My new 982 718 Cayman S PDK

[Brian_Innes]

There seems to be a problem with downloading photos today. I have seven photos all ready to go but they won't download.

I'm using the "full version" as normal but the box is missing where I used to drag the photos to.

I've tried other ways to download the photos but no success. I'll try again later.

Brian

 

[Brian_Innes]

Unfortunately there is still a PCGB site server error.

I am therefore unable to upload photos of the trim removal procedure to illustrate what I must say, is a ridiculous and nerve-wracking palaver just to gain access to the engine cover. The 987 engine cover access was simple but effective. Why complicate it so? The OPC techies must be cursing this.

The BMC air filter has not yet been delivered, so presumably is still in transit from Germany. That's a week past now since I had confirmation of despatch from FVD. The transaction payment has gone through at £102 including VAT and shipping.

Brian

 

[Jmt]

Hiya Brian

when you was under the car what did you make of the brake cooling guides.

I've read that on previous generations you could fit those from the gt3 for a upgrade to get more cold air to the discs.

i don't know if the same applies to they 718 generation but what did you think. Worth looking into?

 

[Brian_Innes]

Jamie,

The front brake cooling ducts on the 718 Cayman S are larger and have a different profile than on previous Caymans. I see no need to upgrade them at this time.

Brian

 

[Brian_Innes]

An update of the air filter replacement.

I have at last gained access to the engine compartment after a visit to Halfords to purchase the necessary short reach Torx tool to undo the two restricted access bolts at the front of the engine cover.

I am still awaiting delivery of the BMC air filter element from FVD Brombacher.

After removing the cover, taking great care not to scratch the plastic trim, the air box is easily accessible on the top left hand side of the engine compartment. I'll be posting photos when the site server problem is rectified.

On the forum fault topic, I reported the photo uploading difficulty to the forum administrator Alan, who has advised the IT crew about the fault. Hopefully the photo uploading facility will return to normal soon.

Brian

 

[Fudgie]

Maybe it’s because Porsche don’t want to make it too easy for you to be able to fiddle with the oily bits!

i was told by my OPC that they had to remove a lot of trim to get at the turbo pressure valve, ok when their labours covered by the warranty not so good in a few years when you have to foot the bill...

 

[Steve Brookes]

After removing the cover, taking great care not to scratch the plastic trim, the air box is easily accessible on the top left hand side of the engine compartment. I'll be posting photos when the site server problem is rectified.

The access to the air box on my CR is good too. The fiddly part is getting the old filter out and the new one in. It takes a lot of patience to get all the angles right! Will be interested to hear if they've made it easier on the 718 Brian.

 

[Brian_Innes]

Now having removed the air box lid, the air filter is easily lifted out. No clips or screws, it just slots into the air box. To my utter relief, after having gone through the labour intensive process of dismantling 10 sections of interior trim, the old air filter was quite clogged, and a deposit of leaves, pine needles, and grit, had accumulated inside the air box, after 10k miles of mainly rural road use.

After vacuuming and carefully cleaning the inside of the air box, I had a close inspection of the air side induction system. The 718 CS does not have a very efficient looking induction path in my long experience of replacing air filters. Space is tight I know, but the airways from the left hand side pod are very narrow and restrictive. Access to the trunking between the air box and the side pod is difficult to say the least. I am not going to attempt any further dismantling. Incidentally, the left side pod intake feeds the air box, the right side pod, feeds the intercooler and vents hot air from the engine bay via a fan. Looking at the 718 air induction path, I can now see why the 718 GTS has a modified air intake system partly responsible for the 15bhp power gain. After-market tuners should note, a bolt-on revised induction system for the 718 CS would sell very well to any owner keen to optimise the car for track day use. I'd be first in the queue.

On the replacement BMC filter, I received an email yesterday from FVD Brombacher saying the part was despatched from Freiburg on February 7th, and is now in transit. I was under the impression the part had been despatched last week, but obviously FVD had to order it in. Its a very long way by road from southern Germany to the Scottish Highlands, so I'm not expecting delivery until early next week. I have a tracking number to check on progress. Today, the package is still travelling north through Germany.

Photos are still not available until the website glitch is sorted. I now have a backlog of 12 photos to upload for your interest.

Brian

 

[Motorhead]

Brian,

If, like the 987 (and 981?), the 718's recommended interval for air filter replacement is still 60,000 miles or 6-years, the techs - and 718 owners' pockets! - won't be too troubled by the faffing time in the long term.

There was a time when air filter replacement was at most a 20,000 mile or biannual event, but I guess that with improved filtration methods and materials manufacturers are continuing the trend to much longer service intervals. From your comments you have to question the advisability of this development.

Jeff

 

[Brian_Innes]

Jeff,

From what I have discovered today after removing the air filter element in my 718 after only 10,000 miles, there is no way I would leave this service item until 20,000 miles let alone the frankly astonishing recommended service interval of 60,000 miles. Leaving this service item unattended for such extended periods would, in my opinion, lead to other more serious faults. Like a few other fastidious owners on this forum, I have always serviced my car's air filter on an annual basis. I serviced my Abarth's BMC air filter element last summer, and will do the same again this year. The Abarth incidentally, also has a packed engine bay but the servicing of the air filter is a delight to do. Only 4 bolts to undo and the air box cover lifts off. I use the K&N cotton air filter cleaning kit for washing out the filter, and air drying it for 24 hours my airing cupboard at home. If only the 718 CS were this simple.......

