my 996 engine blew up.
Discussion
Sorry to hear the bad news mate!
Thought the 996 issues were just on the 3.4 units as these tend to be the only cars you read bad publicity about, not the 3.6's
Surprised about the warranty issue though thought there may be a gesture made by someone, i was in the process of buying myself a 996 recently glad i chose to stay with me trusted and proven 930.
There appears to be an ongoing problem with a small percentage of these WC engines, why won't Porsche hold up their hands and admit it and help people.
Thought the 996 issues were just on the 3.4 units as these tend to be the only cars you read bad publicity about, not the 3.6's
Surprised about the warranty issue though thought there may be a gesture made by someone, i was in the process of buying myself a 996 recently glad i chose to stay with me trusted and proven 930.
There appears to be an ongoing problem with a small percentage of these WC engines, why won't Porsche hold up their hands and admit it and help people.
It's called 'making a profit'...see post www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=333530&f=48&h=0 
Globulator said:
ED965 said:
i was in the process of buying myself a 996 recently glad i chose to stay with me trusted and proven 930.
930 into 996? glad you didn't. 993s are cute, but still not cute enough .you're damn right, brain tripped out for a couple of weeks!
Suppose i was looking for something i could use more often, but then remembered thats why i had the Audi, and the Porker was only intended for the sunny weekends.
ED965, I cannot see any reason why most of the 3.4 problems will not eventually emerge in the 3.6.
The intermediate shaft bearing was the same and early ones still had the "old" small centre bolt, The cylinder wall thickness is the same as the 3.4 (same bore longer stroke), indeed the force back on the cylinder wall from the shorter rods (deck height is the same) will be higher and the variable timing and lift on the inlet cams increases torque.
It is the cylinder wall thickness that worries me because it is quite a lot thinner than the 2.5, 2.7 and 3.2S variants (but I have not seen a 997 yet - it may also be similar there).
Although they have lost the small cam chains and guides, there will be a lot of strain on the single cam chain due to its small contact quadrant with the sprocket - hence a few cam chain failures are expected.
The upper head design seems better - but I cannot tell if they have reinforced the part of the head casting that sometimes cracks.
Best get a Porsche warranty - is my advice.
Meanwhile - to prepare to help owners without a warranty (or owners of cars that are too old or too high a mileage) we are continuing to test our various solutions and are also in contact with the manufacturers of the cylinder block casting - and are discussing some options that they may get involved in.
All this takes time but hopefully we will be there when time increases the stream of cars needing repair that we expect!
Baz Hartech
The intermediate shaft bearing was the same and early ones still had the "old" small centre bolt, The cylinder wall thickness is the same as the 3.4 (same bore longer stroke), indeed the force back on the cylinder wall from the shorter rods (deck height is the same) will be higher and the variable timing and lift on the inlet cams increases torque.
It is the cylinder wall thickness that worries me because it is quite a lot thinner than the 2.5, 2.7 and 3.2S variants (but I have not seen a 997 yet - it may also be similar there).
Although they have lost the small cam chains and guides, there will be a lot of strain on the single cam chain due to its small contact quadrant with the sprocket - hence a few cam chain failures are expected.
The upper head design seems better - but I cannot tell if they have reinforced the part of the head casting that sometimes cracks.
Best get a Porsche warranty - is my advice.
Meanwhile - to prepare to help owners without a warranty (or owners of cars that are too old or too high a mileage) we are continuing to test our various solutions and are also in contact with the manufacturers of the cylinder block casting - and are discussing some options that they may get involved in.
All this takes time but hopefully we will be there when time increases the stream of cars needing repair that we expect!
Baz Hartech
Shame really. Are the 996 engines that exotic that these sorts of failures are acceptable? I mean a 3.4 litre, 300bhp old Ferrari 348 I could understand dying at 60k, but the 996 has a more modern engine and is kind of German. The BMW M3 non-Evo's 286bhp 3.0 is pretty reliable too. What about the 340bhp 3.8 in the old banger M5 from the early 90s? Does the 996 have a much better torque curve than these engines (the 993 seems to have a really good one)?
hartech said:
ED965, I cannot see any reason why most of the 3.4 problems will not eventually emerge in the 3.6.
