SECTION
1: Time Belt
Maintenance
Replacement
Won't Turn
Belt Tensioning
Tension Light
Tension Light II
Adjusting Sensor
Harmonic Balancer
Slack Timing Belt
|
|
The 928 has a timing
belt that should be changed along with the water Pump every 50K miles.
The 16 valve engines pre -1985 are non interference engines and
will not damage the engine if the belt breaks.
I have never seen one really break, but the teeth do get chewed
up causing the belt to slip accomplishing the same end result.
The 1985 and up engines were 32 Valve engines and are
interference engines and will bend the valves if a timing belt slips of
breaks. The 32 valve engines have a warning light that senses changes
in tension and works pretty well to detect a belt that is beginning to
stretch. Some mechanics not
understanding the system will over ride the belt warning light by
grounding it. - with very bad outcomes.
Overall the belt is a
very reliable system and if proper maintenance is followed works great.
But unlike a chain the belt is affected by age.
An old belt will fail even with very low mileage.
So I would suggest a new belt every 5 to 7 years regardless of
mileage. Changing the belt,
pulleys and water pump runs around a grand in a typical shop.
As far as the double
clutch it is a very reliable system and actually better than the newer
S4 single disc system. The DEVEK White Car runs a dual disc system behind high
owered engine as a the preferred set up.
The dual disc system should hold up for 100K of normal spirited
driving with no problems. You
will have more problems sooner with the clutch hydraulic system than The
actual clutch.
The transmission was
changed in 1985 to a Borg Warner. This
transmission is much smoother and does not experience premature syncro
wear. The disadvantage is
the high differential ratio that was imposed to get better gas mileage
to meet federal specs. The
older Porsche transmission is still a good transmission and should go
100+K with no problems if it is not abused.
Myself, I am installing
an 84 transmission in my 86 car as a conversion so I can get the lower
gear ratios and the better Limited Slip Differential.
I hope this helps clear
up some of the urban myths that are circulating out there.
The 944 is a very reliable and fun car to drive, but it is not in
the class of a 928. The 928
is a world class car that still ranks very close to one the best
production performance cars ever. For
power and handling there are very few competitors.
Dan B
Self Tensioning and
Re-Tensioning
In a question dated: 5/27/99
I am in the process of routine maintence on my 1981 928 5 speed. Speedo
upgade from 85mph unit, A/C service and conversion, alignment, etc. The
timing belt was replaced last July, (about 3000 miles ago) before I
purchased the car. I asked the service shop to re-tension the timing
belt. Much to my surprise, I was told the belt was "self
tensioning" in the 1981 and would not require re-tensioning. This
does not seem correct based on the many posts to the list. I am
concerned as this seems to be the time to service. The shop is an
independant but extremely well respected, selling pristine used porsche
products and with a porsche car racing prep program. Shop manuals seem
to support the need to re-tension. Suggestions? Advice?
Also, I am advised Porsche has contacted all present and past dealers to
identify and acquire 928 parts. I was in the process of tracing down 928
parts not purchased by the new dealer, when a dealership changed
ownership last year only to be advised that the new dealer had been
pushed by Posche to go back to the former dealer acquire the entire lot.
Any one else hearing the same?
Jon Deily
1981 928 5 speed
Pacificblaumetallic
Response(s)
In a response dated: 5/27/99
The belts are NOT self tensioning. There is a
belt tensioner in the belt system, but it
only accounts for a small amount of stretching.
If never serviced, the belt will
eventually fail (lose teeth or part). In
either case, the result can be from
"just disabled" to "needing new
valves".
Merry motoring, Ed. Replacement In
a question dated: 7/10/99
Should the belt and pump ALWAYS be changed
together, even if the car is tight? (I
understand the cost savings in labor by having
them both done at the same time, just wondering
from a mechanical point of view)
Is there a way a mechanic can actually tell if a
timing belt needs to be replaced or is it always
based on the warning light/age? (Especially if
the age of the current belt is not documented)
Thanks,
Dave
86 928S In
a response dated: 7/10/99
Dear Dave:
Very good questions. The water pump doe not have
to be replaced when the Tbelt is replaced,
but it's common practice to do it since it takes
only a little more time and money to do the
pump too. In an ideal world, the pump should
last a least two belt changes.
If you do not know the belts history, it's best to
be safe than sorry. A relatively new belt may
still have a film on it that looks like talc.
IMO, when in doubt - rip it out, and put in a
new one.
Merry motoring, Ed. Timing
Belt Won't Turn In a question
dated: 9/15/99 I recently had the
timing belt and water pump replaced on my '79 at the shop. They
also replaced a couple pulleys. I was 300 miles to go before the
scheduled belt retension when yesterday while driving, the car made a
brief whirring sound and died. All systems at the time were normal,
including temperature and oil pressure.
Towed to the shop and their initial diagnosis indicated that the crank
was turning on start but the timing belt is not moving. The belt teeth
at the crank are sheared off, preventing it from turning the cams.
Further investigation reveals no siezing of the oil pump, water pump or
any thing else for that matter - whew!
The shop called Mark Anderson who indicated he has not encountered such
a situation before. They are now in the process of installing a new
belt.
Could it have been just a defective belt or possibly something else?
All suggestions welcome.
Randy Venier
San Diego, CA In a follow-up dated:
9/17/99 One of the things I
suspected was that a later MY rounded-tooth style belt had been
inadvertently installed last time, but turned out not to be the case.
Apparently the belt had weakened at a bend in it during a probable
lengthy storage at the Porsche parts warehouse in Reno. I guess sitting
in a hot dry place for years will take its toll on a drive belt. A hard
acceleration caused the crank teeth to strip the four inch weakened
section down to the belt's metal core, preventing the belt from turning
since there was now nothing to grab onto
the crank.
Total cost to me for the replacement - $0.00 without any hassles at all.
I'm back on the road in time for the weekend.
Another reason why I recommend Dieter's to anyone in San Diego.
Randy Venier
San Diego, CA Belt
Tensioner In a question dated:
10/4/99 Bill asked -
What is the reason for the seemingly hyper complex belt tensioner on
our car? In
a response dated: 10/4/99
The belt on the 928 is reputedly the longest toothed belt ever used on a
production auto. It drives either two or four overhead camshafts, the
oil pump and the water pump, and several other pieces of mechanism. We
are not noted for taking it easy on our engines, so it gets to see rapid
acceleration, lots of gearshifts, and high RPM operation.
The rather conservative Porsche recommendations say to replace the belt
every 60K miles or every five years. Few of us actually drive our 928s
12K miles per year, so we don't get 60 K miles before the belt should be
replaced. Unfortunately, this was/is often ignored, so some belts have
broken due to age.
Actually, the tensioner might be considered to be too simple. While the
bimetallic belville springs (washers) compensate for temperature
changes, there is no automatic adjustment for wear and stretching, other
than a simple spring. The oil, piston, valves, etc., in the tensioner
are apparently there only to damp fluctuations in the belt, and to help
compensate for temperature changes, as the oil is not pressurized. It
would have been easy to incorporate a take-up mechanism using engine oil
pressure and a ratchet mechanism. But, if the tension were automatically
adjusted, very, very few owners would ever have the belt checked, much
less replaced. By requiring a periodic manual adjustment, triggered by
the tension warning lamp, Porsche helped to ensure that the belt would
be visually examined every couple of years.
