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YOUR RESEARCHHow many miles should we expect from the 996 engine?
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Replace by porsche
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Previous owner had some oil-related issue and motor swapped by Porsche.
How many miles should we expect from the 996 engine?
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Leading evidence: 'Replace by porsche' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check its average speed is very close' (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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at 89K i replaced clutch and did RMS and IS update.
How many miles should we expect from the 996 engine?
Replace tranny fluid every 30k or 40k miles
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I just wish I thought to changed my tranny fluid every 30k or 40k miles but the big thing on this board was oil changes at 5k miles (I've done since 36k miles) which basically overshadowed everything except RMS issues (which were $1400 a pop at the dealership).
How many miles should we expect from the 996 engine?
Check its average speed is very close
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(I might add that I have covered over 255K miles in my 02 Boxster and the last time I checked its average speed is very close to 30mph.
How many miles should we expect from the 996 engine?
Clean looking nice
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How many miles should we expect from the 996 engine?
Replace tranny fluid every 30k or 40k miles
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I just wish I thought to changed my tranny fluid every 30k or 40k miles but the big thing on this board was oil changes at 5k miles (I've done since 36k miles) which basically overshadowed everything except RMS issues (which were $1400 a pop at the dealership).
How many miles should we expect from the 996 engine?
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Many, many, many of us with 100k+ miles on our cars. I'm getting close, I'm at 96k now and my car runs like a top. It's a modern car, 200k+ miles is no issue if you take care of it.
Macster has close to 250k miles on his original engine now I believe.
>compression is fine so far, there are no obvious signs of any issues.
Perform leak down tests at bottom dead center. Track time and heat soak kills the 997 cylinders and it is typical to first see these issues at bottom dead center, not top dead center as most other cylinder deficiencies.
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that was a response I had on a similar question.
I guess it would help more if folks here could give some feedback on those shops that are still around doing M96 engine rebuilds, with an average cost.
Leader is obviously Flat6 (Jake Raby) but his works costs a lot.
Who else is left out there who still spends time on M96 motors? Local shops I know of simply tell to discard them and buy an another one, anywhere and run it until it lasts. It does not agree with my lifestyle exactly.
Briefly, well, brief for me, no one can say.
As I think I've mentioned before generally modern internal combustion engines are expected to be able to deliver 10K hours run time.
Assuming an average speed of 30mph, that 300K miles. (I might add that I have covered over 255K miles in my 02 Boxster and the last time I checked its average speed is very close to 30mph. So I'm closing in on that 300K mile mark. We'll have to see what the future holds.)
Also, I have read -- the source escapes me -- that to certify an engine for sale in the USA the engine in a vehicle must be run/driven for 100K miles with no servicing allowed but the scheduled (based on miles covered) of vital fluids (oil) and filters (oil and intake air filters).
Even for those engines that have rubber camshaft timing belts these can't be replaced. Neither can v-belts, or serpentine belts.
Of course to keep the cost of this engine certification down automakers will seek to drive the car as fast a possible. In some cases (the case of a new Mercedes engine I recall) the vehicle's average speed was over 100mph over this 100K miles test.
The test is done on a closed course, and the time the car is moving is maximized. 'pit' stops for fueling and vital fluid/filter services are done promptly with this in mind.
The test does not expose the engine to cold starts, idling, and short trips and such that these engines will experience in real life.
But the test does indicate with reasonable servicing (oil/filter) the engines are capable of some big (100K big anyhow) miles.
What you have to worry about before wearing out the engine is little things that are only little on the surface, but which are big nonetheless and if ignored subject the engine to considerable risk.
My favorite example -- because too many owners/drivers engage in it -- is to ignore a cooling system leak.
If the cooling system has a leak it can't hold pressure. It is the considerable pressure (for a cooling system anyhow) that develops which keeps the coolant from flashing to steam.
If the pressure is down the engine can develop localized overheating as the coolant flashes to steam at the hottest places in the engine. This steam acts to block coolant flow over these hot spots. They as a result get hotter. Also, little of the heat of this steam is transferred to the coolant fluid so the coolant temp might not even rise to any scary level.
But the resulting damage can be severe, even fatal to the engine and the owner is then faced with spending a relatively huge sum of money, maybe considerably more than the car is worth even if it were healthy, to repair it.
Not a few owners will forgo this expense and the car is lost.
