Introduction
09-05-2014, 04:43 PM
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Introduction
Hi everyone, I've been lurking for about 2 months. Just bought a 2002 Carrera Coupe last month (Arctic Silver), and I'm loving every second of it. Man it's a little daunting coming on here and reading some horror stories but I've learned a lot too. Very happy to be here and learn from all of you as well as share in the joys of being a 911 owner.
I do have some concerns about my car. The engine ticks, and a fellow PCA member offered to put it up on his lift for me and listen to it with a mechanics stethoscope. Found out the noise is most noticable on passenger side right where the header goes to the head (cylinder 1 I believe? front right side). From what I've read and heard from others, maybe a sticky lifter? Most of the time the clicking is NOT present on a cold start in the morning, but warming up slightly you hear it at idle, as well as accelerating with the revs in 1st and 2nd gear. Previous owner also noticed it in the 3 years he owned it. I'm not losing sleep over it because he's put in over 30,000 miles with no change in the noise just fine. He also had the master mechanic at the dealership listen to it and he said "normal" to have valve noise especially considering the age. That being said it's still annoying and hard not to think about trying to fix. It uses oil, I've added almost 2 quarts in about 2,000 miles. Note: I'm using M1 15-50 but friend in the club suggested using Rotella T6 5-40 and *perhaps* BG MOA with it and see if that quiets it down. There's no loss of power, and gas mileage is great.
Other things to note, the water pump to my knowledge has never been replaced. The AOS I am going to replace with the help of the previous owner (lots of smoke at start occasionally, other times non-existent). Any way that could be connected to engine ticking? I've noticed little black flecks and soot on the rear bumper around the left exhaust pipe.
Thanks for your help and time, cheers to 996.
I do have some concerns about my car. The engine ticks, and a fellow PCA member offered to put it up on his lift for me and listen to it with a mechanics stethoscope. Found out the noise is most noticable on passenger side right where the header goes to the head (cylinder 1 I believe? front right side). From what I've read and heard from others, maybe a sticky lifter? Most of the time the clicking is NOT present on a cold start in the morning, but warming up slightly you hear it at idle, as well as accelerating with the revs in 1st and 2nd gear. Previous owner also noticed it in the 3 years he owned it. I'm not losing sleep over it because he's put in over 30,000 miles with no change in the noise just fine. He also had the master mechanic at the dealership listen to it and he said "normal" to have valve noise especially considering the age. That being said it's still annoying and hard not to think about trying to fix. It uses oil, I've added almost 2 quarts in about 2,000 miles. Note: I'm using M1 15-50 but friend in the club suggested using Rotella T6 5-40 and *perhaps* BG MOA with it and see if that quiets it down. There's no loss of power, and gas mileage is great.
Other things to note, the water pump to my knowledge has never been replaced. The AOS I am going to replace with the help of the previous owner (lots of smoke at start occasionally, other times non-existent). Any way that could be connected to engine ticking? I've noticed little black flecks and soot on the rear bumper around the left exhaust pipe.
Thanks for your help and time, cheers to 996.
Last edited by Isaac747; 09-05-2014 at 05:26 PM.
09-05-2014, 05:37 PM
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Hi everyone, I've been lurking for about 2 months. Just bought a 2002 Carrera Coupe last month (Arctic Silver), and I'm loving every second of it. Man it's a little daunting coming on here and reading some horror stories but I've learned a lot too. Very happy to be here and learn from all of you as well as share in the joys of being a 911 owner.
I do have some concerns about my car. The engine ticks, and a fellow PCA member offered to put it up on his lift for me and listen to it with a mechanics stethoscope. Found out the noise is most noticable on passenger side right where the header goes to the head (cylinder 1 I believe? front right side). From what I've read and heard from others, maybe a sticky lifter? Most of the time the clicking is NOT present on a cold start in the morning, but warming up slightly you hear it at idle, as well as accelerating with the revs in 1st and 2nd gear. Previous owner also noticed it in the 3 years he owned it. I'm not losing sleep over it because he's put in over 30,000 miles with no change in the noise just fine. He also had the master mechanic at the dealership listen to it and he said "normal" to have valve noise especially considering the age. That being said it's still annoying and hard not to think about trying to fix. It uses oil, I've added almost 2 quarts in about 2,000 miles. Note: I'm using M1 15-50 but friend in the club suggested using Rotella T6 5-40 and *perhaps* BG MOA with it and see if that quiets it down. There's no loss of power, and gas mileage is great.
