996 GT3 spoiler warning & engine filter housing check.
Discussion
While the independents are trying to assess which of the problems affecting these cars are common weak spots and which are just "one offs" - to enable them to predict and remedy typical problems in the future - we have just come accross a couple of interesting problems that may be linked.
We check the oil filter housing for debris every time we change the oil and if metal pieces are seen - prise apart slightly the outer vanes of the old filter and see if there are any particles sat in there as well. Although very small fine particles are just wear and tear - we have seen larger bronze particles that later resulted in big end failure on one car and now largish metal bits that look like parts of the intermediate shaft bearing (a not uncommon failure) on another car (both when they came in here for the first time). However there are no other signs of a problem and the customer therefore has 2 choices - strip the engine now while it is running OK (huge cost possibly not neccessary) and investigate or wait to see what happens (if anything) - the latter of which he has understandably has chosen.
However this car is a 996 tip fitted with a GT3 front spoiler that hadn't had the central air intake hole removed - so completely blocking off air flow to the central gearbox cooling radiator (which is only fitted to the tiptronic). Furthermore the air con was not working so no one had bothered to clean out the debris blocking the air con condensers (like radiators) that sit just in front of the main engine radiators on each side - so blocking air flow to them somewhat.
The combined result of this was the engine running too hot (in this weather - probably would be OK in cooler weather).
Now the link between the two observations - for some reason (lost to me) - the intermediate shaft bearing chosen has shields/seals fitted on each side (grease filled new) so does not run with cooled oil flowing through and around it so the oil trapped inside the bearing is not refreshed quickly and not cooled - so higher oil temperatures and degredation may well affect it's life and performance.
If so - and if there are other tiptronics with GT3 spoilers similarly without the front central air intake cut out - then they may be the ones that experience premature intermediate shaft failure - only time will tell.
It's therefore worth checking out your car if GT3 kitted - with tiptronic gearbox.
Baz Hartech.
We check the oil filter housing for debris every time we change the oil and if metal pieces are seen - prise apart slightly the outer vanes of the old filter and see if there are any particles sat in there as well. Although very small fine particles are just wear and tear - we have seen larger bronze particles that later resulted in big end failure on one car and now largish metal bits that look like parts of the intermediate shaft bearing (a not uncommon failure) on another car (both when they came in here for the first time). However there are no other signs of a problem and the customer therefore has 2 choices - strip the engine now while it is running OK (huge cost possibly not neccessary) and investigate or wait to see what happens (if anything) - the latter of which he has understandably has chosen.
However this car is a 996 tip fitted with a GT3 front spoiler that hadn't had the central air intake hole removed - so completely blocking off air flow to the central gearbox cooling radiator (which is only fitted to the tiptronic). Furthermore the air con was not working so no one had bothered to clean out the debris blocking the air con condensers (like radiators) that sit just in front of the main engine radiators on each side - so blocking air flow to them somewhat.
The combined result of this was the engine running too hot (in this weather - probably would be OK in cooler weather).
Now the link between the two observations - for some reason (lost to me) - the intermediate shaft bearing chosen has shields/seals fitted on each side (grease filled new) so does not run with cooled oil flowing through and around it so the oil trapped inside the bearing is not refreshed quickly and not cooled - so higher oil temperatures and degredation may well affect it's life and performance.
If so - and if there are other tiptronics with GT3 spoilers similarly without the front central air intake cut out - then they may be the ones that experience premature intermediate shaft failure - only time will tell.
It's therefore worth checking out your car if GT3 kitted - with tiptronic gearbox.
Baz Hartech.
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