Engine blown!!

Oh bugger, all those sleepless nights worrying about rms failures weren't in vain. Had my car in the garage on Monday with loss of power at top end and a query rms leak. They thought it probably wasn't rms (some of the oil looked like it was coming from a bit further forward, gearbox maybe), and booked me in for later in the week for an air mass sensor as the first attempt to sort the power loss. Today a mile from home huge clouds of white smoke out the rear - that's gotta be expensive. Walked home, got the car trailered to garage. On the plus side (trying really hard here) it wasn't at high revs, I stopped pretty quick, the engine sounded okay (at least it did over Led Zep!!). And before anyone asks I don't rev it over 3K until it hits 80 degrees, and I've never revved it over 7K. What do you reckon the chances of getting away without a new engine are? Could it be something less terminal (like a head gasket maybe). I'm reckoning worst scenario £10k, best £3K? So don't need this at present.

Try to be optimisic Mike - white smoke is normally water, rather than oil. Did you check under the oil cap or the dipstick before leaving the car for recovery ?? Sounds like head gasket to me - fingers crossed

Mike had a 3.6 996 that looked like it had blown, clouds of whitelight grey smoke but engine ran fine. Was just a scavange pump in the bottom end and not terminal. If your oil level was fine etc I why would it blow at low revs from an oil leak? Jon

Thanks, but I just had a call from the garage to say it's arrived, and the guy said oil smoke. Hopefully he's wrong, I can't imagine he let it run too long, it definitely looked white to me in the rear view. They're gonna have a proper look tomorrow. and yes, wish I'd thought to check the dipstick while I was waiting.

The oil level was fine the last time I looked (couple days back). It had oil pressure as it blew. I wonder whether the history of power loss is related though which is why I'm a bit pessimistic.

The usual common cause of a lot of smoke is a bad oil separator. When the separator goes bad oil get sucked into the intake and you see a cloud behind you. Very common on the early Boxsters and Porsche changed the design of the part.

Mike, Any update? You've got us all on tenterhooks here!

Tool pants is (as usual) on the button. Seems that the oil separator is the cause. Garage fitted it today, so will know for sure tomorrow. My garage confirmed that it is the most common cause for the spectacular oil "vapour trail", and that like me, everyone assumes the engine's gone. May even be the cause of my long term intermittent top end power loss. Only worry now what damage it may have done to the catalytic converters - so Porsche related bankruptcy (hopefully) waits for another day

Mike, When oil, however small, gets into the combustion chamber you have a bigger problem than most people would have you believe.

Now this is interesting. I'm told that even a little oil in the combustion chamber can lead to "hydraulic lock", which stresses and bends the con rods leading to a later catastrophic engine failure. If, as I have also been told, this oil separator problem is common on early 996's and Boxsters, is this an alternative reason to rms for engine failures? Having been initially reassured, now feeling anxious about another potential time bomb.

Mike I have heard that the catastrophic engine failures have been mainly due to the failure of the intermediate shaft bearings/drive. Causes a nasty mess when stationary valves hit fast moving pistons. The oil gallery plug coming out, which also seems to have happened more often than it should, could also have devastating consequences if not noticed. You seem to have had a lucky (?) escape with the oil separator, but there do seem to be more than enough design flaws in these engines. I hope the survey results will show us that there is no need to lose sleep over it. I can't imagine that Porsche would continue the design flaws into the 997 if the percentages were high. Well, I guess we'll just have to wait, and wait .....

Mike I mentioned earlier scavange pump, this is to do with the oil seperator now I remember. My car covered a further 25000 hard miles in 18 months until I sold it with no problem at all. I would not worry. Jon

n4das - I see your car is STILL at the OPC! Still no resolve then? It must have been there for 6 months by now? Graham

Graham, I wish it were 6 but its almost 10 months!! [ ]

Well, I've got it back and it seems fine. Total damage to the wallet £500 minus £200 good will payment picked up by the (independent) dealer as the oil separator isn't covered under their warranty. I think that's pretty cool considering I've had it very nearly a year, and the warranty itself is nearly out. I had it MOTed at the same time, the cats are fine, no apparent oil damage, and nothing is now showing up on the diagnosic computer, hopefully I've got away with it - and a lot cheaper than first expected. Fingers crossed!

Glad to hear that - hope u have many more years of fun [ ]

Pleased to hear it wasn't too serious. Who was the independent?

Autobahn/PCT

Nice to know - I bought mine from them.

Bought mine from AUTOBAHN to ! Have found them reasonable so far for minor things after purhase. Mark

Well N4DAS, see you you have eventually got your car back! - Not sure if this should be on the 'Was it you forum page[ ] We past each other on Friday! Cheers Graham

Hi Graham, Yes I have got it back and able to enjoy the weather. Its good to be back in a Porsche, I forgot how it felt to drive. I have to say the new engine feels a little quieter than the old but its got a lot more punch!! I was just admiring your car going the other way. I love the colour. Have you got a dar interior?? Mahen

Yep - all black with ally trim! Graham

Had blue smoke last weekend. Car recovered by Porsche but they say they can't find anything wrong. Got car back and no smoke ! Any ideas ? Had been driving car for 45 mins prior to blue smoke. Mainly above 4000rpm. 996 52 plate tiptronic.