Alusil Or Nikasil

[1972_911T]

Can you tell if a 3.0 engine has alusil or nikasil cylinder by examining the barrels from underneath or does it require a strip down?


Steve

[1972_911T]

Also what cylinders did the 3.2's use it states in waynes book that on the 2.7 and 3.0 it was pot luck as to which ones you got but does'nt say for the 3.2's.

Steve

[Tyson Schmidt]

You can't tell from looking underneath.

Even if they are Mahle, they may still be Alusil. You have to have the barrel out of the car and look at the inside. Or use the magnet method if you don't have enough experience to tell by eye.


3.2's were all Nikasil.

[1972_911T]

Ok thanks for that! Im trying to decide wether to upgrade to a 3.2 or a 3.0, and carnt make my mind up so im trying to arm myself with as much info as I can about both engines to help me decide. Are the 3.2's generally speaking more reliable and less prone to faults than the 3.0 or are they about the same. I have read somewhere about rod bolt failures in the 3.2 and I can imagine this is probably going to as good a right off the engine, how common are these? and is it just a chance occurence or is it badly maintained engines that have these faults.

Steve

[Tyson Schmidt]

If you can swing it, definitely go 3.2.

But if you get a great deal on a 3.0, then jump on it. CIS can be a pain, and parts are expensive. The DME on the 3.2 is much simpler and cheaper to fix. A good exhaust and a custom chip, and a 3.2 will really scoot.

Rod bolts are only an issue if you raise the rev-limit.

[BReyes]

Alusils and Nikasils are both good, and upon disassembly/inspection it is easy to tell which one is present. It just depends which P&C set was pulled off the shelf at the factory. Both are good (3.2 also comes with either).

[KobaltBlau]

Originally posted by Tyson Schmidt
3.2's were all Nikasil.

Are you sure, Tyson? My info says US 3.2s could be either Nikasil or Alusil, but all of the euro 3.2s were nikasil.

[ChrisBennet]

My gut feeling is that the 3.2's they either had Niikasil Mahles or Alusil Kobleschmidt (sp?) P&C
-Chris

[1972_911T]

Waynes book does list both nikasil and alusil for the 3.2's in the tolerence section at the back.