porka987s Posted 26August, 2020 Report Share Posted 26August, 2020 2 hours ago, 550Spyder said: Just out of interest for those 987 folk who have had the AOS fail, what sort of mileage were you at? If there is a common theme I would consider doing it as a pre-emptive. Plumes of smoke a long way from home would freak plenty of us out and that would be an expensive “just to be safe” tow home. Around 120,000kms for me. It didn't completely fail, but it was showing signs of white smoke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 27August, 2020 Report Share Posted 27August, 2020 1 hour ago, porka987s said: Around 120,000kms for me. It didn't completely fail, but it was showing signs of white smoke. probably from memory, the 986S Boxster would have been around the same. 120K or thereabouts.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnrnr Posted 27August, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 27August, 2020 Mines at about 112,000 now, but probably was smoking a little before I got it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firstone Posted 27August, 2020 Report Share Posted 27August, 2020 170 here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
550Spyder Posted 27August, 2020 Report Share Posted 27August, 2020 Appreciated. assume 987.2 DFI has the same AOS issues as 986/987.1 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merv Posted 28August, 2020 Report Share Posted 28August, 2020 They do. At least my 987.2 did. Replace the AOS immediately or you run the risk of it failing completely and oil and coolant causing hydraulic lock in your engine and destroying it. Some repair shops will not tackle this job, if it has completely failed, as it usually results in a full engine rebuild or replacement. Very expensive and an AOS is relatively cheap (circa $250) and you can do it yourself, if you feel up to it. If it is smoking white the diaphragm is already cracking/leaking. The next phase you don't want to think about, if you value your engine. Take it to a Porsche independent specialist and swap it out and change the coolant completely. A friend here suddenly had bad white smoke and the car stopped. Sensibly didn't try to re-start the car but had it towed to a repair shop. The hydraulic effects can be catastrophic and engines are costly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
550Spyder Posted 29August, 2020 Report Share Posted 29August, 2020 Ack. And I agree it makes total sense to change it preemptively, and they are not expensive vs a new engine, however they must have some sensible life span otherwise you would never leave the garage as you would be constantly changing them. albiet a small sample size, but the consensus on this post is gradual failure from 100,000km onwards. Would seem rash for 987.2 owners with 40k-70k km to be storming off to get their AOS replaced? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merv Posted 29August, 2020 Report Share Posted 29August, 2020 The general consensus seems that around 100,000 is typical. However, it depends how you drive it and some folk with sporting/track use have reported failure earlier. I am risk averse and would do it before 100,000kms or whenever there was evidence of white smoke and coolant loss. It is not worth the financial risk IMO. I just would not drive the car if it continued to blow white smoke. The AOS vacuum function can be tested at service with a manometer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firstone Posted 29August, 2020 Report Share Posted 29August, 2020 The gist I got from my research of the unit is, the more slosh the sooner they fail. The 986 has a competition style available that lasts longer if you use it along with a baffled sump. Bit silly on a vehicle designed to corner quickly. Just a glitch though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rego Posted 29August, 2020 Report Share Posted 29August, 2020 45 minutes ago, firstone said: The gist I got from my research of the unit is, the more slosh the sooner they fail. The 986 has a competition style that lasts longer if you use it along with a baffled sump. Bit silly on a vehicle designed to corner quickly. Just a glitch though. Yeh, my research came to a similar conclusion. Porsche have a motorsport replacement you can buy. More expensive but all of the track guys seem to be reporting that it is basically a one time fix. 987-107-926-00 is the part number. firstone 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
550Spyder Posted 29August, 2020 Report Share Posted 29August, 2020 Just double check it fits a 987.2, my understanding from a bit of googling today was the Motorsport AOS was 986/987.1 centric. Google seemed to indicate OEM 987.2 part has a slightly better membrane, can still fail but is much rarer / lasts longer (on average, but still the odd ‘early’ failure). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8t1911 Posted 29August, 2020 Report Share Posted 29August, 2020 Cayman S 987/2 has 170 K here with never any white (or any other colour smoke) smoke, and the AOS is original fitment. Cant see anything in the service manual that it should be changed at a certain time. At the last major service at just under 170K in feb 2020, and with the extended warranty check done at the same time , the service manager did not suggest the AOS could or should be changed. I will think about changing it when the extended warranty expires in 2022, changing it sounds like cheap ($400 to $500 all up) preventive maintenance for peace of mind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibbs Posted 9September, 2020 Report Share Posted 9September, 2020 On 27/08/2020 at 05:13, 550Spyder said: Just out of interest for