Poll:IMS related engine failure

[Olin]

Add me to the pole for a 2001s tip, 140,000 k's not sure what that in miles but it would be getting up there.

No sign of an IMS problem, but as I write this my car is at the Doctors having the new IMS bearing put in. Pick it up tomorrow, couple of other small jobs and quote was $2000.00.

Just chickened out, could have kept driving, but the odd IMS failure stories freaked me out.

Looking at the poll maybe I have panicked for no reason, but....I will now feel more confident when I'm belting around in the country knowing I should no longer have an IMS problem.

$2 g's cheap insurance I guess, although "she who must be obeyed" is not all that happy about it.

[2000boxster986]

Add me as a no... 2000 986. Just changed mine. Old double bearing has 83787 miles on it and still turned smooth with no side to side movement. It was full of oil. Cheers

[Olin]

I guess some of us have the bearing replaced while the car is getting other engine work done. Or just because we are scared sh#% less that the bearing will go

With that being the case, the poll probably gives a slightly different result as to "what may have been" had these bearings not been replaced for preventative maintenance.

The YES column could have a few more unfortunate souls in it.

I see this was a 2009 pole, be interesting to see what the results may be now that the cars are 3 years older.

[mrjr1000]

2000 S with 63K miles. Fifth owner. Owned for year and half. Put roughly 10K of those miles on myself.

No major problems. One MAF replacement and routine maintenance.

Drivers side window does not go down the desired distance when opening door but have learned to finish the job by hand.

Finish is still great. Interior leather shows small sign of wear on drivers bolster.

Drives great. Handles superbly. Still plenty of power. Clutch firm.

So firm No from me.

[Boxster Dave]

2004 Boxster, tiptronic, 20,000 miles. No failure!

[sb01box]

2001 2.7 5 speed. Now 123k miles, purchased @ 57k miles in 2006 no failure. Daily drive, tracked once.

[NASA986S]

Ok guys, add me to the pot! 01 S with 47,000Miles. Inspecting the filter after a nasa event at road atl and gold everywhere. This car was meticulously maintained by the previous owner by the dealer and I have records of the RMS already being replaced twice. Why wouldn't the dealer replace the IMS while in there if they know it's such a weak link!! Now I just have to decide what you all have had to...DIY or no. I guess I'm jumping the gun a bit in assuming the IMS but.... Is the debris from an IMS usually copper/bronze color? Am I chewing away at valve guides instead?

thanks,

Chris

[Jake Raby]

Originally Posted by NASA986S

Ok guys, add me to the pot! 01 S with 47,000Miles. Inspecting the filter after a nasa event at road atl and gold everywhere. This car was meticulously maintained by the previous owner by the dealer and I have records of the RMS already being replaced twice. Why wouldn't the dealer replace the IMS while in there if they know it's such a weak link!! Now I just have to decide what you all have had to...DIY or no. I guess I'm jumping the gun a bit in assuming the IMS but.... Is the debris from an IMS usually copper/bronze color? Am I chewing away at valve guides instead?

thanks,

Chris

The only copper in these engines comes from the main and rod bearings.. Road Atlanta is one of the hardest tracks for these engines. The IMS bearing is comprised only of ferrous material, none of which is brass or bronze or copper in color. We see a ton of track related failures and I'd almost bet that you have main and rod bearings worn into their copper layer. If you schedule a time to come by I can put some of the parts in your hand that have similar failures. Let me guess, you were running Mobil 1 on the track?
I sent you a PM.

[NASA986S]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

The only copper in these engines comes from the main and rod bearings.. Road Atlanta is one of the hardest tracks for these engines. The IMS bearing is comprised only of ferrous material, none of which is brass or bronze or copper in color. We see a ton of track related failures and I'd almost bet that you have main and rod bearings worn into their copper layer. If you schedule a time to come by I can put some of the parts in your hand that have similar failures. Let me guess, you were running Mobil 1 on the track?
I sent you a PM.

That's not what I wanted to hear (welcome to Porsches, right?)! I didn't think there were any gold color parts in the IMS...thanks Jake.

For the other members...yes Mobile 1 on the track. I missed the post about not using it on the track.

