btw, it might be good to start talking about the "IMS bearing" problem. Although the 2009 engine (& onward) removed the IMS, as others have said, many other engines have intermediate shafts with no issue. It was simply the choice in the bearing & how it was lubricated in the M96/M97 engines that has been a source of problems. Otherwise, the engines are largely bulletproof.

Going on an on about how the engine design is flawed actually isn't true and only serves to increase fear and decrease the value of the cars.

To (more accurately) merely encourage people to upgrade the IMS bearing, or at least look for evidence (in the filter or on a magnetic oil drain plug) that the bearing is doing ok -- is much less onerous.

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Fantasy: since the grease in the bearing must be a different formulation than the lightweight engine oil, wouldn't it be interesting if regular oil analyses from Blackstone, etc., would show a spike in some element that would indicate the thicker grease is leeching into the engine oil...indicating the seal is starting to fail (long before failure) ?

 

Thanks for the support guys and YES! I am trying to easy fear, make you understand that these cars are not so differant and that they are - as James said, mostly bulletbroof.

The thread turned and for that I am sorry. But the truth is the more you know the better you can cope with the fear of recent IMO. The original point was that "I" was surprised and frankly a little happy to discover that the IMS was not a "new concept" for Porsche - it is iin fact a tried and true method of doing what it does. THAT made ME feel much better and I wanted to share that with others who may not know

in fact I am guessing most people who buy an M96 dont know that - and most people who hear about the IMS and do a search only hear of the problems. My attempt to shed some light on it as a common part and not some voodoo magic Porsche invented just for the M96 is meant to help - we know the cure - we ALL know the cure, but I thought knowing more would ease some of the unknown history of why its there....err what ever.

BTW Phil, the pics are older motors, I will find a pic of the M96 shaft and post it for you to see...anyone need a pic of a piston or steam engine?

here you see (stole pics) the m96 IMS which is secured at one end to the craddle that houses the crank and connecting rods, the craddle goes into the block and looks like the second one.. note the "free" end is where oil pump connects (edit I was looking at it backwards) the IMS bearing end is away from you and you can see the big gear on it

there is an old youtube vid series (search Boxster rebuild) its about a 14 parts series - very worth watching - the guy did a complete rebuild in his garage -

 

I love ENGINE ****.....

Rick
99 996C4
87 944S

 

I spent more than an hour the other day with the engine machinist (does the machine work for my indy)

he was doing some detective work on a throw rod in #4 on a race engine... seriously, I could listen to him for ever! awesome what he knows and the way he found the potential issue and the explanation was amazing engine ****! That is sort of how this started and I love to share too.... BTW being a machinst myself it was funny because he thought what I do is magic, and I think what he does is magic...pretty great guy and I hope to get more over time. We came away with a inspection plan for assembly that should give us the real data to base the work on... knowing is everything - guessing is not so good....

so of the 4 boxes (engineers will get this) we were in the "it doesnt work, and we dont know why" and we moved to the "it doesnt work and we know why" much better spot

(the other 2 boxes are: it works and we dont know why - and - it works and we know why)

 

True. Google "lay shaft" if in doubt. They're common as muck.

 

I'm with you Ed. More information can never hurt.
Doesn't matter if you're an IMS bearing hater or not, info is info; use it or don't, it's each person's choice.