981s at 4 years old - any engine issues?

[Ozzie Osmond]

Prompted by the thread about used values and realising that early cars are now four years old - is there any evidence of engine problems with 981?

Clearly if there aren't any significant issues people can stop chucking extended warranty money at Mr Porsche! (I haven't extended)

[GT4P]

Same engine as 987.2/997.2 so been around since late 2008 over 8 years now and proving robust! although that is not to say like any other engine there might be a random failure but still very rare

[DJMC]

GT4P said:

Same engine as 987.2/997.2 so been around since late 2008 over 8 years now and proving robust! although that is not to say like any other engine there might be a random failure but still very rare

Is there no difference between 987.2 2.9 and 981 2.7 bar the bore and/or stroke, cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, pistons...

[IMorris]

Why did they drop from 2.9 to 2.7 but keep the S at 3.4l?

[GT4P]

IMorris said:

Why did they drop from 2.9 to 2.7 but keep the S at 3.4l?

Emissions
The 2.9 in the 987.2 was non DFi the 2.7 is DFi so maybe to get more hp from less cc.

[Ozzie Osmond]

This is all very encouraging. Since almost every thread on PH links the Porsche name with engine failure it's reassuring to know that 981 appears to be problem-free.

They really are brilliant cars.

[Akajak]

Ozzie Osmond said:

This is all very encouraging. Since almost every thread on PH links the Porsche name with engine failure it's reassuring to know that 981 appears to be problem-free.

They really are brilliant cars.

bit harsh

[nsm3]

Akajak said:

Ozzie Osmond said:

This is all very encouraging. Since almost every thread on PH links the Porsche name with engine failure it's reassuring to know that 981 appears to be problem-free.

They really are brilliant cars.

bit harsh

Not really, they are very good cars?

[Ozzie Osmond]

[Simo_UK]

Mine's 4yrs old, 24k miles and runs perfectly. Not a sniff of an oil leak when recently inspected. V pleased.

Will still renew the warranty though, peace of mind and all that. Good service on the few niggles I've had too.

[Krobar]

Simo_UK said:

Mine's 4yrs old, 24k miles and runs perfectly. Not a sniff of an oil leak when recently inspected. V pleased.

Will still renew the warranty though, peace of mind and all that. Good service on the few niggles I've had too.

I wonder if sports car owners have much lower expectations. A Mondeo or Vectra I would expect 100K plus without any major issues but it seems if a sports car passes 50K everyone is incredibly happy. I do a touch over 10K a year and hope to keep mine for a while; ask me in 5 years time.

[finestjammy]

I've got a 2009 987.2 S, same 3.4 DFI engine as the 981 S. Its done 50k mikes, 10k of those in my owner ship. Doesn't use a drop of oil or coolant. I've had no issues whatsoever with the engine. I put it on a dyno and it produced 336 bhp (yes, I know they vary but it's a reasonable indication of engine health). The offside front control arm is rattling a bit now and needs replacing, the door card membranes have just been done but other than that all has been good.

[Ozzie Osmond]

finestjammy said:

I've got a 2009 987.2 S, same 3.4 DFI engine as the 981 S.

Interesting. At the time I bought my car the OPC said they'd never had to take one apart.

[gadgit]

Recent vist to USA sight suggests some problems with electrical gremlins?
One in particular being the brake switch tripping out the PSM.
Apparently there is a problem that the brake pedal does not fully return due to an incorrect spacer fitted in some cars.this confuses the PSM and tripps it out.
Its a simple fix if they have the new spacer?
Or reajust the brake light switch.
Anyone had this problem.

Gadgit

[nsm3]

I recently had the pedal box bushes replaced to stop the brakes staying on, but, I keep getting recurring PSM failures, which require a couple of switch on/offs to clear. Just recording them at the moment as it is no more than a nuisance. They can sort out at the warranty extension inspection in Oct.

[EGTE]

Not wishing to rain on anyone's parade here, but quite a lot of TFSI Audi engines have issues with coking up of (the back of) valves, as there is no cleaning effect from the fuel.

Wonder if this might affect Porsche DFI engines in the same way?

[gadgit]

Thanks nsm3.
When you say a couple of switch off and on, do you mean the ignition switch.
Its also good to hear that porsche are aware.
Do they keep the new bushes in stock?
And did they need to change the brake switch as well.

I am only asking this as I am about to take delivery of a 981 cayman.
Last thing, could you drive the car normally or did it cut back on power when it happened. Is yours auto or manual.

Thanks for the info, this will be good for all with 981s and if this is the worst that happens with it, i will be pleased as punch!!

Cheers

Gadgit

[finestjammy]

EGTE said:

Not wishing to rain on anyone's parade here, but quite a lot of TFSI Audi engines have issues with coking up of (the back of) valves, as there is no cleaning effect from the fuel.

Wonder if this might affect Porsche DFI engines in the same way?

They even thought of that The fuel does hit the back of the valves, at least partially, as in the picture below.

[chriscoates81]

finestjammy said:

They even thought of that The fuel does hit the back of the valves, at least partially, as in the picture below.

Surely it only hits the top valve in that pic tho?

[finestjammy]

chriscoates81 said:

Surely it only hits the top valve in that pic tho?

At least 50% better cleaning than the Audi DFI then As cmoose said, it's a simplification of what is probably actually going on. All I can say is that my 987.2 S has done 50k miles, uses no oil or coolant and still produces at least the quoted bhp. I type that with my fingers crossed