The early belt replacement intervals are partially a result of using
mileage as a replacement determinate and ignoring time, and partially a
result of the fear factor due to the high cost of failure on the later
cars.
The water pump replacement recommendation is often made because the
replacement labor is essentially identical to that of the toothed belt.
The water pump is not more prone to failure than those on any other
make.
Bottom line: I believe that the belt system, including the
tensioner,
works well, and is reliable. If the belt is properly tensioned every
couple of years, and replaced every four or five years, and the
tensioner is properly serviced annually, you are not at all likely to
have a problem.
Wally Plumley
928 Specialists
Trouble Shooting Tension
Light
In a question dated: 4/23/00
John K wrote:
Could you elaborate on why adding oil is one step in trouble shooting the
tension light?
In a response dated: 4/24/00
There is a lot of variation in loading on the timing belt, which leads to flutter and jerking of the belt. This jerking and fluttering can cause the "switch" in the tensioner to lose ground contact, sending a signal to the warning system computer that the belt is loose. The tensioner oil appears to serve two main functions - damping these fluctuations, and transferring heat from the engine block to the bi-metallic washers that serve as the spring in the tensioner so that they compensate for engine expansion due to heat. Failure of either of these functions could lead to false belt tension warnings.
To fill the tensioner on a later car with two nipples:
Get a trigger-type pump oil can. Fill it with 90 wt oil. (One tech sheet from Porsche says to use engine oil, but I prefer to go with the heavier 90 wt called out in the shop manual - I think that it will give better dampening.) Get a foot-long piece of clear plastic tubing that fits on both the spout of the oil can and the nipple of the
tensioner.
Remove the rubber caps and open both bleed nipples.
Attach the tube and oil can to the inner-most (upper) nipple. Pump oil slowly (that's the only way it will go in!) into the tensioner until you get a solid stream from the outer-most (lower) nipple.
Close both nipples and re-install the rubber caps. Check the engine below the tensioner for oil leakage for the next week or two.
If you add oil to the tensioner and it promptly leaks out, you need a tensioner rebuild. The rubber cap gets hard and brittle with heat and age.
Wally Plumley
928 Specialists
Tension Light II
Oil Pans and Tension Sensors
In a message dated: 7/17/99
It is normal (but not desirable!) for the oil pan bolts on a 928 engine
to loosen, allowing oil to leak. These small bolts can and should be
snugged up with a 10mm socket and/or wrench to stop the oil leaks. If
you overtighten them, you will make the leaks worse by crushing the
gaskets and possibly even squeezing it out of the joint. Proper torque
is "thumb and one finger on a 1/4" ratchet".
The belt tension sensor on the later engines is a very simple switch. As
long as there is enough belt tension to keep a stout coil spring on the
tensioner compressed, the switch maintains a ground connection. When the
spring is allowed to relax, the switch loses ground, and the warning
control unit turns on the warning light. If you are getting a warning
light and want to check your system, there is a quick and easy test.
Find the wire that plugs into the timing cover right behind the oil
dipstick. Unplug it and crank the engine - the timing light should come
on within seconds. Shut the engine off, and connect the wire to a good
engine ground with a small jumper wire. Crank the engine. If the light
comes on, there is an open in the wire between the connector and the
warning control unit, or the warning control unit is bad. If the light
doesn't come on, either there is a loose connection at the connector or
the connector just inside the timing cover, or you have a real problem
with belt tension.
Warning! Do NOT attempt to cure a belt tension problem by simply
tightening the belt! If the problem is a loose sensor connection, or a
bad tensioner boot, or an empty tensioner, you can over-tighten the
belt. This will destroy your pulleys, guides and idlers! Use the tension
gauge!
There will be a document available for 928 Owners Club members that
details how to replace the timing belt, rebuild the tensioner and adjust
the tension Real Soon Now.
Wally Plumley
928 Specialists |
|
|
|
Adjusting
Timing Belt Sensor
In a message dated:
Look just behind the oil dipstick tube on the front of the timing belt
cover, and find a single electrical wire that goes into a small round plug. This is the belt tension warning light switch. Unplug it, and make sure
that the loose wire can NOT get in the accessory belts. Crank the engine. Within a couple of minutes, the belt tension warning light should come
on. If it doesn't, someone has shorted the circuit to ground to bypass the warning system, or has otherwise killed the warning system. If the
warning light does come on, cut the engine off, and reconnect the wire. Recrank
the engine, and see if the warning light comes on.
Your buddy's warning light may have come on because there was no oil in the
tensioner, etc.
If you have joined the 928 Owners Club, there is an article on the web site that shows the tensioner and the switch.
Wally Plumley
928 Specialists
or visit John's Pirtle Membersite for a step by step write-up....
http://members.rennlist.com/pirtle/tbelt.html.
|
|
|
|
Removal
of Harmonic Balancer
In a message dated: 11/18/00
I'm doing a timming belt change and can't get the harmonic balancer
off. Yes I have taken the 27MM bolt out of the crank and the pullys off. They
were also tough to get off and I noted a little bit of rust on the crank. The big three have been very helpful and do not recommend a puller since
it may ruin the balancer (the book calls it a vibration dampner). I'm considering using a puller and if it damages it I will have to replaceit.
Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Thanks,
SWS
87 Gurards red/black Gemballa mods
preventative maintenance weekend
In a response dated: 11/18/00
Mine slid right off. So I am guessing you are right. I would start with
a lot of wd-40 or the like and soak it good for a couple of hours, lots of tapping with a hammer in all directions. I bet that at that point it
won't take much of a tug with a puller to remove it. I do remember something about the damper and it's dislike for pullers a while back so
be careful and don't pull too hard.
Mark Grasser
1978 928 5-speed
Guards red/black/tan sheepskins
In a message dated: 11/18/00
If it doesn't bother you to pay $300 for a used one or $700 for a new
one, then go for it.
I, on the other hand, would recommend spraying penetrating oil on it,
and letting it soak for a few days, and then trying to work it off of there,
without a puller.
wk
In a response dated: 11/18/00
The outer ring of the damper is a press fit on the rubber. Put a puller
on the outer ring and you are likely to just pull it off the rubber ($300 used,
$700 new)
-Garey Casey
In a response dated: 11/18/00
Hey guys, a puller could be used depending upon where one does the
pulling. If the puller can reach around and contact the center hub, it would be OK. If I were faced with the problem, I would think about
drilling and tapping into some part of the center hub in two places opposite each other. Then pull on the bolts.
The penetrating oil is a good thing to try of course. I would also consider heating it up a bit with a rosebud torch. Not hot enough to
hurt the rubber, but just hot enought to get the different metals to move around a bit.
Guess I'm lucky. Mine just pulled right off with the pullers that I was borned wif.
--jer
83sat
In a response dated: 11/18/00
I haven't really done the thing on the damper myself, but one thing that
I have found works pretty well in these circumstances is to loosen the bolt,
but not very much - maybe one turn loose. Then pound away on the end of the bolt. The crank doesn't care and the damper just might work itself
out. Then loosen it another turn and keep doing it until it comes loose.
Might mangle the bolt, but the damper will come off - with a little luck.
