Anyone speak mechanic?

[Finnegan]

I'm looking into a 2005 987 base, (84k miles) and I have the service records from the current owner. The latest service record shows that the AOS went boom, and was replaced.

Notes at the bottom of this record say,

"May have spark plug contamination from oil consumption.
Possible contamination of catalytic converter.
Engine is running ok at this time."

The owner says the 'ok' remark just means, running within expectations.

What do all y'all think?

[Heiko]

If the AOS was just replaced it obviously sucked some of oil back up through the intake, that's probably where the oil on the plugs came from.....

You can always expect something to go wrong... lol has it had any other major stuff done like IMS etc?

[Finnegan]

No, the IMS was inspected, and judged to be a candidate for retrofit, but it was not done. And I only have the records of the current owner, going back a few years.

[flaps10]

How was the IMS inspected? No way in hell would I do all the work to remove the transmission, flywheel, remove tensioners, lock the cams and remove the IMS cover and then NOT replace the bearing. You've already done 90%of the job at that point.

If by inspected they mean that it wasn't a nasty goo covered cover so it must be fine, they are kidding themselves. My cover looked perfect.

As to your original question I would say the car was probably wiping out the mosquito population and the plugs were oil fouled. They evidently cleared themselves once the car stopped ingesting oil.

[Heiko]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

No, the IMS was inspected, and judged to be a candidate for retrofit, but it was not done. And I only have the records of the current owner, going back a few years.

Interesting how someone can say they 'inspected' the IMS bearing... LMAO
I would mark that into your cost as I would have that done just to be sure, but that's just my opinion.

Anyhow, I'm sure you'll get all sorts of comments, but IMO if the services haven't been done at a certified Porsche dealer I would get at least a second opinion from a reputable shop.

[KRAM36]

I would find out how long it was driven with the bad AOS. That can muck up the converters if ran that way long enough. Replacing the cats is not a cheap fix, spark plugs are though.

I'd worry about the "candidate for retrofit" as to what they meant. If they meant the IMS is at a failing stage then you better get that replaced asap. If it goes, you're looking at a engine rebuild or installing another engine.

[Finnegan]

The story is that it was only driven a matter of minutes after the AOS failed.

Notes from the IMS check:

"Inspect engine for build numbers. M96. Advise if IMS bearing is replaceable. Connect scan tool and check cam deviation: (plus)1.703 (minus) 1.203. Engine is candidate for IMS bearing replacement.

[Topless]

You can run your VIN to see if the IMS is a retrofit candidate. If yes, have it done along with the clutch if original. 2005 is likely a single row IMS which has a much higher failure rate.

[jsceash]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

The story is that it was only driven a matter of minutes after the AOS failed.

Notes from the IMS check:

"Inspect engine for build numbers. M96. Advise if IMS bearing is replaceable. Connect scan tool and check cam deviation: (plus)1.703 (minus) 1.203. Engine is candidate for IMS bearing replacement.

These are good numbers and if it were mine I'd drive and regularly inspect the oil filter for contamination. If there is no unusual tapping in the top or bottom of the engine I'd say the AOS did no damage. You can have one fail that doesn't hurt anything. Mine blew at high RPM on track dumped all sorts of smoke for several hundred yard and stopped stalled. Pulled off track it fired and drove back to the pits and did no damage at all.

[kk2002s]

Doesn't the 987 require splitting the engine case to get at the IMSB?
Cam deviation numbers look well within spec tolerances
Catalytic converts ingesting oil could certainly be a concern. They are expensive to replace. If no codes are being thrown, of course someone could easily clear any

[jsceash]

Originally Posted by kk2002s

Doesn't the 987 require splitting the engine case to get at the IMSB?
Cam deviation numbers look well within spec tolerances
Catalytic converts ingesting oil could certainly be a concern. They are expensive to replace. If no codes are being thrown, of course someone could easily clear any

There are posted ranges of serial numbers and not all 2005 require the case being opened. I recently saw a new posting that said no 2005 and early 2006 model were exempt from being opened. All of those that need split have a more substantial bearing that are good candidates for oil injection flanges.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by jsceash

There are posted ranges of serial numbers and not all 2005 require the case being opened. I recently saw a new posting that said no 2005 and early 2006 model were exempt from being opened. All of those that need split have a more substantial bearing that are good candidates for oil injection flanges.

We keep seeing this information posted, and every time we check the supposed "lists" against VIN and engine numbers we have from actual disassembly's, they come up wrong. Proceed with caution.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by jsceash

If there is no unusual tapping in the top or bottom of the engine I'd say the AOS did no damage. You can have one fail that doesn't hurt anything. Mine blew at high RPM on track dumped all sorts of smoke for several hundred yard and stopped stalled. Pulled off track it fired and drove back to the pits and did no damage at all.

Same for me. I've gone thru two AOS failures with no collateral issues.

[mikefocke]

The problem I see is he doesn't know if the cam deviation was bouncing, just got some meaningless single time deviation figures. The fact that it was a "candidate" could mean that it was seen to be of a type that could be replaced. Or the mechanic saw bouncing. But we don't know which.

You can't tell much from the VIN or engine number as to which generation of bearing is in the unit, gotta have the trans off and look at the bearing cover. Ask the mechanics who have been surprised at what they found actually in the engine wasn't what they had ordered.

The mechanic is just covering himself with the "other things could be wrong" comments after the AOS replacement. He didn't say he cleaned the intake and throttle body.

[Finnegan]

Interesting. I thought it was impossible to know without opening it up and looking.

What's the ballpark cost of clutch plus IMS for an '05?

[Topless]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Interesting. I thought it was impossible to know without opening it up and looking.

What's the ballpark cost of clutch plus IMS for an '05?

Typically between $2-3k depending on if the flywheel also needs replacing.

More detail on the IMS retrofit.
IMS 101

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

"May have spark plug contamination from oil consumption.
Possible contamination of catalytic converter.
Engine is running ok at this time."

This statement is true for every car that ever had an AOS fail. Shop was just covering their arse in case something came up later. If the engine is running fine and there are no codes, then the odds are very good that everything is fine.

[healthservices]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I'm looking into a 2005 987 base, (84k miles) and I have the service records from the current owner. The latest service record shows that the AOS went boom, and was replaced.

Notes at the bottom of this record say,

"May have spark plug contamination from oil consumption.
Possible contamination of catalytic converter.
Engine is running ok at this time."

The owner says the 'ok' remark just means, running within expectations.

What do all y'all think?

Originally Posted by thstone

This statement is true for every car that ever had an AOS fail. Shop was just covering their arse in case something came up later. If the engine is running fine and there are no codes, then the odds are very good that everything is fine.

What stone said.... I agree 100%

[Finnegan]

Thanks a lot for the comments, everyone!

[Finnegan]

The car also needs brakes; The owner is not willing to negotiate on price, so that's that.