Boxster Problem

[Thorny]

A colleague of mine broke down in his Boxster at the weekend. Had a gradual loss of power on the motorway, pulled over and it wouldn't re-start. Then saw oil leaking from under the car. On arrival home on the truck the bed was covered in oil.

Any ideas on what this may be?! Is it the RMS?

Edited by Thorny on Monday 2nd July 11:18

[noumenon]

RMS is normally a gradual leak.

Did the engine turn over at all when he tried to restart?

I'm assuming it's out of warranty. If so, best to get it to a specialist before getting too excited about the 10 things it might be.

[Thorny]

Not out of warranty - only 2 yrs old and bought a few months ago from OPC Chiswick...

I think it was completely dead so did not turnover on re-start no. On the way back to stealer now but was trying to give him a heads-up...

[noumenon]

Sounds rather like no oil caused the engine to seize. Could be anything that caused the leak, but likely to be academic compared to the cost of replacing the whole engine! Glad it's under warranty!

Edited by noumenon on Monday 2nd July 11:47

[Vesuvius 996]

noumenon said:

Sounds rather like no oil caused the engine to seize. Could be anything that caused the leak, but likely to be academic compared to the cost of replacing the whole engine! Glad it's under warranty!

Edited by noumenon on Monday 2nd July 11:47

Hmm. Wait until they tell him it's not covered as he drive it with no oil in it.

Did the oil warning light come on? What did the oil pressure gauge say?

[Vr6-er]

err This is exactley what happened to me - terminal engine failure on a 2002 S. It was suggested as an intermediate shaft failure.

[Thorny]

Many thanks for replies - will pass them on...

Not sure about warning light - he ahs now gone home to supervise delivery to OPC.

[fastfreddy]

If it is a terminal failure, don't forget to post the result here:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

[hartech]

Intermediate shaft bearing - can be repaired without needing a new engine.

Baz

[Thorny]

thanks Baz, will get back to you tomorrow with OPC's verdict!

[Thorny]

Update from OPC, They are ordering a new engine from germany and it will be fitted next week!!

The OPC mentioned something about an intermediary bearing and the engine having no compression?

[Vesuvius 996]

Thorny said:

Update from OPC, They are ordering a new engine from germany and it will be fitted next week!!

The OPC mentioned something about an intermediary bearing and the engine having no compression?

Result.

[Geneve]

On older cars Porsche now tend to carry out a repair, on newer ones they tend to replace the engine.

[fastfreddy]

fastfreddy said:

If it is a terminal failure, don't forget to post the result here:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

Cough!

[cardigankid]

Buy it new. Observe the running in instructions. Have it serviced by capable people and don't stint on the cost. Don't use it for commuting. Don't hammer it cold. Use it for good long fast runs. Then you won't have a problem. Or am I wrong

Good on Porsche though for changing the engine without a quibble.

[Dr S]

cardigankid said:

Buy it new. Observe the running in instructions. Have it serviced by capable people and don't stint on the cost. Don't use it for commuting. Don't hammer it cold. Use it for good long fast runs. Then you won't have a problem. Or am I wrong

Good on Porsche though for changing the engine without a quibble.

Well, I use and already have used my Porkers also for commutes. What a day would that be where there wasn't this lurvely flat six howl to take me to work?

[Thorny]

fastfreddy said:

fastfreddy said:

If it is a terminal failure, don't forget to post the result here:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

Cough!

Sorry - will do it now!

[DanH]

cardigankid said:

Buy it new. Observe the running in instructions. Have it serviced by capable people and don't stint on the cost. Don't use it for commuting. Don't hammer it cold. Use it for good long fast runs. Then you won't have a problem. Or am I wrong

By that logic we could all be driving TVRs...

[GreigM]

cardigankid said:

Buy it new. Observe the running in instructions. Have it serviced by capable people and don't stint on the cost. Don't use it for commuting. Don't hammer it cold. Use it for good long fast runs. Then you won't have a problem. Or am I wrong

Good on Porsche though for changing the engine without a quibble.

I bought a boxster brand new, ran it in meticulously, serviced by opc at specified intervals, never over 4000 rpm for first 10 mins, engine blew @14 months old, 16,000 miles. Next time I'll thrash it out of the wrapper.

[onomatopoeia]

cardigankid said:

Buy it new. Observe the running in instructions. Have it serviced by capable people and don't stint on the cost. Don't use it for commuting. Don't hammer it cold. Use it for good long fast runs. Then you won't have a problem. Or am I wrong

While I do the other things (who wouldn't?), if I couldn't use mine for commuting I wouldn't own it. It was bought as a car I can and will use every day, whether to get me to work or to go for a blat.

I have other vehicles, but they are for motorsport, not for every day use.