not selling a water pump with a metal impeller.. The main reason is IF the bearing in one of these units goes bad it will chew into the engine block and destroy it.
At the current state of development using a quality pump with a plastic impeller, but changing it out every 2-3 years is the best policy.

Excellence is going to cover the water pump issue in an upcoming issue, I spoke to the Editor yesterday and he told me that they'd be in touch for my data.

[Frodo]

So Jake, back to tnoice's question (specifically with regard to the AOS):

"So question is, would you include changing out the AOS every 60-80,000 miles AND the water pump a good precautionary measure, or is it not needed. Run it till it breaks?"

And (directly related to that question) are the early symptoms of AOS failure (mentioned in my last post) pretty reliable indicators that one can wait to see/hear, or should the AOS (like the water pump) just routinely be replaced after a certain number years? If it (the AOS) should be replaced based on age alone (ie, before any signs that it's failing), how long should we go between replacements?

[JTP]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

Link to the water pump Jake recommends.

I don't see a unique AOS on the site.

Thanks Mike!