A question for the Boxster "experten" on the forum. I have a 2001 S 19 years old and 25000 miles. I have kept up with major maintenance and it gets the oil changed every year with about 1200 miles on the oil. Brake flush every 2 years. New shocks going on in 2 months. I have replaced items that are subject to age vs. use like the coolant tank, etc, etc. as needed. The IMS was replaced at 10,000 miles. The car is always garaged. No major engine work has ever had to be performed, just routine maintenance. Original brakes, more to do with the total lack of stop and go city driving and puttering about
on country roads .
My question: are the various chain ramps, wear pads(?), tensioners, for vario-cam operations in the engine more subject to age degradation OR to usage and mileage? I do realize that anything mechanical is subject to a problem at any time.
I would like to keep this car as long as possible and am looking down the road for things that may need to be replaced more due to age than mileage, and got to thinking about the ramps and tensioners...
TIA,
Pat D

 

A.S.A.P you should have the camshaft timing checked to see how bad it is off, Or just have the timing chain ramps changed to the new improved nylon ramps A.S.A.P. Also change oil to DT-40 the only oil made for these engines, & change it a least twice a year.

 

With only 25,000 miles on it, and the maintenance you've done to it, I wouldn't worry about anything. The owners manual has a maintenance schedule in it and it will be a long time before you need to worry about cam timing. My Indy Porsche mechanic (retired top gun instructor, so he's thorough) checked my timing when he went in to replace the IMS bearing with the LN. He was already there, so why not? The timing was just fine at 84,000 (this was my 1999 Box. I have an '04 S now with only 45k on the clock. I use 5w40 Mobil 1 in it too).
Since i live in a very warm environment (Mississippi Coast) he recommended using Mobil 1 5w40. The car had been using Mobil 1 5/30 since it was new (1999).

 

Tim, thank you. You are evidently not that far from me. I have it on the Porsche low mileage maintenance schedule with the original dealer and generally do a major about every 5-6 years. They have also been using Mobil 1 on the changes. I just got to thinking about the ramps although I would assume that it is a wear item not an age item, like the coolant tank or other such items. One of the things I really stick to is when I start it even if after a wash job, I try to drive it at least 15 miles to get it up to operating temps. Usually my drives are 80 miles or so
Enjoy your 04 S in another couple of months down here it really will be top down weather.
Best,
Pat

 

Good grief, Pat, what are you worrying about? I have shoes with more mileage on them. At the rate you're going, we'll see the heat death of the universe before you have to start replacing things that actually wear out.

 

DELETED... Never mind, I misread the original post.

 

I guess you got to hear what you wanted to hear!

 

Not what I wanted or not wanted to hear. I just wanted opinions about an aging automobile which I have an attachment to. The kind people on this forum provided them. All are appreciated.

 

agree with Shawn Stanford. IMO you're overthinking it. Changing oil twice a year? LOL

 

At the current rate of use, worry about engine internals in about 20 years. I'd be worrying about deterioration of things like seals and hoses long before those wear items. My '01S was just fine at miles where yours will be then. But it also had gotten more and more regular use.