London to Glasgow (First Drive of a 944)....

Guest · Oct 9, 2006

Completed the monster drive from London to Glasgow on Saturday after picking up my 944 from London.

What a drive, it was fantastic, I am soo impressed with the 944 as a capable motorway car and tourer. The car has (only) done 120k miles and it still feels and looks fantastic, a real testament to the engineering of the car and the fact that it has been well looked after and maybe pampered as well.

A couple of little problems though.

It seems to be using oil...3/4 of a litre in 500 miles..Maybe a little more. Seems a bit excessive, so I am going to get a compression test done. Also the sunroof is jammed, not leaking, but jammed (i knew this before buying the car) finally the cam belts etc. I have a receipt for these in 2002 being replaced, but no milage that they were done at. I am thinking of having them done anyway, but I dont think that the car has covered many miles since they were changed.

Any advice?

Overall I am very very pleased with my fantastic purchase...

Fen · Oct 9, 2006

Officially cam belts are 48k or 48 months, so they are due. Most of us operate on 36k or 36 months as an extra cushion, so they are definitely due.

If the tensioner rollers and water pump were not replaced last time then do them as well - best to change them every second belt change.

The sunroof is a nightmare, though usually they either leak or strip their gears (or both). Jammed is unusual. Check Clarks Garage for sunroof maintenance and troubleshooting tips is the ususal advice.

I think Porsche official oil consumption tolerance is 1 litre per 1,000 km (or maybe per 1,500km), but you are inside it anyway. If the car has a modern synthetic like Mobil 1 0w40 it will use loads as the engine is not designed for such runny oil. Go with something heavier (synthetic is fine if you want) and it might calm down consumption.

Guest · Oct 9, 2006

Hello fella. I've just bought my first one too after venturing over from the VeeDub scene and i feel exactly the same way as you. It's an awesome car, it feels fantastic to drive, it's build quality feels solid as a rock, it's fast, pretty, it's got heritage. I frickin' love it. It's just like my dubs they way i smile when i look at it, smile when i drive it and smile when i get out of it. I already want another one, a turbo, but i'll cut my teeth on this one first.
Regarding the oil, mines probably used about half a pint in 650 miles, which i think is about right. It maybe used a little more because i haven't measured accurately but that's roughly what it's used. Cant help with the sunroof, but if i were you i'd give it a good service, Plugs, filters, leads and what have you and then get the belts checked. It'll be less than £100 for all that and it's worth it purely for peace of mind if nothing else. And your car will love you for it.
Good luck and enjoy, i know i will.
Oh, and the Porsche scene so far has been a brilliant experience. Over on Volkzone etc. there's too many people just want to argue and fight. Here, people just want to help and share experience with you, it's class!!!

Guest · Oct 9, 2006

ORIGINAL: Fen

Officially cam belts are 48k or 48 months, so they are due. Most of us operate on 36k or 36 months as an extra cushion, so they are definitely due.

If the tensioner rollers and water pump were not replaced last time then do them as well - best to change them every second belt change.

The sunroof is a nightmare, though usually they either leak or strip their gears (or both). Jammed is unusual. Check Clarks Garage for sunroof maintenance and troubleshooting tips is the ususal advice.

I think Porsche official oil consumption tolerance is 1 litre per 1,000 km (or maybe per 1,500km), but you are inside it anyway. If the car has a modern synthetic like Mobil 1 0w40 it will use loads as the engine is not designed for such runny oil. Go with something heavier (synthetic is fine if you want) and it might calm down consumption.

Car is booked in for a cam belt change and I will get the water pump etc done as well. The car is on 5W/30 at the moment (GTX Synthetic Magnatec)... I was thinking of going thicker, but with the cold winter coming in, it might be an idea to hang fire on the change of oil just now...

dlknight · Oct 9, 2006

Just to check guys, you are checking the oil level with the engine cold ? I believe thats the correct method for checking the oil on the 944. Otherwise you may be in danger of overfilling if the engine is warm.

