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Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH"996s Need To Be Driven Hard"
Leading reported evidence
Adjust by 12.5� (by 25� if measured a the crankshaft)
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Read evidence and context
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Suggestion
If the engine exceeds the 1,300 rpm mark *, the intake camshafts are adjusted by 12.5� (by 25� if measured a the crankshaft).
Leading evidence: 'Adjust by 12.5� (by 25� if measured a the crankshaft)' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Adjust by 12.5� (by 25� if measured a the crankshaft)' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suggestion · Original poster
The argument about keeping the IMS bearing lubricated by higher revving on a regular basis makes sense, but otherwise it seems counterintuitive and maybe even bad advice.
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Suggestion
I wouldn't recommend driving around with it hard, you could shoot your eye out!
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Suggestion
According to my local Porsche independent repair facility, the 996 requires RPM's but, not 'hard' driving.
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Suggestion
I've not had so much as a bulb failure...no I lie, I did replace "one" headlight bulb over that 240K.
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Suggestion · Original poster
The argument about keeping the IMS bearing lubricated by higher revving on a regular basis makes sense, but otherwise it seems counterintuitive and maybe even bad advice.
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Suggestion
If you use the car a lot, or you use it more vigorously, it will probably wear more quickly than one that doesn't see any hard use...but then, what's the fun in never driving a Porsche anywhere near its limits?
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Jumping on the freeway and blowing it out fixed it every time.
I have often read on this forum that 996s should be driven hard on a regular basis to keep them running their best. However, almost never is that advice followed by justification for why this is the case. The argument about keeping the IMS bearing lubricated by higher revving on a regular basis makes sense, but otherwise it seems counterintuitive and maybe even bad advice. It also sounds suspiciously tempting: who of us doesn't want to push these beautiful cars closer to their limits every time we take them out?
Don't get me wrong: I love my 996 and wind it up whenever I get the chance, but my question is whether this is actually good for the car long-term, or just sketchy advice that few people question because it's a lot more fun to just believe it?
Drive it however you like. Higher revs generally means more wear. I'm not sure what "stresses" the variocam more about low revs. I wouldn't drive around at 1300rpm, nor would I do so at 5000rpm. In between is likely just fine
Hey it's your car, drive it any way you want. Personally, I purchased a Porsche to drive like a sports car when the opportunity presents itself. What does that mean? I look for situations to have the revs between 3k-5.5k on sweeping curves or maybe floor it on a nice straight away because it's fun to be in that zone where the torque is higher and the car pulls when you get on the gas. Generally, I try and keep the revs between 2k - 4k but I don't get obsessed with that philosophy. I have a tiptronic that I drive in manual mode most of the time but in auto mode the car immediately jumps up to 4th gear and putters around 1800 rpm. So in auto mode the revs remain low low low, unless you floor it then it revs out. I say mix it up. Also get out on an autocross race track if you can.
When I had my 996, and spent several days just driving around town (under 50mph), I noticed the car would get sluggish. Jumping on the freeway and blowing it out fixed it every time. It's called an "Italian Tune Up", but it worked for me.
This. Anyone who claims otherwise is living in a fantasy world where common sense and the realities of physics do not apply.
It's your car...drive it however you like - but the belief that flogging ANY machine will extend its life is a fallacy.
At the risk of sounding like a nitpicking jerk, an autocross course is NOT a race track.
Sorry, autocross is not a type of race track but rather a type of driving competition on a defined course. Which I didn't mean. I meant find a race track that is not an oval. Nothing wrong with ovals but I think a "road course" (hopefully that is the correct term or I might get banned again) is just more fun.
Whatever this is:
To reword this as OP asked: How is running a car on a track actually good for the car long-term?
A: It's not. If you don't beat on it too hard, it not might be much WORSE for the car long-term than normal driving, but I think even that's a stretch.
A sports car is a purpose-built machine: It's for sporting. In the same way, a firearm is purpose-built for shooting - but will running 100,000 rounds through your 1911 make it last longer than if you just fire it occasionally? No. If you use the car a lot, or you use it more vigorously, it will probably wear more quickly than one that doesn't see any hard use...but then, what's the fun in never driving a Porsche anywhere near its limits?
Is it FUN to drive your Porsche hard? Yes. Will it make it live longer? No.
The stats of IMS failures contradict your opinion. I can't find it but I was thinking Jake was the one that said the variocams experienced higher stress at lower RPMs. I may be wrong though.
The IMS bearing is a single component of a very complicated machine.
Chugging two fifths of vodka a day will keep your arteries clear, but it's not likely to keep your liver and brain intact.
There is a vast difference between not putting around town in sixth gear and blasting your way around a race track. Because one is not good for the car does not mean the other IS.
The OP asked for an explanation of why people say you should drive it "hard". While I don't agree with term hard, the variocam was the explanation I was given.
And I don't disagree with your points. But there is a happy middle ground. Don't baby it and your enjoyment, and theoretically your engine life will increase.
