A small question. Should I start worrying?
Discussion
Hi, this is my first time posting a question on here in a long time.
Bought an IMS Guardian for my 2004 996 tip recently. Was having my 996 serviced and the IMS Guardian installed today. Rang the mechanic to ask how things were going. Said he found 2 very small metal shards in the sump upon cleaning it out.
He recommended leaving as is and continuing with the Guardian installation. If there is an impending issue the guardian should/would pick it up. And then we can react.
Is 2 small little shards enough to point out an issue on the horizon or am I worrying about nothing?
Just a side note from this, how expensive is an IMS replacement without an engine failure on a tiptronic 996?
Thanks in advance.
JohnnyMac
Bought an IMS Guardian for my 2004 996 tip recently. Was having my 996 serviced and the IMS Guardian installed today. Rang the mechanic to ask how things were going. Said he found 2 very small metal shards in the sump upon cleaning it out.
He recommended leaving as is and continuing with the Guardian installation. If there is an impending issue the guardian should/would pick it up. And then we can react.
Is 2 small little shards enough to point out an issue on the horizon or am I worrying about nothing?
Just a side note from this, how expensive is an IMS replacement without an engine failure on a tiptronic 996?
Thanks in advance.
JohnnyMac
I asked Hartech this question and got this reply:
What do you charge for upgraded IMS bearing replacement on a tiptronic including a new seal on the crankshaft end?
£1500 + VAT
Approximately, what is your waiting list for this sort of work and how long would the car need to be in your workshops?
About 6 weeks ish. 2 Days.
What do you charge for upgraded IMS bearing replacement on a tiptronic including a new seal on the crankshaft end?
£1500 + VAT
Approximately, what is your waiting list for this sort of work and how long would the car need to be in your workshops?
About 6 weeks ish. 2 Days.
If I found a couple of shards of metal in my oil I'd be thinking about getting the IMS bearing upgraded sooner rather than later. It may cost less than £2k to have done but it's cheaper than letting the bearing go and create extensive damage that would require a more costly rebuuld of £7-£8k.
Keep in mind hartech aren't the only company who can fit upgraded ims bearing i believe precision porsche can as well.
Keep in mind hartech aren't the only company who can fit upgraded ims bearing i believe precision porsche can as well.
AlexH997 said:
If I found a couple of shards of metal in my oil I'd be thinking about getting the IMS bearing upgraded sooner rather than later. It may cost less than £2k to have done but it's cheaper than letting the bearing go and create extensive damage that would require a more costly rebuuld of £7-£8k.
Keep in mind hartech aren't the only company who can fit upgraded ims bearing i believe precision porsche can as well.
So 2 small shards of metal in the sump would be enough to have you jump and spend your money on an upgraded IMS bearing installation?Keep in mind hartech aren't the only company who can fit upgraded ims bearing i believe precision porsche can as well.
Would there be any chance something like this could be from anything else? There was work done on the engine over 2 years ago for a sticking tappet on cylinder 6. Could there have been any shards come from the rebuild after something like this?
For £1500 + vat I see that as a small price to pay compared to the £7-8k that can be spent on a rebuild if the ims bearing failed.
it's a preventative measure but ultimately i'd take the lead of what a specialist said.
Also i can't think how having shards of metal can be good for the engine, i assume this could cause cylinders to score long term.
it's a preventative measure but ultimately i'd take the lead of what a specialist said.
Also i can't think how having shards of metal can be good for the engine, i assume this could cause cylinders to score long term.
Were the shards steel or aluminium? If they were aluminium I think it's unlikely their source would be the IMS bearing.
I have fitted a magnetic drain plug to my sump that can be inspected for steel particles. Inspecting the oil filter on removal will also show up metal particles and they can be tested with a magnet. As I am sure you know, a magnet will not pick up aluminium pieces.
I have fitted a magnetic drain plug to my sump that can be inspected for steel particles. Inspecting the oil filter on removal will also show up metal particles and they can be tested with a magnet. As I am sure you know, a magnet will not pick up aluminium pieces.
Hilux2400 said:
Were the shards steel or aluminium? If they were aluminium I think it's unlikely their source would be the IMS bearing.
I have fitted a magnetic drain plug to my sump that can be inspected for steel particles. Inspecting the oil filter on removal will also show up metal particles and they can be tested with a magnet. As I am sure you know, a magnet will not pick up aluminium pieces.
I have not seen the filings or the oil filter yet in person. It is obviously too late now to talk to the mechanic and I'm not sure if he has discarded the filter. I hope it is still available for further inspection. The IMS Guardian I have had fitted should give me a quick indicator if there is any bearing problems before the bearing gives up.I have fitted a magnetic drain plug to my sump that can be inspected for steel particles. Inspecting the oil filter on removal will also show up metal particles and they can be tested with a magnet. As I am sure you know, a magnet will not pick up aluminium pieces.
Good idea to check to see if it's aluminium instead of steel with a magnet!
