Carera 3.2 no valve adjustment in 50,000 miles

[brianz426]

I'm looking at getting into my first air cooled Porsche and have been looking for the past few months. The car I'm currently looking at has not had a valve adjustment within the last 50,000 miles. The car has approx 130,000 miles on it. The seller also has another Carrera with 220,000 miles and claims he has not done a valve adjustment on that car either. Is this even possible? I haven't seen either car in person yet. The pictures of the car look very good and based on what he told me he has a local repair guy do most of his maintenance. When he needed a clutch he used a Porsche specific shop. In his words "I'm not paying those rip off artists to do all my maintenance." He only goes to the Porsche shop when his local guy can't do the work.
My first inclination has been to move on, but I do like the car. Would it be worth getting a thorough PPI before making a final decision? When do these engines normally need a top end rebuild? I'm sure the lack of valve train maintenance would mean a top end rebuild sooner rather than later. Would the compression and leak down tests tell enough to give me confidence in the engine?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Targa Me]

yes, that's possible.
I have an '84 Carrera with over 340,000 miles on it and I haven't needed to adjust the valves for probably over 200,000 miles.
I do check the clearance, but haven't needed adjustment for a while.

[LakeCleElum]

One of my motorcycles has 135,000......Never needed a valve adjust. I check them every 16,000 as specified.....So, yes, it is possible. Have them checked as part of a PPI.

[steely]

Yes pls do a PPI. The answer to your top-end mileage question is: 'it depends', so definitely include leakdown/compression test -- this may help to determine if a top end is in your future (to your confidence question as well). let us know how it goes.
i have abt 120K, no top end work needed yet.

[Hnichols]

Regarding the valve adjust: was the seller claiming, as a point of pride, that valves haven't needed adjustment (even though he's checked at regular intervals)? Or is he used to new cars with self-adjusting valves and doesn't think it's necessary?

Have you seen the car and heard it running? If you hear some valve train clatter, like the valves are loose, that would be better than if they're tight. Have them check the clearances as part of the PPI; if they're too tight -- and have been that way for 40K miles -- then you might have other problems.

If his local mechanic is a good, old-school mechanic, and the car has needed only routine maintenance, there wouldn't be a reason to take it to someone Porsche specific. Not necessarily a negative in my view.

[TibetanT]

Brianz426:

First, I am no expert.

In view of the fact that this car seems to have never had the valves adjusted, are there any records available?

Most Porsche owners take very good care of their respective cars over the years and when I went to purchase my first Porsche car, 1987 944n/a, the owner of that car provided me with a folder of records. These records showed maintenance done to the car since new.

What I would do if I were you, is ask to see these records. Read them in there entirety since they will provide you with valuable information regarding this particular Porsche. Put the records in order of oldest record to newest record and go through it as if it was your car and make notes of what was done over the years.

If the owner states there are NO records, or will NOT provide you with any information with regard to the respective maintenance required at specific mileage intervals, then I would make the determination that the car was not properly maintained. If there are no records, WALK AWAY and find another Porsche to purchase.

OR, spend the $450.00-$500.00 and have a Porsche shop do a PPI (as mentioned above). The PPI, will provide you with all the valuable tools to make your decision.

Certainly a well maintained Porsche Carrera 3.2L car may have gotten through all these years/miles without a valve adjustment; I do believe that the Valves were at least checked through-out the years/miles.

Good luck with your search, and I do hope you find what you are looking for in good condition so you can enjoy many more years or driving.

[Chuck.H]

I would keep going with it - like Targa Me, I haven't needed to adjust my valves in hundreds of thousands of miles, though I do check them from time to time (like every 50k miles).

On average the Targa's are going to have way more miles than the coupes because they are that much more fun to drive :-)

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 428k miles

[r_towle]

These valves tighten over time, so you start losing power and risk burning a valve eventually.
What you will experience first is a hunting idle because of the vacuum leak.

I would get a PPI, and do a leak down test to see how bad it is.
Its not perfect, so don't expect it to be. But and really poor leak down may be a burned valve or the heads need new guides.
A marginally poor leak down could just be the motor needs valves adjusted.

I got my car, 245k miles, really crazy hunting idle when hot....
I did everything BUT adjust the valves, including all vacuum lines, fuel injection, O2 sensor....
I finally, at the end of my rope, adjusted the valves.
Car runs like a top now.

So, unlike any other car I have had, you actually end up making the valves looser when adjusting them to meet the spec, and you should be able to hear them when done properly, when cold.
Once done, the valves truly seat all the way down and no more leaks.

Good luck, I had no problem and would have no issue with a 3.2 motor with high mileage....its a great (one of the best IMHO) engines they ever built.

Not a huge fan of the Motronic, but it does the job.

rich

[brianz426]

Guys,
Thanks, your replies have been a huge help. In my mind I was under the impression valve adjustment was required every 15k miles. The owner seems to believe he is having proper maintenance done on both of his cars. Since he has gotten to 220,000 on one of them he must be doing something right.
Now my plan is to go look at the car and see that he does have a folder of receipts showing consistent maintenance. If everything is to my liking I will get a proper PPI.
I will report back after my visit with him.
Thanks again, I'm really looking forward to seeing this car in person.

[Tippy]

Originally Posted by r_towle

These valves tighten over time, so you start losing power and risk burning a valve eventually.

I've heard this before and understand the theory behind it, but my experiences are 180° from that. Mine get louder and louder over time.

The springs on a 911 are very weak and light. I just don't see how the valves wear the seats that much to tighten the lash?

Not saying anyone is wrong, but mine has never gotten tighter over time.

Maybe seats were a lot softer back in the day?

Interesting topic.

[Bill Douglas]

In 25 years of 911SC ownership, and checking the valves every year, I think I've only ever found three or four that needed adjusting.

One valve seemed very loose and "clacky" so I buttoned it back up, gave it an Italian tune to burn the carbon off, and found later it didn't need adjusting at all.