-Garey Casey
In an updated dated: 11/26/00
Couple of weeks back I asked the list for suggestions removing my
vibration dampner (harmonic balancer). I did get it off by prying from behind, a
little help from a puller, lots of WD 40 and patience. I was very careful with the puller since several suggested a puller wasn't recommeded. But
the crank had some rust keeping the balancer from sliding off. I cleaned the crank and balancer up and applied a light coat of grease.
Everything went back together fine.
Oh and by the way, my tensioner needed rebuilding. The dust boot
crumbled off and it had very little oil in it. If your having your belt
tightened or changed, make sure the tensioner is checked for oil (75-90 gear lube)and
that it is working properly.
With this list and the "BIG 3" my car is much more dependable and enjoyable. Thanks again!
SWS
87' 5sp Red/black Gemballa
|
|
|
|
Slack
Timing Belt
In a question dated: 11/21/00
Well, I had more time to pull the covers and got the belt off and all
the belt drive gears. Two things: first the timing was MALIGNED!! The two
cam marks were on target, but the crank was lined up on 10 BTD. I don't know if
it skipped or was put that was by the last guy. Does anyone know what this would have done to the engine? Also the belt itself was 3-4 mm narrower
than new as it seems it's been getting shaved off one side. There are little bits
of belt, mostly in the form of black powder, all over the lower engine area.
Is this normal or did someone previous not do something right?
BTW, Audi uses ground at switches as well in many of their older cars.
Thanks guys,
John
In a response dated: 11/21/00
John,
No, it is NOT normal for the belt to shave itself thinner. Consider yourself fortunate to have caught this now! Find out why it was
misalligned / rubbing - look for bent roller guides, etc. I suspect that is a
different issue than the10 degree timing issue, but perhaps not...
Good luck!
CFM 80 928S
In a response dated: 11/21/00
The timing should not have damaged anything - the belt being worn on the
edge can be caused by the two cup shaped washers on the crank gear being put on with the curved part toward the belt . Or if the plastic tensioner
arm bushings have failed it allows the belt to run off to one side. This condition worn plastic bushings would also ground the tensioner warning
light, making that warning system inoperative.
-Jim Bailey
In a response dated: 11/21/00
John-
I just saw the TB on my car do a quick death a few months ago- You should see the pictures of
the black rubber powder! Time for TB replacement surgery! And aside from the Water Pump
replacement, have the tensioner rebuilt or replaced. My wrench claimed to do this but there
was evidence that it was never taken off and inspected, and lacked any oil!!!
Experienced TBer,
AlexM.
|
SECTION
2:Water Pump
Water Pumps
|
|
Waterpump expiring?
In a question dated: 12/28/98
Question
I spent some time today trying to track down the cause of a coolant leak on
the drivers side of the engine. All radiator hoses are intact and leak
free. The source of the coolant is difficult to place but is behind the
cambelt covers and under the exhaust manifold. My first thought was a
leaking water pump, but then I decided to carry on looking for other
symptoms. I found caramel (not the tasty kind) in the bottom of the oil
filler housing. I then checked the radiator overflow tank and found it to
be clean. This looks like a blown head gasket to me unless the waterpump is
oil cooled and somehow the leaking pump is allowing oil and coolant to mix.
Has anyone had a similar problem? I have never seen a post re head gasket
problems so I assume they are normally trouble free. I know the waterpump
will set me back around $900 for parts and labour, any ideas what a head
gasket will cost? I am hoping the problem is the lesser of the two numbers!
Thanks in advance
John McDermott
1982 928 AT
In a response dated: 12/28/99
John, I don't know for sure about the brown stuff, but as the seal on
the water pump drive pulley goes, it will start leaking, and that is the
symptom I saw when mine went. It also sounded a little noisy at the
time too. You might hear the bearing rattling above
cyl. 1, where the
coolant hose exits the engine. The sludge you refer to might be the
stuff washed out from behind the timing belt cover since this is where
the coolant trickles down, and grime and oil can accumulate there. A
danger you may be facing is if the H2O pump bearing is going, it will
effect the timing belt tension, and you may risk a slipped belt and big
$$$ valve damage.
A couple of points to consider:
When doing the pump, you're best off to do the timing belt as well, but
I also did the front engine seals for a very small additional cost, as
well as the tensioner and the tension roller arm. DON'T get talked into
a new tensioner or arm, these can be rebuilt for you with a few dollars
worth of parts. (I replaced the bearings (I kept the rollers) and seals
on these puppies myself for <<$50.) I invested one looong weekend (I
did all of the above work myself), and about $250 - I think, and my
shark runs as good as new. Be warned, this is not a task for the faint
at heart though!!
I hope this helps you get you back on the road sooner and with a few
bucks left in your pocket.
Happy Holidays to you and all PorscheListees!!
Rob
84 928S Auto Gold/Tan (For Sale)
86 928S Auto Black/Stripped (For Parts)
87 928S4 Auto Blue/Camel (For Speed)
87 VW Westfalia SYNCRO (Four by Four!!)
____________________________
|
SECTION
3:Motor
Mounts
Inspection
Replacement
Replacement II
|
|
Motor Mount Inspection
In a question dated: 3/8/99
What specifically should one be looking at/for when inspecting motor mounts.
Do they progressively go bad, or are they either good or bad? Also, does any
one know of a good brand of stripper, primer, paint to use for the intakes and
valve covers without having to use some of the aerospace techniques earlier
posted? There's got to be an easier way.
Thanks in advance
Adam
Bailey928@aol.com
In a response dated: 3/8/99
Dear Adam:
928 motor mounts wear out very gradually. Basically, the fluid in them evaporates or leaks out with time and use. This causes the mounts to "settle" and compress. When they are completely worn, they allow the metal engine block to come in direct contact with the metal cross member. As all running engines vibrate, this vibration can be felt throughout the car, and makes for a less than smooth running V8.
There are several ways to tell if the mounts are worn. I think the best way is to measure the amount of free space between the mounts and their safety hooks. If the gap between them is large enough to insert your index finger, the mounts are worn. If the space is too narrow to insert your pinky, they are fine. Anywhere in between, they are wearing. YMMV.
Merry motoring, Ed.
Motor Mount Replacement Procedure I
In a question dated: 2/24/99
My motor mounts need to be replaced, but I could not find it in the workshop
manuals. Can someone give me the procedure for replacing them?
In a response dated: 2/24/99
David:
Here's the quick version, leaving the engine in (I've just done it, but the engine was out, so somewhat easier)
1. After raising the car to max height and strategically placing your jack stands, support the engine from above with an engine hoist (you'll need to raise the engine later in the procedure).
2. Remove the sway bar-to-body mounts (leave it connected to the shock mounts), allowing the bar to rotate back and down, out of the way.
3. Remove the power steering lines where they attach to the rack (have drip pan ready).
4. Remove the nuts & bolt (8 & 1) that hold the support plate and rack to the cross member. This allows the rack to droop, being "held" by the steering shaft and the tie rods.
5. Remove the central motor mount nuts (1/side) now exposed on the underside of the main engine bay cross member.
6. Still from underneath, remove the 4 bolts that run thru the "ears" of the mount into the block.
7. This next part has got to be a bitch. I've never done it with the engine in place, but what obviously has to happen is the engine has to be raised enough to allow the center bolt of the mount to clear its hole in the main cross member. As an option, disconnect the cross member from the frame, allowing the motor mounts to be extracted that way? In either case, you need the hoist for this.