Other things to note, the water pump to my knowledge has never been replaced. The AOS I am going to replace with the help of the previous owner (lots of smoke at start occasionally, other times non-existent). Any way that could be connected to engine ticking? I've noticed little black flecks and soot on the rear bumper around the left exhaust pipe.
Thanks for your help and time, cheers to 996.
I do have some concerns about my car. The engine ticks, and a fellow PCA member offered to put it up on his lift for me and listen to it with a mechanics stethoscope. Found out the noise is most noticable on passenger side right where the header goes to the head (cylinder 1 I believe? front right side). From what I've read and heard from others, maybe a sticky lifter? Most of the time the clicking is NOT present on a cold start in the morning, but warming up slightly you hear it at idle, as well as accelerating with the revs in 1st and 2nd gear. Previous owner also noticed it in the 3 years he owned it. I'm not losing sleep over it because he's put in over 30,000 miles with no change in the noise just fine. He also had the master mechanic at the dealership listen to it and he said "normal" to have valve noise especially considering the age. That being said it's still annoying and hard not to think about trying to fix. It uses oil, I've added almost 2 quarts in about 2,000 miles. Note: I'm using M1 15-50 but friend in the club suggested using Rotella T6 5-40 and *perhaps* BG MOA with it and see if that quiets it down. There's no loss of power, and gas mileage is great.
Other things to note, the water pump to my knowledge has never been replaced. The AOS I am going to replace with the help of the previous owner (lots of smoke at start occasionally, other times non-existent). Any way that could be connected to engine ticking? I've noticed little black flecks and soot on the rear bumper around the left exhaust pipe.
Thanks for your help and time, cheers to 996.
However, you now own a 911 that is burning through quite a bit of oil, has a ticking engine and a smoking AOS.
I hope I'm wrong, but this is a horror story in the making...
09-05-2014, 05:44 PM
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I would be more worried, but I feel like if it was catastrophic, it would be in a lot worse condition than it appears to be. As to the AOS, I'm not driving down the road in a cloud of smoke. And correct me if I'm wrong but if I'm seeing a completely failed lifter that could cause damage, I'd be seeing more signs than a simple tick. Could just be an exhaust leak?
09-05-2014, 05:57 PM
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I would be more worried, but I feel like if it was catastrophic, it would be in a lot worse condition than it appears to be. As to the AOS, I'm not driving down the road in a cloud of smoke. And correct me if I'm wrong but if I'm seeing a completely failed lifter that could cause damage, I'd be seeing more signs than a simple tick. Could just be an exhaust leak?
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09-05-2014, 05:58 PM
#8
Replace the AOS asap. And keep an eye on the waterpump, if you think it might be weeping/leaking replace that as well. If it is the original, it's time anyway.
Change the oil and filter and cut the old filter apart and check that out for metal bits. Then refill the oil with a weight that is appropriate and recommended, i.e. 0W40, if for nothing else but to establish a baseline usage that can be compared to others over time. A quart every 1000 miles is a lot but considered within spec by some mfg's (not sure about Porsche). My '02 uses none or at least not a measurable amount, I think most here see the same (i.e. no or next to no usage). I see no reason why someone in Kansas should be using a 15W50 oil in a stock 996 engine.
And welcome, post some pics of the car!
Change the oil and filter and cut the old filter apart and check that out for metal bits. Then refill the oil with a weight that is appropriate and recommended, i.e. 0W40, if for nothing else but to establish a baseline usage that can be compared to others over time. A quart every 1000 miles is a lot but considered within spec by some mfg's (not sure about Porsche). My '02 uses none or at least not a measurable amount, I think most here see the same (i.e. no or next to no usage). I see no reason why someone in Kansas should be using a 15W50 oil in a stock 996 engine.
And welcome, post some pics of the car!
09-05-2014, 06:06 PM
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PPI was done at the dealership and other than replacement of rear tires next spring as well as rear brake pads, they said it's in great condition and said they would expect many more thousands of miles on the car no problem.
Did an oil change with the seller before I even pulled the trigger, and the filter was very clean. Again going to do another oil change here with Rotella T6 5-40 and we'll see if that makes a difference, and I'll be cutting open that filter again too. Agreed about that thick of oil for Kansas especially considering it's starting to cool off those 100+ temps now.
Replace the AOS asap. And keep an eye on the waterpump, if you think it might be weeping/leaking replace that as well. If it is the original, it's time anyway.