Thanks to everyone who has replied. I really appreciate it.
JohnnyMac said:
Hi, this is my first time posting a question on here in a long time.
Bought an IMS Guardian for my 2004 996 tip recently. Was having my 996 serviced and the IMS Guardian installed today. Rang the mechanic to ask how things were going. Said he found 2 very small metal shards in the sump upon cleaning it out.
He recommended leaving as is and continuing with the Guardian installation. If there is an impending issue the guardian should/would pick it up. And then we can react.
Is 2 small little shards enough to point out an issue on the horizon or am I worrying about nothing?
Just a side note from this, how expensive is an IMS replacement without an engine failure on a tiptronic 996?
Thanks in advance.
JohnnyMac
You're worried about nothing. The pan has had those shards of metal since it left the factory. If there was any thing wrong with the IMSB it is not large fragments of metal you will see it as tiny bits of metal, ferrous metal.Bought an IMS Guardian for my 2004 996 tip recently. Was having my 996 serviced and the IMS Guardian installed today. Rang the mechanic to ask how things were going. Said he found 2 very small metal shards in the sump upon cleaning it out.
He recommended leaving as is and continuing with the Guardian installation. If there is an impending issue the guardian should/would pick it up. And then we can react.
Is 2 small little shards enough to point out an issue on the horizon or am I worrying about nothing?
Just a side note from this, how expensive is an IMS replacement without an engine failure on a tiptronic 996?
Thanks in advance.
JohnnyMac
BTW, it reads like you have a smart mechanic.
I learned something today from a different web site about engine numbers and discovered that the engine in my 2003 996 was replaced in 2006. The engine number also has the letters AT incorporated, which apparently is an abbreviation for replacement or re-build. I am currently checking this with Porsche GB.
Before you decide to have a new IMS bearing fitted, it might be worth checking your engine number.
H
Before you decide to have a new IMS bearing fitted, it might be worth checking your engine number.
H
There's a possibility that it has the 997 bearing in it so... Which is an engine stripdown to replace.
I had to replace my 3.4 engine in 2010 and it has the same markings that it is a remanufactured engine. But the manufactured date is 2004.
As the engine was out of production by 2004 I have no idea if this has the larger 997 bearing.
Sadly the only way to tell is drop the gearbox
I had to replace my 3.4 engine in 2010 and it has the same markings that it is a remanufactured engine. But the manufactured date is 2004.
As the engine was out of production by 2004 I have no idea if this has the larger 997 bearing.
Sadly the only way to tell is drop the gearbox
Not collecting the car until tomorrow. So at the moment I cannot check to see if the engine number matches the book. I asked if the mechanic still had the old oil filter to check but unfortunately he threw it out. I do believe also that the metal in the sump could be there from the day the engine was assembled as easily as it could be a bearing or similar on the way out. I hope he's kept onto the shards as I might bring a magnet to see if it may be aluminium.
Either way the IMS Guardian is in and hopefully it'll never trigger. Or hopefully it will and it'll to it's job and warn me to stop before I destroy the engine completely. The more I think about it, the more I think every car engine should have one of these guards added to them.
Either way the IMS Guardian is in and hopefully it'll never trigger. Or hopefully it will and it'll to it's job and warn me to stop before I destroy the engine completely. The more I think about it, the more I think every car engine should have one of these guards added to them.
Given the number of posts on the internet which suggests these cars fail at an alarming rate I'm surprised by some of the responses which suggest you're worrying about nothing.
A couple of shards might not do much damage but given the context of the known problems related to these engines i'd be more cautious. Good luck and I hope it all works out
A couple of shards might not do much damage but given the context of the known problems related to these engines i'd be more cautious. Good luck and I hope it all works out
Well I got the car back earlier. Spoke to the mechanic and we decided that I'll run the car away for the next 1000 kilometres and then go back again for an oil and filter change. We'll then check for any more metal in the oil sump and filter.
Unfortunately he had thrown out the old oil filter.
In the meantime if the IMS Guardian alarms between now and then I can at least stop and get the bearing changed for an upgraded one.
Again, I very much appreciate the help and comments from everyone.
Unfortunately he had thrown out the old oil filter.
In the meantime if the IMS Guardian alarms between now and then I can at least stop and get the bearing changed for an upgraded one.
Again, I very much appreciate the help and comments from everyone.
I know it's been over a month since I opened this thread. But just to give it closure.
I've been back to the mechanics today and changed the oil and filter. I've covered about 2500 km in the car in the few weeks. We cut open the filter to check for any metallic particles. Luckily it was clean as a whistle.
So, I can now drive on with the IMS Guardian installed and hope I never hear it alarm.
Again, thanks to everyone who replied.
I've been back to the mechanics today and changed the oil and filter. I've covered about 2500 km in the car in the few weeks. We cut open the filter to check for any metallic particles. Luckily it was clean as a whistle.
So, I can now drive on with the IMS Guardian installed and hope I never hear it alarm.
Again, thanks to everyone who replied.
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