Boxster Engine Failure

[996TT02]

I would say a proper diagnosis is the first thing to obtain, and take it from there.

[rowantree007]

So first trackday in my 2003 Boxster S and I've had an engine failure. It happened under heavy braking into a left-hand hairpin, and the engine goes, the car moves but it sounds terrible. My Porsche mechanic says it doesn't sound like IMS but more crankshaft related caused by oil starvation. I did see a puff of blue smoke earlier in the day on the same bend.

So looking at options, and boiling down to getting a replacement engine (probably about £2500 plus fitting, about another £1000 I reckon?) or getting the engine rebuilt. I found Dal Jones in Kent who offer a rebuild and fitting for £3600 including a years warranty, but offer 2 years warranty for another £1200. This suggests to me there is a good chance it will fail again. Am I better off with a completely different second-hand engine?

Are there any other places people would recommend looking at for an engine rebuild? I am based in Guildford.

[Trev450]

As above, it really depends upon whether the car is a keeper or not. If it is, then a rebuild from a reputable establishment such as Hartech or Autofarm would give you a future-proofed engine that has the inherent flaws addressed. Otherwise, a used motor or less comprehensive rebuild would save a considerable sum of money, but obviously has no guarantee as to it's longevity.

[edc]

Eporsch down the road in Bisley should be able to source and fit a new engine for you. I know they had one customer who needed a replacement engine some time back now as they wanted the engine out of my old car.

[rowantree007]

Trev450 said:

As above, it really depends upon whether the car is a keeper or not. If it is, then a rebuild from a reputable establishment such as Hartech or Autofarm would give you a future-proofed engine that has the inherent flaws addressed. Otherwise, a used motor or less comprehensive rebuild would save a considerable sum of money, but obviously has no guarantee as to it's longevity.

To be honest I'm not that taken with the car. Are you saying I should be prepared to spend more money than the £3500 I have in mind but only if I really wanted to keep the car? Even if I got it fixed I would probably flog it straight away anyway. So if the amount to fix comes to more than £3500 and I would get say £7500 to sell privately, leaving £3500 for me, I could probably flog it as a project to somebody for maybe £2500(?) and do without all the hassle and risk of complications

[Trev450]

rowantree007 said:

Trev450 said:

As above, it really depends upon whether the car is a keeper or not. If it is, then a rebuild from a reputable establishment such as Hartech or Autofarm would give you a future-proofed engine that has the inherent flaws addressed. Otherwise, a used motor or less comprehensive rebuild would save a considerable sum of money, but obviously has no guarantee as to it's longevity.

To be honest I'm not that taken with the car. Are you saying I should be prepared to spend more money than the £3500 I have in mind but only if I really wanted to keep the car? Even if I got it fixed I would probably flog it straight away anyway. So if the amount to fix comes to more than £3500 and I would get say £7500 to sell privately, leaving £3500 for me, I could probably flog it as a project to somebody for maybe £2500(?) and do without all the hassle and risk of complications

I think you've answered your own question. If you're not intending keeping the car, you may as well sell it as a project and cut your losses. I wasn't saying that you couldn't get the engine rebuilt for £3500, but that would be replacing like-for-like and not addressing any of the known issues such as ims bearing, D chunk liner failure, etc.

[hartech]

It is first important to understand what happened and why to see if you can avoid a repeat as this influences your choice of what to do next for the best.

First question is what has been done to protect the engine against oil surge and lack of an oil supply under pressure resulting to the crankshaft?

I ask this because your scenario is a classic for this model without adequate sump protection.


Baz

[m444ttb]

Do the 996 and 986 suffer from this equally? I'd like to get my 996 on track but having spent £10k on the engine would rather not ruin it! The X51 (is it?) sump isn't that expensive but I'm unclear whether it's worth it on its own and I'd be sure the rest of the set-up is VERY expensive.

[BrotherMouzone]

OP, was the car fitted with road tyres or track tyres? I plan to track my car with road tyres.

m444ttb said:

Do the 996 and 986 suffer from this equally? I'd like to get my 996 on track but having spent £10k on the engine would rather not ruin it! The X51 (is it?) sump isn't that expensive but I'm unclear whether it's worth it on its own and I'd be sure the rest of the set-up is VERY expensive.

Design911 sells similar kit with deeper sump (reduces ground clearance by 20mm); Autofarm's kit is deeper still and loses 25mm comparing to standard / x51 sump.

I haven't decided which one to go for yet.

[Trev450]

BrotherMouzone said:

OP, was the car fitted with road tyres or track tyres? I plan to track my car with road tyres.

m444ttb said:

Do the 996 and 986 suffer from this equally? I'd like to get my 996 on track but having spent £10k on the engine would rather not ruin it! The X51 (is it?) sump isn't that expensive but I'm unclear whether it's worth it on its own and I'd be sure the rest of the set-up is VERY expensive.

Design911 sells similar kit with deeper sump (reduces ground clearance by 20mm); Autofarm's kit is deeper still and loses 25mm comparing to standard / x51 sump.

I haven't decided which one to go for yet.

I fitted the Autofarm one to my 987.1 CS a couple of years ago. Can't say I've had any issues with the reduced ground clearance.

[IknowJoseph]

Moving increasingly offtopic..

There's a thread on 911UK about X51 baffles in a standard sump, or going the extended-sump option: http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=103535&si...

[rowantree007]

I was on standard road tyres on track. I did ask two Porsche mechanics about whether these cars needed a baffled sump for track work and they both told me no, just keep the oil topped up. I now realise this was bad advice.

I've got a price for sourcing and fitting a new engine at £4600. Given the car is probably only worth £7000, it'll be going up on ebay this weekend to get rid, will make a nice little project for somebody. Particularly as I spent £2600 3 days before going on track on new clutch, brake pads and major service. Gutting. I think that this, my first experience with Porsche ownership is severely tarnished.

[edc]

If you go on the other owner forums you will find a lot of users on trackday and road rubber and without the deeper sump. For a first time out it seems particularly unlucky.

[m444ttb]

I'm sure I asked Grant @ Hartech about it when arranging my rebuild and I'm sure he said not to worry... But I may be totally wrong (not least as I'd forgotten about the conversation when I posted earlier!). I'm sure I asked about sumps and 3rd radiators. Hartech have raced enough water cooled Porsches to know I do suppose!