[Marburk]

Please add me to the survey........Purchased my 2003 Boxster 2.7L Tiptronic with 6400 miles in 2007......the current mleage is 19600. No RMS leak or IMS failure to date - The underside of the engine/trans area is bone dry and shows no signs of previous leaks/oil seepage. Routine oil changes at 5000 mile intervals or every 12 monthe regardless of mileage.

I am seriously considering an IMS retrofit from LN engineering preemptively as others have done. I will be getting a quote from Hergesheimer Motorsports in Lake Forest, CA next week. Will let you know what I find out.

[Manfred]

I'm surprised that Jake has not had more to say about oil . . . I regard him to be the ultimate authority on this issue.
A useful correlation would be a comparison between change intervals and failures and a second would be a correlation between oils used (viscosity and brand) and failures. I think that Porsche has contributed heavily to the scope of this problem with both the specification of 0w oil and very long intervals. My 2000 S manual specifies 10w40 ----- before the 0w fad and I suspect that much of the preproduction experience with these engines used similar oil. I also think that high ZDDP content is wise if original bearings are still in use.

[gazrawly]

2002 boxster S 986. FSH, 79,000miles. I have owned the car for around 7 months and have covered arouynd 2,500miles in it.

***Touch Wood*** No sign of IMS failure and nothing in the history about it.

*Clutch/dual mass flywheel/RMS replaced at 25,000miles in 2007*

Just changed engine oil and filter, no suspect particles found in the filter (after cutting it apart with a saw and laying it out on some paper). Had plenty of trouble with other aspects of the car though! MAF sensor, rear wheel bearing, front lower arm ball joint, rear fork control arms. The starter motor squeals but only rarely. Lovely car to drive, especially with the roof down. handling is sensational!

[shadrach74]

2002 986 S 52K on the clock. IMSB retrofit installed last week. I was told the old bearing looked fine, but I will reserve judgment until I see it.

Update: After close inspection it appears the the stock single row IMSB in my 02 S was absolutely perfect at 52K.

[dennis]

So far it looks like approx 92% success rate, at what point does one come to the conclusion that this problem isnt as rampant as it seems???

[boxster]

1999 2.5, 75,000miles. no problems so far, but the stories creep me out!
I'm not sure what to do. Is it fair to say tat the single row bearings suffer more than the double row ones perhaps?

[schnellman]

My '98 2.5L with 45,000 miles runs like a champ. Not a single problem since she joined the family three years ago.

[Mr. Mike]

2000S 43,000 miles, no problems to date.

[cabjose]

Have a 2002 Boxster S with tiptronic transmission with 76K miles; car is daily driver but is AX periodically and has been driven regionally (20 hour nonstop trips) twice. No IMS failure yet; I have annual oil changes.

Any advise out there as to probability of an IMS failure with this mileage, type of transmission, and oil change schedule?

Any advise as to what I should do to avoid an IMS failure?

Many thanks for any replies. Cabjose.

[Skrapmot]

Originally Posted by cabjose

Have a 2002 Boxster S with tiptronic transmission with 76K miles; car is daily driver but is AX periodically and has been driven regionally (20 hour nonstop trips) twice. No IMS failure yet; I have annual oil changes.

Any advise out there as to probability of an IMS failure with this mileage, type of transmission, and oil change schedule?

Any advise as to what I should do to avoid an IMS failure?

Many thanks for any replies. Cabjose.

You should be fine, those 02 motors don't crap out until at least 80k.

[MikenOH]

Originally Posted by cabjose

Have a 2002 Boxster S with tiptronic transmission with 76K miles; car is daily driver but is AX periodically and has been driven regionally (20 hour nonstop trips) twice. No IMS failure yet; I have annual oil changes.

Any advise out there as to probability of an IMS failure with this mileage, type of transmission, and oil change schedule?

Any advise as to what I should do to avoid an IMS failure?

Many thanks for any replies. Cabjose.

On the preventative side, I'd recommend :
1) oil changes every 6k--I like Castrol Edge or Lubro Moly synthetic (both 5W-40)
2) Cut apart the oil filter and see if they contain metal fragments (a small magnet will help with this).
3) Take sample during an oil change and send to Blackstone labs for analysis--about $35--and they will give you a report indicating the kinds of contaminants found and condition of the oil (degredation/flash point).
4) Have a mechanic with the Durametric software do the "Camshaft Deviation test"; if you research that term on this forum it will give you information on what it does and how the information will be helpful.