Might be buying my first 951 - Has one problem..need help.
 

Hey, new here to the Forums.

I might be buying my first Porsche 944 Turbo. The car is a 1986 944 Turbo with low miles..However there is one problem with the car.

The owner of the car now, says that there is a knocking sound from the engine. I asked him if it happens only at idle..or if it happens under acceleration..or happens at idle and acceleration.

He told me that the engine knocks as soon as the car is started..doesn't get any louder or quieter..The knocking sound gets Faster as you accelerate the car...uses super unleaded (93) Octane fuel.

So..what could be causing the knocking sound??

The owner before him, was told by a Porsche shop that it might be a Wrist Pin Clip that came loose...

Any help would be great..thanks.

#2 rod bearing from the sound of it. how many miles exactly?

According to the owner now..the 951 has around 59,000 miles on it. He's the second owner of the car..owner before him had owned the car since 1987..

If it is the #2 Rod Bearing..how would that be fixed??

Thanks.

wow, thats some low miles. depending on the severity, try dropping the pan and pulling all the rod caps off and checking the bearings. if the crank is to badly scored, you'll have to pull the engine. if the crank looks okay, try a new set of bearings. if it was me, i'd pull the engine. atleast you'd know what is in it, how it looks, replace wear items, reseal it, and a new clutch while its out. also a new baffle in the pan will help this problem from re-occurring. there is a couple of 951 engines for sale in the 924/944/968 classified section if you don't want to rebuild.

Yeah the miles are pretty damn low but if the 951 has been in NH or New England all its life then it most likely has never seen snow. Also the first owner could of been some older guy who only used the car on the weekends.

Thanks for the tips on how to fix the #2 Rod Bearing..

One of my thoughts for the engine was to have it rebuilt with Forged Pistons, Rods, Etc.

Thanks.

well, if is n 86, I believe they already use the forged rods--or so I am told. how does the oil look? not dark or anything abnormal? not sludged up in the oil cap. you could also do an oil analysis test. you send a company a sample of the oil and they can tell you somewhat about how the engine is wearing inside.

If this helps any..the guy I am buying the 944T from, told me that he changed the oil in the 944T.

I asked him if he noticed any Metal Shavings in the Oil or in the Oil Filter.

His answer was..No, he did not find any Metal Shavings in the Oil or Oil Filter.

He also told me that Knocking Sound seems to be coming from the top of the engine.

i'd then do a compression check, to try to narrow it to a certain cylinder. while you have the plugs out, check them closely. may be one not like to others, colorwise/ or just different looking.
does it hesitate? or miss at all? will it idle on its own or do you have to make it idle? smooth? may be a bad tappet/cam follower....but you still have to wonder if it hurt the cam and if there are metal shavings. they may be blocking an oil galley or return only making the problem worse.

Okay, so the car will Idle on it's own. It idles smoothly, too.

The Oil Pressure is also normal. It's not low or anything.

I've also been talking to a Mechanic here in my State about this and after telling him everything I've told you. Including the two things above.

He believes it's Top End Related or maybe a Piston Issue.

I'll do a compression check this weekend and also check out the top end.

could be a collapsed lifter....

Saw that on craigslist too, mint 951 for 3000$......besides the #2 bearing gone hahaha

Yeah but I don't think it's the #2 Bearing. I believe it to be a Lifter Problem. Anyways, I am going to get it fixed.

Actually Craigslist is where I found the 951. However, I didn't pay $3,000.00 for it. Actually, I didn't pay anything. We did an Even Trade. My 1999 Suzuki King Quad 300 and 2004 Arctic Cat Firecat F6 for the 951.