engine strength - air v water

[Roadrunner]

Is it me, or does there seem to be a few cases of water cooled engine trouble out there?

I heard a short while ago that the first batches of facelifted 996's had problems, some going bang. Was this due to a tvr esque 'faulty batch' syndrome, or just that the engines are getting far too complex these days?

Did you also read in the new Evo mag that their brand new GT2 with 1k miles has an engine problem! Seems it was making a knocking sound that could be a cam bearing or something, from memory. A tad dissapointing to say the least. I always had this car on a pedestal as the 'ultimate' porsche.

What's going on then? Just bad luck from 0.01% of some owners, or a more serious issue. The old air cooled 993's always seemed to be rock solid. Strange, as the newer engines go much longer between service intervals too, and cost MUCH less as well.

Quick straw poll - Anyone had engine problems with either 993's or 996's?

[domster]

I know of 993 bottom ends that have gone.

Any new engine design will suffer from the occasional fault that needs rectifying later in life. I can see Porsche making the step forward to water cooling (as the older 911 use 2CV technology ) but this will never be without its glitches.

I think on the one hand you have technology, performance and efficiency, on the other you have character and potentially more durability. Apparently the 964 bottom end was the strongest, as they used it virtually unaltered on the GT1. I may be wrong tho'

[sb930turbo]

Lets have a few positive responses guys.....lets not turn this into a TVR- like topic!
Got to be several of you that have run your cars for some years without any problems.(I thought I would post this before any negative replies appear!)
Steve

>> Edited by sb930turbo (moderator) on Thursday 8th May 14:44

[Roadrunner]

I don't mind if anyone has had problems, as it won't put me off getting one. I was just interested, and suprised about the new GT2 niggle in Evo. You would think the engines would actually get stronger and better each time, but this may not be the case.

[williamp]

Yes, on my water cooled car the Timing belt stripped its teeth last summer.

It had only sone 137,000 miles



Viva Porsche engineering!

[Roadrunner]

Must have been one of those unlucky 'one in a thouand' models. Better luck next time.

[dontlift]

My 124,000 mile water cooled 944 went with a bang at brunter recently but a few gaskets later she was back up and running again - although no longer at her best

[ninemeister]

Other than the GT3 and GT2 engines, which are indeed based on the 964/993 bottom end, the current range of Porsche engines are all build down to a price thanks to the Japanese involvement with Porsche in the 90's. I am not a great fan of the "new" watercooled flat 6 motor, they may be easy for Porsche to assemble but they have some howlers inside from a design point of view. No doubt that Porsche will get them reliable enough (eventually) but there has been overheating problems and oil/water partying going on in them there lumps.

At the moment most of the issues are being dealt with under warranty, so you do not usually get to hear about them, which is fair enough, but what is everyone going to do when the warranty runs out? Food for thought.

[danny hoffman]

I heard the early water cooled engines often had mysterious water loss. Any porblem engines were supposedly returned to the factory complete for investigation. There were rumours that some didn't make it and ended up being sold 2nd hand.

[verysideways]

Got my 993 with 62k miles, i've put 21k miles on it in the last eight months.

Uses very little oil for a horizontally opposed design, always starts first time, runs like a swiss watch, and gets cooler the faster you go!

Clockwork.

[rich 36]

Hi VS, where have you been lately, seen little posting,
were you at Craigs Bruntingthorpe the other week?