88 3.2 Valve Guide Quesiton

[NewPorsche91132]

Having a PPI done on an 88k mile 3.2 from 88. Looks like the car is in great mechanical condition. The valve guides have never been done (been going to Aurel & Don's in the valley for the last eight years on the car and think I'll continue to go there once I buy it since they know the girl), and I was curious if the car has passed it's 70k mark and seems okay, if that means the valve guides probably won't be an issue so long as I don't red line the car and give her the proper love.

Obviously you can't be 100% sure until it happens, but just don't want to buy this as a DD and then get hit with a 7k bill to fix an issue that is more prevalent that I thought. From what I read, the 88s were less prone to valve guide issues, though they certainly did have their fair share.

Anything else I should know about this particular model from Pelican experience?

[Ronbo]

I imagine you're okay with the valve guides on the car at this point. Many of the cars with bad guides went at a much lower mileage. The PPI should give you some comfort on this. FWIW I sold my '88 coupe when it had about 220K miles on it, and it still had the original valve guides. Compression and leak-down were great.

Also, don't be afraid to use the rev range when it's at operating temperature. The cars love it and seem to operate better when driven with vigor!

[Flat6pac]

I ve done several at that approximate mileage and always found all 12 guides needing replacing.
Bruce

[Hnichols]

From what I've read, guide wear becomes an issue sometime after 120K, so I'm not surprised that they haven't been replaced yet.

Ask the PPI to check them. I think they can remove the valve covers and make a rough assessment (someone correct me if I'm wrong about that), and they can certainly perform the smoke-on-deceleration test.

Where did you hear that '88's are less prone to valve guide wear? (I'm curious b/c i have an '88).

[rusnak]

Honestly, if it's not smoking, using oil, and you're not abusing the motor, then you have no worries most likely for at least another 100K miles. I say this with over 400K on mine....

[porschenut]

The Carrera valve guide "problem" is widely misunderstood. The fact is that the problem was premature valve guide wear, which usually occurred well before 50,000 miles. If your car makes it well past that, then your car is part of the vast majority that never experienced the premature valve guide wear problem, and the valve guides are only experiencing a normal wear rate. That can't be estimated because there are a number of factors that determine how fast they wear, but you should not be concerned at 88k miles unless the tell-tale symptoms start exhibiting themselves. Abnormally high oil usage (make sure you're not counting LEAKAGE) and blue smoke on throttle-off from high revs are tell-tale signs. Most 3.2 Carreras go way past 100k before needing top end work.