So I get ya' this far and leave you hangin'...time for another lister to help complete this saga?
Enjoy!
David Lloyd
Farmington, CT
79 Euro 5-spd, track car with 86 motor mounts which hold the 5.0 motor:)
Motor Mounts Replacement II
In a question dated: 8/9/00
Any hints or tips out there for the
do-it-yourselfer/home mechanic?
I've searched the standard areas and
all I found was general info and "it was easier to take it to the
P-mechanic"
Any BTDT advice?
In a response dated: 8/9/00
Replacing the motor mounts is one of
the more frustrating tasks that I have under
taken on the 928. It is a hard, dirty and expensive job - but it did
make a very noticeable difference in both of my cars. Some
reasons for frustration:
The nine-volume shop manual doesn't
even mention this job, and doesn't have a good illustration of it.
The area is dirty.
You have to take off several
unrelated items to replace the mounts.
Fasteners are very tight and very
hard to get to.
You have to jack the engine.
The mounts are expensive - $210.60
each for '82 - up.
Some tips:
Support the car securely at a
comfortable working height. You will be reaching up into the engine
compartment 8", so allow for that. You will need a jack to support
the engine - a small bottle jack takes up less room under the car.
Replacing the mounts is
easy once the cross-member is out, basically impossible without it being
out. Removing the cross-member requires dropping the steering rack and the
inner lower control arm mountings. If you plan to replace the front
shocks, now is the time.
1) Jack the car.
2) I chose to lower the steering rack rather than removing it. You
can leave the hoses connected - don't over-stress them. Remove the
steering shaft universal joint. There is one nut on top by the shaft
that is a pain to hold. Try sticking a flat-bladed screwdriver beside it
to hold it.
3) I chose to remove the lower control arm mounts. This shouldn't
screw up your alignment. Removal is pretty obvious. Be careful of the ball
joint boots and the brake
lines - it is easy to damage them by letting the arms
swing.
4) Support the engine - be sure to spread the load with a large
wooden piece, so you don't damage the crankcase. Drop the cross-member and
mounts. There are a few other
pieces that are in the way, such as ground cables,
etc. Remove what you have to.
5) Replace everything, but first: Snug - don't over-tighten - all of
the oil pan bolts; Clean and check everything that you touch, such as
ground cables, etc.
6) When you get to the steering universal: Pull the plastic plug
found on the front of the rack housing just in front of where the shaft
goes in. Look inside the hole, find the dimple in the rack, and center
it in the hole. This centers the rack. Install the universal so that the
steering wheel is straight with the dimple centered. I have probably
forgotten something - this is the type of thing that you try to blot out
of your memory.
Have fun!
Wally Plumley
928 Specialists
Response(s)
In a message dated: 8/9/00
I am 1.5 days into a
motor mount replacement on a 1983S w/ about 140K miles.
Comments: This job is a
lot of work so beware if you are thinking about doing it.
After about 10-12 working
hours, I just got the old mounts out. (Some
time was spent doing shifter
cup). I took off the exhaust manifolds (and air pump) to get to them, but
in retrospect I am not certain I needed to do that.
I spent a lot of time
trying to remove the top mount bolt while it was in the car. This is not
necessary; I eventually figured out that the metal brackets came off
with the four bolts into the oil pan/block area.
I could not find any
reference to this job in my manual---if it is there I did not find it.
Must drop steering rack
(you can leave ball joints attached) and cross
member
(bolts here may be very stiff so be prepared).
It also took a lot of
time to cut off the nuts holding the mounts to the cross
member as mine were too tight and frozen to get off w/wrench (nuts
rounded) (I used a chisel; too close to fuel to use torch or I am
too chicken).
While I did not have any
strong evidence that the mounts were bad, they are after all 17 years old
so it seemed time to change them (while I was doing shifter cup and some
exhaust work).
The old mounts are close
to 1/2 inch shorter than the new ones.
My point: this job takes
lots of time and is hard on the knuckles so be
prepared before you start. If you are not a professional, even if
you have all the tools, you would really have to work very quickly or have
done it many times before to
finish the entire job in a weekend. If you are way faster than me, more
power to ya.
If you are going to do
the mounts, my-as-well replace the shifter cup if it
hasn't been done. The plastic in the cup gets brittle with age and
breaks, and then pops out--but this
is well known.
I have no idea yet
whether or not the motor mounts will make a big difference as it is not
back together. Given the effort involved, I sure hope it will be
noticable.
Phk
|
SECTION
4:Coolant
Leaks & Flushing
Recommendations
Coolant Leak
Coolant Level Sensor |
|
Coolant
Leaks & Flushing
In a question dated: 9/21/00
Hello everyone, I am always greatful that I have this list to ask question on many problems. ( even if I take the car to the mechanic, I won't get screwed)
On to my latest problem, driving to work this morning, coolant light came on, but temp was between the two marks. Rolling into the parking lot, temp needle climbed rapidly and and car almost died before I parked it.
Openning the hood, coolant everywhere in the engine bay. Steam everywhere.
I just had done t-belt, water pump replacement about 1500 miles ago.
Scheduled for belt adjustment this week. Where should I start looking?
The coolant light came on yesterday so I addeded some this morning, but
temp was within the limits. Is there any thing that I can do before taking it to the mechanic ? Do I dare to drive it home? ( 15 miles)
Ahhhh... I really need a reliable commute car. ( I love my car anyhow)
Thanks much in advance.
Jonathan 86S
In a response dated: 9/12/00
Sounds like two possibilities:
The car is overheating because it lost coolant; or,
The car lost coolant because it overheated.
If you are losing coolant, carefully refill the system while looking for leaks. Unfortunately, completely filling a 928 cooling system is not a trivial task, especially in a public parking lot. Fill, burp by squeezing the top hose, fill, crank and keep checking the level until it is warm. Burp by squeezing the hose (Watch out for the fan!) as you do this. Sometimes, pulling the small vent hose on top of the radiator as you fill helps. If you can get it full, and can't see a leak, and it isn't hot, you might try getting it home or to a shop. Have a cell phone handy! You HAVE TO find the leak!
If the car is overheating, probably not a good idea to risk it. The most likely cause for overheating is the thermostat. You can not remove the thermostat to prevent the car from overheating. Do not drive a 928 without a good thermostat in place.
Wally Plumley
928 Specialists
In a response dated: 9/14/00
the same thing happened to me today... problem? a rip in the hose... for you, well it can be a different story on the location. It is wise to look
at the area in where the leak has come out of. First add water/coolant (fill up!!) Have a friend rev the engine. 2-3k rpm. Watch carefully where the water comes out of. This is the area you would need to see. After water sprays, let the engine cool and try to find where the leak is at. (you might have to disassemble some parts)
Then find the hose and replace. Make sure after you have changed the proper hose, 'burp' the radiator (you can do this throught the coolant resevoir located on the upper left of the hood). Burping means let the water flow out until all the air has come out and all that is coming out is water/coolant.
Let is stay. Then the next morning, when the car is still cool and not turned on, check the water/coolant. Add if necessary.
You can bring this to the repair shop, but it might cause a little more than you expect on the labor.
Good luck!
