996 4s engine out - Page 1 - 911/Carrera GT - PistonHeads UK

I am having the motor removed from my 2004 c4s to have the two aluminium water pipes replaced, it has done 37k. Should I replace the clutch, ims and rms whilst it's out???

There is some sort of oil cooler up there on top of the engine that fails enough (not common though) to maybe warrant a change? Dirt cheap but the engine out makes it a PITA if it fails. Also, they re designed it and moved it for just this reason. Get it checked or replaced? Ask for advice as it was the only reason for my engine out Northway were brilliant! (Had just spent a small fortune with them) In fact, they have been brilliant in every one of my dealings and that includes my engine out bill..... P

Hi thanks for the info, I hadn't heard about this issue but will certainly get it checked out.

Ashy2 said: I am having the motor removed from my 2004 c4s to have the two aluminium water pipes replaced, it has done 37k. Should I replace the clutch, ims and rms whilst it's out??? The tech should be able to advise you regarding the condition of the clutch. With those low miles unless you are particularly abusive the clutch should be fine. There is probably a dimension call out regarding the friction disc material thickness -- there is for my Turbo's clutch I know for sure -- the tech can check. For instance with my Turbo's clutch the new thickness is 1.7mm. The worn out value of 0.3mm. BTW, at around 110K miles I had the clutch exposed when the tech removed the tranny to replace the RMS and we checked the clutch and there was no measurable wear. The tech said the clutch looked new. 'course, the tech may advise you that other clutch related hardware be replaced. Again with my Turbo's clutch, while all the clutch hardware proper was ok the tech replaced the two small needle bearings that support the clutch control shaft. He said these should be replaced just on general principles. Generally I'm a if it ain't broke don't fix it guy. However, based on my experience with the same Turbo I would suggest you at least talk over replacing the RMS. I bought my 03 Turbo in June 2009 with just 10K miles. The 6-speed tranny developed a leaking selector shaft seal at around 30K miles and the tranny was replaced (under CPO warranty). The RMS was fine at this time and I left it alone. Also, while the RMS in my Boxster leaked at around 25K miles the replacement RMS, installed in July of 2002 just 7 months after I bought the car new, has remained leak free now for 260K miles. Thus I believed the Turbo's RMS, of the same vintage as that of the Boxster's replacement RMS, should be good forever. However, at around 110K miles the Turbo's RMS developed a leak. In hindsight -- always 20/20 -- I should have had the tech replace the RMS when the tranny was out for replacing. So, speak with your tech but my advise would be to replace the RMS. There is a slight risk the new one can leak but the warranty on the parts and labor you should get should be sufficient protection against an early failure of this new RMS. Now by "ims" are you referring to the IMS flange and its potentially leaking seals/bolts? Or are you referring to the IMS bearing and an aftermarket retrofit? Back to my Boxster, when I had it in for an RMS it was standard procedure to replace the IMS end flange and its 3 bolts with new/improved hardware. The new flange came with a much better seal and new bolts were pre-treated with sealant to guard against a leak. However, at that time there was no IMS bearing retrofit. This new IMS flange and bolts was done along with the RMS and as I covered above the RMS (and this new IMS flange and its bolts) have also remained oil tight all these years and miles. If you are thinking about having an IMS bearing upgrade installed you should talk to your tech about this. Back when I had the RMS done in my Boxster there was no such thing. Since the clutch has not need doing yet all these years and miles I have not had to make a decision regarding whether or not to fit an IMSB upgrade to the Boxster. With 285K miles on the engine and that IMSB I'm thinking of leaving it alone. However, you are faced with a nearly as old car as my Boxster and with very low miles. Older low miles cars seem to be at somewhat higher risk of an IMSB problem. Which takes me back to where I started: Talk this over with your tech.

Many thanks for our feedback certainly a few things to consider. I will have a chat with my tech I just want to make sure I don't miss the obvious whilst the motor is out!!

On top of the Clutch, RMS and IMS Bearing, all of which I would replace if I was you, I would suggest you have a good look at the coolant expansion tank. The expansion tank becomes discoloured with age and can crack along the seam. This I believe is an age related issue and not down to miles so worth checking yours. Porsche have revised the design so for £90 it's worth replacing it whilst you can. I recently swapped mine out and it required dropping the engine so not something you want to find needs doing 6 - 12 months after you've had this current work done. Another preventive maintenance item whilst you have access would be the air-oil separator. I had to replace this on my previous Boxster and it was easy enough. In the 911 it would be a 5 minute job with the engine out but a weekend ruining complete PITA with the engine insitu. Best of luck.

Roberty said: On top of the Clutch, RMS and IMS Bearing, all of which I would replace if I was you, I would suggest you have a good look at the coolant expansion tank. The expansion tank becomes discoloured with age and can crack along the seam. This I believe is an age related issue and not down to miles so worth checking yours. Porsche have revised the design so for £90 it's worth replacing it whilst you can. I recently swapped mine out and it required dropping the engine so not something you want to find needs doing 6 - 12 months after you've had this current work done. Another preventive maintenance item whilst you have access would be the air-oil separator. I had to replace this on my previous Boxster and it was easy enough. In the 911 it would be a 5 minute job with the engine out but a weekend ruining complete PITA with the engine insitu. Best of luck. While the coolant tank in my Boxster lasted over 200K miles and in spite of my philosophy of don't fix it if it ain't broke I would agree that with the 911 that the tank should be replaced. The tank job on my Boxster is fiddly enough but with the 911, double fiddly. If the AOS is original or has some miles on it I would agree the AOS should be replaced. Essentially with the engine out one is just facing the cost of the parts not the labor, assuming the tech gives one a break on the labor. At that part price and with essentially no labor it is a good preventive maintenance. My Boxster just went to the shop yesterday -- off the back of a tow truck -- for what I believe is yet another failed AOS. This will be the 3rd one to fail and the 4th new one -- including the original one -- to go in. The 1st AOS failed at 80K miles. The 2nd AOS (the replacement) failed at around 180K miles. The 3rd AOS lasted to 285K or about another 100K miles. The AOS job like the coolant tank job, is bad enough in a Boxster but worse in a 911.

I'm just wondering if this is related to my issue that entailed a coolant leak.... Will check! A lesson learned as is often said.... Just learn from others rather than wait for it to happen yo you personally!

Thanks all for the great advice, I will get these additional items checked out.

I'll second the coolant expansion tank. Cannot remember the cost but the part was around 80GBP but the engine had to be dropped. Mine was a 2000 and done 2 years ago. So if it is age related?

Rockster said: 285K I think I may be a little behind here(!), but you have a Boxster on 285k miles??!!