Common problem

[Junkbone]

First off, sorry for the generic post description. Porsche 3.2. 88 model Carrera. Car has about 110k (speedo gear stripped). My last post here was about excessive smoking. My first guess was worn valve guides and I was crying the blues and getting ready to do a top end rebuild. I didn't really want to because the car is my daily for the last 2 years! Anyway,...I changed my mind when the car stopped smoking and remained running well. Tonight, I was just looking for something to do and decided to top off the oil. It's only using maybe 1/2 a quart every 1200-1500k, but as soon as I get the oil level correct. Warm, car running, correct level on the dipstick and lucky enough to have my gauge in the car correct too,... then it starts doing the smoke again. I can get it to blow smoke after this if I rev to about 4500 and let off. Or...under load just driving normally and coming to a stop. So....My question is,.....is this still valve guide wear? Has anyone dealt with this and it been something else? Thanks ASAP, the car is running in the driveway.

[rwest]

Many of us run the oil a little lower on the dipstick just because it seems like less oil gets sucked in to the intake.

[Junkbone]

Thanks rwest. I'm hoping that's it. Just looking for others to verify. As long as I run the oil where it's just about an 1/8 of an inch on the dipstick, it runs like a champ but the oil gauge in the car stays in the red. If I fill to the halfway point or above on the dipstick, the gauge in the car reads right in the middle at idle,..but then the smoking issue starts.

[Trackrash]

That is where I keep my oil level, just the bottom of the dipstick. That is plenty of oil.

Not sure why you are having the smoking issue. Might be somthing to do with your oil tank venting system.

Your guides would have to be really worn for them to cause much smoking. Your oil consumption would be much worse with really worn guides.

Worn guides will also cause noisy valves.

[Junkbone]

Trackrash. Thanks. that is what I'm leaning towards too. It just feels good to have other 3.2 owners to chime in and say "don't sweat it". I really don't need to have to tear this thing down right now. With that said, I've made it my daily and it's been one of the most reliable cars I've ever had!

[A horse with no name]

Hi...Our '86 Carrera has 125K km on it -> 77.5K miles...It will smoke if overfilled, such as by a half a quart... Like others have mentioned, when doing an oil change, if I put the correct amount in - 10.5 US quarts - 9.9 litres, it will use a litre within say 600 km - 375 miles, so I only put 9 litres - 9.5 US quarts in during an oil change... I tend to keep the oil level around the middle of the dip stick; I then get, on an average, 1200 km -> 725 miles which is well within limits of what Porsche states for the 3.2's.

Note: The 84-87 911 Carrera technical specifications handbook (factory publication) notes that the oil consumption should be approx. 1.5 litres for every 1000 km (1.59 quarts every 621 miles).

[Junkbone]

Thanks. I have made the mistake of over filling also and it does start smoking right away. It seems as though just a half quart of oil more or less makes a critical difference as far as this problem goes.

[manbridge 74]

Do you have the restrictor installed? Seen a few cars where it's missing.

[Junkbone]

Hmm. I honestly have no idea. Never new it existed. I'll have to do a little homework...

[freeform911]

I'm also curious to what the restrictor is and where it goes? Steve

[A horse with no name]

Originally Posted by freeform911

I'm also curious to what the restrictor is and where it goes? Steve

I also was wondering the same thing....This post explains it very well.

oil breather hose restrictor - idle issue update

[freeform911]

How or why would the restrictor help with smoking? Thanks Steve

[A horse with no name]

Originally Posted by freeform911

How or why would the restrictor help with smoking? Thanks Steve

Hi...I somehow don't think that it does...If there is too much oil in the system, the engine is then able to suck some of the overfill from the tank through the hose to the intake... I also think that even if there wasn't a restictor in the hose, the same thing would happen... I stand to be corrected of course.

[uwanna]

The restrictor allows you to check the oil level dipstick with a running motor without the engine dying. Don't know which models need it, but
a car with a MAF flapper unit sure does (Carrera and 964)
But something strange, I replaced the MAF flapper with an actual modern Mass Airflow unit, and it no longer needs the restrictor when checking oil while running. Go figure.

[manbridge 74]

I'm not a Carrera guy but it did seem to do a good job regarding smoke on my buddies 85. He was ready to tear engine down for guides when he thought he'd try restrictor. Probably also helps to keep oil halfway between marks or less.

[david.avrahami@]

Rothport invented a valve that is mounted on the S hose between the oil tank and the engine. it prevents the oil migrating from the oil tank to the engine once the motor is shut down and eliminates smoke...
it is expensive but seems to work. I mounted one...

[RDM]

Originally Posted by david.avrahami@

Rothport invented a valve that is mounted on the S hose between the oil tank and the engine. it prevents the oil migrating from the oil tank to the engine once the motor is shut down and eliminates smoke...
it is expensive but seems to work. I mounted one...

Different end of the oil tank. This goes on the breather hose on top. The valve of which you speak goes on the S-hose on the bottom.

The PET shows this part starting in 1981. Any concerns mounting it on older cars?

[david.avrahami@]

You should call Rothport engineering??? and consult with them

[Flat6pac]

The restrictor was needed on the SC when the tank was vented into the throttle body.
77 was the last of the curly hose going into the air cleaner. Was replaced in 78.
All SCs stumble with the oil tank opened.
Sometimes I have seen the restrictor installed in the filler neck.
Usually, installed in the hose a couple inches in.
Bruce

[A horse with no name]

https://youtu.be/krD4hdGvGHM