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Hello New to forum and going paranoid.

robrac

Member
Joined
18 Nov 2019
Messages
11
Hello

I have just joined the forum to see if its just me thats going paranoid, or are there any other 997.1 owners suffering the same condition as me. Its call Enginus Tappetus. (common symptoms know as tapping and bore scoring.)

Ok,,, I have a 2006 Carrera S full service history and 80k miles.
After reading forum posts, experts notes, Mr fixxit quotes and the like, I have gone paranoid about an imminent self destruction of my baby.

I would like an opinion from the sensible and experienced members.

Its 2000 miles since full service

Slight tapping sound when cold from area of cylinder 6, and it is slightly louder when warm.
Slight smoke on starting then not really seen again.

Drain oil, sump off and its virtually spotless. Oil has no obvious debris.
Cut open oil filter and "read it" and it too is as good as spotless
Plug out of cylinder 6 and it looks oily and cruddy. Piston crown looks damp.
My borescope shows a very small amount of oil sitting in the bore.
Some scoring on the upper part (12 oclock) looks very slight but its there.

So, my question is this......... what do I do at this point?

Do I just jump in and spend an inordinately large amount of hard earned cash or ...............................

?????????????????????????
:?:
 
...it's not looking good tbh...oily plug and piston on number 6 ?

Others on here will be able to offer an experience based view...so don't panic until you have an informed opinion...
 
Personally id take the view its a high miles, high performance engine that will need a rebuild at some point. That point is probably some distance in the future, and until it actually does, continue as you are :dont know:
 
I would get the engine inspected by a professional "with extensive experience in these engines". There have been misdiagnosed cases both ways previously, so save yourself the headache and go get checked.
 
Hey bud,
Tough situation to be in.

I would certainly wait for counsel from the likes of Demort and Baz and others that have been in a similar situation.

However if I was in your shoes i would perhaps consider the following before a rebuild.

How many miles do you do per annum?
How long is each journey? is it mixed driving?
You didint mention burn rate of the oil?
What condition is your AOS in?

Would you consider renewing plugs and filters (since they are already out?) and filling with millers nano?

Then monitor the situation over the next 2k miles?
 
Also how loud is the tapping? Definite change is db when idling when warmed up?

Rising with revs?
 
Get a borescope done off someone who knows what they're on about, then decide on your next course of action from there.
 
agreed on the check and done professionally.

however my mates 997 had these symptoms and it was bore score on cylinder 6 and the tapping got louder which was eventually Piston slap due to over heating in that chamber and the piston going out of shape and tolerance.

its nothing in normal measurement terms but in a high performance engine you don't need much for things to start going amiss.

the scoring and noises will probably get worse over time.
 
For your own sanity, I'd definitely get it checked out by a reputable Porsche Indy; they should allay your fears one way or the other, and if it's bad news, they'll be able to give you a way forward with costs.

If you're anywhere near Bisley, Woking, I'd recommend a visit to Porsche specialist Eporsh, they're great guys and won't take your pants down.

If you post up your rough location, I'm sure many on here will be able to make more recommendations.

Good luck.
 
When you borescoped it did the top of any of the pistons look like this. If so this is likely to be the source of the knocking as it hits the underside of the cylinder head. If so the wear is already well advanced, allowing the piston to tilt in the cylinder. Unfortunately, it'll then be a rebuild required.
 

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robrac said:
Hello

I have just joined the forum to see if its just me thats going paranoid, or are there any other 997.1 owners suffering the same condition as me. Its call Enginus Tappetus. (common symptoms know as tapping and bore scoring.)

Ok,,, I have a 2006 Carrera S full service history and 80k miles.
After reading forum posts, experts notes, Mr fixxit quotes and the like, I have gone paranoid about an imminent self destruction of my baby.

I would like an opinion from the sensible and experienced members.

Its 2000 miles since full service

Slight tapping sound when cold from area of cylinder 6, and it is slightly louder when warm.
Slight smoke on starting then not really seen again.

Drain oil, sump off and its virtually spotless. Oil has no obvious debris.
Cut open oil filter and "read it" and it too is as good as spotless
Plug out of cylinder 6 and it looks oily and cruddy. Piston crown looks damp.
My borescope shows a very small amount of oil sitting in the bore.
Some scoring on the upper part (12 oclock) looks very slight but its there.

So, my question is this......... what do I do at this point?

Do I just jump in and spend an inordinately large amount of hard earned cash or ...............................

?????????????????????????
:?:


You don't say whether the start up smoke is from one side of the exhaust. and whether on cold only start-up.

Is your oil consumption starting to increase?


If the above aren't too bad, you can still drive the car for ages until you are ready to bite the bullet.

I ran my 996 for 12 months until the water pump went. (80k too)

This is the worst case scenario.......as others have rightly said, get a proper diagnosis by someone qualified.
 
As already said get it scoped by someone like Hartech , and maybe send some oil for analysis, Millers oils offer this service then dependant on findings decide what to do . unlike IMS borescore is gradual ,I know someone who's still driving their car regularly 2years after borescore was first diagnosed. but assuming the worst and it is scored you have a number of options
Get just the one cylinder replaced thats the cheapest option
get just the 1 bank replaced
get a full rebuild using OE parts from someone other than Hartech this may be cheaper than using Hartech.
get a full Hartech rebuild using their new style liners
get a Harlech 3.9 conversion for added grins.

But start saving a bit each month and you May well have most of the money you need before it gets so bad it has to be sorted. And remember this lets assume you spend 12k on a rebuild and you have had the car a year or moorland plan to keep it another few years at least . the rebuild will cost you no more that what you would have lost on depreciation over the same period had you brought pretty much any other marque , the 997 wont have hardly depreciated at all in the same period . So its all relative as theres no such thing as free performance car ownership . :thumb: :thumb:
 
Have a read of this review , it may be worth considering a chat with these guys as they sound like an extremly well priced set up for rebuilds etc . you may end up getting a price for a fix that doesn't give you sleepless nights.


http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=130564
 
Sanity starting to return

Thank you wise ones,

Rather ironically I am a retired engineer dealing with race engines for motorcycles.

I would not have hesitated in the past to bore a cylinder out and use a liner but reading the various posts, good and bad, I get the feeling to use liners would instantly render me liable to be flogged within an inch of my life with an old copy of exchange and mart.

Interesting about the lack of clearance of the head.

I will scope it again and will have a look at it tomorrow.
Many thanks :?:
 
Alex said:
Get a borescope done off someone who knows what they're on about, then decide on your next course of action from there.

This. Can't say enough, someone who knows what they are looking at, is essentail

Whereabouts are you? Sure we can recommend someone trusted.....

Also, have to ask how much oil you use? Mine is doing about 1200 miles a litre, which is some, but nowhere near to much, and is on 87k miles. Borescope came back clean as a whistle recently, turned out that my new AOS was faulty, so we had another put in......

A good Indy is essential.
 

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