Rms

So whats the deal on the RMS stuff :-))

Buy a version w/ an engine based on the 964 block, GT2, GT3, tt and it won't be an issue

It is a mix of issues IMO, it is caused by the following: 1. The dual mass flywheel is heavy, and hanging off the back of the block, which creates a lever effect on the crankshaft 2: The engine is of modular construction - the crankshaft is in its own bearing cradle, which is then bolted into the case. The earlier 911 as well as the GT-2, GT-3, and turbo have the bearing journals machined directly into the case, ensuring all of the bearing bores are concentric. In the newer motors, the front and rear bores are in the case, and the rest of the bores are bolted in. I feel that this can introduce slight errors in the alignment of all of the bores, making the problem worse. As of last count, there are about seven revisions to the RMS and installation procedure for both boxster and 996. If the case if too far out of alignment, the engine needs to be replaced. AFJ

Wow AFJ I was sort of kidding but that is new info to me (and I have been watching). So is there any way to know you are buying one that wont have an issue? I am not concerned about the the RMS in itself but I dont want to buy one that needs an engine any time soon. I would definitely buy one that was WAY out of warranty. Sounds like you would need to pull the motor apart and chek the bore alignment....not really feaqsible during your average PPI.

E - The RMS issue in these cars have been extensively beat to death, yes there were some problem cars but as posted earlier there have been revisions to the seals done at the factory as well as some dealerships, however most of the dealerships installed new motors on the cars that were under warranty when the problem came up. If you are looking to purchase a used 996 buy one that has been regularly driven with mileage over 30K and you should be ok as the failure routinely showes itself prior to this, if you are looking at a car with the miles on it then you should be fine. Todd Ps... If you do a search (996 RMS) you will get more hit's than you care to read.

Thanks Todd. Yah I read alot about it at Rennlist and there was an extensive "study" done by Autofarm in england that was reported in Porsche and 911 World. They went into the whole heavy flywheel hanging out there and the cradle moving around causing failure and some other things. Did you see that article? My newest fear is that I heard down in AUS they were not honoring any warranties on cars that were tracked with R compound rubber. The lack of a dry sump and high cornering limits of these cars causes oiling issues that were not adequately addressed in the design and they grenade. I know many other cars have this problem, C4 vettes etc. But I would hope I could do a track day or two in my $80K 911 with track specific rubber and not blow it up. Guess I better stick with an Elise, at least I can add an accusump and be OK.

E -- I am thinking about selling my 996 pretty soon, I want to move on to a turbo car and everytime I get down to Brumos they always seem to have one sitting there for me to look at. My car spends most of its day's sitting covered in the garage, it just had the major 30K service done awhile back and I never seem to get the chance to drive it much anymore, it is " bone stock " with some nice options and is " speed yellow " . The only reason I mention this is that you are fairly close by, Todd

Sounds like a beaut. Probably out of my price range, I was looking at the 50K-70K mile cars that were in the high $20s. Probably have to travel pretty far for one. I like the color on yours!

Just as an fyi, my 996 has 46K miles on it, is a 2000, and is dry as a bone underneath and within the engine compartment. I wonder if there is an aftermarket way to ensure oil pressure even under high G loads. I like to track my car once in a while and even though I don't think I'll ever see R compound tires, my track of choice is big Willow Springs and turns 2 and 8 are long duration, high-G turns. Oil starvation does go through my mind while I'm in those high speed turns.

I hear PMNA makes a kit for the Grand Am 911s that have to run a stock engine. It adds an oil pump externally and some plumbing thorugh one of the valve covers. It scavenges the oil that builds up in the valve area and returns it to the tank. Thats what happens with alot of cars the high G keeps the oil in the rocker area because it cant gravity flow down to the sump during the turn. If the turn is long enough the volumn of oil in the rocker area is so great that the level where the pump intake is gets low enough and the pump sucks air. I imagine the PMNA fix is expensive. One other thought I always thought a baffled oil pan would fix this type of problem on most vehicles - hopefully from my explanation you can see that a baffled pan does not help if all the oil is in the valve cover!!

see this post for more info. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?threadid=316505