JimB

Left or right hand corners? Sweepers or tight turns? Approx. speed? I'm really curious. I have thousands of track miles in 3.4Ls and this is the first I've heard of valve chatter.

LVDell

I have not heard of anybody having oiling issues on this board running street tires or r-comps. Where it gets to be a toss up is a "track suspension" coupled with slicks. But at that point I am sure most would add the baffle kit.

As has been noted, Jim had significant expereince tracking the M96 motor. I traacked my 996CAB for several years really pushing it hard and never experienced and oil starvation issues. However, I moved to a GT3 to give me the "proper" platform to full exploit as my skill level continues to increase. The only thing I would move to from here is a Cup car but I can't make that kind of committment just as I love driving the 3 around town from time to time.

LVDell

Not sure if murphy is buying that. I've tried Jim. I pulling the cord on my chute.

Mike Murphy

I am all for a different conclusion as to why the gauge drops in corners. The trouble is, I can't think of one. If anyone knows, then please post it here!

wdonovan

Don't think you're gonna get an answer here (other than mine). Thinking seems to be that without flight recorder data, we should all refuse to even discuss the possible causes of oil starvation. Ah, youthful exuberance!

1999Porsche911

The fact is, ANY drop in oil pressure while maintaining rpm's is a result of less oil pumping through the engine which translates into less than optimum oiling of the engine. I sure would't want to be running my engine at 7000 rpm and see the pressure drop. I guess my first response would be to remove the Mobil water from the engine and put in a better oil and then go on from there.

Most likely cause if the pressure returns after the sweep, would be air being sucked up by the pickup. Not a good thing.

JimB

Wasn't your answer to add more oil. Nice call.

Ray S

The problem (with this alleged problem) is where are the all the broken cars?? Where are all the trashed motors??? After all literally hundreds (probably thousands) of M96 Boxsters and Carerra's are being taken to tracks all over the world. There are tons of these cars at every event that I attend. There have been a few "my cousins, sisters, friend knows a guy who had his engine blow" type reports. But certainly no RMS or "Bob" type groundswells.

Where is the smoking gun or better still all the "smoldering motors" from oil starvation?

I've been tracking my Boxster (on R Compounds) now for 6 years and I have not experienced the type of valve clatter you are describing. Even on long sweepers like the Carousel at Road America or the long South 1 and 2 combo at Autobahn. Additionally, I have not noticed anyone else having these problems at the events I have been at.

I'm not saying you aren't experiencing it. I'm only saying that in 6 years I never have.

Mike Murphy

Good point. Where are all the damaged engines? I don't know. I do know that Porsche has admitted to the problem "under certain circumstances." So, the question is, does your gauge suddenly drop in certain corners? If not, then I'm sure you don't have a problem.

I would be interested to find out how many people actually notice the gauge dropping and have subsequently run 30,000 track miles without performing the engine update.

insite

if i do some hard left hand sweepers one after the other, the left hand bank gets valve chatter. the right bank never does it. i've seen the identical symptom on a few other boxsters and the reverse problem (right bank chatter after right hand sweepers) on two 3.4L C2's. it only happens when you get the oil good and hot (i.e. at the track or very aggressive on street).

insite

good question. i hear of a few motors here and there letting go on the track, but no more than usual i suppose.

not every car does it, but the ones that do will do it consistently.

nick49

Amusing thread to say the least