Is My Porsche Engine Bearing Really Faulty?
The rod bearings as well as the engine’s main bearings make up the bearing system. They play a key role as far as performance is concerned mainly because they do not just protect, they also support the crankshaft or the connecting rod. This makes it easy for the rod to spin feeling inside the engine. In other words, bearings make Porsche engine operations seamless. Anything short of seamless operations simply means there’s something wrong with the bearings. It may also mean other components that support the bearings have a problem. With that in mind, be on the lookout for any of the following Porsche bearing failure symptoms.
Main Bearing Noise
Most bearing problems usually result in strange knocking noise coming from the engine. The noises differ in intensity, so you have to be keen so as to have a rough idea of the precise bearing part with the problem. Knocking sounds when you start your car is for instance, the main bearing inside the engine need replacement. The noise is usually coupled with extremely low oil pressure. It also tends to grow louder as the engine runs. Rod bearing also makes noise when it’s about to fail. The noise in this case though, is akin to aluminum cans knocking each other. It increases as you accelerate. The best you can do to fix the problem is to simply replace the worn out bearing.
Loss of Oil Pressure
Pressure is extremely vital to your Porsche’s performance. Loss of pressure should therefore worry you. It is actually a sigh that your Porsche engine bearing has already failed or is about to fail. The oil pump is designed to flow a fixed and precise amount of fluid. In most cases, the amount is 20 gallons per minute. Little leaks in the engine especially in the gap between bearings, the hydraulic lifter or the rocker can easily force the engine to lose oil pressure. This happens because of oil escaping through different channels. In simple words, excess clearance between bearings always leads to loss of pressure. The only solution here is to fix the faulty bearings.
Traces Of Silver Dust In Oil
This too, is a common engine bearing failure symptom. Normal bearing wear and tear produces a negligible amount of aluminum dust. The dust is silver in color and will appear in oil, so you should be able to spot it without struggling. You’ll see something like metal sheen on your Porsche dipstick once you check oil level. The dust should be just that – somewhat soft and silver in color. It should not form into rough and distinct aluminum grain. This happens because of inadequate oil or because of overheating. The grains can also form splinters or fine ribbons. So anytime you see splinters or ribbons of aluminum stuck on the dip stick, chances are, you have worn out bearing. A diligent mechanic will first check the filter media so as to detect early signs of shavings or excess debris. Such diligence comes in handy after every oil change.
Point To Note
Replacing faulty main bearings in a Porsche is not so taxing as far as money, time and energy are concerned. A skilled Porsche mechanic should get it done in an hour or two. That’s not the case though when it comes to replacing faulty rod bearing. You may have to replace the bearings as well as the engine. That’s why you have to take the aforementioned symptoms of failure seriously.