The intermediate shaft bearing was the same and early ones still had the "old" small centre bolt, The cylinder wall thickness is the same as the 3.4 (same bore longer stroke), indeed the force back on the cylinder wall from the shorter rods (deck height is the same) will be higher and the variable timing and lift on the inlet cams increases torque.
It is the cylinder wall thickness that worries me because it is quite a lot thinner than the 2.5, 2.7 and 3.2S variants (but I have not seen a 997 yet - it may also be similar there).
Although they have lost the small cam chains and guides, there will be a lot of strain on the single cam chain due to its small contact quadrant with the sprocket - hence a few cam chain failures are expected.
The upper head design seems better - but I cannot tell if they have reinforced the part of the head casting that sometimes cracks.
Best get a Porsche warranty - is my advice.
Meanwhile - to prepare to help owners without a warranty (or owners of cars that are too old or too high a mileage) we are continuing to test our various solutions and are also in contact with the manufacturers of the cylinder block casting - and are discussing some options that they may get involved in.
All this takes time but hopefully we will be there when time increases the stream of cars needing repair that we expect!
Baz Hartech
The intermediate shaft bearing was the same and early ones still had the "old" small centre bolt, The cylinder wall thickness is the same as the 3.4 (same bore longer stroke), indeed the force back on the cylinder wall from the shorter rods (deck height is the same) will be higher and the variable timing and lift on the inlet cams increases torque.
It is the cylinder wall thickness that worries me because it is quite a lot thinner than the 2.5, 2.7 and 3.2S variants (but I have not seen a 997 yet - it may also be similar there).
Although they have lost the small cam chains and guides, there will be a lot of strain on the single cam chain due to its small contact quadrant with the sprocket - hence a few cam chain failures are expected.
The upper head design seems better - but I cannot tell if they have reinforced the part of the head casting that sometimes cracks.
Best get a Porsche warranty - is my advice.
Meanwhile - to prepare to help owners without a warranty (or owners of cars that are too old or too high a mileage) we are continuing to test our various solutions and are also in contact with the manufacturers of the cylinder block casting - and are discussing some options that they may get involved in.
All this takes time but hopefully we will be there when time increases the stream of cars needing repair that we expect!
Baz Hartech
Point taken Baz, your point makes sense visa vee 3.6 inheriting the 3.4 issue.
Seems a bloody shame for the customers who have just come out of warranty and the engine lets go, it appears to me that you would be wise to have a permenant warranty if you choose to run a 996-expensive do
Edited by ED965 on Thursday 7th December 18:11
IMHO Porsche now build mass produced sports cars at very sensible prices and make an awful lot of money. If they were to build their cars with the same quality that they built 3.2 carrera's and 964's etc the base price 997 carrera 2 would probably be £85K. The harsh reality is that build quality and longevity has to suffer. I genuinly feel pi**ed of every time I read a thread relating to water cooled engine failure of one form or another. perhaps Baz could offer an air cooled retro fit conversion, just an idea
The Porsche 911 was my dream car. A couple of years ago I bought a 2000 model Porsche 996 with 70,000Kms on the clock and full service history from Porsche. I had it 3 months and the engine stopped. I took it in and they said that the conrod had gone through the block! - The engine was destroyed! - I called around to get a 2nd hand motor and it seems that these 3.4 engines are a disaster! Porsche wouldnt do anything about it and I am shocked that I paid so much for a "reputable" brand and it blew up!
I sold it on Ebay broken. I lost $22,000 on it. I will NEVER buy a Porsche again because their after sales was shocking. They know that there was a problem but would not help me. If you have a 996 sell it quickly or it could blow up at any time. I had no oil leaks, not a drop! FULL service history every 10,000kms (6,000 miles) and it still died! Now I can afford a new 997, but I wont be buying one because I cant trust Porsche as a company. The R8 looks nice..... hmmm....
I sold it on Ebay broken. I lost $22,000 on it. I will NEVER buy a Porsche again because their after sales was shocking. They know that there was a problem but would not help me. If you have a 996 sell it quickly or it could blow up at any time. I had no oil leaks, not a drop! FULL service history every 10,000kms (6,000 miles) and it still died! Now I can afford a new 997, but I wont be buying one because I cant trust Porsche as a company. The R8 looks nice..... hmmm....