In a response dated: 9/14/00
Since all of the hoses are basically of the same construction, and are all of the same age - if one goes, the rest won't be far behind. Better to replace all at once. Much cheaper than a new engine, or even a flat-bed to the shop.
Wally
Product Recommendations
for Flushing
Cooling System
In a question dated: 7/28/00
Does anyone have any good suggestions for what to use flush the cooling
system and perhaps clean any deposits out? I've heard of using automatic
dishwasher soap due to it's low "sudsing".
Just curious.
- David Moody Jr.
'78 5sp
'81 AT
In a response dated: 7/28/00
Mercedes sells a product to do this - Citric Acid Cleaner - part number. A 000 989 10 25. Here are some instructions that
were posted on the MB list:
Sokoloff - Len <sokoloff@umd5.umd.edu> wrote:
<Get the coolant out of there and rinse it a few times. Then add some
liquid Tide laundry detergent and run it up to temperature to deoil the
system. You're supposed to deoil before you use the citric acid whether
you need it or not. Rinse the system well a few times. Then dissolve the
citric acid in warm water in a bucket and pour it in. Fill the system
again, run it up to temperature and rinse very well. Then add your new
coolant and you're good to go for three years. Might consider changing
hoses and thermostat now as needed.>
--
Jim Stadter
'83 928 S 5-speed (U.S. spec)
'88 928 S4 5-speed
Lone Star Region PCA (Austin)
928 Owners Club (http://www.928oc.org)
In a response date: 7/28/00
I think that I would prefer to stick to a known brand-name product that has been around for awhile, such as the Prestone cooling system flushes.
Flushing a cooling system at home is a pain in the butt (and after my morning's experience with a flexible
sigmoidoscopy, I am a damn expert on those! ), especially if you don't have a way to dispose of the old coolant.
It takes a couple of days to do it thoroughly.
Wally
Heater Valve and Hot Smell in Air
Vents
Coolant Leak
In a question dated: 3/30/99
I think I have a problem with my heater valve. I am not sure that this is the correct name, but I'll describe my symptoms. I have noticed for the past several months a slow loss of coolant from the cooling system. I occasionally get a low coolant warning message, I add about a quart of antifreeze, and a month or two later it happens again. I do not see puddles of coolant under the car, but I did notice last December when I had the lower engine cover off to install my new Devek front sway bar that there was some coolant on the cover. It was near the rear of the engine and also had some green dry residue which appeared like dried coolant. Last summer I noticed a few small puddles of coolant on the garage floor located at the rear of the engine. I wasn't sure at the time if it was from the overflow tank for the coolant lines.
Just in the last 2 months I have also noticed a hot smell coming through the ventilation system as soon as the car gets warm. The coolant loss rate has also appeared to have increased. I am hoping that this is a problem with the infamous vacuum operated heater valve that has been mentioned on the list. Do these correlate? There has been some recent discussion about bad smells in the vents so I guess I should also check the plastic "tee" to the canister in the passenger wheel well.
If the heater valve is the likely case, what is the price and how easy is this to change? Can I change it without draining the cooling system?
Thanks for any help and assistance.
Regards,
Curtis Eames - 91 GT
Vancouver, WA
In a response dated: 3/30/99
Curtis,
The plastic valve is a simple vacuum operated "on - off" valve that controls the flow of coolant to the heater core.
What you describe is a leak. If you can't see much of a leak when the car is running, that means that the fluid is evaporating before it leaks to the ground or somewhere else in the chassis. These type of leaks are difficult
to find. But, if you look for places that involve heat you may find the leak.
Some examples are:
a. radiator core or heater core: a small leak can exist for a long time since all the air flow over the core is a great evaporator.
b. engine "V": in-between the heads is a nice trough that is heated. Anything that dribbles down there will evaporate.
c. Head gasket: water leak into the combustion chamber
From your description you may have a leak in the "engine V" or heater core.
The smell of evaporating antifreeze is probably strong enough to be sucked
in the air intake or to be noticed from the heater core.
I hope this helps.
Rich
'93 GTS
'83S
|
|
|
Coolant
Level Sensor Testing?
In a question dated: 11/11/00
I had an intermittant coolant level light that is no longer
intermittant. It is now on constantly. I have forced as much coolant in there as
possible and it is still on. I am trying to figure out if it is the sensor
or wiring. I disconnected the sensor and the light stays on. I jumpered
the two wires and the light stays on. I am reading voltage on one of the wires but nothing on the other. I thought I would read ground over
there. I am thinking that it is a simple on/off type switch which means that I
should be able to jumper it to make it a complete circuit. Any clues on this??
Thanks
Mike
'87 928 S4 5 spd
also, has anybody removed one lately? It appears to be a tight fit above
the tank.
In a response dated: 11/11/00
There are TWO sensors on that circuit - the level switch that you know about, and a pressure switch that you don't know about. It is buried
just under the fender, a few inches for the tank, in the pressure line.
Wally Plumley
928 Specialists
In a response dated: 11/11/00
Mike,
I looked at the wiring diagrams and it is an on / off switch operated by a
float. The brown wire goes to the MP5 ground point. You should be able to
jumper across the switch to test it. I don't know if open or closed is the
full coolant indication.
The problem could be with the ground contact. Probably at the switch itself
rather than the ground point.
Of course the problem could also be with what looks like a control unit.
Ken '86.5 928S
|
Section 5: Heater
Valve
Replacement |
|
Heater Valve and Hot Smell in Air Vents
Heater Valve Replacement
In a question dated: 3/30/99
I think I have a problem with my heater
valve. I am not sure that this is the correct name, but I'll describe
my symptoms. I have noticed for the past several months a slow loss
of coolant from the cooling system. I occasionally get a low coolant
warning message, I add about a quart of antifreeze, and a month or
two later it happens again. I do not see puddles of coolant under the
car, but I did notice last December when I had the lower engine cover
off to install my new Devek front sway bar that there was some
coolant on the cover. It was near the rear of the engine and also had
some green dry residue which appeared like dried coolant. Last summer
I noticed a few small puddles of coolant on the garage floor located
at the rear of the engine. I wasn't sure at the time if it was from
the overflow tank for the coolant lines.
Just in the last 2 months I have also noticed a hot smell
coming through the ventilation system as soon as the car gets warm.
The coolant loss rate has also appeared to have increased. I am
hoping that this is a problem with the infamous vacuum operated
heater valve that has been mentioned on the list. Do these correlate?
There has been some recent discussion about bad smells in the vents
so I guess I should also check the plastic "tee" to the
canister in the passenger wheel well.
If the heater valve is the likely case, what is the price and how
easy is this to change? Can I change it without draining the
cooling system?
Thanks for any help and assistance.
Regards,
Curtis Eames - 91 GT
Vancouver, WA
In a response dated: 3/30/99
Curtis,
Here are some pertinent msgs that I've archived.
--
Jim Stadter
'83 928 S 5-speed (U.S. spec)
'88 928 S4 5-speed
Hill Country Region PCA (Austin)
928 Owners Club (http://www.928oc.com)
>Greg Nichols wrote:
>
> Message text written by Tom Green
> >Is that 1 cup leaking out AFTER draining the cooling system? Or
is
> >it not necessary to drain the system to replace the heater valve?
