993 top end rebuild 60K fact or fiction???

[Marco8]

I was talking w/ an independent Porsche service advisor about a couple of higher mileage 993 (varioram) I had seen recently. He told me to plan on a top end overhaul ($5K) in 993s with over 60K. I told him I found that very surprising, and asked him details, he said that almost all 993 that have come into their shop need top end overhauls, why I asked?, and he said worn valve guides.

So after thinking about it awhile, I wondered was this service advisor wrong or maybe just full of crap. Or maybe these are dealer serviced 993s that’s owners after finding out they needed a rebuild and went to the independent to save money.

Anyway would appreciate hearing from high mileage 993 owners to find out if this is a myth or reality.

Thank you

He's guilty of over generalization. Some 993's wear valve guides early the same way some 3.2 cars do. It's hit and miss. My 97 had a warranty top end at 35K for valve guides causing a cel - lucky me.

[jmshepard]

I've got 120,000 miles on my 95.
There have been no indications of oil burning or leakage on the garage floor.
That being said, while I am away overseas this spring, it is going in to the shop to have new guides installed. Getting her ready to go to 300,000+.
Jim S.

[Marco8]

Thanks for your replies. Any other 993 owners that would like to chime in?

thanks

[Jamie79SC]

Just repeating folk lore, but I've been told that driving style had everything to do with 993 valve guide wear.

Drive it like you stole it kept everything clean and dry, but dawdle around town at 2,200 rpm and the wore out. Can someone who actually knows confirm?

[syncroid]

We have done several top end over hauls in our shop on the 993s. The lowest mileage one had 21000 miles on the odo. The secondary air injection ports get plugged up with carbon and turn the check engine light on. We have customers that drive them like they stole it and still have the problem. The air injection passage ways were designed very poorly and they simply plug up.

[shbop]

I think I remember Woods mentioning problems with exhaust guide failure due to overheating. Solution was to get rid of the sound-proof box the factory put the motor in.

[911teo]

We have 2 993s. One '95 with 62k and one '96 with 20k miles. Both are fine. I have never heard 993s needing a top end at 60k. I think your advisor is generalizing.

I would suggest you post this question on the rennlist forum (many 993s owners out there) and see what the responses are.

[Tyson Schmidt]

I agree to some extent with the service advisor.

But it all depends on how the car has been driven. lots of stop and go city driving will certainly cause more guide wear than high speed freeway miles.

The whole SAI issues are directly related to exhaust valve guide wear.

Also keep in mind that you can drive these cars way past the wear limit on the guides with only minor oil consumption. So just because everything is fine, doesn't mean your guides aren't worn past the factory spec limit.

[Lorenfb]

"But it all depends on how the car has been driven."

Not really as an absolute!

Check here for more info:

www.systemsc.com/pictures.htm

[Nine9six]

Not that this makes any difference, but maybe there is a contributing factor at work here...
Note where Marco, the originator of the thread, lives...
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
I understand it gets hot there...Maybe that has something to do with his service advisor's comments on 993 valve guide wear.