gasongasoff

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.

TommyV44

It happened to me!

bradyb

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

boolala

Mine too.

acao

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.

Poly

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

Is this a concern?

utkinpol

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.

utkinpol

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.

Phil

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

CodeRed

I am surprized that the thing will run, period.

JonasJ

Not sure if that's black humor

TJ Elliott

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.

Fin Fever

Only in the northern hemisphere

gasongasoff

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...

JonasJ

make sure to update, once they have checked it out