>
> Tom,
>
> The heater valve is high up compared to the rest of the cooling
system, so
> there is no need to drain.
>
> Here's the valve replacement directions, in case you didn't get them
> before:
>
> 1. Remove air filter. Remove lower air filter housing
> 2. Locate heater bypass valve - right (passenger) side of engine
> compartment, between
> engine and firewall.
> 3. Loosen hose clamps and slide them out of the way. Remove vacuum
hose
> from valve actuator
> 4. Place newspapers and catch pan under vehicle and/or position a rag
> underneath the valve
> 5. Remove old valve. Less than one cup of coolant will leak out.
> 6. Insert new valve and reinstall hose clamps and vacuum hose
> 7. Bring engine up to operating temperature and check for leaks. Any
> spilled coolant will be
> evaporated by engine heat.
> 8. Replace air cleaner, and go and enjoy a cool ride on a hot day!
>
> Tip: Twist hoses to loosen, then carefully use a flat blade
screwdriver to
> help slide them off.
>
> +Greg
|
Section 6:
Thermostat
Operating Temperature
Thermostat Overview
Do I need one? |
|
"Normal" Operating Temperature
In a question 5/26/99
Looking for some general feedback. What is the "normal" operating
temperature range that I should be running at with regular around town
driving? I'm tyically seeing 2/3 to 3/4 on the
guage.
Rob
'91GT bl/bl
In a response dated: 5/26/99
Rob,
I run the same. (2/3 to 3/4 guage)
Mike 91GT Black/Black
In a response dated: 5/26/99
Dear Rob:
Now that both fans are operating, the guage reads between 2/3 and 3/4. Back
when only one fan was working the reading was 3/4 to 4/5 (at the upper
white mark).
Merry motoring, Ed.
In a response dated: 5/26/99
1/2 plus or minus 1/8 depending on outside air temp...
Ted Childs
87 S4 5sp
|
|
|
Thermostat
- Description
In a question dated: 7/25/00
Steve Lewis wrote:
I have drilled the thermo housing with bypass holes( as recommended by several
highly experienced Porsche mechanics
If I am not mistaken, the 928 thermostat performs in the opposite manner to "normal" thermostats. It closes when it heats up and lets the engine water
go through the radiator. When it is open, some water bypasses the radiator and recircs through the engine. I think your highly experienced
Porsche mechanics need some more experience and you need a new thermostat again.
In a response dated: 7/25/00
I posted a couple messages to the list on the thermostat subject in the
last year, and one of them pointed out how the operation of the thermostat
is different from what one typically sees in automobiles these days. DR
mailed me off-list back then (I've reduced the dosage since then, Dave
;-)), letting me know that the way I described the operation wasn't exactly
accurate. I'll try again, and maybe some of this will clear up the
confusion. The original response way back then was to somebody considering
taking the thermostat out to increase water flow, so the description then
was very targeted.
The thermostat in the 928 does two things. If you look inside the water
manifold where the thermostat sits, you'll see passages that connect to
both radiator hoses and the passages in the block. In normal operation,
the thermostat is open to the radiator, and the bypass between the
discharge and inlet ports is blocked closed. The thermostat flange that
the sealing o-ring wraps around could be drilled to allow coolant flow to
the radiator even when the engine is cold, and that sounds like what was
done here.
Going to the cold condition, the thermostat normally blocks flow through
the radiator, and also allows coolant to bypass between the discharge and
inlet ports on the block. This bypass flow eliminates those local hot
spots in the block, promoting a nice even warm-up of the block from cold.
As the coolant temp comes up, the bypass closes, the radiator outlet opens,
and coolant is directed through the radiator. Looking at that function, it
would seem that drilling the thermostat would extend the engine's warm-up
time if the holes are very large.
Many cars have small holes drilled in that front flange. Primary reason is
to allow gas or air bubbles to pass through. My Explorer, for instance,
has a very specific instruction to make sure the thermostat vent hole is at
the top when installed. If you don't follow that rule, you risk having a
gas or steam bubble in the top of the housing where the temp sender is
located. With the bubble, gauge readings are false and slow. It's pretty
sucky too, because if you lose coolant in that car, you lose accurate gauge
reading almost immediately. Anyway, I suppose there might be a case for
drilling a vent hole in the 928 thermostat, I just haven't seen the need
yet. The system burp procedure following a coolant change is pretty
interesting, but once done there doesn't seem to be any problem with
bubbles in the water manifold.
I'm open to discussion/criticism of this subject. I just don't want to
have my previous partially-correct description propogated as complete. I
apologise for causing the confusion.
Best regards,
dr bob
|
|
|
Do
I Need A Thermostat?
In a question dated: 11/3/00
I have an 86.5 928S in Orlando and my thermostat is bad. Do I really
need one do to the fact that I am in Florida and the thermostat just holds
fluid in the block for cold starts.
Todd
In a response dated: 11/3/00
Yes.
The 928 thermostat does not work in the same manner as the standard
set-up. You MUST have a thermostat in the engine.
When you install your new thermostat, be sure that the old rubber o-ring
gasket is full removed from the cavity.
Wally Plumley
928 Specialists
In a response dated: 11/3/00
YES !!!!!! the 928 must have a thermostat or it will overheat !! the
thermostat has two functions one is when it opens it allows circulation
through the radiator . the other is to close the hole in the back of the
housing which allows circulation back into the engine . Run with out a
thermostat and it will overheat badly .
In a response dated: 11/5/00
Some thoughts--
You really --do-- need a thermostat in your 928. As has been previously
mentioned ad mausoleum (same as 'to death'??) the themostat does in fact block recirculating coolanat when the engine is warm.
On to the question of running a thermostat in a conventional car. The misconception about running without and the "water traveling too fast to
shed the heat" is just that, a misconception. Faster circulation is one of
the factors used in sizing heat exchangers like radiators, and more flow improves the heat transfer.
--BUT-- running your conventional engine without a thermostat will often cause it to overheat. It's just not from the "too fast water" problem
often blamed. Consider that the thermostat provides a certain amount of restriction to coolant flow, and that the pressure upstream of the
thermostat in the block operates at a pressure higher because of it. Operating with the fluid at a higher pressure cuts down on hot-spot
boiling, where the fuid becomes gas momentarily as it passes a particularly
hot place in the block. At that point, the heat transfer is diminished significantly as the liquid contact is lost. It becomes a self-feeding
problem, as it gets hotter in that area and immediately downstream as the gas pocket grows. Hot spot grows, gas pocket grows, etc. So, adding the
restriction, whether it be a thermostat or just a fixed orifice in its place, definitely can contribute to better heat transfer in the block.
Redline makes a coolant supplement called Water Wetter that claims to improve the transfer of heat by cutting down on this gas pockets. They
add a little detergent/surfactant to the coolant to help the liquid stick to
the walls of the water jackets. Good stuff in my experience.
Back to the guy who was asking about just removing the thermostat--Why not just buy a new one? They aren't expensive (as 928 parts can
go...) and the effort to remove the old one is the same as swapping in a new
one anyway.
Another thought-- If the car is just running hot, or if it takes more
than ten minutes of running to overheat, you are chasing a problem other than
a stuck thermostat. I posted a cooling system diagnostic diatribe a while
back, and can repost it to you if necessary. I know John Pirtle has it immortalized on his 928 Info website (Thanks John!)if you want to look
for it. Try <http://members.prestige.net/jpirtle/auto/s4/keepers/cooling\overview.txt>
for the full treatment.
