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I´ll make up my mind after talking to PCO. If I decide on a rebuild, they offer a warranty (and so does SSP which are a know company for doing Porsche rebuilds) http://www.ssperformance.no/en/porsche.html

If I import a used engine, I don´t want to go through the hassle of removing the engine and send it back to use my warranty.. Then I´d probably get one from around here.

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I can certainly understand the lack of humor at this stage.

Easy for someone on the other side of a keyboard to attempt to make light of the situation, while you are dealing with a pit in your stomach and a hole in your wallet.

Looking at your filter pix -- I'm not hopeful.
Next stage is to check to see if the cams are still in alignment and if not
use a boroscope through the spark plugs to see if you have any
valve to piston strikes.

You could also check the crankshaft to chain tensioner paddle --
I think you have to lock the engine at TDC and go through the chain tensioner paddle hole (don't try this without someone that knows how to time these engines)

Some late 98's might have also suffered from D-chunk failures -- but I believe you said yours was still running fine -- so you're not having a D-chunk and running (at least not for very long)

With that much debris floating around the engine -- even if you "fix" your IMS.
you will not have fixed the engine.

I fear at best you have a tear down, diagnose, clean out and rebuild .

I'll be happy to be wrong,

Mike

Thanks Mike, yes the engine sounds very healthy and never gave any sign of being ill. Pulls nicely through all gears and no bad noises.

As I do not have a garage nor tools / skills, I´ll have to let an approved Porsche shop do this. Looks like you know your way around these motors :)

I´ll keep this thread updated at all times, as others most likely will experience this in the future and it could work as a reference to some..

Haz,

Best of luck to you. Let us know how you make out.

-kjc

Thank you! Much obliged.

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I don´t always understand what you are saying, Madmods, but you obviously seem to have the best intentions :cheers:

Tomorrow is a new week, new possibilities :)

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The car will be flat bedded to SS Performance Wednesday morning and they will examine the metal particles and the sump +++ to give me a diagnostics and a price for the job that needs to be done.
Porsche Center Oslo were not able to take deliver of my particles to have them further examined, unfortunately.

SS Performance claims that a rebuild, if I'm lucky and have intact rod bearings etc, I'm looking at $11500. They had a Boxster in atm that had complete failure and needed a 100% rebuild. If I need this, which I most likely do not since my engine still runs and his didn't (meaning that not all internal parts are destroyed), I'l shop for a second hand engine.

So, a sudden change of events.. Now, I talked to a mechanic at Porsche Center Oslo over the phone right when they opened for the day @ 09:00 and told them about my metal particles in my oilfilter. Right after lunch I talked with the same guy. He said that metal partciles in the oilfilter after 27 months on the same oil is perfectly normal.. My "situation" had been their lunch topic! "So, you don't even want to see my car and check it out??" I asked.... nope, if it sounds nice when running, don't bother.

Guess you didn't expect that, Madmods.

Anywho, I will still be flatbedding the Boxster to SSP on wednesday for a diagnostic. Just wanted to let you in on the new info..

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What I meant was, I guess you didn't expect the Porsche Center to turn down a potential huge job and plenty $$$, I quote; if you go at the dealer your wallet and your mind will be in a worst state than your engine. .. then a lot of talk about how much they will be screwing me at the dealer.. ;)

I also did some Googling on second hand engines
Independent Porsche Specialist Van Zweeden | Porsche spare parts | Porsche service and repair | New and Used Porsche parts | Porsche onderdelen

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A few small aluminum flakes in the oil filter indicate minor if not normal wear.

Since aluminum particles are relatively soft, any that bypass the filter and circulate around the engine, if they are tiny, may not do much damage BUT Magnetic particles are hard steel or iron and very detrimental to EVERYTHING inside the engine and having these circulate around the engine will do damage to bearings and other parts which will in turn quickly cause the engine to have problems and then fail completely.

The failure can cause considerable damage and render an engine unrepairable and require replacement.

If it were my engine, I would expect it to fail soon and I would be looking for another engine to replace it since the cost of a rebuild is so high in your area.

Other wise I have a shop take it apart immediately to see if it is still repairable with a partial or full overhaul before something devastating happens internally.

Any mechanic that thinks its OK to have you drive your car with magnetic particles of that magnitude in you oil filter is just plain wrong and giving BAD advice.

I would not let THAT mechanic touch your car as he if full of crap advising you that what you are seeing in your oil is OK.

I know you prefer the good news from that mechanic, but ..

Best of luck to you.

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Madmods, you make me laugh. I like that :)

Haz, first of all, my sympathies. Have you pulled the oil filter, or had a mechanic do it, as Jake suggested and checked the filter intake to see if any metal particles are present? If any are and they are ferrous then you know metal has been introduced to the engine internals via the bypass port. In which case the only way to determine the extent of the damage is a complete engine teardown.

Checking the engine this way will be the least expensive way to do a prediagnosis of the engine state and might help you defray the cost of a replacement (i.e. used) engine. I put it this way as what is in the sump is less important than what has gone through the bypass port and been introduced to the engine internals.

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