9 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHAntifreeze leak in exhaust
Leading reported evidence
Use often in like-new condition, and care
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
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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
Wealthy people buy the new Porsches and, in the past, we buy them used, often in like-new condition, and care for them and enjoy them.
Leading evidence: 'Use often in like-new condition, and care' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'cylinder by looking at the plugs &' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check with them' (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 suspect a cause
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.
Suspected cause
I would 1st remove the sparkplugs & inspect for signs of the suspect cylinder by looking at the plugs & then cranking the engine over without the sparkplugs installed & watch for coolant squirting out the cylinders.
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
Check with them for prices as it varies depending on what you do.
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
If this still fails to reveal any clues the crack may leak only at operating temp & probably require removing the heads to inspect the heads & cylinders.
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
A borescope will help inspect the inside of the cylinder for damage.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
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Suggestion
If this still fails to reveal any clues the crack may leak only at operating temp & probably require removing the heads to inspect the heads & cylinders.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
cylinder by looking at the plugs &
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that suspect a cause
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.
Suspected cause
I would 1st remove the sparkplugs & inspect for signs of the suspect cylinder by looking at the plugs & then cranking the engine over without the sparkplugs installed & watch for coolant squirting out the cylinders.
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.
9 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Pelican Parts: 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: 20261027T022239Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I have a friend with a 2000 996, 100k miles with antifreeze dripping out the exhaust of the right side.
Obviously this is a problem.....
I don't know anything about the water-cooled Porsche engines other than they did have some issues on the early ones. Not sure if this qualifies as early.
Is this a symptom of a known common problem?
Is there a way to make an educated guess without pulling this apart?
Any test procedure to determine is it is a cracked, head, block, gasket, other?
What the value of these in this otherwise nice condition car if he decides not to fix?
Thanks
Excellent post & questions.
This is the 1st 996 engine design 98-01 & therefore "early". Headgaskets never fail so this leaves the "early" thin head castings that crack easily & the thinnest cylinder walls of any watercooled flat 6 that can crack &/or wear the bores out of round.
Starting & running of the engine should be kept to a minimum as the possibility of hydrolocking the engine exists when the leak increases.
I would 1st remove the sparkplugs & inspect for signs of the suspect cylinder by looking at the plugs & then cranking the engine over without the sparkplugs installed & watch for coolant squirting out the cylinders. A borescope will help inspect the inside of the cylinder for damage. If this reveals nothing pressure test the cooling system & listen for escaping coolant/air. If this still fails to reveal any clues the crack may leak only at operating temp & probably require removing the heads to inspect the heads & cylinders.
At this point the accepted value of the 996 = pre-defect market value - engine replacement cost. Which depending on the engine selected ranges from $10K- $20K
Either a cracked cylinder liner or a cracked cylinder head.
Like the prev poster suggested -- look for coolant in the cylinders
pressurize the coolant system and let sit overnight.
Any test procedure to determine is it is a cracked, head, block, gasket, other?
I bought a 99 with half the mileage 2 years ago for $8k.
The rest of the car was in perfect condition.
I also had a 3.4L engine lying around at the time.
Mike
As BYprodriver said, the motor alone could be 10k for a used one to 20 for a new crate motor from Porsche. Jake Raby at Flat6 Innovations could rebuild yours and it would involve an engine resleeving as well as the LN IMS bearing and other improvements. Check with them for prices as it varies depending on what you do. Then you need to factor in the R&R of the engines, new clutch, AOS or other items such as new water pump etc. You will need to likely keep the car for a while to get your moneys worth out of it as selling it will certainly be at a loss. BTDT!!
Whatever you do, make sure you don't let the car sit idle for a long time. The intermix will also get in the cooling system. I had to replace all the coolant lines (24 soft and 8 hard) for close to $1500 to get rid of the sludge. The rads had to be sent out for cleaning as well.
Figure a complete rebuild with resleeving will run you about
9K-12K depending on what you replace inside the engine.
The resleeving (and new rings/pistons) is a $4k cost by itself.
My colleague did an 02 996 last year for one of his customers who had it bored out to a 3.8L.
Mike
More details in later posting about my failed 2000 996, but let me just say this; Porsche has produced an entire generation of cars -circa 2000/M46- that have ended the tradition for second generation enthusiasts like most of us. Wealthy people buy the new Porsches and, in the past, we buy them used, often in like-new condition, and care for them and enjoy them. This is no longer true. These first and second generation 996/7 are failing at a 5-10% rate (which is astronomical) and cost more to repair than book value. Junk yards that specialize in Porsches are filling with 996 bodies and Porsche will not produce, or acquire, the number of engines needed to repair them, especially at a price that makes sense. We have owned Porsches for 35 years and have a new Cayenne on order. I do not understand why we are so faithful..... jvm
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