Hope this helps!
dr bob
|
SECTION
7: Torque Converter
Explanation |
|
Torque Converter
Explanation
In a message dated: 8/7/99
I had not planned to participate further in the gearing discussion, but
was asked to explain what I said about torque converters.
A standard automatic transmission (including the 928 versions) include
one or two planetary gearsets, which can be hydraulically manipulated
thru externally contracting brake bands and multiplate clutch packs to
give reverse and two, three, four, or five forward gear ratios, with one
almost invariably being straight thru, and the rest gear reductions that
multiply torque at the expense of speed. In the MY86 928 automatic
transmission, first gear is 3.6760 to 1. This is a steel-to-steel
mechanical ratio, and does not vary in any way at any time. If you are
in first gear with this transmission, you get a torque multiplication of
3.6760, and a speed reduction of 3.6760. (We are ignoring friction
losses, etc.)
In the MY86 5-speed, first gear has a ratio of 4.0672 to 1. This is a
steel-to-steel ratio, and does not vary in any way at any time.
(Contrary to an assertion made earlier, changing the rear end ratio does
not make the ratios closer.) If you are in first gear with this
transmission, you get a torque multiplication of 4.0672, and a speed
reduction of 4.0672. (Again, we are ignoring friction losses, etc.)
This would seem to give the 5-speed a decided advantage - but let's look
at the rest of the story. Between the engine and the gear train in the
automatic is the torque converter. This is a doughnut-shaped steel tube,
containing another doughnut that has been split into a front half and a
rear half. The front half is driven by the engine, the rear half drives
the transmission input shaft. There are complex fins inside both halves,
and the whole thing is full of transmission fluid. If that was all there
was to it, this would be a fluid coupling, which only allows slip, but
does not multiply torque. Since about 1953, however, the coupling has
contained a stator, which is a sort of turbine wheel that is inside of
the split torus (fancy name for doughnut). The stator redirects fluid
flow between the split halves, and by so doing hydraulically multiplies
torque, and, since TANSTAAFL, reduces speed.
The multiplication ratio varies with the intended usage, but is
typically between 1.8 to 1 and 2.3 to 1. One key point to this is that
the torque multiplication varies from this high figure (let's assume 2
to 1) to essentially zero, depending solely upon the load placed upon
the output as compared to the torque input. In other words, if you are
cruising the interstate at a steady 100kph, there is very little load,
virtually no multiplication, and very little slippage. (Some
manufacturers add a lock-up clutch to make the whole thing
steel-to-steel, but that is outside of our discussion.)
If you open the throttle as much as possible without downshifting, the
increased load will cause torque multiplication and speed reduction. The
reduction, equivalent to going down a very small gear, isn't noticeable,
since the engine is speeding up.
If you are sitting still in first gear, and floor the throttle, the
5-speed will give you 4.0672 to 1 torque multiplication, period. The
automatic, however, will give you a mechanical torque multiplication of
3.6760, times a hydraulic torque multiplication of about 2 to 1, for a
total torque multiplication of about 7. This total multiplication falls
off as the output of the torque converter gets closer to the input, but
at full throttle, there is ALWAYS multiplication. You could probably
calculate the multiplication at any given point if you could accurately
measure the rpm with little or no load, then at full load. The
difference is almost all torque multiplication, with a little slippage.
There is another factor involved in getting performance out of an
automatic, and that is the stall speed of the torque converter. A higher
stall speed allows the engine to rev higher with the car not moving
(stalled converter), thus developing more torque and horsepower. It
looks to me as if the MY86 torque converter has a stall speed of 1650
to 2050 rpm in the USA. Everybody else in the world has a stall speed of
2200 to 2600 rpm. There is definitely some performance being left on the
table there.
And I think that this is all I have to say about that.
Wally Plumley
928 Specialists
|
SECTION
8: Idle
Adjusting Idle |
|
Adjusting Idle
In a message dated: 1/2/99
Is there a way to adjust the idle on my 83' 928S without having to take
it to the dealer. I have looked for an idle adjustment and can not find
one.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Carl
In a response dated: 1/2/99
First, be grateful that you don't have a LH-Jetronic system :-) Look down
in front of the throttle body, you'll find a slotted adjustment screw. The
head of the screw is about the size of a nickel. Clockwise to decrease and
counter-clockwise is to increase. Use a good tachometer to do the
adjustment. Do not rely on your instrumentation's tach. They're known to
be inaccurate up to as much as 20%.
Some advice: Before you make the adjustment, make sure that you don't have
any "false air" leak on the intake system. That is basically any rubber
seal that you can get your hands on.
Tightening the intake boots on air plenum would be a very good start. Be
forewarned that this action MIGHT cause the A/F ratio to be thrown off, so
be prepared to make some A/F mixture adjustment as well.
Another place of false air leak would be the gigantic o-ring located at the
throat of the air flow meter assembly. It's cheap to replace. You need to
remove the air box in order to access it.
Finally, the vacuum servos buried within the dash/console is another cause
of false air. Given time, the diaphragm within the servo will crack and
leak. A common symptom of this problem would be inaccurate temp control of
the AC and the ventilation system. There was a long thread on this subject
awhile back, so you should be able to get more info from the archive. Good
luck.
Vince Yu
'78 928
'83 928S
|
| SECTION
9: Back Firing |
|
Backing Firing
- Upon Cranking
In a question dated: 9/13/00
Hi listers,
This afternoon I got a frantic call from my wife telling me the "Beast" just blew up! I'll get to the point... upon inspection, the air cleaner box top was blown into a few pieces, the entire induction system (86.5) was separated from virtually every rubber connector, including the throttle body, and the explosion went off with such force, that we now have two "power bulges" in the hood where the 2 metal air boxes came in contact with it. This all occurred upon an attempted cold start. My wife doesn't even remember hearing the engine crank... it just went off upon turning the key. Fortunately there was no fire. Once the car was towed home, I disabled the fuel and ignition systems and the engine does crank normally, so hopefully I have no internal damage. She said the car was running perfectly when she shut it down this morning at work. My guesstimate of the problem at this point is that I may have an injector that stuck open and drained a considerable amount of fuel into its cylinder, which ignited upon my wife attempting to crank the engine. I would appreciate any advice from anyone out there who has had this problem, or knows of it, or even has any theory on what might have caused it. I'll be out working on the car for a little while now... Please respond directly to me as well as on list, as I have been in digest mode lately.Thanks to all who can shed any light on this.
Bill Swift
In a response dated: 9/13/00
I can think of two possibilities:
1) A spark plug fired while the intake valve for that cylinder was open, igniting the mixture in the cylinder and the manifold. This is called "cross-firing", and can be caused by high resistance in the plug that should have fired at that instant combined with either bad plug wires or wires dressed too closely together for too long a distance, allowing induction to do its thing.
2) An intake valve stuck open just enough for the fire in the cylinder to blow back into the manifold and ignite the mixture from all of the injectors. This seems somewhat likely because intake valves do tend to stick open, as the valve stem gets just hot enough to build up deposits, but not hot enough to burn them off. However, it seems less likely because the 32-valve engine is definitely an interference engine, and an intake hanging open should cause serious valve-piston collisions.