Mine has begun to use less oil now, I change it around 6-7000 miles with Castrol GTX Magnatec 15-40. I have tried the 10-40 before but it definetly consumed more of that stuff.

Regards

Dave K.

Guest · Oct 9, 2006

ORIGINAL: Darren

Hello fella. I've just bought my first one too after venturing over from the VeeDub scene and i feel exactly the same way as you. It's an awesome car, it feels fantastic to drive, it's build quality feels solid as a rock, it's fast, pretty, it's got heritage. I frickin' love it. It's just like my dubs they way i smile when i look at it, smile when i drive it and smile when i get out of it. I already want another one, a turbo, but i'll cut my teeth on this one first.
Regarding the oil, mines probably used about half a pint in 650 miles, which i think is about right. It maybe used a little more because i haven't measured accurately but that's roughly what it's used. Cant help with the sunroof, but if i were you i'd give it a good service, Plugs, filters, leads and what have you and then get the belts checked. It'll be less than £100 for all that and it's worth it purely for peace of mind if nothing else. And your car will love you for it.
Good luck and enjoy, i know i will.
Oh, and the Porsche scene so far has been a brilliant experience. Over on Volkzone etc. there's too many people just want to argue and fight. Here, people just want to help and share experience with you, it's class!!!

Is it the username that gave the game away I am into my Vee Dubs as well? [

]

Still into my VW's and in the process of resto'ing a 67 camper. Should be on the road
early next year...maybe [

]

Yeah, dont go near Volkszone soo much now. only the tech and for sale section, and even then only if I have to... I still go on pretty much every day, but browsing the chat section it's full of people looking for aggro, and dare i say it kids. Shame really, but it was bound to happen. I want to talk about cars, not what pants I am wearing etc.

jr2015 · Oct 9, 2006

Yep,Magnatech 15-40 is the stuff, and change it and the filter every 3000miles.I regularly do a 600 mile run and use about a cupfull of oil .My car`s a 1982, 130,000 miler which is on its original rings and bearings and scored well on the emissions test at the last MOT.
happy motoring!
jr.

Guest · Oct 9, 2006

When I am changing over to a different grade of oil should I do an engine flush or will the little oil that is left in the engine, be diluted with the fresh stuff?

jr2015 · Oct 9, 2006

I wouldn`t worry about it.
jr

Diver944 · Oct 9, 2006

Definitely go thicker than 5w30. I run my 170k mile S2 on 10w40 and it uses maybe a litre in between 6k oil changes. If you wanted to go even thicker then my owners manual shows that 15w40 is perfectly acceptable and this will give you cold start protection down to -15 degrees C

I echo the belts and also the rollers and water pump (if you have no record of the latter two)

eastendr · Oct 9, 2006

I'm surprised 5/30 is actually staying in the engine ! I use 15/40 Magnetec on both 944's. Oil change around 3-5,000 miles.

Nice to see some new 944 owners appearing on here. If you want tech info and workshop manuals, parts manuals etc, you can download them for FREE from my website www.cannell.co.uk. Enjoy ...

Rick.

sawood12 · Oct 9, 2006

I get away with 5w40 and the car uses minimal oil - maybe half ltr every 1500 - 2000 miles. The reason why i'm pushing the lower W rating is because the lower the W rating the better the cold start protection. Once the engine is upto temp it's all the same anyway.

mik_ok · Oct 10, 2006

ORIGINAL: dubbedup

Car is booked in for a cam belt change and I will get the water pump etc done as well.

Who you using?

Motortune in Shotts are worth the trip IMHO.

colin129 · Oct 10, 2006

Not much extra to add.

My 185K 944S2 used to use no oil at all between annual services (up to 12K). I run GTX Magnatec too, its what JZ Machtech put in it, but with the current mileage, I guess I have to put a bit in between services, maybe half a litre.

On another note, I have decided to give the old girl a well earned rest, semi-retirement, weekend use. I know these cars need to be used, but I will still be doing 100 odd miles a week, and I will keep her for best.

