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newbie needs advice :-)

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Guest

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Hi all,
I am looking at getting a 964 3.6 1991. It has done 105k and always serviced by porsche specialists. Being new on the porsche scene im presuming it has a timing chain? If and when does this need checking and replacing? From looking at the service book i cant find it mentioning this? The car runs with nice and high oil pressure, but seems to be near the red on the guage for level- i presume this just needs a top up? Anything else i need to look for?
Thanks for any help..... am looking forward to being a porsche owner soon!
 
Jon,

Welcome to the World of 964s!! To answer your questions then.....

The 3.6 engine (in common with all of the Porsche flat 6 engines) DOES have a timing CHAIN - not a belt. Consequently there is no requirement to change the chain as a service item unless there is any apparent wear or damage. It may be changed as a precautionary measure during an engine rebuild but not otherwise.

On the oil level issue - BE VERY CAREFUL. Unlike most other modern cars, the 964 has a dry sump so there is little oil left in the bottom of the engine. Oil level measurements actually measure the amount of oil left in the tank rather than what's in the engine. This level can only be measured under specific circumstances, i.e. when the oil is HOT, when the oil thermostat is OPEN, the engine is RUNNING and, more obviously, when the car is on level ground. The ONLY time the oil level gauge reading is meaningful is when all these conditions are true. During normal driving the gauge will (and should) read in the red. Oil should only be added whilst the engine is running and hot as described above. DO NOT ADD OIL WHEN COLD - you will overfill it.

This issue of oil level measurement is THE MOST COMMON mis-understood subject and man, many people overfill their engine when they first get their 964. Most only do it the once!!!

Good luck with the car.

Regards

Dave
 
Thanks dave, so it all sounds good then! I think its time to put an offer in for the car :).
I was just slightly worried when it was reading near the red when hot! Ill have to get a workshop manual
from somewhere!
J
 
ORIGINAL: jonty

I was just slightly worried when it was reading near the red when hot!
Click to expand...

You've got to let the car run on tickover for a good 30 secs to 1 minute for the oil to settle before you can believe the reading on the oil level guage. You should notice that the guage will gradually start to rise after the car comes to a standstill. Ideally the level should be around the half way point on the gauge - the needle should be pretty much horizontal. A little higher is OK but it shouldn't be pinned to the top of the scale - that usually indicates that it's over full. Because oil expands when hot you'll find the level will get higher as the oil heats up!!

Regards

Dave
 
What oil would you recomend using for the dry sump?
Sounds like it may need a slight top up.
The only thing that was worying me slightly was the timing chain- it does not make any funny noises etc but surely you wount know what condition it is in untill you check it... and if you check it it might as well be replaced? Seems strange that there is not a certain milage that it needs replacing?
Thanks for the help :).
 
Jon,

Ideally you should top up the oil with something similar to what is already in there. There are many opinions as to what is best.

Don't worry about the timing chain. Bear in mind that it's a CHAIN not a BELT. There is no service scheduled replacement for the chain, unlike that with cam belts on some modern cars.

Regards

Dave
 
Thanks Dave,
I think he said the garage was using mobil one- ill look at the service reports when i pick it up. Cant wait!
 
Mobil 1 is a common used oil in 964's generally its 15/50 weight oil. Be careful if they put 0 weight oil in as it is very searching for gaps and can find its way out. Check the distributor belt has been replaced and has had a vent put on it. Read up on John Miles's site www.porsche964.co.uk and it will steer you a long way on your other questions you havent thought of yet [;)]

Regards,

Neil Eldred
 

ORIGINAL: jonty

Ah before i forget to ask- is there any sort of haynes manual for the 964?
Click to expand...

Closest you'll get is Adrian Streather's Enthusiast Companion - Auftragsnummer 964. £44.95 fromthe Club Bookshop.

Regards

Dave
 
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