996 turbo with engine rebuild
Discussion
Hi all,
I've found a 996 turbo I really like - nice spec, feels tight, no odd noises etc etc (and it goes like a rocket). The only thing that is making me hesitant is the car had a full engine rebuild a couple of years back.
On the one hand this is a good thing as it means it's been refreshed recently and should be in good shape - coming from TVR ownership, rebuilds tend to be viewed positively. However, being new to Porsche I wanted to get some views as to whether I should look on this as a good thing or not?
Cheers
I've found a 996 turbo I really like - nice spec, feels tight, no odd noises etc etc (and it goes like a rocket). The only thing that is making me hesitant is the car had a full engine rebuild a couple of years back.
On the one hand this is a good thing as it means it's been refreshed recently and should be in good shape - coming from TVR ownership, rebuilds tend to be viewed positively. However, being new to Porsche I wanted to get some views as to whether I should look on this as a good thing or not?
Cheers
I'm no expert on such things but immediately the questions that spring to mind are:
1) Why was the engine rebuilt? You need to be satisfied it wasn't something unusual such as flood damage, fire damage, collision damage.
2) Who rebuilt the engine? Are they reputable?
3) If the rebuild was due to mileage/age, has similar work been carried out on Suspension/Clutch etc. or will those be a bill to factor in the near future.
Beyond that I don't know enough about the 997t to answer whether or not you should consider one with a rebuilt engine in general, I'm sure others will advise.
Other than that, I'd almost certainly get a PPI done on a car like that for peace of mind if nothing else.
1) Why was the engine rebuilt? You need to be satisfied it wasn't something unusual such as flood damage, fire damage, collision damage.
2) Who rebuilt the engine? Are they reputable?
3) If the rebuild was due to mileage/age, has similar work been carried out on Suspension/Clutch etc. or will those be a bill to factor in the near future.
Beyond that I don't know enough about the 997t to answer whether or not you should consider one with a rebuilt engine in general, I'm sure others will advise.
Other than that, I'd almost certainly get a PPI done on a car like that for peace of mind if nothing else.
FisiP1 said:
I'm no expert on such things but immediately the questions that spring to mind are:
1) Why was the engine rebuilt? You need to be satisfied it wasn't something unusual such as flood damage, fire damage, collision damage.
2) Who rebuilt the engine? Are they reputable?
3) If the rebuild was due to mileage/age, has similar work been carried out on Suspension/Clutch etc. or will those be a bill to factor in the near future.
Beyond that I don't know enough about the 997t to answer whether or not you should consider one with a rebuilt engine in general, I'm sure others will advise.
Other than that, I'd almost certainly get a PPI done on a car like that for peace of mind if nothing else.
As far as I know it was nothing unusual - bad noises coming from the engine, went to Porsche, verdict: engine rebuild. The work was done by an Indie I know well.1) Why was the engine rebuilt? You need to be satisfied it wasn't something unusual such as flood damage, fire damage, collision damage.
2) Who rebuilt the engine? Are they reputable?
3) If the rebuild was due to mileage/age, has similar work been carried out on Suspension/Clutch etc. or will those be a bill to factor in the near future.
Beyond that I don't know enough about the 997t to answer whether or not you should consider one with a rebuilt engine in general, I'm sure others will advise.
Other than that, I'd almost certainly get a PPI done on a car like that for peace of mind if nothing else.
It's then had more recent suspension work, new clutch, new radiators & new brakes.
big_treacle said:
As far as I know it was nothing unusual - bad noises coming from the engine, went to Porsche, verdict: engine rebuild. The work was done by an Indie I know well.
It's then had more recent suspension work, new clutch, new radiators & new brakes.
It would be interesting to know what the "bad noises" were?It's then had more recent suspension work, new clutch, new radiators & new brakes.
It's fairly rare for a standard 996 Turbo to need a rebuild
Homer J said:
big_treacle said:
As far as I know it was nothing unusual - bad noises coming from the engine, went to Porsche, verdict: engine rebuild. The work was done by an Indie I know well.
It's then had more recent suspension work, new clutch, new radiators & new brakes.
It would be interesting to know what the "bad noises" were?It's then had more recent suspension work, new clutch, new radiators & new brakes.
It's fairly rare for a standard 996 Turbo to need a rebuild
Turbo engines do fail - whilst they are considered bullet proof, there are a couple of things that can go wrong such as snapped chains, oil pump noisy, etc.
It is a rare occurrence however so no doom mongering!
If the engine has been rebuilt professionally ( depends on the list of parts as well ) I would take that as a positive rather than negative, provided it was for the right reasons as someone already mentioned, shelf life is suppose to be around 200k miles but some are further ahead of that mark. I would want to see the bill for the rebuild - that would provide a good indication of what was replaced - was it done on the cheap and so on.
We do probably one a month but for engine strengthening projects.
Didn't see the mileage on the car OP?
Certainly would put me off buying if it all checks out
Ken
It is a rare occurrence however so no doom mongering!
If the engine has been rebuilt professionally ( depends on the list of parts as well ) I would take that as a positive rather than negative, provided it was for the right reasons as someone already mentioned, shelf life is suppose to be around 200k miles but some are further ahead of that mark. I would want to see the bill for the rebuild - that would provide a good indication of what was replaced - was it done on the cheap and so on.
We do probably one a month but for engine strengthening projects.
Didn't see the mileage on the car OP?
Certainly would put me off buying if it all checks out
Ken
996ttalot said:
Turbo engines do fail - whilst they are considered bullet proof, there are a couple of things that can go wrong such as snapped chains, oil pump noisy, etc.
It is a rare occurrence however so no doom mongering!
If the engine has been rebuilt professionally ( depends on the list of parts as well ) I would take that as a positive rather than negative, provided it was for the right reasons as someone already mentioned, shelf life is suppose to be around 200k miles but some are further ahead of that mark. I would want to see the bill for the rebuild - that would provide a good indication of what was replaced - was it done on the cheap and so on.
We do probably one a month but for engine strengthening projects.
Didn't see the mileage on the car OP?
Certainly would put me off buying if it all checks out
Ken
It is a rare occurrence however so no doom mongering!
If the engine has been rebuilt professionally ( depends on the list of parts as well ) I would take that as a positive rather than negative, provided it was for the right reasons as someone already mentioned, shelf life is suppose to be around 200k miles but some are further ahead of that mark. I would want to see the bill for the rebuild - that would provide a good indication of what was replaced - was it done on the cheap and so on.
We do probably one a month but for engine strengthening projects.
Didn't see the mileage on the car OP?
Certainly would put me off buying if it all checks out
Ken
Is that "certainly wouldn't put you off " Ken?
They are not quite as bullet proof as people think. Chain snapping can occur and sometimes from a hydraulic lifter failing and falling into the turbo scavenging pump, which then jams the chain rotation and it snaps. The inter gear can come loose - happened to mine. The chain sprockets can come loose - just saw a turbo engine rebuilt this month due to that. but the pistons and sleeves / cooling is really good and so the life of the engine can be long if no chain related issues.
speedbird1000 said:
They are not quite as bullet proof as people think. Chain snapping can occur and sometimes from a hydraulic lifter failing and falling into the turbo scavenging pump, which then jams the chain rotation and it snaps. The inter gear can come loose - happened to mine. The chain sprockets can come loose - just saw a turbo engine rebuilt this month due to that. but the pistons and sleeves / cooling is really good and so the life of the engine can be long if no chain related issues.
This is a very rare failure. The bits in the oil pump are more likely chain link pieces and that fouls the scavange pumps.They are still very reliable engines.
Mike
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