Timing chain or not???

[huggies]

I have just bought a 2002 Boxster S 107,000 miles at a fair price as seen
I am (if honest with myself) sure it has a bit of a hard life at some point but there was an exhaust rattle when I bought it which was just metal on metal but having sorted that I can now detect a rattle most notable at tickover and I suspect I can hear it faintly when running
I'm about to replace the oil with Fuchs Titan 5w-40
Any random thoughts?
Have I bought a problem or is this a known 968 tendency partly down to "wrong oil" and I shouldn't be stressing
All help/advice very much appreciated

[EGTE]

Don't stress, put good oil in and enjoy ! They're pretty whirry/mechanical engines.

My 996 sounded much happier after going from Mobil 1 5W-40 to Millers Nanodrive 10W-50 and has been perfect ever since.

Or just go to a Porcshe specialist and have them listen to it (do the oil change first).

[ooid]

Yup they do make a bit of noise, but no ticking, clunking or whining. All parts need to be working precisely.
With those miles, (high in 986/996 terms) your chain-guides or something worse might have happened (wear/tear) but yes ideally change the oil and get the filter inspected.

[Ozone]

Take all the engine covers off and rag it around for 20 minutes, then put the covers back on and you won't even notice the slight rattle

[gadgit]

Take the previous advice and put a good quality 10w 50 oil in it.
Engine rebuilders recommend the thicker oil over 70k miles. This will protect your engine from the start up, and at higher temperature if the cooling system is not quite at its best.
Good luck, and enjoy the car.
Gadgit.

[Rockster]

huggies said:

I have just bought a 2002 Boxster S 107,000 miles at a fair price as seen
I am (if honest with myself) sure it has a bit of a hard life at some point but there was an exhaust rattle when I bought it which was just metal on metal but having sorted that I can now detect a rattle most notable at tickover and I suspect I can hear it faintly when running
I'm about to replace the oil with Fuchs Titan 5w-40
Any random thoughts?
Have I bought a problem or is this a known 968 tendency partly down to "wrong oil" and I shouldn't be stressing
All help/advice very much appreciated

The problem is with hydraulic lifters while the valve lash no longer needs to be set the lifters can get a bit noisy over time/miles. Also, the ticking doesn't have to be from the lifters. It can be from an injector or something else. Reciprocating internal combustion engines, especially those with high compression and lots of timing chains, are notoriously "ticky".

Not being able to hear the engine and not seeking you post an audio clip of the engine have the engine listened to by an experienced Porsche tech and let him tell you if the noise is something really to worry about or just "normal".

If the tech isn't worried then use the Fuch Titan 5w-40 oil if it is approved, change the oil, then drive on.

Both of the engines in my two cars quiet a bit after an oil change even with just 5K miles on the oil. One engine the 2.7l Boxster engine has over 315K miles, the 996 Turbo had just short of 160K miles.

BTW, engine noise and even the oil pressure -- the Turbo has an oil pressure gauge -- was unaffected by the switch from 0w-40 oil to an approved 5w-50 oil (not a typo for 15w-50 oil!). Any benefit in less noise from an oil change is from the fresh oil not the "thicker" oil.