There is no source of ignition in the manifold, otherwise the normally-perfect mixture in the manifold would ignite much more often. In addition, more fuel from a stuck injector would make the mixture less likely to explode, not more.
As a pedantic aside, "back-firing" is perfectly correct in this context. An explosion in the exhaust is "after-firing", contrary to common usage that refers to all explosions outside the cylinders as "back-firing".
Wally Plumley
928 Specialists
|
SECTION
10: Oil
Oil Changes |
|
Oil Change - Why So Frequent
In a question dated: 2/8/99
It seems everyone on the list likes to change the oil every 3,000 miles. This is way under the manufacturers' recommended interval (both Porsche and Oil Companys').
Why? Do we know something they don't know? Are we just risk averse, or do we just like to buy lots of expensive Mobil 1 when we don't have any scientific data to support it?
Dan
In a response dated: 2/9/99
Dear fellow sharksters:
The recommended drain interval specified in the owners manual has a disclaimer. If you drive long enough to raise the oil temperature above 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Farenheit) and without having to do much "stop and go", and the air
is always clean, and the ambient temperature does not fluctuate very much, then you are one of the rare individuals that does not need to worry about the disclaimer.
The interval should be more frequent and at fewer miles or kilometers if the car is driven in harsh conditions. Those harsh conditions could be anything from; Driving in a dusty area, to driving in a manner that does not allow the engine to warm up enough to boil away accumulated moisture in the oil.
Besides distance, the interval is also time dependent. Typically, every three months for folks that drive alot, and every six months for the rest.
Since the typical 928 engine would cost over $10,000 to replace. $50 for an oil and filter change every 3 or 6 months seems like very cheap insurance.
Merry motoring, Ed.
'78 5speed
928OCCM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section
11: Miscellaneous
Motorvac
Ramblings |
|
Motorvac
In a question dated: 12/29/98
The shop I was just at for the alignment is swearing by a new? process to
clean carbon out of the motor. It called MotorVac carbon clean System.
It is supposed to make the engine breath easier, raising the manifold vacuum
significantly and improving gas mileage and emissions.
Has anyone had this performed?
It will be on a Shade Tree mechanic episode on Jan 16 @ 5:30 EST and 17th @
9:30am and 5:30pm EST, and 18th at 9:30am EST.
Ken
I've only pulled a dozen or so 928 heads, and have never seen carbon
build-up as a problem. Yes, there was a fine layer on top of the pistons
and valve heads, but it's not a problem as long as the amount is consistent
on all valves / pistons. It gets to be a problem if it builds up more in
some cylinders than others, giving different compression in different
cylinders of the same engine. It can also cause pre-ignition if there is a
large amount built up, but a properly tuned (and operated) 928 shouldn't
require any carbon cleaning. The only place carbon buildup could affect
manifold pressure would be in the port leading from the exhaust valve to the
exhaust manifold, and that would require quite a lot of carbon. I suppose
it could also affect manifold pressure if your exhaust pipes were clogged
with it, but that scenario is highly unlikely. Carbon usually will not build
up to the point of being detrimental to engine performance unless the oil
rings or valve guides are really worn, allowing oil into the combustion
chamber. At that point you would see a lot of blue smoke from the exhaust.
An engine running very rich can build carbon deposits, but again, smoke
(black) would be evident at the exhaust pipe.
I'll be watching that program with interest, but a lot of the stuff I have
seen on those Saturday / Sunday car programs have the distinct odor of snake
oil. For me, they lost all credibility when they started pushing K&N air
filters.
Maybe someone from Mark Anderson's crew could give us insight as to carbon
problems in 928 engines (since they dismantle these things day and
night.........)
Walt Konecny
88 S4 A/T
In a response dated:
Hi Ken and list:
Yes, I have had it done to the 81 and the 88 will get it soon. Some may
remember that my pal and mechanic, Mo Zahr, just bought one of these machines.
Billed to really clean the injectors and more. It smoother out the idle a touch
on the 81 and the car does really run well. I'll post again after the 88 gets
it.
I think it seems like a decent product, uses chemicals mixed with gasoline, hook
up the fuel lines, connect 12 v, pull fuel pump fuse, and start her up. Runs
about 30 minutes for a "treatment" and may cost $75-100???
(Mo gives me a bit of a deal)
Marc White
81 and 88 S4
87 project on the rack
|
|
|
Miscellaneous Ramblings
In a message dated: 7/31/99
According to my mail system, I sent this to the list early this morning.
I didn't get it - did anyone else?
Comments on recent posts:
>>My cam tensioner took over 30 ml of oil today (probably empty). The
seal showed little no evidence of leaking. I'm wondering if the belt
will be
tighter now? Or does the oil act as a damper?<<
The oil in the tensioner: a) Lubricates the tensioner. There is a lot of
movement in the tensioner. b) Dampens the movement of the tensioner. c)
Aids in heat transfer from the block to the bimetallic washers that
correct for varying operating temperatures and the resulting expansion
and contraction of the engine block.
To fill the tensioner on a 32-valve engine, use a pump oil can and a
short length of plastic hose. The fill nozzle is the HIGHER of the two,
closest to the right front fender. The other nozzle is the bleed. Keep
pressure on the oil as you pump it into the tensioner - it goes in
pretty slowly. The instructions for the early model rensioners say to
remove both plugs and pour oil in the filler opening (again, the upper
one) until it runs out of the bleeder opening. It would be interesting
to see if the bleeder nozzles
could be used to replace the plugs on an earlier tensioner. All
tensioners use SAE 90 gear oil (Shop Manual, Vol I, Page 15-21 and
15-22).
After you fill the tensioner, keep an eye on the area. Leaks usually
come from two sources - the rubber boot gets hard and cracks, or the
gasket between the block and tensioner leaks.
>>You could be right, but it's going to take a lot more than some
"logic" to get me to change my frequent oil change habits. <<
Very significant statement! This will almost certainly be one of those
questions that are never settled. My suggestion is that each of us try
to take an objective look at the situation, make up our own minds about
our own oil change intervals, and NOT try to convert others to our
particular religion.
>>I purchased a a/c compressor pump recently. I attempted to install it
when I found that the old pump mounts were broken from the engine block.
A local shop told me that I would never be able to replace it unless I
replace the engine block. My question is can these be welded back on the
engine? Can you weld on the block or will it damage the engine? I don't
want to replace the engine at a cost of $4000!<<
Amen to that! This is an unfortunately common result of running the
front of a 928 fashionably low - the a/c compressor is the first thing
that hits the ground! Before I replaced the block, I would certainly
investigate two ways of attaching the compressor - welding and bolting.
Welding would be my first try, but it will be interesting to try to
persuade a welder to work in such cramped quarters around such flammable
and easily damaged materials. It might be easier in the end to remove
the engine from the car, regardless of what method you try. God knows
that there are enough WYAITs to justify removal. Bolting might be
possible. Grind the block smooth and make a replacement ear that affords
a pad to spread the loads and give a place for the bolts. Try to get to
a corner, and wrap around it if possible. It might be better to make a
large scab-on plate to spread the loads as much as possible, and to use
numerous small fasteners.
Wally Plumley
928 Specialists
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|