Joy, and unusual sound in '88 Coupe
07-08-2003, 05:59 PM
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Joy, and unusual sound in '88 Coupe
Hi everyone,
I am finally the deliriously proud owner of a 1988 all stock, triple black 911 Coupe! I found the car through the classifieds on the PCA site, and conducted the entire deal from Germany. I admit to a bit of panic when I wired $22,000 to a guy I had never seen, but all turned out alright--in fact better. He picked me up with the car at the airport in NC, having just waxed and detailed the car. It is in incredible condition--spotless interior, all leather seats that made it easy to drive for eight hours twice in a row, deep, shiny black paint, perfect rims and tires, gleaming dashboard. And that's just the interior. After the previous owner fed me, gave me detailed directions, put on the protective front and mirror covers and signed the title over to me, I drove for the first eight hours stopping only once for gas. The engine never got hotter than just above the first quartile of the temp indicator, the oil pressure was at or above 4, the faster I went the more the car seemed to be squatting on the road--just an exhilarating experience. I drove through extreme weather--heavy rains in the Smokey Mountains one day, a standstill traffic congestion on a Chicago freeway in 90 degree weather the next--without ever seeing anything unusual on the gauges.
There are two things that (mildly) preoccupy me. When I drive slowly, I hear a deep groaning sound, something like a drawn out ooooooo. I thought it was the clutch, but it occurs also when I'm just rolling without touching the clutch. I first thought it came from the front, but now am pretty sure it's in the back. Only at low rpms (or so I think-it might be buried in the general flat-six symphony without me hearing it), as though something isn't properly lubricated. Of course it might just me a complaint that I'm going too slowly?
A couple of days ago, I panicked. I was driving in the city, when suddenly the oil indicator dropped into the red, and stayed there for a little while. I pulled over, checked the engine oil, and found it a little low on the dip stick (checked it according to manual's specs). I poured in a quart of oil (which the previous owner, who doesn't like synthetic, for some reason, had given me). Now the oil indicator is always in the upper fourth of the gauge, sometimes quite high up. I don't smell oil, and the car doesn't lose oil (did I mention that after each of the two days of eight hour driving the car did not lose a single drop of oil?). Am I o.k. or do I need to flush out the system?
In any case, this by far the best fun I had driving a car. There are faster cars (which everybody seems to want to show you at the stop light), and I'm sure the are more economical cars, but nothing just this well thought out and put together.
Beethoven
'88 911 Coupe
I am finally the deliriously proud owner of a 1988 all stock, triple black 911 Coupe! I found the car through the classifieds on the PCA site, and conducted the entire deal from Germany. I admit to a bit of panic when I wired $22,000 to a guy I had never seen, but all turned out alright--in fact better. He picked me up with the car at the airport in NC, having just waxed and detailed the car. It is in incredible condition--spotless interior, all leather seats that made it easy to drive for eight hours twice in a row, deep, shiny black paint, perfect rims and tires, gleaming dashboard. And that's just the interior. After the previous owner fed me, gave me detailed directions, put on the protective front and mirror covers and signed the title over to me, I drove for the first eight hours stopping only once for gas. The engine never got hotter than just above the first quartile of the temp indicator, the oil pressure was at or above 4, the faster I went the more the car seemed to be squatting on the road--just an exhilarating experience. I drove through extreme weather--heavy rains in the Smokey Mountains one day, a standstill traffic congestion on a Chicago freeway in 90 degree weather the next--without ever seeing anything unusual on the gauges.
There are two things that (mildly) preoccupy me. When I drive slowly, I hear a deep groaning sound, something like a drawn out ooooooo. I thought it was the clutch, but it occurs also when I'm just rolling without touching the clutch. I first thought it came from the front, but now am pretty sure it's in the back. Only at low rpms (or so I think-it might be buried in the general flat-six symphony without me hearing it), as though something isn't properly lubricated. Of course it might just me a complaint that I'm going too slowly?