I have read many reports on this website from disgruntled owners of 996s. Specifically it seems, the 3.4 engined ones.
I am just about to buy a 3.8 997. I have heard far less in terms of negative press about these. However, if the 3.4 failures are caused by the the outer cast cylinder wall thickness being too small, that can only have got worse with the larger bore? Or is that too simplistic?
I would be very grateful if someone like Hartech could tell me whether he has seen the kind of numbers of problems with this engine as he has with the 996 variant? Should I be concerned? Should I forget it and buy an R8 instead? Bloody hell, why does life have to be so hard?
I am just about to buy a 3.8 997. I have heard far less in terms of negative press about these. However, if the 3.4 failures are caused by the the outer cast cylinder wall thickness being too small, that can only have got worse with the larger bore? Or is that too simplistic?
I would be very grateful if someone like Hartech could tell me whether he has seen the kind of numbers of problems with this engine as he has with the 996 variant? Should I be concerned? Should I forget it and buy an R8 instead? Bloody hell, why does life have to be so hard?
Edited by minerva on Tuesday 19th January 06:38
minerva said:
I have read many reports on this website from disgruntled owners of 996s. Specifically it seems, the 3.4 engined ones.
I am just about to buy a 3.8 997. I have heard far less in terms of negative press about these. However, if the 3.4 failures are caused by the the outer cast cylinder wall thickness being too small, that can only have got worse with the larger bore? Or is that too simplistic?
I would be very grateful if someone like Hartech could tell me whether he has seen the kind of numbers of problems with this engine as he has with the 996 variant? Should I be concerned? Should I forget it and buy an R8 instead? Bloody hell, why does life have to be so hard?
Sorry, Hartech, just read your earlier post properly:I am just about to buy a 3.8 997. I have heard far less in terms of negative press about these. However, if the 3.4 failures are caused by the the outer cast cylinder wall thickness being too small, that can only have got worse with the larger bore? Or is that too simplistic?
I would be very grateful if someone like Hartech could tell me whether he has seen the kind of numbers of problems with this engine as he has with the 996 variant? Should I be concerned? Should I forget it and buy an R8 instead? Bloody hell, why does life have to be so hard?
Edited by minerva on Tuesday 19th January 06:38
"'It is the cylinder wall thickness that worries me because it is quite a lot thinner than the 2.5, 2.7 and 3.2S variants (but I have not seen a 997 yet - it may also be similar there).'"
SO I guess that your advice would be to man up and buy a 997?
evswift said:
The Porsche 911 was my dream car. A couple of years ago I bought a 2000 model Porsche 996 with 70,000Kms on the clock and full service history from Porsche. I had it 3 months and the engine stopped. I took it in and they said that the conrod had gone through the block! - The engine was destroyed! - I called around to get a 2nd hand motor and it seems that these 3.4 engines are a disaster! Porsche wouldnt do anything about it and I am shocked that I paid so much for a "reputable" brand and it blew up!
I sold it on Ebay broken. I lost $22,000 on it. I will NEVER buy a Porsche again because their after sales was shocking. They know that there was a problem but would not help me. If you have a 996 sell it quickly or it could blow up at any time. I had no oil leaks, not a drop! FULL service history every 10,000kms (6,000 miles) and it still died! Now I can afford a new 997, but I wont be buying one because I cant trust Porsche as a company. The R8 looks nice..... hmmm....
Sorry to hear this, but as I've said all along, everyone with a problem seems to have one post.I sold it on Ebay broken. I lost $22,000 on it. I will NEVER buy a Porsche again because their after sales was shocking. They know that there was a problem but would not help me. If you have a 996 sell it quickly or it could blow up at any time. I had no oil leaks, not a drop! FULL service history every 10,000kms (6,000 miles) and it still died! Now I can afford a new 997, but I wont be buying one because I cant trust Porsche as a company. The R8 looks nice..... hmmm....
I'll be more worried when someone with a few thousand has a problem.
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