Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Another "To Repair or To Fully Rebuild My Engine" Thread!
Frequently discussed work
Replace (sureeee)......$13
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
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Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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Suggestion · Original poster
Toss in my pinion gear howl (needs a whole trans bc quote un quote even if you replace the sealed bearing, the shaft will always remeber and continue to howl but we can rebuild it anyways..?) and my busted AC (they say bc my clutch on the compressor failed, throwing black goop everywhere, means the internals of the pump might have released metal throughout my AC and everything needs to be replaced (sureeee)......$13 to 16k+ total (Dumont’s in OKC).
Another "To Repair or To Fully Rebuild My Engine" Thread!
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'Replace ), cyls, heads (mico crack issues), etc etc' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace (sureeee)......$13' (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.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
PO used Mobil 1), though at least with 5k oil changes for over 12 years.
Another "To Repair or To Fully Rebuild My Engine" Thread!
Replace (sureeee)......$13
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
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Suggestion · Original poster
Toss in my pinion gear howl (needs a whole trans bc quote un quote even if you replace the sealed bearing, the shaft will always remeber and continue to howl but we can rebuild it anyways..?) and my busted AC (they say bc my clutch on the compressor failed, throwing black goop everywhere, means the internals of the pump might have released metal throughout my AC and everything needs to be replaced (sureeee)......$13 to 16k+ total (Dumont’s in OKC).
Another "To Repair or To Fully Rebuild My Engine" Thread!
Replace actuators
Suggestion or failed attempt
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0
Reported fixes
0
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1
Discussions
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
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Suggestion · Original poster
So yeah, "while ur in there," I should replace both actuators.
Another "To Repair or To Fully Rebuild My Engine" Thread!
Replace functional actuators, unless you want
Suggestion or failed attempt
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0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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Suggestion
Don�t replace your functional actuators, unless you want to keep a spare working set on hand.
Another "To Repair or To Fully Rebuild My Engine" Thread!
Frequently discussed actions (10)
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Replace (sureeee)......$13
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
Toss in my pinion gear howl (needs a whole trans bc quote un quote even if you replace the sealed bearing, the shaft will always remeber and continue to howl but we can rebuild it anyways..?) and my busted AC (they say bc my clutch on the compressor failed, throwing black goop everywhere, means the internals of the pump might have released metal throughout my AC and everything needs to be replaced (sureeee)......$13 to 16k+ total (Dumont’s in OKC).
Another "To Repair or To Fully Rebuild My Engine" Thread!
Replace sealed bearing, the shaft will always remeber and continue
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
Toss in my pinion gear howl (needs a whole trans bc quote un quote even if you replace the sealed bearing, the shaft will always remeber and continue to howl but we can rebuild it anyways..?) and my busted AC (they say bc my clutch on the compressor failed, throwing black goop everywhere, means the internals of the pump might have released metal throughout my AC and everything needs to be replaced (sureeee)......$13 to 16k+ total (Dumont’s in OKC).
Another "To Repair or To Fully Rebuild My Engine" Thread!
Coverage and how to read this overview
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
5 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T222516Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hello guys, Its been a moment! I've been busy enjoying the car and getting familiar with it 😊 So yes, I’m 6 months in on 996 ownership, nearly 6k miles. It’s an ’01 C2 6-speed with 145k mile (important) I’ve gone deep: cam dev data, bore scope, oil usage, filter checks, the works. Here’s what’s up:
Car’s always been a daily. Problem? PO used Mobil 1), though at least with 5k oil changes for over 12 years. No bore scoring, but cam deviation is brutal: 11� on Bank 1, 4� on Bank 2. Weird thing? No codes, runs smooth. I’ve heard there’s a calc to convert to *cam delta and that's why its running well and not throwing codes but IDK specifics.
PO saw green bits in the filter at 110k and 115k (variocam actuator failure). Deviation confirms it. I believe this may have happened due to seal dehydration and strain. A nice "resealer" at every oil change prob could have prevented this costly failure... So yeah, "while ur in there," I should replace both actuators. Toss in my pinion gear howl (needs a whole trans bc quote un quote even if you replace the sealed bearing, the shaft will always remeber and continue to howl but we can rebuild it anyways..?) and my busted AC (they say bc my clutch on the compressor failed, throwing black goop everywhere, means the internals of the pump might have released metal throughout my AC and everything needs to be replaced (sureeee)......$13 to 16k+ total (Dumont’s in OKC).
But even fixed, it’s still a 140k-mile engine. Feels better than others I’ve driven, but: 65k stage 1 over-revs (maxed counter!) + 200 stage 2. Likely bad heel-toes or false triggers from clutch revving (was tracked). Uses 2 bars of oil per 5k miles though - very good! No bore score, etc,
But is this engine gonna last post-rebuild? Big Q.
I have searched endless threads and the answer? YOUR MILEAGE CAN VARY. I DO NOT want another major service till I need another RMS or IMS or something so I am looking for 200k (at current rate, that will be the year 2030) before I get hit with another BIG BILL.
Options:
Drop $13k, keep 4-5k oil changes, and risk a blow-up.
Slakker Racing’s 3.7L + new trans: $30k w/ 3-yr unlimited mile, track-friendly warranty.
Sell? Nah, hunted forever for this spec, and she’s a keeper.
So... what’s the move? Thanks guys
with option 2, I can basically run her till she pops... So I could put off it until I am ready to throw down money while basically remaining mentally detached from the engine trouble both before and after the rebuild thx to warranty?!
Those green bits of seals can be replaced. Slakker sells the Variocam actuator seal kits. Don�t replace your functional actuators, unless you want to keep a spare working set on hand.
Are you handy with tools? Would you be up to the task of removing the actuators and rebuilding them yourself, or is it likely that you�ll be paying someone to do this for you?
edit: don�t sell your car. She�s a beauty.
https://sr.dev/products/variocam-solenoid-seal-kit-pair-99-01-996-1?_pos=1&_psq=seal&_ss=e&_v=1.0
Hey
@996love
! I was thinking of doing the same thing but after a lot of consideration, I have decided to have pros do the work on this car. The shops said they dont want me bringing any outside parts. I think thats stupid. I think I should be fine telling them to rebuild my variocam actuators and not replace. They look like the types of parts that never "really" fail. I talked to Brandon at Slakker about those seals and he said that rebuilding them is possible but very tricky. If I could find a shop willing to do that, I would. I will slowly increase my search area for local shops tbh, even if they are in Texas, thats cool!
Do you prefer a modified DIY version of the above? I guess I am wondering, how do I properly gauge the remaining life of one of these engines? Lifters, valve guides, variocam (TB replaced), cyls, heads (mico crack issues), etc etc...
And thanks for the love on my ol faded 996! I could stare forever. I am thinking a license plate that say something like "faded" but im sure the cops would love that hahah
Personally, I would find a shop to replace the 4 plastic vairo-cam pads, also the 4th-5th small timing chains and rebuilt the Actuators all while the engine was still in the car..
This is very doable by a competent Porsche Specialist...( like heart valve replacement without doing "open heart surgery" )
Then just drive on !!
