opinions? staying off the slippery slope

[gduke2010]

OK, here's the situation, my 3.6 993 has about 70k miles. Last year I had a stuck lifter that inflated about a minute after idling. But, ever since then there has been a ticking noise. I'm sure the car needs hydraulic lifters and the valve guides are probably worn.

I haven't taken the car in yet to have a mechanic diagnose the suspected problems. But, the device advisor seems to think it might be time for a complete rebuild, while I'm hoping for lifters and a valve job which I have the money for. A complete rebuild could cost $15k plus easily.

Options:
1) just limit the work to guides and lifters
2) do nothing and leave the car in the garage until next year when I can afford the complete rebuild
3) bite the bullet and rebuild w/3.8l p&c and etc
4) rebuild w/ reconditioned cylinders and JE pistons, have all tolerances checked and replace only what needs to be replaced

[gduke2010]

Been considering option 1, but feel it could come to option 4

[gduke2010]

BTW, thinking machine work on heads $ 1500

[Matt Monson]

You never know until it comes apart. Don't take it in for teardown until you can afford the most expensive option.

[gduke2010]

thanks matt. sounds like good advise

[Wayne 962]

Try this - it's worked pretty well on other cars I've had, although never really tried on a 993, so your results may vary. At least it's worth a try.

On a BMW engine that I rebuilt the top end on a long time ago, it had stuck / noisy lifters, even after I primed them prior to install. The engine had coolant / oil mix and I don't think they ever got really free of the mix. What worked somewhat was varying the viscosity of the oil. The thinnest I could find, then really thick oil, changed quite a few times. The lifter never got super-quiet, but it did help a tremendous amount. So much that no one ever thought anything of it (but I could hear it of course). The 993 takes a lot of oil, but this is much cheaper than a rebuild...

-Wayne

[manbridge 74]

Many service techs forgo replacing secondary filter, the purpose for which is to keep debris out of lifters. 993 guys need to make sure this filter gets changed even if they don't do the work...

[mreid]

Have a compression and leak down done. I bet the top end is all you need and replace the rings while you're in there (assuming cylinders look good). Worse case, you take it apart and find it needs a complete rebuild. Then, go for option 2.

[Nick Triesch]

Only 70K?? I would do what Wayne said. And if it is still a little noisy, who cares? Man, some of you guys must be really rich!!!

[gduke2010]

I'll try the thin oil and hope it stops the ticking. Thanks Wayne

[gduke2010]

ok, I tried the oil change option and the ticking sound almost went away after the car runs for a few minutes but, i can still hear slight ticking. So, I decided to replace the hydraulic lifters and do the wiggle test on the valves. I will start by using an automotive steciscope to help pin-point where the ticking is coming from innorder to check first where the noise is coming from. I will replace all the lifters. If the valves have wiggle, I'll put everything back together, park the car in the garage and have the engine rebuilt next year.

Don't want to get on the slippery slope now. If all is needed is a valve job, I would be ok with that. But, not don't want to do a valve job and find out it needs a rebuild. Thats the slippery slope I don't want to be on.

Was quoted $6000 labor for a rebuild and $2500 for machine work if it needs one. Also, wondering what new valve guides might cost?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by gduke2010

Also, wondering what new valve guides might cost?

Valve guides are probably a small incremental cost comparable to engine bearings.

$5-10-ish per each.? Listen to the head rebuilder as to the best guides for your application. Send them off to a good shop. There are a couple.

However, I am with Nich Triesch. Milk it, long time.

If there are those with 993's that say impending doom is upon you, listen.

[gduke2010]

https://youtu.be/IKwabE6vKR4

[Bob Kontak]

Vid does not work.

[gduke2010]

I'm trying

[gduke2010]

https://youtu.be/lKwabE6vKR4

[gduke2010]

Bob, finally got the video to work. That was the awful sounding porsche after a long winter. I'm going to try and post another after it been running for a few minutes.

[gduke2010]

https://youtu.be/_hzQ-Gr1CD8

[gduke2010]

The last video was after warming up the car, changing oil 0w40, then running it again and changing the oil to 15w/50. I have anther video in-between after the 0w40 oil change. It was a long day and today seemed even longer. Trying to upload the videos was a @#$@??&

[gduke2010]

So, I think Waynes idea worked but I still think that the car needs atleast new lifters and probably more after listening to the first video.