996 - Dry Sumped or Not ???

[fabster]

Something thats bugged me for a while - are all 996's dry sumped or not?

I understood the earlier 996s were - but am sure mine (3.4C2 - 2001) isnt and am sure thats what Mr Porsche told me when i bought it - ie dont need to run to check oil level. Or am I being dim?

And if they are different engine variations - why?

Cheers

[DaGinge]

Not dry sumped.

The C2,C4,C4S and boxster all share the same basic M96 engine which is not dry sumped.

The GT2,GT3 and TT have an engine derived from the GT1 Le-mans winning engine which is dry sumped.

[lemon yella rs]

Not exactly. The 996 has what Porsche describe as an "integral dry sump" basically the sump is "isolated"(over simplfied) from the rest of the engine but is integral with it. The 996 engine is built to a price and any way of saving money (like reducing expensive external oil pipes and oil sumps)is utilised. Porsche also claims it saves space.

The GT3 engine and Turbo are based on the older air cooled crankcase with suitable modifications. And of course water cooled heads. The configuration goes back quite some way Porsche race cars used a similar set up to great effect.