itorque

If you make it to 90Km the motor will probably go on like the energizer bunny. For the 03 years there was an inermediate shaft problem that shows up around 22Km which is what happened on this post and with my motor. Almost exactly 22,000 miles the motor sounded like ball bearings shaking in a coffee can.

cdodkin

Unfortunately mileage is no guarantee.

Example - http://glenn986s.zoomshare.com/0.html

92,000 miles, same old cracked cylinder head issue from the early M96 block, bank 1-3 fails due to stress fracture/quality control issues.

It's a lottery on pre-01 engines

manny_g

For all you knowlegable guys: What usually goes wrong with these engines that makes them fail? Do the internal parts fail or it is something worse. Have the actual blocks on these engines cracked before?

What makes the engines in the TT or GT3 so bullet proof?

Manny.

newport996

Well its not like they are a weak engine.....what makes them fail is on early ones, the oil channels and coolant channels run next to each othern insode the engine block, the coolant over time would corrode the walls and then inside the block, oil and coolant would mix together....thats one failure. I think that one was resolved.....

cdodkin

Manny,

check the two magazine articles linked to from this page:

http://www.autofarm.co.uk/engines/water_cooled/press

It's poor design and quality control on pre 01 M96 engines I'm afraid

manny_g

Thanks, will read.

Irksome

Thanks, cdodkin, that was a great read. Of course, now I want to get my engine big bored to 4.0 liters...

manny_g

cdodkin: Great articles. Provided a good insight to the M96 engine and what can happen. For guys wanting to beef-up their engines with more HP, Autofarm provides a good alternative and at the same time strenghtens the block dramatically.

jedier

I guess that I'm joining the fray.
I just picked up my car from the shop today after a 6-week "inpatient stay" to replace the engine following a coolant/oil contamination situation (I was impatient to say the least). The engine had 68k miles when it failed.
After reading all your comments, I now have to figure out if I will benefit from a 2-year engine warranty or not. The engine was replaced under my extended warranty (3rd party).
From a previous post on this thread, I'm taking that a break-in period is needed (~1000-2000 miles), right?

rleeq

I paid just shy of $12,000 for "new remanufactured” engine including removal of radiators and coolant lines for flushing due to the oil/coolant intermix issue that has effected 5.667% of my99 996 car produced on Mondays. That includes a 10% discount for being a PCA member.

rleeq

Check out the following thread for some interesting points of view. I particularly thought the link on #21was compelling.
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/324510-engine-break-in.html

jedier

Thanks Rleeq!