My advise is do not worry about when (or even if) you'll have to rebuild your car's engine.
Instead focus on keeping the car and the engine in good health through reasonable and prudent servicing.
Take care of the little things. Like a suspected coolant leak.
Keep the car clean, looking nice. A nice looking car is an easier car to spend some money on.
Avoid accidents.
And just as important as all of the above, enjoy the car. Every chance you get.
Sincerely,
Macster.
I like that Macster brought up "run time" for an engine rather than mileage. I'm of the belief that mileage is not nearly as important as people make it out to be, as if 100k miles is some magic number where every car just falls apart. Obviously, mileage is the easiest to track so it's no wonder that it is used as a key metric for judging the condition of a vehicle. Think about it this way: Which car do you think has the "healthiest" engine (all other factors being equal), a car with 50k miles that crawled along in traffic for two hours a day as a commuter/errand car, or an identical car with 100k miles that was used for cross-country road trips?
Good discussion, but what the elephant in the room is that the question being asked is nonsensical.
How long is a piece of string kind of nonsense.
I just visited billyboy who broke a cam chain at 130K km and was filthy with oil leaks. My engine has 120K km and is clean all over. I plan to run my motor to 400K km.
Hey but you bring up a good point. I certainly wanted to see my car on the lift w a light and the engine is dusty and that makes me crazy but I'm afraid to power wash it
This is a ridiculous question. Everyone knows that a 996 engine with a factory IMS will last 10,000 miles and then blow up, burst into flames and burn to the ground. If you install an LN engineering aftermarket IMS, that is designed to last 50,000 miles. So by my math, that's 60,000 miles MAXIMUM.
If you install a IMS guardian, you will likely NEVER have a problem, but if you do, Jake Raby himself is the only one who can help.
That is what I have learned from this forum in the last 2 years.
Hopefully it is helpful.
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My 40th has 40k (ironically) so I could be on borrowed time.
On a side note I just picked up an A6 4.2 for winter and there must be something wrong with it as at 162k and its still running fine.
According to the audi forums with the various electric, tranny and timing belt issues the engine should have imploded well before now!
I may have to go back to the dealer and ask what is wrong with my car as it is still running fine against the view of internet forum experts
Or the one with 2 ***** and not just one hahaha (50k... 100k) and we dont want to be stopping and starting all the time. We like to have a 'two boob' smooth long ride hehehe
Is that as the crow flies or those so-called highway miles? Is this a serious question? Everyone would like to see the future but I would hesitate before I asked a group of sarcastic Porsche owners like us "What's in store for my 996?" I'm still a newbie but even I know better that to open the floodgate with a question about 996 longevity. When I bought mine last year, I was told by the local dealer that these cars are, quote "hand grenades". You know, WTF? I had my odometer re-calibrated to display in feet. I felt the impending doom was too nervewracking and I wanted to see some big numbers before mine exploded. I just turned 5.9 billion last week so I'm feeling pretty good.
Hmm..
It's a "what's the average life span of a human male and female or a housefly" kind of question to me. But maybe you mean that since the 996's creation date is 1999 there isn't enough data because most rarely drive the car beyond 70,000 miles before selling for fear of major internal repairs.
We who are above 100k are true pioneers and dare to breach 150k and 200k!
In my opinion repairing any internal is the true end of the engine and I'm not talking water pumps and alternators. And from my observation since 2005 I have heard of several internal engine problems but I'm not sure that most don't come from those who track their 996 or drive it less than 100 miles per week.
Certainly my transmission internals failed at me right after 100k and many others as well. But I certainly didn't do lubrication changes as often as I have been doing for the engine.
I recall when I first bought my CPO'd 996 I only drove it on the weekends and every 1.5 years I would have what was back then called an RMS leak now called an xxx leak. Then as soon as I got enough ***** to stop hiding my car from coworkers and drove it to work (even though I parked deep in the garage to hide lol). I started racking up daily stop and go and hwy miles it has never cause me any problems engine wise.
I just wish I thought to changed my tranny fluid every 30k or 40k miles but the big thing on this board was oil changes at 5k miles (I've done since 36k miles) which basically overshadowed everything except RMS issues (which were $1400 a pop at the dealership).
103k miles on the original 3.4 engine running well.
Oil change every 5k
When I first starting reading these forums and learning about the dreaded XXXX I used to get so paranoid listing for every little noise. I have learned to not give a $hit and just enjoy the car, what’s the point of driving a car that you are essentially scared of driving!
