Fellas,

Forgive my cynicism, but I just picked up my first P-car a little over a month ago and it's already in the shop and it doesn't look good. And yes, the car was PPI'd. The mechanic still isn't sure what's wrong, but here's the short of it...

Yesterday on the way home from work the engine started whistling quite loudly at low RPM's. Shortly thereafter the check engine light came on, but I continued to drive home. This morning I took the car into the shop and there was still no apparent smoke whatsoever. The mechanic took it for a drive with the diagnostic equipment hooked up and while driving it the engine began to billow blue smoke. Damn.

So now I am waiting until they can further diagnose the issue. Needless to say, it's not going to be pretty. Any ideas from this group what the culprit could be?

Many thanks,

Payton

 

Well, might be the Air Oil Separator

 

Payton, don't despair. It sounds like the air-oil seperator. I had to replace it on my previous 996. It is under $1,000 if your car is a 6-speed. It is a little more expensive if your car is a tiptronic. If you do a search here, it is extensively documented. Good luck.

 

Oil Seperator. Don't fret it dude.

I saw one that had failed entirely being started up at the dealer.....soo much smoke,I could barely see the car.

 

Just replaced my AOS recently. 8 hours DIY... PIA, but doable...

Old is on the left... Suncoast sell for $120


Mine leaked oil... notice the new rings on the right. The old one eventually will leak bec of the single "O" ring.


Take the left air intake out...


New AOS installed


Air intake back in place



Then I found out later that there is a motorsport version..... Damn!!!

 

And what is the difference between the motorsport version and the OEM?

 

Not sure if the Motorsport that I am showing below is appropriate for all the 996s? Apparently this part was designed to solve an oil ingestion issue experienced by the GrandAM/Koni Challenge teams in the 3.6 996/997. Seems that some cars were sucking nearly the entire oil contents of the crankcase up through the VOS and into the intake. ????

BTW: porsche calls it a VOS not a AOS..

Here is the version that the caymans S folks are all switching over to.

Motorsports Vapor Oil Separator, P/N 996 107 926 00 and it costs a bit over $400. Picture taken from the cayman forum. The 2nd air inj pump has to be moved over a bit to make room as this thing is 2x bigger.

 

redridge
Great info, thanks?
What makes it such a PITA? I was investigating this for a friend w/a Boxter. I did look much simpler for his 97 Boxter.
I had heard the engine had to come out of the 996 to get proper access...not true?

 

Well for one the boxster/cayman engine is flipped around vs your 996/997.

So this item is in the right front of the engine bay on the boxster/cayman as opposed to being in the far back left side of the 996 engine bay.

Engine doesn't need to come out just do what the Redridge shows in the nice pictures.

 

I'm surprised the mechanic doesn't know what's wrong... what's up with that?!?! Such a common thing on 996's. Is he(she) a certified Porsche mechanic?

 

Mine sounded like a beached whale when it let go. Mine took about 11 hours to do but it was Tiptronic.

 

You guys are a wealth of knowledge. He had mentioned it may be this same issue (AOS), but couldn't confirm at the time we spoke. I thought it was much more serious.

Many thanks and I'll keep you all posted!

Payton

 

Did you DIY the AOS? I had someone else do it and after asked to see his arms and yes, bruised and cut all over. He said next time he would drop the engine for a tip AOS.

 

PM sent

 

+1 on the dying whale noise on my first one

2nd one was silent though, saw CEL codes first, then had the suction at the oil filler cap to confirm.

New design would be welcome - they seem to fail too often for my liking!