I know that there are 500 + threads on this issue, but frankly I do not have the time or inclination to go through them all.
I recently picked up a bucket list
2007 Cayman S
that I have become convinced has the dreaded BS.
It has consumed 3 quarts of oil in the first 700 miles under my ownership.
Some of that may have been caused by a bad 3rd party
AOS
that I replaced with OEM. But not likely all.
I also have tell tale CAT codes.
Yet the car runs super strong, with no ticking and only periodic smoke a few minutes after start up.
I know there is more due diligence to perform to confirm this. Oil testing and bore scoping etc.
BUT.....What I'd like to know is how long have some of you gotten out of your cars once you established that your car was scored? What steps did you take to prolong the car's life? How did the symptoms progress?
I plan on putting less than 2000 miles a year on my baby...its needs proper wheels, some suspension work (front knocking), some stereo work and a belly pan and wheel well liners.
I don't want to sink good money after bad though.
SO I am trying to get a real-world-experience-based-feel for how long it might last.
PS It's not lost on me that of those that have underwent this nightmare scenario likely jumped ship... hoping a few of you came out on the other side and are still Porsche lovers....
I think the car needs more diagnostics before conclusion on the causation. If you are mechanically inclined, borescopes that
plug
into
iPhones
are relatively cheap now. You could change the plugs and coils or not, based on what you find with said borescope. Make sure that whatever the front knocking is doesn’t compromise a suspension point that could make the car unsafe. If it was my ride I’d postpone wheels and accoutrements till you sort out the engine and understand what longevity lies ahead. You might consider taking it to a shop and have it properly diagnosed so you are not chasing ghosts. PS what’s the total miles covered? Lastly, you can switch to the highest viscosity oils recommended on the Porsche list and see if that slows down the consumption, good luck. Oh and oil consumption and cat codes unfortunately makes sense.
Mine has been getting progressively worse for the 60k miles I've put on it (135k total).
Similar symptoms to what you noted. It's never missed a beat though, drives great. Drove it 2000 miles in 3 days over the summer. Consumed like 5 quarts of oil. I can't complain too much.
I've accepted it as a fact of life for the moment and carry oil. It's not my daily driver anymore and only gets a few thousand miles a year.
I'm hoping someone comes up with more affordable replacement engine options as more of these are around.
I would not invest a ton of money in a car with these problems though -- just enjoy it.
In days of yore I would have agreed with ssmy on the investment value. However, recent decisions by Porsche AG have changed the calculus IMO. Flat Six cylinder gas powered Porsche cars are going to be dragged to eye watering values due to scarcity and the company trajectory of only selling new units similarly “equipped” comfortably above 100k. Therefore if it can be fixed for a reasonable sum? Especially if you’re capable of some or all the labor? I’d do it. My cousin kept his low mileage manual 986 even though he just bought a manual 911, very smart. Lastly, I would not ignore an engine‘s warning signal to you of 5 quarts consumption in 2000 miles. That will likely lead to more repair cost down the line.
Three quarts in 700 miles is a lot, but the
AOS
swap muddies the picture - a failed one dumps oil into the intake and can also take the cats with it, so I would not sentence the bores on that number alone. If it were mine, I would get an oil sample and a proper look down the cylinders before spending anything on wheels or stereo. That front knock deserves a hard look first, too.
On the longevity question, the one that sticks with me is a 987.1 still going at 135k with symptoms that crept up over 60k miles and never actually stopped the car. At under 2,000 miles a year, topping up and carrying a spare quart seems a reasonable trade while you decide. Oil analysis will tell you more than the
exhaust
smoke does.
I was completely off on the miles..... I have actually put closer to 1500 on it and at least one of those tops offs was only 500ml. I think (hope) I cried wolf there a bit. At least 30-40% of those miles were backroad hooning at high revs. Intake tubes were pretty drenched with oil residue when I had them off to replace the EVAP valve. I am not getting any significant soot at the tail pipe. AND it appears that there is 8K on the oil.
SO..... I will take a sample when I change the oil to 5w-50 +
LiquiMoly
MoS2. And then I will log how much oil it consumes thereafter and test it at the end of next season.
As far as investment value.... Assuming she doesn't grenade I will like turn over 200k within a few years.... not sure it will be worth much..... then again, I don't ever plan on selling her as long as she still "puts out"... ;-)
PS Good advice, advice is good on not sinking too much moolah into anything cosmetic until I see where the oil consumption is at....
From what I’ve read it’s fundamentally caused by leaking fuel injectors washing the oil off the bores. I’d run a bottle of
Techron
in a tank of fuel to clean the injectors. Do an oil analysis to see if there is excessive fuel in the oil. Make sure your oil cooler is not leaking, if it’s original then the o rings that connect it to the block are leaking. The PCV tubes that connect the block to the oil separator and to the throttle body crack and leak. If they’re original then they are probably cracked and leaking.
The best way to check for BS is to remove the lower oil pan and windage tray and then you can see into all the bores.
