35 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHLooking for a replacement engine
Reported or suspected cause
chain fatigue, and not necessarily related
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that suspect a cause
1
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Suspected cause · Original poster
However, I believe this failure was due to chain fatigue, and not necessarily related to lubrication.
Leading evidence: 'chain fatigue, and not necessarily related' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'chain fatigue, and not necessarily related' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Recommend some options' (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
He is a very nice, knowledgeable guy who may have something in stock and if not can definitely recommend some options for you to consider.
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.
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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
I was planning to do an oil change before the winter.
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.
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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.
Outcome qualification: Negation, uncertainty or missing explicit repair resolution overrides the raw extraction signal.
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.
35 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 · 1 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T130754Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hello all,
Let me start by saying this is not meant to be another thead about 996 engines biting the dust. I am trying to look forward.
A couple of days ago, my wife and I were on a trip to visit friends in Buffalo, NY. About 50 miles from our destination, on the NY Thruway, there was a clattering sound, smoke, and we pulled off to the shoulder. I looked in the engine bay, and all was fine. But there was oil on the ground. Looking underneath, I saw a gaping hole in cam cover on the driver's side. The attached pic tells the story. To me it appears that the chain broke, and the resulting jamming action broke a hole in the cam cover casting. (and who knows what kind of internal damage as well).
All of the above occurred to the original engine of a '99C4, with just over 100,000 miles on othe odometer. I have owned this Carrera for less than one year, and, up to now, enjoyed over 6000 miles of trouble free driving. Prior to this catastrophe, the engine was great, lots of top end power, good low end torque, and no oil consumption since I owned it.
Anyway, I am now exploring my options:
1. Have the engine repaired, if the internal damage is not too great)
2. Purchase a replacement 3.4 engine from a Porsche dealer
3. Look for a used 3.4 engine from the Rennlist or wider Porsche community
4. Consider this an opportunity to move up to a more powerful engine.
It is option #4 that I am asking for advice and recommendations from you.
How easy or difficult is it to swap in a 3.6, 3.8, GT3 or TT engine into a 1999 C4? I expect one would need the wiring harness and computer from the engine to be imported. But what about other things? Will the above engines fit in the engine bay, and mate up the the '99C4 6-speed manual transmission?
Any advice on the above will be appreciated, and if any of you have a spare engine kicking around, please let me know.
...Rickker
Hope this isn't too obvious but did you look here, a couple posts down...
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/455130-anyone-in-need-of-a-motor-3-6-x-51-a.html
Sorry to hear about this but a 3.6L X51 is a good option worth considering:
http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/9...y-broke-2.html
http://www.roocksport.com/main/tuning.php
i think the chain broke, then jammed up inside causing enough pressure to break the casting wall. Now, why the chain would break is another question...
We were driving along at a leisurely 65 mph in 6th gear, about 2800 rpm, when this happened.
...Rickker
Thanks, Fissionx, I am aware of this and it is tempting. However San Diego is a long way from where I live, and the lack of paperwork for this engine could cause big problems trying to bring it into Canada. I am hoping some other opportunities will come up.
....Rickker
Just drive your car there...then drive it back....no paper worries that way! Make a vacation out of it...I don't think an engine swap takes more than a day....I think. Good luck!
J
To Rikker,
Not to insinuate anything, but just curious on what kind of oil you and the previous owner were using. This doesn't sound like your typical failure mode. Sorry to hear your misfortune. Sounds like you're maintaining a positive outlook though.
I'm not sure. I bought the car in Ottawa just before Christmas last year. I had a PPI done at Mark Motors, who told me they had serviced the car regularly over the past years. It did not consume any oil in the 10,000 km that I drove it since then. I was planning to do an oil change before the winter. So I now have 9 liters of 0W40 Mobil 1 plus a Porsche filter on hand. I expect, since the car was being serviced at a Porsche dealer, that the previous owner also had Mobil 1 in it. Not that it helped any in this case. However, I believe this failure was due to chain fatigue, and not necessarily related to lubrication. We may never know just why this happnened.