Change the oil and filter and cut the old filter apart and check that out for metal bits. Then refill the oil with a weight that is appropriate and recommended, i.e. 0W40, if for nothing else but to establish a baseline usage that can be compared to others over time. A quart every 1000 miles is a lot but considered within spec by some mfg's (not sure about Porsche). My '02 uses none or at least not a measurable amount, I think most here see the same (i.e. no or next to no usage). I see no reason why someone in Kansas should be using a 15W50 oil in a stock 996 engine.
And welcome, post some pics of the car!
Change the oil and filter and cut the old filter apart and check that out for metal bits. Then refill the oil with a weight that is appropriate and recommended, i.e. 0W40, if for nothing else but to establish a baseline usage that can be compared to others over time. A quart every 1000 miles is a lot but considered within spec by some mfg's (not sure about Porsche). My '02 uses none or at least not a measurable amount, I think most here see the same (i.e. no or next to no usage). I see no reason why someone in Kansas should be using a 15W50 oil in a stock 996 engine.
And welcome, post some pics of the car!
09-05-2014, 06:17 PM
#10
Burning Brakes
Noise & oil consumption is not a good mix. 2 quarts in 2k miles is pretty severe if you're not leaking anywhere.
It sounds like it could possibly be a scored cylinder. I *think* that is much more common than bad lifters. I would borescope the cylinders on that side. Then you'll know for sure.
You can either have a shop do it or buy one:
http://www.harborfreight.com/digital...era-67979.html
It sounds like it could possibly be a scored cylinder. I *think* that is much more common than bad lifters. I would borescope the cylinders on that side. Then you'll know for sure.
You can either have a shop do it or buy one:
http://www.harborfreight.com/digital...era-67979.html
09-05-2014, 06:45 PM
#13
Race Director
An oil leak / seep for a 15-year-old car isn't a big deal. Mine had one when I got it - it needed a cam cover reseal. More important than having a leak is knowing what's leaking (AOS in your case) and being able to afford the repair (because you need to replace it, based on the smoking at start comment). I certainly don't rate the AOS as a catastrophic repair, but it would be in the "now" column on my "now/soon/someday" maintenance chart.
I can't opine about burning a quart of oil per thousand miles, as my car does not burn an appreciable amount of oil between changes. That seems like a lot, given that these cars are supposed to burn some oil during break-in and less thereafter. I would expect that the stuff on the bumper is related to the oil consumption. In addition to being symptomatic of wear or some other issue, running that much oil through the catalytic converters is going to reduce their lifespan. Since a faulty AOS is known to result in excess oil winding up in the throttle body, and your AOS is already on the chopping block, perhaps fixing one will help with the other.
I'd definitely work to get a more reliable diagnosis for the ticking beyond the previous owner's hearsay that a mechanic stated that it was normal valve noise. That's not to say that it ISN'T just normal valve noise - that's just the kind of thing I want to hear directly from the mechanic instead of taking a third party's word for it.
None of this is to suggest that your car's a "horror story" - when I first acquire any used car, the first job is to try to learn everything you can about its condition and put together a maintenance schedule.
Well, maybe the FIRST job is to go tear around town in the 911 for a while...
Enjoy the car, good luck tracking down any gremlins, and welcome to the forum.
I can't opine about burning a quart of oil per thousand miles, as my car does not burn an appreciable amount of oil between changes. That seems like a lot, given that these cars are supposed to burn some oil during break-in and less thereafter. I would expect that the stuff on the bumper is related to the oil consumption. In addition to being symptomatic of wear or some other issue, running that much oil through the catalytic converters is going to reduce their lifespan. Since a faulty AOS is known to result in excess oil winding up in the throttle body, and your AOS is already on the chopping block, perhaps fixing one will help with the other.
I'd definitely work to get a more reliable diagnosis for the ticking beyond the previous owner's hearsay that a mechanic stated that it was normal valve noise. That's not to say that it ISN'T just normal valve noise - that's just the kind of thing I want to hear directly from the mechanic instead of taking a third party's word for it.
None of this is to suggest that your car's a "horror story" - when I first acquire any used car, the first job is to try to learn everything you can about its condition and put together a maintenance schedule.
Well, maybe the FIRST job is to go tear around town in the 911 for a while...
Enjoy the car, good luck tracking down any gremlins, and welcome to the forum.
09-05-2014, 07:18 PM
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I hope they are right...but it looks like they missed a few things. Were you aware of the engine tick, oil consumption and AOS issue prior to purchase?
09-06-2014, 01:48 PM
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Thanks for the good info I do plan on doing the aos as soon as I can. I'll do the oil change next weekend and let you know how it turns out