A couple of days ago, I panicked. I was driving in the city, when suddenly the oil indicator dropped into the red, and stayed there for a little while. I pulled over, checked the engine oil, and found it a little low on the dip stick (checked it according to manual's specs). I poured in a quart of oil (which the previous owner, who doesn't like synthetic, for some reason, had given me). Now the oil indicator is always in the upper fourth of the gauge, sometimes quite high up. I don't smell oil, and the car doesn't lose oil (did I mention that after each of the two days of eight hour driving the car did not lose a single drop of oil?). Am I o.k. or do I need to flush out the system?
In any case, this by far the best fun I had driving a car. There are faster cars (which everybody seems to want to show you at the stop light), and I'm sure the are more economical cars, but nothing just this well thought out and put together.
Beethoven
'88 911 Coupe
07-08-2003, 06:26 PM
#2
Race Car
The hum could be from anything from a bad wheel bearing to something in the differential to loud tires. Yokohama A032R's, for example, are so loud they have new users checking their bearings repeatedly.
Always check the oil with the motor running, on a flat surface, after the car has warmed up for at least 15 minutes or so. 'Full' is midway between the two marks on the dipstick. The in-car gauge measures the level inside the tank. Under heavy acceleration, or on an incline, it will give totally inaccurate readings. Only trust it when you're idling on a flat surface, after the car is up to temperature, and -- even then -- trust the dipstick more.
Overfilling the oil is a common newbie mistake that results in a lot of smoke, and a lot of oil clean-up from the airbox.
Congratulations on the new 911!
Always check the oil with the motor running, on a flat surface, after the car has warmed up for at least 15 minutes or so. 'Full' is midway between the two marks on the dipstick. The in-car gauge measures the level inside the tank. Under heavy acceleration, or on an incline, it will give totally inaccurate readings. Only trust it when you're idling on a flat surface, after the car is up to temperature, and -- even then -- trust the dipstick more.
Overfilling the oil is a common newbie mistake that results in a lot of smoke, and a lot of oil clean-up from the airbox.
Congratulations on the new 911!
07-08-2003, 07:19 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
Jack said it all - the guage is worth about the sum of its parts and the groaning could be anything - including completely normal. Give it a few days to learn all the different sounds the car makes before you start to panic!
Welcome to the club, I like your taste. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> Mine is black/black too.
Welcome to the club, I like your taste. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> Mine is black/black too.
07-09-2003, 05:33 AM
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You'll probably find that the reason the previous owner didn't like synthetic is linked to the fact that your car doesn't burn oil. My '85 Carrera doesn't burn oil either, and I never use synthetic or semi. Synthetic oils tend to run thinner and may well get past the rings easier. Many 911 owners think it's acceptable to burn a litre of oil every thousand miles. I don't have to top mine up between changes. It would be interesting to see what oil the 'oil burners' amongst us are using.
07-09-2003, 10:47 AM
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Congratulations. Enjoy!!!
As for the sound, I notice a bit of a groan from my G50 when it is under load at lower RPM. Keep it above 4000 and it magically disappears (or the engine drowns it out). Either way it is way more fun that way. No worries.
As for the sound, I notice a bit of a groan from my G50 when it is under load at lower RPM. Keep it above 4000 and it magically disappears (or the engine drowns it out). Either way it is way more fun that way. No worries.
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07-09-2003, 10:49 AM
#8
Instructor
"When I drive slowly, I hear a deep groaning sound, something like a drawn out ooooooo."
Mine was a little more harmonic - but turned out to be a sticking brake caliper. If it goes away when you put the brakes on - that's what it might be...
Mine was a little more harmonic - but turned out to be a sticking brake caliper. If it goes away when you put the brakes on - that's what it might be...