....Rickker
Isn't this a possible outcome of the 'all too common' Intermediate Shaft failure, where the end shears off leaving the timing chain to wreak havoc?
Has nothing what so ever to do with oil choice - it's a design 'feature' of the 99 block.
Sorry to hear about your engine woes...you do seem to have a very healthy attitude however, good for you. Although I can't give you any advice on engine replacements, there have been numerous posts for remanufactured engines with a 2 year warranty from Porsche.Sunset Porsche is a great place to deal with as well. GL Rickker.
Thanks to all for your helpful comments and good wishes. I have learned a lot during the past few days. Loren (from Renntech.org) explained that the GT3 and TT engines are not feasible upgrades. These engines are totally different and to install one in a 996 would mean also changing the transmission, motor mounts and a whole bunch of other stuff. Of course, this was a bit of a pipedream, since these engines are VERY expensive. So my options are down to these:
1. Repair my 3.4 engine, if possible. Won't know until the engine is disassembled
2. Look for a used 3.4 or 3.6 engine and take a chance that it will be OK
3. Purchase a remanufactured 3.6 engine from a Porsche dealer.
Why not purchase a 3.4 reman engine from a Porsche dealer? Well, you may be surprised (I surely was) to learn that the 3.6 engines are about $4000 less. Hard to believe. Does the imply that Porsche doesn't want to sell replacement 3.4 engines?
So that's where we are right now. I will report on further progress for those who may be interested.
....Rickker
Riccker,
It has been about 1 year since I looked at these prices. Do you mind posting what you found on the current pricing for the engines you priced out including the core charge (not sure if that has changed too).
Thanks!!
-Paul
With the demise of my 3.4 (oil/coolant intermix) I have been doing alot of research on the options, pricing, etc. I am doing a new thread with informations if you are interested, take a look.
I don't know if Carter was referring to Dharn55 or me? Anyway, no, I am not interested in selling as is. I want to get another engine and carry on.
...Rickker
Sorry, Paul, I overlooked replying to your question. I do have some prices, but they are all in Canadian dollars, and much higher than US prices. For example, a remanufactured 3.4 is $16,000 Canadian, about $15,000 US. The core charge was $2900. Who can get excited about that?
...Rickker
Rickker - I f you saw my posts you saw that Sunset and Suncoast have 3.4's for $11,010, 3.6's for about $8,500 and 3.6 X51 for about $9,600. Can you buy one in the US and have it shipped to Canada or is that illegal?
Someone should crunch this comparison: Cost of 3.4 reman installed versus a 3.6 upgrade from a MK1 car with the engine costs above. How much is the DME/ECU with the harness upgrade? What is the extra cost, if any from the 3.6 upgrade, and the $/hp for the "mod."
Glad to hear this. I have decided to keep MY2000 until the wheels fall off. I just can't see selling it as a high mileage car for less than a good SC with the same mileage. At some point I may indeed need a new engine and it is very good to know Roocks is doing upgrades here in Atlanta. In the meantime, I still love the car.
Sorry Dharn55, I have been away for a few days. Yes, I did see your post and I am looking into buying an engine from the US. It is certainly not illegal, but I would have to pay the Canadian GST tax. Plus the shipping of course. Anyway, I am working on this, and will post an update when things are starting to happen.
...Rickker
Rickker,
I suggest you talk with Frank at Porsheapart in Mississauga, Ont. He is a very nice, knowledgeable guy who may have something in stock and if not can definitely recommend some options for you to consider.
By the way did you tow the car back to Kingston? I am outside of Buffalo and have storage available if you need it.
Best wishes,
Andy T
Yes, it was a $950 ride in the cab of a flat bed tow truck from Geneva, NY back to Kingston. All because I had not renewed our CAA (same as AAA, for the non-Canadians reading this) membership. However, thanks, Andy, for the offer of storage in Buffalo. One of the nice things about this forum is the willingness to help one another.
....Rickker
