Signs Your Porsche Engine Needs Servicing
At Foreign Affairs Motorwerks, we love Porsches. We are honored to have built, maintained, and modified some of the wildest Porsche 911s to bless the streets of Miami, and while we have grown to service all the best sports and supercars, we still hold the 911 dear to our hearts.
Over our many years as a Porsche service center, we have seen every issue a Porsche can throw at you, and in this article we share with you the top signs your Porsche needs a service. ​​​​​​
Smoke Signals
Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire and that holds true for Porsche’s new and old. With the high humidity we experience here in South Florida, it’s normal for some condensation to build up in your exhaust, which can cause some white smoke upon start-up. If you are still experiencing smoke long after your Porsche’s engine is up to temperature, it’s usually a sign that something much more sinister is occurring under the hood.
- White Smoke – White or light grey smoke is most often associated with moisture rapidly evaporating and being expelled with exhaust gases. If you are experiencing a significant amount of white smoke, it may be a sign that coolant is getting into the combustion chamber and may be an early sign of a failing head gasket. Either way, white smoke shouldn’t be ignored and there are simple tests your mechanic can perform to find out if exhaust gases are mixing with your coolant, which will either catch a problem before it becomes a failure or put your mind at ease
- Black Smoke – Black and dark gray smoke is a sign of rich combustion. When a Porsche is running rich, it means that it is injecting more fuel into the combustion chamber than it requires. Black smoke can be caused by a few different situations, varying from a bad tune, a failed fuel regulator, an aging spark plug or even an injector that is stuck upon. All three are still good enough reasons to visit your Porsche mechanic, as ignoring it can lead to overheating issues or in extreme situations, melted pistons.
- Blue Smoke – Blue Smoke is the scariest of all the smoke colors as it usually means that oil is getting into the combustion chamber and is being ignited. While the initial problem with blue smoke is higher than normal oil consumption, the more sinister meaning is that a gasket or piston ring has begun to fail, which is an early warning sign that an engine rebuild may be on the horizon.
- One caveat to be aware of, especially with flat-six engines, is that due to their design, you may occasionally see a puff of blue smoke during a cold startup. This happens because the flat-six engine configuration allows a small amount of oil to seep into the combustion chamber when the engine is off. As long as the smoke dissipates quickly and you do not see any more smoke after startup, this is considered normal by many 911 drivers. However, if the blue smoke persists or becomes more frequent, it may indicate a more serious issue that should be inspected by a professional.
Strange Sounds
The only noises you should be hearing from your Porsche is the roar of the engine and occasional squeal of tires. Anything else is usually a scream for help. Popping, grinding, knocking, and squealing are all signs that something is either on the verge of failing or already has.
While some noises can be fixed by replacing a belt or part, it’s best to have the whole engine checked over as parts rarely fail on their own. While we can’t always catch a part before it goes, it’s always recommended that you take the opportunity to do some preventative maintenance every time the opportunity presents itself.
Reduced Performance
Just as a lame horse won’t be able to run at full speed, nor will a poorly maintained Porsche. While we strongly recommend that you keep up with your Porsche’s factory recommended service schedule, most symptoms of neglected maintenance can be fixed without needing the whole engine rebuilt.
Neglected oil changes can be rectified with fresh oil flush and engine detergents. Carbon build up can be removed with media blasting. Belts and pulleys can be replaced. However, sometimes the damage is too far gone, and the only way to return all the original power is to start fresh with a rebuilt engine.
Poor Consumption
If you’ve noticed your Porsche has developed a drinking problem that you just can’t keep up with, it may be a sign that something is going on in the engine. Porsche’s fuel injection computers are constantly making changes to the original fuel map which are known as adaptations.
These adaptations are made according to the data received from the many sensors around the car, like the intake mass air flow sensor and exhaust oxygen sensor. If these adaptations are grossly out of the stick map, it may indicate that the engine is being forced to work harder to produce the same power, and in doing so, is using more fuel. Sometimes replacing the sensors and clearing the adaptations is enough to fix the problem.
Other times, more in-depth diagnostics need to be done to determine the actual cause of the problem. No matter the cause, fixing anything that is causing high consumption, is going to lead to better performance and an overall happier Porsche.
Overheating
One of the worst experiences a car owner can experience is being stranded on the side of the road with an overheating car. While the cause of overheating can be as simple as a stuck thermostat, it could also signal failed fans, a clogged radiator or coolant sleeves, a failing oil pump, or simple neglect. If you see your temperature gauge is creeping higher than you’re comfortable with, try putting on the heater. This will allow coolant to flow through the heater core, which can act as a second radiator and lower temps enough (at the cost of your comfort) to get you to a mechanic.
Porsche Service Center In Pompano Beach
We truly love Porsche’s at Foreign Affairs Motorwerks – from 944s to Cayennes, Taycans to Boxsters, we understand just how special your Porsche is to you.
From maintenance to modifications and so much more, there is no better place to take your Porsche than Foreign Affairs Motorwerks.
To book your next appointment, give us a call at (954) 746-0488.