Is it normal for the LEFT exhaust tips to be dirtier than the right?
 

I've read a few threads where the LEFT tips had much more soot than the right, and the car ultimately required an engine replacement. Am I screwed? See photos below. The car is a 997.2.

It happened to me!

My 997.1 is that way - always has been. Not by much but is noticeable. No pics, sorry.

Mine too.

My tips are like that. Two of my dogs died this past year, and we're in a 500-year drought. Draw your own conclusions.

Exhaust Tip:
 

My left exhaust tip is also dirtier/blacker than the right tip.

Is this a concern?

When that cylinder bank will get close to its end it will produce a lot of smake from that side. I would go to good shop and asked them to use boroscope and also check compression in all cylinders and depending of those results either continued driving or sold that car. It is just a car after all, you can always get another one.

Btw 'bad' soot will be very greacy and oily, dark black. If you have greyish dry even coat of soot there and no smoke from that bank - do not worry too much.

u be screwed. You get a check engine light yet?

I am surprized that the thing will run, period.

Not sure if that's black humor

Just curious
 

Just curious, in the case of one side having more soot than the other why is it always the left pipes that are attached to the right bank? I don't think I've ever heard of the right pipes having excess soot.

Only in the northern hemisphere

Thanks to everyone who responded, including the peanut gallery. Sounds like other ppl have the same problem, and haven't needed an engine replacement, but I think I'll ask about it the next time I bring the car in. There have been a number of reports where the preferential LEFT-sided soot buildup was actually a symptom of scoring in one of the cylinders, which required replacement of the entire engine. Perhaps it's just a coincidence, perhaps not...

make sure to update, once they have checked it out