Hesitation around 3,000 RPM

When accelerating I feel a slight hesitation right around 3,000 to 3,200 RPM in every gear. Could this be the vario-cam system making changes in this RPM range??

I have noticed it as well. I think the variocam+ kicks in around 4000-4200RPM. Not sure what is causing the hesitation.

The graph in the brochure for the Cayman S shows a distinct dip in torque between 3-4,000 rpm. That's probably what you're feeling.

I had read quite a bit about this before I purchased the car, but to be honest this "delay" is barely noticeable in mine.

Yes, as others have said, this hesitation is a dead spot in the torque curve. It's very disappointing to be honest. It really shouldn't be there as you're forced to use a much higher rev range (4,000+ rpm) to get some decent torque.

To be honest it doesn't bother me. I barely notice it. Nitpicking are ya?

Blame the Swiss...they introduced drive-by noise measurement regulations some years ago....these regulations have been adopted by the European authorities as the way to go ( Porsche is a European manufacturer in case you hadn't noticed , and therefore have to comply with the Euro regulations)... The measurement of acceptable noise under full acceleration is taken at the distance where the vehicle in question will be travelling at approximately 40mphunder full acceleration from standstill , and the way to reduce noise(er..comply with the regs.)at this point is to program a reduction in power production at that speed in first gear.....We are not the only ones to note a 'flat spot ' in our engine tuning curves...Bikers have had to put up with it for years...The remedy is straightforward....Just retune the ECU (chip) , and hey presto...your vehicle goes much better , and makes slightly too much noise....Oh dear....

This flat spot has gone bye-bye since I De-snorked intake and installed the EVO V-flow. This flat spot was really noticable while gradually accelerating in first gear. It is now completely gone.

Silversled I have desnorkled my car, and it sounds maaarvelous. I believe I also get a better response. How much of a difference did you get with the EVO-V Flow? I am interested in performance and sound. i do not need it any louder, but I am willing to put up with a little more sound. How does the engine sound and perform at idle, does it hessitate? Thank you

Jaica, I'm sure you've seen my replies to post, http://www.planet-9.com/showthread.php?t=4051 I installed the V-flow first and it was louder but not significantly. Seat of the pants evaluation did indicate smoothing of the powerband. It rev'ed more freely as well. I desnorked and everything that the V-flow gave me, it just gave more . My honest opinion is that a BMC filter will probably give similar results as the V-flow but at lower cost. It will be easier to install (although the V-flow was not hard), and any performance shortcomings compared to the V-flow would probably only be noticed by the dyno. Of course the true test would be a back to back dyno test session involving the stock, BMC, and V-flow filters. Other than the noticable growl, my engine idles like stock but sounds and performs better than stock.

Thanks for the response Silversled. Does anyone know if the BMC and the K&N Filter are basically one and the same?

tstires, I also notice the part throttle bobble at 3K. FYI - I desnorkled and did not find any change - still has the bobble. I do not experience the bobble at full throttle. My initial concern was that it might be the catalytic issue that others have experienced - I guess it is a problem with the ECU map?? -g

There might be two things at work for me: 1) Desnork + V-Flow or 2) Have not driven car long enough for ECU to adapt to desnork and filter. Maybe the bobble will come back.

FYI - The 3K RPM hesitation is normal for all modern Porsches, at least for all 911s and the Cayman . I had a 2000 Boxster S that did not have this behavior.

This thread should NOT be a complaint thread. It is a documented feature of the behavior of the engine. If you casually shift at that dip, it doesn't affect performance or drivability. And if you smash the pedal, travelling through the gears, it isn't a factor whatsoever. It's like complaining that it takes two cycles of the interior door handle to get out of the car when the door is locked. Its the design. Now, if you didn't know that when purchasing the car, that isn't the cars fault.

- not that it is a complaint - but it is odd that there is any noticable transition in the cam advance - BMWs have mastered this issue for example... Porsche is still figuring it out obviously...let me be clear - I would not trade my Cayman S for ANY BMW ...but BMW 's straight six AND V8s ARE smoother -MUCH SMOOTHER in the cam advance department! It is not a a big deal but it is something that will be gone in the future and people will look back at the early Vario-Cam cars as having a sudden surge vs. a smother power curve... That is my position on the matter.

I've noticed this too but it doesn't bother me since I know that at WOT it is a non issue.

I have only test ridden the Cayman S and really did not notice the aforementioned precisely. Why can't one put this in a complaint thread? where does it belong? Cayman chat? It is actually an observation made by someone after he or she spent some time with the car, I assume. I realize that the post was not given as to some mechanical failure relating to the car, but really a complaint about the engine and its delivery. The torque drops from 3000 to 3500 rpm after being steady from 2500 to 3000 rpm ( Cayman S - reasonably similar in the Cayman ). I would guess that is the problem. I have not looked at many torque curves, but did wonder why that was the case. The only other car that I test rode before buying the Cayman S was the BMW 335i. The horsepower curve is linear and steep. The torque curve is dramatically different (yes I know that it is a twin-turbo engine) than the torque curve of the Cayman S . The 335i reaches maximum torque at only 1400 rpm and maintains the torque, without a dip, through to 5000 rpm. The engine seems very smooth, linear, and with gobs of power in any of its 6 gears. I certainly did not notice any hesitation in that engine anywhere. My 1997 BMW M3 engine has also always been remarkable to me- so strong (only 240 hp) smooth and linear in delivery with no hesitation. That is why I have enjoyed the engine so much over the years. Perhaps the engine hesitation could be considered a complaint about the design of the engine. But still a complaint. Certainly some engines do not have the torque dip as mentioned above. Maybe that is not even why the hesitation occurs. Doobydarby

SS, That link doesn't work for me but if a fix is as simple as changing to an EVO, I'll be ordering one soon. Can someone please post a working link? This is the rev range I drive in most often (daily driver, never pulled over in a Pcar) and I notice it every time I drive. Would higher octane gas help?

That was an old link from our old site. I am pretty sure this is the thread that Silversled was refering to: http://www.planet-9.com/showthread.php?t=4051 I'll go back and fix his post.

Thanks Gator Bite.

Ditto. Thanks for the link. Doobydarby

design complaint The "variocam" camshaft profile was optimized for the 3.8 Carrera S motor and then used in the 3.4 and 2.7 unaltered (to save costs)

Slight "surge" @ 3000 rpm? Hi All- I was wondering if anyone else is experiencing an intermittent mild "surge" at 3000 rpm when leisurely accelerating through the gears (6 speed). It doesn't always show itself but when it does, the symptom is that the engine seems to have a slight rpm surge at approximately 3000 rpm. Just curious if this is an isolated problem with my vehicle or are others also seeing this. Thanks,

Intresting observation. My CS exhibits a very slight dead spot around 3000 rpm.

No problem. If you look at the torque curve chart in the owner's book you'll see a slight "blip" around 3000 RPM. I've only noticed it under light load. If you can hammer the hell out the engine & never feel it.

3000 rpms....? Isnt that around when the variocam kicks in....?

i feel it really well in 1st gear

Hi Tracy, I feel it too...under the exact situation...gentle acceleration...but I think it's a reaction to the torque dip and then a sudden recovery.... I find it very annoying as I don't "floor" all my accelerations. Nice seeing you Sunday at the Meet & Greet Cheers Bob

Noticed the same issue on 2007 Base Model I've noticed the same issue on my base model (5 speed). I've had two Boxsters (2006 and 2002) and never had the problem.