How many miles with no engine work? - Page 2

Peter Zimmermann · 07-30-2008, 07:45 AM

'82 SC - 203K miles; Tensioner upgrade + cams @ 192K miles. Consumption = 1 qt/800 miles, no smoke, dead smooth & strong.

rusnak · 07-30-2008, 08:57 AM

you guys gotta be kiddin' me. 300K + miles, headed to 400K. Might change the chain tensioners and ramps, but that's about it. About 750 miles per quart in the summer, more in the winter.

Netspeed · 07-30-2008, 09:08 AM

88 with 170k...runs like a champ!

mthomas58 · 07-30-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milt

236K. Never opened up, but a few new external parts replaced.

Milt, I thought I remembered you being above 200k with no engine work. Gives me hope/confidence there nothing catastrophic just around the corner. I've had people tell me that at 160k with no work they would'nt risk driving the car without
at least doing the top-end.

My oil pressure is good and the car pulls strong est with my new cat bypass and sw chip!

Thanks for weighing in.

Peter Zimmermann · 07-30-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mthomas58

I've had people tell me that at 160k with no work they would'nt risk driving the car without at least doing the top-end.

Putting a number out there like that is absolutely ridiculous. It's all about oil consumption and user habits (drive it easy following cold starts; keep the oil level above the "min" line; get it warm, or hot, by driving every time that you start it, and don't ignore routine maintenance). A 911 with 160K miles on the clock can still be a young car - have fun with it!

911 Rod · 911 Rod's Garage

Wow!
I thought I'd be close to the top, but not !
307 km (193 miles)
1 liter every 4,000 km

mnmasotto · mnmasotto's Garage

Well kept/maintained 1987 Carrera. Had to rebuild top end because it was burning a quart of oil every 500 miles. The motor only had 72K miles on the clock. The P & C were fine and well within spec. Again, well cared for up to the 72K mark.
My mechanic said this was typical for valve guide life expectancy. I am curious to see what Pete has to say about this.

NoLift911 · 07-30-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mthomas58

And never driven!

Touche - it had 21, 000 when I bought it in 98 though ;-)

no time, too many projects, to many kids- plus it is going under a lightweight transformation

Peter Zimmermann · 07-30-2008, 10:30 AM

Yes, your guide wear was probably legitimate based on your consumption. I have some theories about how this could happen, and in no particular order they are; (1) regular short trip use where the car never quite reaches operating temp, (2) aggressive driving following cold starts, (3) using inferior oil - probably not the fault of the owner, one of SoCal's biggest/premier P-car dealers used Pennzoil for cryin' out loud, and (4) poor/ignored/carelessly done 1,000 mile services. Now, with regard to #4, before you think that I've gone off the deep end wearing heavy shoes, I've experienced it. For some reason, during the Carrera years, dealer service quality sunk to unheard of levels, all the while the dealers moved into bigger, fancier buildings complete with expansive showrooms and big inventories. The result? My shop had many first-time-in Carreras come to us with 30K miles, and their rocker covers had never been off. Those engines rattled so bad, and the valves were so loose, that we brought many of those cars back between 1,000 and 2,000 miles after our first adjustment to do a follow up adjustment. Those loose valves had to play hell with the guides, and once the initial damage was done it was too late. Yes, those cars required a 1,000 mile valve adjustment, as well as a 15,000 mile valve adjustment, and their service book had been stamped, so what those unfortunate owners paid for was probably not what they got.

Items #1 - 3 are pretty much self-explanatory, and I've talked with owners of high oil consumption cars about all three. My client list of 3.2 liter Carreras was huge, and at one point I calculated that about 3% of those cars required what I would call a premature top end job. The youngest Carrera we did a top end on had a mere 46K miles, and most were repaired in the 70 - 90K mile range.

1982911SCTarga · 07-30-2008, 10:47 AM

Sales figures and leasing during the Carrera years might also have contributed to maintenance inattentiveness and owner/driver inattentiveness (people unaccustomed to properly driving a 911 and thus frequently short-hopping them).

Brian

Peter Zimmermann · 07-30-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1982911SCTarga

Sales figures and leasing during the Carrera years might also have contributed to maintenance inattentiveness and owner/driver inattentiveness (people unaccustomed to properly driving a 911 and thus frequently short-hopping them).

Brian

Excellent points! I should certainly have mentioned/included leased cars in the above post!

rusnak · 07-30-2008, 11:19 AM

I do a lot of short hops, so I'm guilty of that. I think I have my valves adjusted about every 15,000 miles. Last time only one valve needed adjustment. I use Mobil 1, and change it OFTEN. I actually go by color. If it gets a little black out it comes and new goes in.

ramonesfreak · ramonesfreak's Garage

102,500K miles. trans/clutch are new but engine has never been open except valve adjustments by PO's.

burns 1 quart of oil every 3,000 miles or so, if that - most likey it leaks out of the leaky hoses. after 5,000 miles, oil still looks brand new and clear

puff of white smoke on start up only

i wouldnt be surprised if i have a broken head stud or two though. ill find out when i take valve covers off for the first time its been in my possession

MOMO3.2 · 07-30-2008, 12:28 PM

172,xxx miles on my 87 Carrera 3.2. The motor and transmission have never been rebuilt. My car consumes about 1qt of Mobil 1 every 1,000 miles (I think). My valve train is pretty noisy. But, I have read accounts of 3.2 owners having their top ends rebuilt only to find the same amount of valve noise, oil consumption, and power. In other words, they detect no real improvement or change.

I am going to hold out until my consumption is less than 600 miles per qt. I hope that day does not come for another 80,000-130,000 miles.

Mike

Peter Zimmermann · 07-30-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOMO3.2

172,xxx miles on my 87 Carrera 3.2. The motor and transmission have never been rebuilt. My car consumes about 1qt of Mobil 1 every 1,000 miles (I think). My valve train is pretty noisy. But, I have read accounts of 3.2 owners having their top ends rebuilt only to find the same amount of valve noise, oil consumption, and power. In other words, they detect no real improvement or change.

Mike

Calculate consumption by letting the oil level reach the "min" mark - idling, level floor, front cooler hot to the touch. Add one quart and note mileage. Monitor level until the oil again is at "min." Calculate miles.

Not if it's done right!

mthomas58 · 07-30-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Zimmermann

Putting a number out there like that is absolutely ridiculous. It's all about oil consumption and user habits (drive it easy following cold starts; keep the oil level above the "min" line; get it warm, or hot, by driving every time that you start it, and don't ignore routine maintenance). A 911 with 160K miles on the clock can still be a young car - have fun with it!

Pete, you just made my day!

craigyirush · 07-30-2008, 03:35 PM

203 xxx miles. Not sure if the top-end has been done; pretty sure the bottom-end or the P &Cs haven't been.

It doesn't smoke on acceleration or deceleration (or even on start-up), pulls strong, valves not too loud, and I have zero oil leaks.

But my oil consumption is about 5-600 miles per quart!!!! Go figure.