Bore scoring!
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From: linker Fahrbahn
Ahhh.....not sure where you are getting your information but I trust LN Engineering has done their homework. 3l single turbo units get pressed iron liners, but 2.9l TT units get SUMEbore plasma spray iron alloy.
https://lnengineering.com/products/w...e-scoring.html
While bore scoring plagued earlier generations of Porsche engines with Alusil and Lokasil bores, significant strides have been made with the adoption of advanced iron-based spray coatings—APS (Atmospheric Plasma Spray) and PTWA (Plasma Transferred Wire Arc). These technologies enabled Porsche to retain the lightweight benefits of aluminum engine blocks while achieving the wear resistance and durability of iron bores,
APS (SUMEbore) coatings are featured in high-performance VW/Audi-derived engines, starting with the EA825 4.0L twin-turbo V8 introduced in the 2017 Panamera Turbo (971). This same engine architecture was later used in the 2019+ Cayenne Turbo (9Y0), Panamera GTS, Macan GTS/Turbo, and various Audi RS and S models.
Porsche Models without Cylinder Bore Scoring
Often heralded as the holy grail of modern Porsche engines, the Mezger-designed flat-six stands in stark contrast to the M96/M97 family when it comes to long-term reliability and engineering robustness. Derived from Porsche's motorsport lineage and originally developed for endurance racing, the Mezger engine was used in 996 and 997 Turbo, 996 and 997 GT2, and 996 and 997 GT3 models:
https://lnengineering.com/products/w...e-scoring.html
While bore scoring plagued earlier generations of Porsche engines with Alusil and Lokasil bores, significant strides have been made with the adoption of advanced iron-based spray coatings—APS (Atmospheric Plasma Spray) and PTWA (Plasma Transferred Wire Arc). These technologies enabled Porsche to retain the lightweight benefits of aluminum engine blocks while achieving the wear resistance and durability of iron bores,
APS (SUMEbore) coatings are featured in high-performance VW/Audi-derived engines, starting with the EA825 4.0L twin-turbo V8 introduced in the 2017 Panamera Turbo (971). This same engine architecture was later used in the 2019+ Cayenne Turbo (9Y0), Panamera GTS, Macan GTS/Turbo, and various Audi RS and S models.
Porsche Models without Cylinder Bore Scoring
- 2016+ Porsche 911 Carrera (991.2) uses PTWA coating for its cylinder bores.
- 2017+ Porsche Panamera Turbo (971) features APS (SUMEbore) coated cylinder bores.
- 2019+ Porsche Cayenne Turbo (9Y0) uses APS (SUMEbore) bore coating technology.
- 2019+ Porsche Macan Turbo and GTS models utilize APS (SUMEbore) cylinder coating.
- 2017+ Porsche Panamera GTS benefits from APS (SUMEbore) coated bores.
- 2019+ Porsche Macan S uses the EA839 V6 with pressed-in cast iron liners.
- 2019+ Porsche Panamera 4 is powered by the EA839 V6 with iron liners.
- 2019+ Porsche Cayenne Base model employs the EA839 V6 with thin-wall iron sleeves.
- 2016+ Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman (all variants) use PTWA bore coating.
- 2014+ Porsche Macan Base models use iron-block VW/Audi 2.0T engines.
The Mezger Engine: A Gold Standard in Porsche Durability
Often heralded as the holy grail of modern Porsche engines, the Mezger-designed flat-six stands in stark contrast to the M96/M97 family when it comes to long-term reliability and engineering robustness. Derived from Porsche's motorsport lineage and originally developed for endurance racing, the Mezger engine was used in 996 and 997 Turbo, 996 and 997 GT2, and 996 and 997 GT3 models:
- 2001–2005 Porsche 911 Turbo (996) uses the Mezger engine with Nikasil-coated cylinder bores.
- 2002–2005 Porsche 911 GT2 (996) features the Mezger engine with Nikasil-plated bores.
- 1999–2005 Porsche 911 GT3 (996) is equipped with the Mezger engine and Nikasil bores.
- 2006–2009 Porsche 911 Turbo (997.1) continues with the Mezger engine and Nikasil coating.
- 2007–2009 Porsche 911 GT2 (997.1) uses the Mezger engine with Nikasil-lined cylinders.
- 2007–2011 Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 RS (997.1 and 997.2) retain the Mezger engine with Nikasil bores.
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From: linker Fahrbahn
2.9 has the same bore and bore spacing as the 3.0.
Last edited by chassis; Dec 12, 2025 at 01:02 PM.
RL Community Team
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Sorry, you were misinformed. It is documented all over the internet. Google it.
3.0L Audi/Porsche twin scroll has iron cylinder liners.
2.9L Audi/Porsche twin turbo has SUMEbore iron cylinder coating.
Both are extremely durable.
The fact that the bore and spacing match means nothing. Their pistons, rods, crank, etc are different.
3.0L Audi/Porsche twin scroll has iron cylinder liners.
2.9L Audi/Porsche twin turbo has SUMEbore iron cylinder coating.
Both are extremely durable.
The fact that the bore and spacing match means nothing. Their pistons, rods, crank, etc are different.
RL Community Team
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I did more digging and essentially we are all correct.
The 2.9L in certain models did have iron liners. The newer versions use SUMEbore coatings. As far as I can tell all Macans with 2.9L have SUMEbore, but who knows exactly when the changeover occurred or is sill ongoing.
The 2.9L in certain models did have iron liners. The newer versions use SUMEbore coatings. As far as I can tell all Macans with 2.9L have SUMEbore, but who knows exactly when the changeover occurred or is sill ongoing.
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I did even more research and seems the early Audi version of the of 2.9L used iron sleeves. But the newer high performance units for both Audi and Porsche switched over SUMEbore.
Burning Brakes
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The Audi EA839 2.9L V6 engine does not use the SUMEbore process; instead, it uses pressed-in cast iron cylinder liners.
The SUMEbore (APS - Atmospheric Plasma Spray) coating technology is utilized in certain higher-performance Porsche engines (such as the Panamera Turbo and Cayenne Turbo models) which share the general EA839 architecture but feature different specific internal designs.
The standard Audi EA839 2.9L V6, as found in vehicles like the Porsche Macan S and Cayenne base models, was designed with conventional iron liners to manage cylinder wall friction and durability.
The SUMEbore (APS - Atmospheric Plasma Spray) coating technology is utilized in certain higher-performance Porsche engines (such as the Panamera Turbo and Cayenne Turbo models) which share the general EA839 architecture but feature different specific internal designs.
The standard Audi EA839 2.9L V6, as found in vehicles like the Porsche Macan S and Cayenne base models, was designed with conventional iron liners to manage cylinder wall friction and durability.
Racer
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From: Live Free or Die state
I've provided a link to a public statement from a long term, well regarded vendor in the Porsche world and their position on the topic.
Show us some facts, or at least some documentation to support your claim. I'm sure we'd all like to know why you are so confident in your position.
Show us some facts, or at least some documentation to support your claim. I'm sure we'd all like to know why you are so confident in your position.
Last edited by FLACHT6_pilot; Dec 13, 2025 at 08:49 PM.