All I can do is take care of the car and if it blows then I’ll deal with it.
I think if you don't drive it enough, you'll have problems.
Driving it hard will wear it out though. I don't consider abuse to be anything under the red line.
Typically at the track my car will not drop below 3500 rpm. Hits red line in 3rd gear, then from 5000 rpm to red line in 4th and then again from 5000 rpm in 5th gear.
This isn't abuse but the longer the engine remains at higher rpm the less engine life it will have.
Even cup cars have limited hours before they need to be rebuilt.
I think if someone drives it daily and it rarely sees any above 5000 rpm, the engine will last much longer then a car that is driven hard.
I had to ask because I thought maybe you had a tip.
I don't often hear of any issues with the 6-speed but I guess the changing of fluids is one thing we overlook.
Ohh, I wasn't sure if you meant something like "I purchased a rebuilt from vertex" or something like that.
Actually after I needed work on my tranny and performed a search in this forum I noticed quite a few 6 speed rebuilds in posts. Typically they are buried in posts like these instead of "hey I had my tranny rebuilt" being in the subject line.
Mine only lasted till 70,000. I bought the car with 39,000 and put about 18 track events and 31,000 miles before she quit and required a major rebuild.
The British car magazine 911 & Porsche World (after consultation with a couple of racing shops) stated that 1 mile of competition by a professional outfit is at least equal to 10 road miles ....
I would have thought about 1 mile / 100 miles ratio would have been closer to the truth.
My 03 targa will turn 50 this week. I expect her to run at least until she's paid for 2015. If not, Chase N.A. Gets a giant paper weight and a towing bill...
Greetings my fellow Porsche enthusiasts...I guess the passion and love of my first Carrera propelled me to enquire and learn more about how to maintain my car, which I refer to as Pegasus, the Krimson Knight! I am coming on my first oil change and the mechanic who works on Porsches down the street from me here in Hermosa noticed some oil leaks on both the seal and to the right of it, a larger panel...seal replacement was 115 and the larger panel 545 plus labor...no biggie...I asked him to write me up an invoice as I am going out of town for a week and then he was like well after I look at it, I may have to do other things to the car which may be relevant to the oil...for you guys who have been in this scenario, as my oil is not leaking to the ground even, should I just get the two recommendations he noticed done? My followup question is can there be anything else he is referring to that may need to be fixed? I just had a feeling he may have been taking me for a ride...please get back to me when time permits...thanks.
Tanvir H.
Redmatte,
Ask your mechanic exactly what he thinks the problem areas are. When you find out, let us know. Until them we can only guess what he might be referring to.
Just bought a 2000 cab with 155k! drove it 600 miles the day I picked it up. call me crazy but it ran great. still a bit scared. i will give updates as the miles pile up.
Generally speaking, if the oil isn't hitting the ground or fouling wiring harness lines, hoses, or suspension bushings, and there are no other symptoms that might have a relationship to the oil leak, you can take a wait and see attitude.
Generally speaking.
At this time then I would advise you to take the car to your tech for his professional opinion, but since you doubt your tech's opinion I'd modify this advice to take the car to *another* technician, one you do trust.
As an aside: My 02 Boxster's got a leaky camshaft cover. The tech at the dealer and I have been keeping an eye on this camshaft leak now for over 10K miles (at least 2 oil/filter services).
Then just a few weeks ago when my 03 Turbo was in for its oil/filter service another tech spotted what he believes is a RMS leak. Since the leak is not bad at all - no oil showing up on the ground and no leaking oil making a mess elsewhere -- he advised a wait and see on this as well.
Also, I have to note that due to family responsibilities I have been so busy I lost track of the miles and the Turbo went 10K miles between oil changes vs. the usual 5K miles. Even though as best I could tell the oil pressure (the Turbo has an oil pressure gage) was not affected I'm hoping that a contributing factor to the leak was the oil just got thinned out a bit too much and at the next oil change (at 5K miles, I swear!) we'll find the leak has dried up.
just passed 103K mi. nothing seems wrong, but I did have replace both cats at 99K mi.
at 89K i replaced clutch and did RMS and IS update. It drips a small amount now
The head tech at my Porsche dealer said he has seen many 996 cars at well over 200K mi with no problems. And, he has seen 997 engines fail at 45 miles.
who knows.
Surfer161
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