7 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHSparkling oil. Time fore IMS bearing replacement?
Leading reported evidence
Check oil filter and also nothing
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 · Original poster
Although I put a magnet where the oil was draining but didn't catch anything, checked the oil filter and also nothing.
Leading evidence: 'Check oil filter and also nothing' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'item rather than wait' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check oil filter and also nothing' (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 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
Replaced my IMS on my 996 C2 last year at 47,000 miles.
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 think the warranty company took the view it was cost effective for them to replace the suspect item rather than wait for it to fail and leave them with a much larger claim.
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
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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.
Suggestion
I don't want to suggest that you ignore it, but if it was me and it was an earlier 3.4 with the dual-row bearing I would fit a magnetic plug and monitor it for 5-600 miles and check the plug and filter again.
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 would have it flat towed to a repair shop - don't drive it to the shop.
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 don't want to suggest that you ignore it, but if it was me and it was an earlier 3.4 with the dual-row bearing I would fit a magnetic plug and monitor it for 5-600 miles and check the plug and filter again.
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
Fortunately when I bought the car in February 2018 it came with a warranty which I extended in October of that year so the cost of replacing the IMS bearing was covered.
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 think the warranty company took the view it was cost effective for them to replace the suspect item rather than wait for it to fail and leave them with a much larger claim.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
item rather than wait
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 think the warranty company took the view it was cost effective for them to replace the suspect item rather than wait for it to fail and leave them with a much larger claim.
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.
7 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Porsche Club GB: 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: 20261026T133652Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hi
Today, when changing the oil and filter on my 996 I noticed that the oil was a bit sparkling when touched the oil drainer. Although I put a magnet where the oil was draining but didn't catch anything, checked the oil filter and also nothing.
It is the first time I am changing the oil on my 996 is a reason to worry about or can I just keep drive but keep a closer look on it?
I did budget an IMS replacement when I bought the car, but would be great to wait till it needs a clutch.
Regards
Welcome!
It is difficult to know what you mean by "sparkling". When the IMS bearing starts to fail, you tend to get small, thin, flakes of metal in the oil, probably from the bearing cage. The filter collects them, so it is best to cut the ends off the filter and open it out, to examine it properly (as per the attachment).
I doubt a magnet placed in the oil while it is draining would pick up much. If you still have the old oil, maybe try to strain it through a very fine filter to see if there are any metal particles in there. Maybe also send a sample off for analysis. Fitting a magnetic sump plug would also be a good idea.
You don't say which model 996 you have. I don't want to suggest that you ignore it, but if it was me and it was an earlier 3.4 with the dual-row bearing I would fit a magnetic plug and monitor it for 5-600 miles and check the plug and filter again. If it was a later 3.6 with a single row bearing, and I had budgeted for it, I might be tempted to get the bearing changed. Just my 2p's worth.
Thank you for you reply.
It is 3.6 c4 from 2001
Today I checked again the oil filter and the magnet and turns out, it had really small pieces of metal not to many thought.
Ireckon it comes indeed from IMS bearing.
I had already budgeted to replace it but I was planning to replace it on this spring but I'll have replace it as soon I can
Thank you
Hi
Not good news, carefully research the various types of bearings available and make an informed choice that suits your needs.
Replaced my IMS on my 996 C2 last year at 47,000 miles. Clutch was just about finished but bearing was perfect. Put low temperature thermostat in as well in order to reduce risk of bore scoring.
Hopefully mine is now sound.
Good luck
Trevor Cayman295
My 2001 3.4 dual bearing manual C2 coupe had minute fragments of metal in the oil filter after just 35k last year. So I had the IMS replaced and took the opportunity to get a new clutch fitted at the same time. Fortunately when I bought the car in February 2018 it came with a warranty which I extended in October of that year so the cost of replacing the IMS bearing was covered. I think the warranty company took the view it was cost effective for them to replace the suspect item rather than wait for it to fail and leave them with a much larger claim. Just because a car is low mileage and with a dual roller bearing doesn’t make it immune to this design fault.
I would have it flat towed to a repair shop - don't drive it to the shop. I would not recommend operating the engine any more as you could make the problem worse and cost yourself more money. Make sure the shop you go to is a specialist in the M96 engine as well. You don't want to use a general mechanic for this issue as they may not know exactly what they are looking at.
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