07-09-2003, 12:29 PM
#9
On oil -
only put 1 (one) quart in only when then oil hits the low mark on the dipstick, no sooner than that or later. Save yourself a big mess and resist the urge to top it off. Essentially you are running the car one quart low all the time - that's how you avoid overfilling it. Check oil with engine fully warmed up, idling on level ground as mentioned before.
the oil guage should never be trusted, and it doesn't read very precisely. 15/40 or 20/50 oil. Stay away from synthetic...
rjp
only put 1 (one) quart in only when then oil hits the low mark on the dipstick, no sooner than that or later. Save yourself a big mess and resist the urge to top it off. Essentially you are running the car one quart low all the time - that's how you avoid overfilling it. Check oil with engine fully warmed up, idling on level ground as mentioned before.
the oil guage should never be trusted, and it doesn't read very precisely. 15/40 or 20/50 oil. Stay away from synthetic...
rjp
07-09-2003, 03:22 PM
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Not sure about the 3.2 engine, but the owner's manual for my '78 SC actually states that the oil consumption is normal and expected, and will increase upon "spirited driving". I seem to remeber numbers of a half to full quart every several thousand miles. I don't remember the exact words, but will check when I get home. Not sure what the aversion to synthetic is amoungst some of you all, other than cost. The benefits seem to outweigh the cost disadvantage, especially if it is goign to be tracked/driven hard in hot climates.
07-09-2003, 07:10 PM
#11
Burning Brakes
Switching to a synthetic will likely cause leaks to 'appear' but I use it simply because I feel the engine is better protected than it would be with a conventional oil.
PS: Running synthetic, I lose about 3/4 - 1 quart of oil in 3,000 miles. Pretty damn good for an engine with 100,000 miles that spends 50% of its time past 4500 RPM.
They just dont build em like this anymore. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
PS: Running synthetic, I lose about 3/4 - 1 quart of oil in 3,000 miles. Pretty damn good for an engine with 100,000 miles that spends 50% of its time past 4500 RPM.
They just dont build em like this anymore. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
07-10-2003, 01:38 AM
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I too had a great memorable long ride home when I bought my 88 targa three years ago. For what its worth, I am now at 81500 miles and use Mobile 1 5/30 and change every 4 to 5000 miles. It does not use / leak any oil or smoke at start up. I average about 12,000 miles / year and go through a set of tires about every 18 to 20,000 miles. I do make it a point to not push it until the engine is warmed up - then I tell my wife (if she's with me at the time)to hold on......
Enjoy the ride
Enjoy the ride
07-10-2003, 01:42 AM
#13
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by 78Targa:
<strong> other than cost. The benefits seem to outweigh the cost disadvantage, especially if it is goign to be tracked/driven hard in hot climates.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Not the cost, but Synthetic has been known to cause leaks in unrebuilt motors. Guess that makes is a crapshoot on whether or not you're gonna leak. These motors will go over 200k on dino, I'm one of them...
Rebuilt motor with new seals would be fair game though.
<strong> other than cost. The benefits seem to outweigh the cost disadvantage, especially if it is goign to be tracked/driven hard in hot climates.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Not the cost, but Synthetic has been known to cause leaks in unrebuilt motors. Guess that makes is a crapshoot on whether or not you're gonna leak. These motors will go over 200k on dino, I'm one of them...
Rebuilt motor with new seals would be fair game though.
07-10-2003, 01:47 AM
#14
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Biotron:
<strong>For what its worth, I am now at 81500 miles and use Mobile 1 5/30 and change every 4 to 5000 miles. It does not use / leak any oil or smoke at start up. I average about 12,000 miles / year and go through a set of tires about every 18 to 20,000 miles. I do make it a point to not push it until the engine is warmed up - then I tell my wife (if she's with me at the time)to hold on......
Enjoy the ride</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">5/30 Mobile 1? is that a misprint? Isn't that pretty light esp. in CA?
rjp
<strong>For what its worth, I am now at 81500 miles and use Mobile 1 5/30 and change every 4 to 5000 miles. It does not use / leak any oil or smoke at start up. I average about 12,000 miles / year and go through a set of tires about every 18 to 20,000 miles. I do make it a point to not push it until the engine is warmed up - then I tell my wife (if she's with me at the time)to hold on......
Enjoy the ride</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">5/30 Mobile 1? is that a misprint? Isn't that pretty light esp. in CA?
rjp
07-10-2003, 02:48 AM
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Thanks Randy, It is 10/30. Been a long day.... I guess I feel pretty fortunate to have come accross a great running car without the "normal" oil issues associated with 911's especially since I drive it like I stole it......