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THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHConsidering 2003 C4S, Advice Please
Reported or suspected cause
very harsh
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Identified cause
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Suspected cause
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Reported fixes
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Leading evidence: 'very harsh' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'very harsh' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Fill with moisture' (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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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
That oil is most likely super acidic and filled with moisture.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
My Turbo 996 has had the oil changed about every 2600 miles since new.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
The first is that the original engine seems to have been replaced by the dealer under warrantly when the car was just a few months old.
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Suggestion
Fuel dilution of oil occurs as well which diminishes its lubricating properties.
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21 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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I recently sold my 968 and am considering replacing it with a 996 C4S. I have been reading up on the car in this forum, so thank you to all who have been posting such useful information.
I am considering a car now but could use some advice from those more experienced that I am. The car in question is a 2003 C4S with approx 22,000 miles. Two items came up on the service history that concern me. The first is that the original engine seems to have been replaced by the dealer under warrantly when the car was just a few months old. The description says that the owner was complaining about an oil leak and they were unable to remove the oil pump housing from the engine. Once removed the intermediate shaft was scored, and the bore in the engine case was scored. A completely new engine was installed. The second problem is that it seems that the current (second) owner has owned the car since 2007 and all he did was change the oil in 2008 (at an independant shop) and put in a new battery in 2009. He has put approx 7,000 miles on the car since the 2008 oil change. This actually concerns me more than the engine swap.
Sorry for the long winded explaination, but I would appreciate any feedback anyone can offer on these concerns.
Thanks ! Frank
Engine swap is excellent! Especially done by the dealer and documented.
The oil issue is very harsh! That's quite a long time to be running on the same old oil.
Buy it!!!
My 2002 C4S had the engine replaced at 20k. The oil thing..... just do an oil chanfe, drive it a few hundre miles and do another and it'll be fine.
I wouldn't let an engine swap scare me away as long as it was well documented and performed by Porsche or a well known indy.
The oil change thing is kinda scary but I'd probably still buy it if the price was right and run through a few changes quickly like Mickey356 pointed out.
Be glad it has a new motor. The minimum requirement for an oil and filter change is every 2 years or 15K miles according to the Porsche maintenance schedule. I have stuck with this on our Boxster and we've had it going on 11 years. My Turbo 996 has had the oil changed about every 2600 miles since new. If the car is not driven a lot, every 2 years should be fine according to Porsche.
So the oil has 7K miles on it and it's been in the car since '08? A bit long time wise, but OK mileage. If you buy it, change it. It this freaks you out, move on. I don't think anyone can say with any degree of certainty that having somewhat dirty oil in the motor that long would or wold not have created any issues. There are too many variables involved. Dirty oil can become somewhat acidic and the acid can etch internal motor parts and that becomes a problem. Fuel dilution of oil occurs as well which diminishes its lubricating properties.
In my job I rebuild motors and often see the results first hand of dirty oil and long storage intervals.
7k miles on the oil since 2008 is a bit odd, but if you think about it realistically, does it really matter? The oil is already literally a million years old, do you think another 5 years will matter?
Sure, it can collect some water from the air and whatnot, but if the car has only been driven 7k miles in 5 years, what could have really happened to it that would be bad for the car?
Buy it, change the oil and go drive the bastard!
I have to disagree with most of the posts here. No need to focus on the oil change in 08, you can say that this car received zero, nada, ziltch service of any kind (battery doesn't count) in the past 4 years. That just doesn't sit well with me. That oil is most likely super acidic and filled with moisture. Not ideal for an engine like this, or any engine for that matter.
If you think you will buy the car, change the oil and drive for thousands of carefree miles with little other issue than well you might be right...... but most likely it won't happen like that.
If you have a maintenence budget for the IMS/RMS/Water Pump/Coils/plugs/filters/oil/AOS/trans fluid/coolant etc etc and you get the car for what you feel is a decent deal, then I would proceed.
If the owner wants to gouge you on price because of the low mileage and new engine, just walk away.
it is the most wonderful car...i have ever owned. Go hike it up, change the oil, rip the filter open, go from there...RMS & IMS or detector & u want & never look back. when will u ever be able to have a car like this for 1/4 of the original price...which is what, by the way?
Thanks everyone, bought the car last week, drove it home to New York from South Carolina (~11 hours). PPI showed a coolant leak and everything else was perfect. Had dealer in SC swap water pump, flush and replace brake fluid and replace cabin filter.
For those who asked: 21k miles, Polar silver, Bose, black interior, sport exhaust, sport seats, crest in headrest, litronic lights and colored crests. (exactly how I wanted it)
I'm in love...
Replaced the cabin filter? No mention of an oil and filter change before leaving NC for NY. All those mods and only drove it 7000miles in 5 years? The mods were a big factor to you obviously. I take it you had the PPI done with the dealer. I know that PPIs from dealers kind of overlook things to their conveniance. Just a coolant leak and everything else was perfect. Why did the dealer change the water pump? Or the brake fluid for that matter. Just wondering. I am not calling you a liar in any way before anyone accuses me of that, just being perfectly candid in my opinion. The replacement engine seems like a good thing going for the car. The PO must have been an idiot for running the same oil for 5 years even though the car only travelled 7K. That gets me wondering what else this idiot failed to do or has tampered with if he did his own modifications. You may have had on rose tinted glasses when you made the deal but I wish you the very very best of good luck with your investment.
why not just get an oil analysis done. That with a PPI should give you a good picture. Just drive the damn thing. I STILL can't understand people who think this is the next ferrari 250 GTO and keep it a garage queen.
145k and going here....
Hurdigurdiman, Thanks !!
The PPi was done at the dealer, the items I listed were the only ones they said the car needed at that time after the inspection and reviewing the complete maintenance history. The previous owner had replaced the oil and filter regularly, and had done so a month before I bought the car. Also, there were no mods to the car, all of the options I listed were on the car as delivered.
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