mfinanthony

I know this can be a personal question, and some may not want to show yours. But I'm curious on what the average 964 looks from the underside of the engine. I've seen so many that are brownish or blackened from oil leaks, that I'm wondering how common it is to see a mess down there. The last one I looked at in person with the engine tray off didn't look so great and actually turned me off from the car. There was so much oil that it caked most of the underside making just about everything black or brown. Is searching for a clean engine like searching for a unicorn?

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Frankly, that one looks OK,.... I've seen FAR FAR worse on cars with the undertray still intact.

The only "distraction" for some folks might be the cosmoline, but to me, I see a relatively clean engine in that pic. While not easy, that stuff comes off for a person living where the roads are not salted in winter.

Laker

When I got my 964, the PO's mechanic said it was the driest 964 he had seen. I took one look with the under tray off and decided that mechanic was full of sh*t, it was covered in oil. Or so I thought. Turned out to be cosmoline applied at the factory as a rust preventive (not my picture)

mfinanthony

Thanks for the responses guys!

Laker / Steve - are all engines from the factory applied with cosmoline? I'm curious to see how one looks fresh off the production line engine looked. I've seen some with them being very clean looking but they just may be fresh re-installs after removing and replacing the engine.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Every one I ever saw here from 1989-on had a liberal coating of cosmoline on it. This stuff was applied as the cars were prepped for shipping overseas.

Normally, when the engine is rebuilt, that stuff is removing during the engine cleaning process.

Laker

Mine before and after.....

Vandit

This is probably the best example you're going to find.

600 mi '91 C2 Cab courtesy of AP Car Design





More pics and text (in German) here
http://apcardesign.server.hi-tech-me...kt_072011.html

mfinanthony

Thanks for the comparison pictures. The pics Vandit provide explain why it dirt and grime stick to the underside of the engine. The material looks very rough and almost sponge like. Laker - great job cleaning it up. Was that just a good amount of chemicals and elbow grease?

Vandit

The cosmoline is pretty durable and requires lots of scrubbing to knock off, but, surprisingly, WD40 does a great job of loosening up.

Laker

Purple Power degreaser, scrub, HOT water from this garden hose wand (left nozzle). brake cleaner, scrub, HOT water
<Repeat 4x>

IIRC the transmission (and If you have a C4, the front diff), look the same.

The utility sink in my basement has hot water and a garden hose thread at the tip of the faucet.


I did not know that.....thanks for the tip!

911Jetta

[QUOTE=Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems;9944683]Every one I ever saw here from 1989-on had a liberal coating of cosmoline on it. This stuff was applied as the cars were prepped for shipping overseas...QUOTE]

Here are some pictures of a 20+ year old car with 100 miles on the odometer...





of course it still had the engine tray installed...