Help Unwell Boxster.
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Baz51

Original Poster:

6 posts

187 months

Saturday 25th September 2010
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My 2000 Porsche Boxster's engine decided to expire yesterday leaving me stranded on the M20 motorway, in the pouring rain, 40miles from home.
I was traveling at a little over the speed limit (not excessively)when the oil light flashed (extremely brightly)and then glowed continuously, I immediately slowed and pulled on to the hard shoulder, having checked the oil at the weekend, I assumed that all would be well, however I carry a small can of "Mobil 1" and opened the filler cap, to be greeted with hot oil smoke, I poured the contents of the can into the engine, waited five minutes and started the engine, to my horror the engine made some dreadful noises, causing me to switch off right away and wait for the emergency road side services to take me home 5 hours later!! Upon my return I rechecked the oil level which was slightly over full, probably due to the addition of the 1lt I poured in on the motorway.
I'm no mechanic, but I believe a con-rod has broken, the car has been regularly serviced using only the best materials (by me)it has covered 80,000 miles, up until 2.30pm yesterday, was running fantastically, what could have caused this to happen?

stevieturbo

17,986 posts

271 months

Saturday 25th September 2010
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Just because there is oil in the sump, doesnt mean the pump is pumping it around.

If the oil light does come on....stop immediately. Although usually by the time the light is on, damage has already been done.

It's possible a rod has broken, but if so, it's caused by no oil the the bearings, and its subsequent damage.

It'll be a very expensive repair.

bennymg

1 posts

187 months

Saturday 25th September 2010
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That was our initial thought ( I'm baz's son ) but it runs too well, despite the horrific noise. We are thinking the scavenger pump failed and starved the engine of oil, does this sound plausable?

stevieturbo

17,986 posts

271 months

Saturday 25th September 2010
quotequote all
bennymg said:
That was our initial thought ( I'm baz's son ) but it runs too well, despite the horrific noise. We are thinking the scavenger pump failed and starved the engine of oil, does this sound plausable?
I think its quite obvious the pump failed. I can imagine it may still run well....but the more you run it, the more costly any repair will be.

bertelli_1

2,401 posts

234 months

Sunday 26th September 2010
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Failures on these engines is usually caused by the intermediate shaft bearings(IMS - google it) and it makes a right racket when it fails, before filling the oil system with metal swarf. Do not run the engine any longer although it sounds like the damage has been done already. I'm afraid, whaterver the cause, your engine is goosed.

Baz51

Original Poster:

6 posts

187 months

Monday 27th September 2010
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Bertelli 1
Many thanks for your synopsis, I confess that I would never have suspected the IMS. The car has been running without a hitch, of course you are probably correct. I may take the engine out next weekend and have rummage around to ascertain the extent of the damage, sadly I'm expecting that a replacement is on the cards, which is not going to be cheep!!!!!!!!!

CrashTD

1,788 posts

228 months

Monday 27th September 2010
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bertelli_1 said:
Failures on these engines is usually caused by the intermediate shaft bearings(IMS - google it) and it makes a right racket when it fails, before filling the oil system with metal swarf. Do not run the engine any longer although it sounds like the damage has been done already. I'm afraid, whaterver the cause, your engine is goosed.
I think porsche offer an upgrade IMS. A friend (spanner guy) was doing one recently.

Baz51

Original Poster:

6 posts

187 months

Monday 27th September 2010
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Many thanks to all who have replied, my Porsche has been my baby for many years, although run on a fiesta budget, I will get it fixed, but it will take some time. I am looking at replacement engine's, watch this space (I wonder if a 3.2 will fit!).

dom9

8,581 posts

233 months

Tuesday 28th September 2010
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Baz, get over to the Porsche forum on here and post in there...

Another Baz, from Hartech (Google them) will almost certainly read this and discuss rebuild options with you, if you post in there. This is often cheaper than a new engine, but a 2nd hand engine will almost certainly be the cheapest route (though there would be no guarantee as to how long that would last).

Autofarm also do rebuilds, if you live down south, and many guys can do an IMS upgrade (not from Porsche), though if it has expired, it is likely the engine will need a good going over and a rebuild from Baz is probably 'best'.

Alternatively, drop a more powerful engine in, if you are going the 2nd hand route, maybe?

white90

2,350 posts

208 months

Wednesday 6th October 2010
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Or as a Mate suffered snapped timing chain and £5-6k rebuild