Camshaft deviation specs for '01 3.2L

[UNYboater]

I have Bentley & 101 Projects but can't find what the acceptable range for Camshaft Deviation readings should be. Mine are rock-solid across all RPM's cold or hot but other posts say that +/- 6 or +/- 4 are the maximum limits. Mine are as follows:
#1 = -8.01
#2 = -4.62

Since one seems to be 'out', what does that tell me & what should I be looking at next?
Thanks.

[JFP in PA]

Porsche has used both +/-4 and +/-6 degrees, with the latter being the most common on the M96/97.

Yes, you are definitely out of spec; cause could be a number of issues ranging from the tensioners, chain paddles (including the ones between the cams of a five chain motor), chains themselves, and/or the VarioCam components. Unfortunately, the only way to know what is causing it is some extensive diagnostics checks, which could include checking the actual mechanical cam timing itself, which requires some specialty tools...........

[UNYboater]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

Yes, you are definitely out of spec;

What's my risk being out of spec like that? It seems to be running great...

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by UNYboater

What's my risk being out of spec like that? It seems to be running great...

Problem is that whatever is causing the car to be out of spec is going to get worse, not better.................

[BYprodriver]

VarioCam chain pads worn out?

[UNYboater]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

VarioCam chain pads worn out?

Any way to find out short of a tear-down?

[madmods]

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[madmods]

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[UNYboater]

Originally Posted by madmods

Performance is affected if I'm correct. In terms of risks, good question. I could be wrong but if this anti-gravity flat6 thing keeps deviating on itself then pistons may start to punch up on the valves.

My Box was deviated at -3 at 50k two years ago. Now at 70k and deviated at -6. Can't wait to see where it will blow up

The biggest risk imho is you will never bother buying a Porsche engine ever again in your life brotha. Go Italian, or if you can't afford real quality, stick to the Jap production line models (Nissan, Maxda, Honda, Toyota, etc...).

Nah, I've had my fill of Italian-made machines; my wife is of Italian decent & I understand her more than I do the way Italian cars work (or don't). At least German cars make sense. As for the Far East cars? No. They build dependable but boring machines (that around my part of the world rust faster than an '80's Ford).

[san rensho]

My understanding is that the cam timing was not very accurate straight from the factory, so unless you checked it when the car was new, hard to say if its because of component wear.

Insite (?) has a great write up for adjusting cam timing that reqires no special tools except for a bolt to pin the crank at TDC.

[madmods]

I'll give you +1 on the "German cars make sense" but mate, aren't their engine a bit overkill for what they are supposed to achieve?

I'm far from being a P expert like JFP in PA, but I know just enough to tell how flaky those flat6 are. e.g. mine: RMS seal leaking, IMS (who knows), and now a NEG -3 degree cam deviation in less than 20,000miles. Speaking of auto-timing technology huh!

So what's the deal for you? Are you going to give this job to a garage hoping to save $2,000 off the price of a rebuilt engine? Or you are just going to change the porsche artistics such as the vario ramps/plastic thingny and get a spot-on timing job done? The later being the first step if I've understood correctly and the only way to find out if everything else is groovy....

Now knowing that f6 super porsche engine things don't even meet the Jap production cars half-way, I'm at the stage where I am more inclined to import an 'already rebuilt' engine for the roadster instead. Not sure what to do in all honesty so I'll subscribe to your thread if you don't mind

[madmods]

You timing is retarded therefore loss of power in the low RPMs. Just like mine. Low revs as in street use..... LOLL almost hilarious

[madmods]

Brad - I can't believe you are publically informing that "Porsche" engineered their motors with vital parts, made of plastic. Oh also, the 100% failure rating comment was even less pleasant to hear

I bet all those who changed their IMS bearing based on a 0.??% failure rate are not finding it phoony right now lolllllll

[mikefocke]

All rotating or contacting parts wear, why should that surprise anyone. Some sooner than others. And none of us know the probability or what the distribution over time curve looks like.

[madmods]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

All rotating or contacting parts wear, why should that surprise anyone. Some sooner than others. And none of us know the probability or what the distribution over time curve looks like.

Mikefoke - see below:

"My Box was deviated at -3 at 50k two years ago. Now at 70k and deviated at -6." and it has a noticable lack of power at low revs.

My first and last Porsche motor! I can live with a plastic window on "a Porsche car" but can't do motor vital parts made of cheap plastic sorry mate....

70k and already out of specs?! now why would that not surprise anyone

[UNYboater]

Originally Posted by madmods

Mikefoke - see below:

"My Box was deviated at -3 at 50k two years ago. Now at 70k and deviated at -6." and it has a noticable lack of power at low revs.

My first and last Porsche motor! I can live with a plastic window on "a Porsche car" but can't do motor vital parts made of cheap plastic sorry mate....

70k and already out of specs?! now why would that not surprise anyone

Interesting thing is that I have the deviation but have tons of low end power. In fact, with nothing in the oil filter (plastic, etc.), I am not sure that I want to tear the engine down until I see 'something' (either performance or visual) that indicates there's a problem!
I understand the -8 is an indication but I'd like something to corroborate the real issue.

[mikefocke]

Mad, some parts wear sooner, others go for 200k. (Had a friend with a Pontiac 4 cyl still running the original engine, trans and clutch at 440k miles!) Some have the right oil, the right usage pattern, the right machining tolerances in the beginning. Some don't. Certainly have had to rebuild engine from many companies/countries before their time over my lifetime with cars. Transmissions too.

I'm feeling that by the time there are enough engines in the field and experience with those engines, materials science has moved on. The next generation engines use new "better" parts and then have to go through a similar cycle before the engineers truly understand what the failings are going to be on those new parts.