"Driven hard" is a relative term. I think the important thing here is to not lug the engine and make sure your on the higher rev side of the gear than the lower side.
Unless someone with some concrete justification or evidence chimes in otherwise, I'm thinking that the widespread advice that driving your 996 hard is somehow good for it is looking like a busted myth.
To a degree - explanation from Porsche Technical Service Information for VarioCam system (note not the Plus system):
"VarioCam"
VarioCam, the adjustment of the intake camshafts at engine speeds of approx. 1,300 rpm* and 5,920 rpm, produces a major part of the engine output, the engine torque as well as the good exhaust values at idling speed. Engine speeds below 1,300 rpm produce a slight overlap in the valve stroke curves for the intake valves in relation to the exhaust valves.
This particularly affects low proportions of hydrocarbons (HC proportions) in the exhaust gas before the catalytic converters. If the engine exceeds the 1,300 rpm mark *, the intake camshafts are adjusted by 12.5� (by 25� if measured a the crankshaft).
Adjustment of the camshafts to produce a greater overlapping of the valve stroke curves for the intake and exhaust valves results in improved cylinder charging and thus an increase in engine torque. In the case of engine speeds above 5,920 rpm, the intake camshafts are returned to the basic control times (as for engine idling speed). If the intake valve closes later, additional amounts of intake air can be drawn in. This produces a recharging effect since the flow of air is not interrupted. This also results in improved charging of the cylinders and an increase in performance.
* The value 1,300 rpm increases to 1,480 rpm with engine oil temperatures of approx. 133�C."
"VarioCam
To increase the torque and to improve cylinder charging, the engine has two VarioCam actuators which are installed in the chain tensioners of the camshafts. The two actuators are operated by electromagnetic valves activated by the DME control unit.
Functioning
When the ignition is switched on, the electromagnetic valves of the camshaft adjusters are supplied with positive potential. If the engine is started, the control unit applies ground to terminal 25 (camshaft adjuster for cylinder line 4 - 6) and to terminal 52 (camshaft adjuster for cylinder line 1 - 3) if the following conditions are fulfilled (VarioCam activated);
1 - Engine oil temperature between -3�C and 133�C
2 - Engine speed > 1,300 rpm
3 - Throttle opening > 5%
or
1 - Engine oil temperature > 133�C
2 - Engine speed > 1,480 rpm
3 - Throttle opening > 3.9%
The ground potential is deactivated by the DME control unit (VarioCam deactivated) if:
Engine speed > 5,120 rpm"
I think this can be reworded to - 996s like to be revved high from time to time, and it may even be beneficial, but driving "hard" will obviously wear out the car quicker - this is a no brainer. But yes, these cars are built tougher than your average honda and they will take more abuse without showing the wear too quickly though
I'm not sure I'd agree that the 996 is built tougher than your average Honda. The Porsche might be faster and handle better...but I'd venture the Honda is just as, if not more durable and with much less maintanence.
My take is that any car not driven enough will eventually develop leaks and other problems consistent with cars that spend too much time sitting and not enough time moving. A 996 is no exception.
Any car driven hard is going to experience the stresses of being driven hard, too. That said, I would assume (or hope) that a Porsche is engineered to withstand higher strain than a Toyota Corolla when it comes to performance tolerances and thresholds for wear and tear. Abuse, however, is abuse. Driving at 9/10ths before a car's fluids have reached optimal operating temps might not be a good idea either.
My best layman's advice is drive your car often and, just as you wouldn't hopefully drive any car lugging the engine around at 800 rpm, don't do that to your Porsche. It's a car that was meant to be driven...not beat up...and certainly not intended to be treated as a garage queen that never sees the light of day.
-Eric
Agreed. According to my local Porsche independent repair facility, the 996 requires RPM's but, not 'hard' driving. The 996 can obviously be driven hard but, that can and will likely lead to increased wear.
Mike
I think part of this argument lies in maintenance. Those of us who drive our cars "hard" are also more likely to perform more frequent and preventative maintenance, e.g. 3,000 mile oil changes instead of whatever the "manufacturer recommends". Those owners who believe that babying the car means they can leave it parked for 11 months of the year with an oil change every year or two, are the ones who get themselves into trouble.
This is a premium sports car. It is expensive to maintain. Drive it. Maintain it.
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EVERYONE knows that a shagged out, track-driven, 157,000-mile car is WAYYYYY better than that 11,000-mile car you found for sale cheap by some rich SOB that hardly ever drove it because he has 17 other cars.
If I am reading this correctly, it would mean, in order to "give your VarioCam a break" you would need to drive around at 6000prm or greater all the time? That would make rush hour traffic an interesting venture
I would like to believe Youri Ko was correct, but I will be extremely pleasantly surprised if my 996 will be as solid and stone chisel reliable as my Honda at 240K. I've not had so much as a bulb failure...no I lie, I did replace "one" headlight bulb over that 240K.
and I've thrown a new AC condenser, Alternator, motor mount, trailing arms, power pump and fluid reservoir at my Honda in the last 3 months.
140k km on it
all cars are crap.