My work car, as you see from my signature, is a smoky diesel say it quietly, but at 47mpg I guess I should be satisfied, means I can use my proper car for what she was intended for, a toy!!

I reckon, with the reduced mileage, I will save on servicing, fuel (overall) and insurance (restricted mileage policy) and can probably run both cars for not much more than I'm use to spending on the 944S2 doing 20K miles a year.

(Trouble is, I keep thinking 993...993...993...hmmmmm...maybe I need a third car!!!!!!!!!!)

Welcome to the new owners, enjoy, I have been for the last nearly 10 years and still feel special and priviledged everytime I drive her.

Fen · Oct 10, 2006

I bought a Golf GTI using the same logic when I had my S2 cab. I used it for 5 months and I even had a spreadsheet showing me how I saved £90 a month by using it to get to work. Thr touble was I stopped using the S2 as it was at the top of the drive and we had to do the "Butterflies" thing to get it out and it was not doing the car any good to sit around so I started to use it every day again. I stopped at 192,500 when I sold it.

Guest · Oct 10, 2006

ORIGINAL: mik_ok

ORIGINAL: dubbedup

Car is booked in for a cam belt change and I will get the water pump etc done as well.

Click to expand...

Who you using?

Motortune in Shotts are worth the trip IMHO.

My dad mentioned them, but I am using a guy that comes reccommended from my usual mechanic in Wishaw. This guy is based in Larkhall.. Jim McCaulley?

Cheers for all the help and advice folks, it's fantastic.

Oh and I feel like a rock star everytime I drive her...Is that normal? [

]

Fred Hindle · Oct 10, 2006

Steve,
A possible reason for the oil consumption figure is motorway driving. What was you average mph? I'm thinking higher revs for a longer period of time.
As I said in another thread the 944 is a gran tourer, such a comfortable and relaxed car to drive.
Cheers,

Mark Elder · Oct 10, 2006

ORIGINAL: dubbedup

Oh and I feel like a rock star everytime I drive her...Is that normal? []

Me too!, But I was attracted to this thread by
>>London to Glasgow <<
That's exactly what I did in my just purchased 993 6 weeks ago. What a drive.

The smile still has not gone, except that everytime I go for a drive it rains!

And on Saturday I was followed up the A82 by a big police BMW that I'm sure would not have bothered with me if I'd been in my RAV4. Although they were nice guys, when I stopped at the "rest and be thankful" pass on the A83 they stopped and came over for a chat when we set of walking.

Guest · Oct 10, 2006

ORIGINAL: Fred Hindle

Steve,
A possible reason for the oil consumption figure is motorway driving. What was you average mph? I'm thinking higher revs for a longer period of time.
As I said in another thread the 944 is a gran tourer, such a comfortable and relaxed car to drive.
Cheers,

The avarage over the distance was probably low, but for parts we were around about 80 to 90, so I am sure that this would have contributed to the oil consumption.

You are right though, the car is such a great motorway car, and swallowed up the miles very easily. I never felt tired or uncomfortable when driving home. Very Very impressed....

Guest · Oct 10, 2006

ORIGINAL: marke2

ORIGINAL: dubbedup

Oh and I feel like a rock star everytime I drive her...Is that normal? []

Click to expand...

Me too!, But I was attracted to this thread by
>>London to Glasgow <<
That's exactly what I did in my just purchased 993 6 weeks ago. What a drive.

The smile still has not gone, except that everytime I go for a drive it rains!

And on Saturday I was followed up the A82 by a big police BMW that I'm sure would not have bothered with me if I'd been in my RAV4. Although they were nice guys, when I stopped at the "rest and be thankful" pass on the A83 they stopped and came over for a chat when we set of walking.

It's a brilliant drive, and amazing the way the landscape changes on the way up.

993 that would have been a brilliant drive. Bet it took all your strength not to take it out on the twisty stuff, and try out the handling.

Where in Glasgow are you?