Just an after thought, having undertaken the very involved dismantling process on the 718 Cayman S, I would be more than a tad nervous about the thought of having this service done at my OPC. The risks of damaging or scratching the trim, plus the considerable labour costs at OPC, make this a DIY job for me. Next time, it should be a little bit easier knowing where all the trim fixing points are. Assuming of course I manage to get the trim sections clicked and snapped back into place ok.

Brian

 

[ChrisW]

The other alternative is to download your images to a hosting site such as Photobucket and then copy the img links across to the forum ...

??

 

[Brian_Innes]

Thanks Chris,

I use Dropbox for exporting photos to individuals, but not sure how to go about downloading to my forum thread. I'll make further enquiries, as the forum server is still showing an error message for photo uploads.

The latest on the BMC filter, it's due for delivery on Monday February 12th. I'll have more photos to follow later.

I've bought some aluminium mesh to fit behind the left side pod grill, assuming I can remove this grill ok that is. I really think Porsche should fit a mesh guard as standard over these larger air intakes on the 718. They obviously hoover up everything coming within range of the ducts.

Because of this, I am concerned about the amount of flammable debris, dried leaves, pine needles etc, that had accumulated on the paper filter and in the air box itself. I'm maybe being paranoid here, but what if a lighted cigarette stub discarded from a vehicle I am overtaking should find it way into the left hand side pod? The air box debris is tinder dry and would be very easily ignited. A fire within the air box would be catastrophic. Absolutely no chance of getting quick access to the engine bay to put the fire out. The end result would be something like the pyrotechnic disasters of the early 991 GT3.

I've also discovered a pipe chaffing issue. There's a rubber fluid carrying pipe of approximately 15mm diameter which comes over the top from the front to rear of the engine, rubbing the right hand corner of the air box causing a significant indentation in the rubber pipe casing. I'm not sure what fluid this pipe carries, it may be coolant water, but whatever it is it could be a potential problem if the pipe rubs through and the fluid escapes. I'm taking steps to protect this pipe from further chaffing against the air box casing.

This whole air filter replacement exercise has been very illuminating......

Brian

 

[ChrisW]

Does this beg an even bigger question for the GT4 ??

I agree completely, pine needles with their resin is great tinder ... not goof in the engine bay ?

Do you remember the old fire traps in the air filter boxes of the '74 and '75 2.7's ?

They even had to put valves in to stop any ignited fuel from blowing the air filter box up !!

 

[Motorhead]

Chris,

If the GT4 remains flat-6 then I would guess that the 981 intake layout will be carried-over which, as far as I know, hasn't had any reported problems.

As an aside; with the VW Group and its subsidiaries now fitting particulate filters to the exhaust systems of all direct-injection petrol engines in a bid to cut soot emissions by up to 90%, I presume that Porsche will be included in this exercise sooner rather than later - maybe on the GT4/Spyder?

Jeff

 

[Brian_Innes]

Had another close look at the rubber covered pipe which I noticed had chaffing marks on it from contact with the corner of the air box. This "pipe" extends centrally front to back across the top of the engine and disappears down towards the transaxle area.

I had a word with my neighbour who is an Audi technician, and we have come to the conclusion that this "pipe" contains not fluid, but a cable coming from the PDK central gear selector. The rubber piping acts like a sleeve to protect the cable from vibration and to provide an air cushion around the gear selector cable. Apparently it is common practice to route such cables high in the chassis to avoid any danger of snagging from underneath. When you squeeze the rubber pipe, you can feel the solid cable a few millimetres within. I'll leave it as it is I think.

Brian

 

[Brian_Innes]

The BMC air filter arrived today from Germany.

Looks good, it's not so deep as the OE item but a perfect fit into the air box. The BMC filter is a high quality product and should improve the airflow compared to the standard paper item.

The photo uploading seems back on stream so a photo attached of OE and BMC air filters.

The reassembling of the 10 pieces of trim starts tomorrow. I'm hoping they all go back into place ok.

Brian

 

[Brian_Innes]

Photo of 718 CS BMC air filter in the air box.

Brian

 

[Brian_Innes]

For those who are interested, I have posted a full selection of photos of the air filter access, under the Cayman Technical Articles thread, entitled 718 Cayman S PDK air filter replacement.

Brian

 

[ChrisW]

Chris,

If the GT4 remains flat-6 then I would guess that the 981 intake layout will be carried-over which, as far as I know, hasn't had any reported problems.

As an aside; with the VW Group and its subsidiaries now fitting particulate filters to the exhaust systems of all direct-injection petrol engines in a bid to cut soot emissions by up to 90%, I presume that Porsche will be included in this exercise sooner rather than later - maybe on the GT4/Spyder?

Jeff

Thanks Jeff,

I guessed no problems .... but I had never thought of potentially combustible debris accumulating in the induction system .... and there aren't many high mileage GT4's around .... so it may be worth check ....

 

[Brian_Innes]

The hoovering up of debris into the air box of the 718 is illustrated by the following two photos. This problem, which could be a serious fire ask, would also particularly apply to the GT4.

Brian