those 987 folk who have had the AOS fail, what sort of mileage were you at? If there is a common theme I would consider doing it as a pre-emptive. Plumes of smoke a long way from home would freak plenty of us out and that would be an expensive “just to be safe” tow home. 40 something km. After I bought it I read about the D Chunk and bore score issues on the 987.1 3.4 .. so when it happened I honestly thought I'd killed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merv Posted 9September, 2020 Report Share Posted 9September, 2020 There are lots of posts on this on various forums. Best advice if it happens is to not try to re-start it or internal hydraulic pressures can bend rods and quickly turn the motor into junk. Get it towed (without re-starting) to a service centre. preventative, conservative maintenance is the best thing overall. A good service centre can check with a manometer the status of the diaphragm periodically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnrnr Posted 30September, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 30September, 2020 Just an update to close out my example of white smoke. Replacing the AOS seems to have done the trick. Only a single start so far,so not much data, but see how it goes over the next week or so. I had a reasonably large service done, with gear box oil being changes, and the AOS being done along with the drive belts. Next service I will be having plugs and coils done. Niko and P-Kay 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 30September, 2020 Report Share Posted 30September, 2020 1 hour ago, Gnrnr said: Just an update to close out my example of white smoke. Replacing the AOS seems to have done the trick. Only a single start so far,so not much data, but see how it goes over the next week or so. I had a reasonably large service done, with gear box oil being changes, and the AOS being done along with the drive belts. Next service I will be having plugs and coils done. just to bring us up to date on pricing, how much for the AOS replacement if possible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnrnr Posted 30September, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 30September, 2020 It was just under $300 for the separator and cant break out the labour, but possibly 1-2 hours (6 in total). The guy that did my work isn't a porsche specialist, so it was the first time for him working on a Cayman and he had to work a few things out as he went. Possibly the first time he has done mid engined He normally does everything, but has VW and Audi for his own cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rego Posted 30September, 2020 Report Share Posted 30September, 2020 39 minutes ago, Niko said: just to bring us up to date on pricing, how much for the AOS replacement if possible? I paid $182 for the 987.2 AOS part including GST plus a couple of hours labour. Seems cheap enough that I'll just get it changed every 30 track days or so to hopefully avoid ruining a day with an AOS failure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 30September, 2020 Report Share Posted 30September, 2020 51 minutes ago, rego said: I paid $182 for the 987.2 AOS part including GST plus a couple of hours labour. Seems cheap enough that I'll just get it changed every 30 track days or so to hopefully avoid ruining a day with an AOS failure. 1 hour ago, Gnrnr said: It was just under $300 for the separator and cant break out the labour, but possibly 1-2 hours (6 in total). The guy that did my work isn't a porsche specialist, so it was the first time for him working on a Cayman and he had to work a few things out as he went. Possibly the first time he has done mid engined He normally does everything, but has VW and Audi for his own cars. Thanks gents, agree it is a reasonable price...for a change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merv Posted 3October, 2020 Report Share Posted 3October, 2020 Seems the sort of job that 'can' be DIY but professionals will do it faster http://www.pedrosgarage.com/Site_3/Replace_the_Air_Oil_Separator.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimmy Posted 3October, 2020 Report Share Posted 3October, 2020 On 27/08/2020 at 07:13, 550Spyder said: Just out of interest for those 987 folk who have had the AOS fail, what sort of mileage were you at? If there is a common theme I would consider doing it as a pre-emptive. Plumes of smoke a long way from home would freak plenty of us out and that would be an expensive “just to be safe” tow home. Previous 987.2 Cayman ~75,000 km. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted 8October, 2020 Report Share Posted 8October, 2020 Just had the air oil separator replaced on my 2006 Cayman S. 38,700km cost $1,100 at Porsche dealer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 8October, 2020 Report Share Posted 8October, 2020 8 minutes ago, PeterH said: Just had the air oil separator replaced on my 2006 Cayman S. 38,700km cost $1,100 at Porsche dealer. wow.....that seems a lot.......was that it? no other work? tomo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted 8October, 2020 Report Share Posted 8October, 2020 Yes just the AOS, the part $163 ex GST, the rest labour. Niko 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnrnr Posted 8October, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 8October, 2020 25 minutes ago, PeterH said: Yes just the AOS, the part $163 ex GST, the rest labour. Ouch!!!! My whole service was $1350, but that was oil and filters, gearbox oil, Drive belts and the AOS replacement. 6 hours labour all up. $283 for the AOS itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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