16 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHQuestion about replacement 3.4 engines:
Leading reported evidence
Replace i haven't had an issue
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
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 performed work without a confirmed outcome
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.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I haven't had an issue with mine which was replaced under warranty last november.
Leading evidence: 'Replace i haven't had an issue' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace i haven't had an issue' (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 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
Was there any fundamental change on the replacement 3.4 motors that so many early 996 cars have, including mine?
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.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
It's not a straight swap because the design of the chain changed, so the sprocket at the crank has to change too.
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.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
I heard you could read the operation hrs of the engine using Durametric.
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.
16 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: 20261026T052503Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I'm sure that this is covered to death somewhere on here, but I can't seem to make the search function work at the moment, so:
Was there any fundamental change on the replacement 3.4 motors that so many early 996 cars have, including mine? The stories I've heard revolve around a RMS issue that leads to catastrophic engine failure. Surely they did not simply put the same POS engines back in under warranty, right?
Right?
the issues that lead to engine replacement are different then the leaky RMS
Engine replacement was brought about usually because of a cracked case in one of the cylinders, i think its usually 2 or 5 but i could be wrong.
ALL THE "RMS" IS IS A FRRICKING OIL LEAK! People throw around "RMS" like its the black plague, its a leak! Thats it, its annoying and the leakiy rear main seal in and of itself will NOT LEAD TO ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS! That being said, the lower balance shaft which runs under the crank can also leak. Later engines were updated to rectify this problem.
RMS problems are just leaky engines and when has a 911 powerplant NEVER LEAKED. They all do, in this case for another reason but RMS dosent lead to replacement engines, thats another issue.
OK, so did they rectify whatever the problem was that made cylinders/cases crack?
I agree that a leaking RMS in and of itself is nothing to cry about. I build motors that do not leak, including my (former) air-cooled 911 engines. So I was wondering about any updates to the REAL problem w/ 3.4 motors. Keep the replies coming!
I haven't had an issue with mine which was replaced under warranty last november. You are lucky being in this area because the warehouse that has them is in Ontario.
My impression is MY99 and 00 are prone to engine oil and coolant intermix, which Porsche fixed in all 3.4L engines from '01 and later. So if your 3.4L was replaced in '01 or later, your odds are much better.
Don't forget the intermediate shaft sprocket and gear failures. This is a design that has been redeveloped and redeveloped again over the years. My friends 3.6 litre even suffered a catastrphic failure because of this. Reman motors have the upgraded sprocket and gear from the 997. It's not a straight swap because the design of the chain changed, so the sprocket at the crank has to change too.
There's an article which talks about this. it's actually a piece on an english shop that modifies a new style IMS (bigger bearing) to accept the old style sprocket. Actually I see that it discusses the cracked cylinders too, and their fix for that (spoiler: they sleeve it)
I'll try to attach otherwise search for the Total911 article from July 2006. Nope sorry - file too large. PM me and I'll email it to you if you can't find it.
I guess my next question would be whether there is somewhere online where I can determine the approx. build date by my (replacement) engine#. It was not done under warranty, so the dealer computer does not have a record of it and I got no history w/ the car.
When was it done...thats probably the only way of knowing.....No record of it, sounds like the dealer didnt do it because they would have a record whether under warranty or not. If you are looking to buy the car, I would be a little worried, and I wold have the ca checked out VERY well...other than that enjoy it, the replacement 3.4L's are STRONG and run great...I am at nearly 70k on my replacement....strong as the day I got it.....
I already bought it, and for the price I paid it could have no engine at all and I would be fine. FWIW, it runs like an open sore and I plan on going x-country in it soon but I would still love to know how many miles the engine has and the vintage of it.
congrats on the buy at the good price....I dont think there is any way to know how old the engine is...and that makes it tough to service I guess..not knowing what the mileage on the engine is....just get it checked out before the trip and you should be fine....
