Uh oh. Is it time for a top end rebuild already?

[cantdrv55]

My '87 seems to be burning a lot of oil. Does anyone know for sure how many quarts of oil is between the two marks on the dipstick? If it's two quarts, my car may be burning as much as 1 qt/600 miles. I think that's beyond the allowable limit per the factory, no?

Also, a wrench quoted me $7K for a complete top end job but I don't know what he means by "complete". Is $7K reasonable? BTW, the car has only 110K miles.

[MotoSook]

IMO..7K is high for a stock topend rebuild...

[jwmc1]

That is too much money....does the car smoke a lot? Seems to me that 600 miles may be a little much, but it isn't so bad as to hurry out and get the rebuild....what does anyone else think?

[dweymer]

That seems way too high to me also. EBS webpricing shows 475 for a valve job, per PP:
New guides 99.00
intake valves 187.50
exhaust valves 267.90
seals 15.60
shims 6.60
seats 135.60
springs 130.20
retainers 76.20
locks 21.60

So that's about 1415.20 for the actual heads/work. I am cheap, and or stupid so when I get my heads done(within 2 months) I will pull them myself and send them out. Too much labor cost for pulling the engine and assembly.

[MotoSook]

Do a compression and leakdow test..why? here is what I posted in jwmc1's thread from earlier:

"the 911 Carrera spec book actually indicates “appox. 1.5 l/1000km”

That’s 1.6 quarts per 621 miles! Since we Americans are dispensed oil in quarts….we should be adding a quart every 400 mile! That’s low, but that’s what is in the spec manual for the Carrera. Sure 1 quart per every 1000 miles is good, and we like to see that, but 1 per 400? Most engine out there with 1Qt/400Mi are due for a rebuild…"

[Rot 911]

600 miles a quart. Keep an eye on things.
400 miles a quart start planning the top end rebuild.

It could be a long, long time before you see that 400 miles/quart use.

[cantdrv55]

Whew, that's a load off my mind. Hopefully, I won't see 400 miles/qt for a lonnnggg time. I thought $7K for a rebuild was high. Thanks guys.

[72 four door]

I would say 7000.00 is a good # for a complete rebuild Top end builds generally run around 3000.00 But then theres the while your in there stuff which usually means $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!! Just by a case of oil and change your plugs every 2 thousand miles.

[MobileWrks]

Email me direct,and ill have a good source........
Porscheworks@aol.com

[jyl]

Chris the difference between max and min on the dipstick in my 89 is 1.75 liters or roughly 1.75 qt. I assume your 87 is the same.

[cantdrv55]

Thanks John. I really should be keeping better oil consumption records.

[masraum]

My '88 used about a quart every 6000 miles, but it was a combination of leaking and I suppose a little burning, but my plugs look great even with a fair amount of miles, so you'll only have to change your plugs often if you are burning all of the oil and one or more of your plugs are fouling. You may also want to make sure you don't have a broken head stud if you haven't already.

[jwmc1]

The "How to Rebuild" your engine has a good section on whther it is time to rebuild...also, there is a reprint of that section in the tech article section of this site...

[ChrisBennet]

The place that does all my head work always charges under a grand to have a set of heads done including valves as needed. When they come back they are ready to go. He gets valves cheaper than I can and turns them around faster (and cheaper) than than a local shop could do the machining alone.
-Chris

[Wil Ferch]

Plus...make sure you're checking oil consumption correctly....just to be on the safe side.

For some, the tendency is to fill to the "max" or near "max level....using the proper idling / temp /level process. Then, as the car runs hot during a gard run, the expanded volume of the heated oil will tend to overfill the system, with the excess going back intot the air box where it will be consumed. This can lead to "false" high oil consumption readings.....

Make sure you fill ( and refill) to a consistent point....best would be at the mid-point of low -to-high on the dip stick.

Wil

[jyl]

Wil, when excess oil goes into the airbox, will you be able to tell (e.g. smoky exhaust)?

I ask because I may have overfilled my oil tank a bit (oil level gauge needle pegged at high end when idling) and yesterday my car failed smog (high HC) - I wonder if they are related.

[Rick Lee]

Oil consumption on my '87 Carrera doubled overnight with no smoking or leaking. I went from 1100 miles per qt. to 550 and I keep very meticulous records of everything I touch on my cars. I can't believe 600 miles per qt. is good and it will only get worse. Sure, you drive it like that for a while, but that just increases the chances of dropping a valve exploding the cost of the rebuild. Start planning.

My SC rebuild ran around $5k, but that included all new valves, SSI's, 964 cams, a B&B dual in/out and some other stuff. Kstylianos did most of the work for me. We DIY'ed the drop and reinstall. Car runs like a CHAMP now.

[gerry100]

I recently spent $6800 tax incl on my 98K '86 for-

- new head studs
- rings
-valve giudes
- valve grind
- all asscosciated machining etc

and a rebuild of the 915.

As I recall the quote was around $5300 w/o the tranny work.

My pistons and cylinders were fine, perhaps replacement was included in your mechanics' estimate.

[dweymer]

Chris,
Where do you send them?

[ChrisBennet]

Originally posted by dweymer
Chris,
Where do you send them?

Atlantic Enterprises in NJ. See this thread for more info or do a search in this forum for "Atlantic Enterprises" and "ChrisBennet".
-Chris